[amsat-bb] Reply to W5PFG's letter of 10 July 2020

Mon Jul 27 19:27:12 UTC 2020

Patrick and Michelle, you got my attention. I am forwarding a check today
for the legal defense fund.

Stephen Nipper
N7DJX
Boise Idaho

On Mon, Jul 27, 2020 at 12:59 PM Greg via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
wrote:

> Joseph,
>
> Agree….
>
> The optics of their defense saying they are making AMSAT better just isn’t
> there.  Why?  Its a volunteer organization, funded by grants, dues and
> volunteer labor.  It is not the C-suite or BOD of an S and P 100. Firing
> lawyer letters back and forth is an ego contest in their best interests,
> not the organizations.  That includes both sides.
>
> Greg
> N3MVF
>
>
>
> On Jul 27, 2020, at 2:42 PM, Joseph Armbruster via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> Patrick,
>
> I am an AMSAT Life Member and i'm just going to ask you, can you
> please step down from being an AMSAT director?  It's obviously not
> working out well for you (and others).  I mean, we can all see why
> AMSAT is blowing money on attorneys now....  This is a concrete reason
> to NOT to vote for anyone that you or Michelle Thompson recommend.
> Spamming the BB with a letter like this, is highly unprofessional and
> does not bring you much credibility in my book.  These are the kinds
> of matters that professionals resolve privately.  By sending this to
> the BB, I can only assume that all you and Michelle want attention.
>
> Well, congratulations for possibly leading to more AMSAT funds being
> blown on useless legal nonsense, instead of actual satellite work.
> This is outstanding, officer / director work for the organization and
> I personally do NOT thank you for it.
>
> Honestly though, this is just getting stupid.  Just because people are
> voted onto a board or into a position of office, doesn't mean that the
> people voted in are any good for the job or working with the
> organization.  Or... even know how to work well with others.  In any
> election, there are masses of uninformed voters and/or individuals
> that run under false-pretenses.  Just look at the last Florida
> gubernatorial election and where Andrew Gillum ended up (naked, asleep
> in his own vomit, with an escort overdosed on meth)... Gooooooooo,
> democracy.
>
> The directors that are putting AMSAT through this should all step
> down, immediately.  Just because you were duly elected, doesn't mean
> you are doing a good job or representing AMSAT well (All attempts at
> virtuosity aside).  Do us all a favor, step down from your positions
> please.  This is the best service you can offer AMSAT.
>
> Thank You,
> Joseph Armbruster
> KJ4JIO
>
> On Mon, Jul 27, 2020 at 1:02 PM Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via
> AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> >
> > Hi.
> >
> > The following is the text of a letter sent on behalf of Michelle
> > Thompson W5NYV and me to AMSAT President Clayton Coleman W5PFG,
> > along with everyone who co-signed Clayton's letter of 10 July 2020.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK/VA7EWK
> > http://www.wd9ewk.net/
> > Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
> >
> >
> >
> > *********************************
> > Text of forwarded letter is below
> > *********************************
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > July 27, 2020
> >
> > AMSAT Board Members
> > Clayton Coleman, President
> >
> >
> > Dear Sirs and Madam:
> >
> > I am writing in my capacity as counsel to Michelle Thompson and Patrick
> > Stoddard regarding the letter to members entitled “AMSAT Leadership
> > Explains 2018-2020 Legal Expenses” posted on July 10, 2020 (“Letter”).
> > Through the course of my representation of my clients, I know that
> > information included in this letter is patently false and defamatory
> > and has resulted in reputational harm to Ms. Thompson and Mr. Stoddard.
> > On behalf of my clients, I demand that appropriate corrective action be
> > taken to address these falsehoods and prevent further harm to their
> > reputations.
> >
> > The most egregious falsehood, among several, is the statement that
> > AMSAT is “under attack” by my clients. Ms. Thompson and Mr. Stoddard
> > have consistently worked to improve AMSAT – and have done nothing to
> > attack or undermine the organization they support. It is true that my
> > clients have worked diligently to evaluate the mission, activities,
> > finances, and procedures of AMSAT. Specifically, they have taken steps
> > to increase the financial transparency of AMSAT, enforce the provisions
> > of its existing bylaws, and obtain access to corporate and financial
> > documents. They have done all of this work as volunteers, deeply
> > invested in the well-being and success of AMSAT as an organization.
> > While I understand that certain AMSAT officials may interpret my
> > clients’ actions to be critical of their personal actions, it is simply
> > not true that AMSAT as an organization is “under attack.” The broad
> > dissemination of a statement to the contrary is false, harms Ms.
> > Thompson’s and Mr. Stoddard’s ability to serve AMSAT and calls into
> > question their integrity.
> >
> > As you know, Ms. Thompson and Mr. Stoddard were improperly denied
> > access to AMSAT’s corporate records. They had to retain my firm just to
> > be able to carry out their corporate responsibilities as Directors.
> > They now are questioning the propriety of the legal expenditures as
> > they have not been given any evidence that these expenses were ever
> > approved by board action, much less in advance of the engagement, as is
> > required by Article II, Section 1 of AMSAT’s bylaws. One of the
> > principal fiduciary responsibilities of all board members is to obey
> > the provisions of the organization’s governing documents. Rather than
> > “disrupt and possibly defame” or “publicly attack the integrity and
> > honor” of AMSAT Officers and Directors, Ms. Thompson and Mr. Stoddard
> > have merely been trying to review whether the AMSAT board has met this
> > important fiduciary obligation.
> >
> > You noted, “[t]he only powers that Directors have is when the Board is
> > in session and Board members make their vote” – and yet, we are not
> > aware of any Board meeting in which this Letter was discussed. The fact
> > that five of the current Directors have decided to sign this letter
> > without conferring as a Board is good evidence that Directors may
> > choose to exercise his or her individual oversight role in the absence
> > of a Board meeting.
> >
> > In conclusion, my clients are doing their best to improve financial
> > transparency and good governance in AMSAT. We agree that “a poisonous
> > atmosphere makes it impossible for good ideas to be heard” and my
> > clients both wish to create instead an “atmosphere of collaboration and
> > common purpose.” They ran on a reform platform and were duly elected by
> > the members to carry out that mandate.
> >
> > With this letter, Ms. Thompson and Mr. Stoddard formally request that
> > the Letter be retracted and removed from AMSAT’s public website.
> > Alternatively, the Letter should, in consultation with my clients, be
> > corrected to accurately reflect the reality of their interactions with
> > AMSAT and its Board. Given that the unfounded accusations against my
> > clients harm their reputation and question their integrity, we request
> > action be taken no later than ten (10) days after the receipt of this
> > demand.
> >
> > We look forward to your prompt attention to this matter.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Carolyn A. Klamp, Counsel
> >
> >
> > cc: Dr. Tom Clark
> >    Keith Baker,
> >    Jerry Buxton,
> >    Dr. Mark Hammond,
> >    Paul Stoetzer,
> >    Martha Saragovitz,
> >    Robert Bankston,
> >    Drew Glasbrenner,
> >    Bruce Paige
> >    Michelle Thompson
> >    Patrick Stoddard
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> Opinions expressed
> > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> program!
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>

-- 
Stephen Nipper
Boise, Idaho
N7DJX