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

[Jean Marc Momple]

Joseph,

Somehow partly agree with you, seems that the elected directors we voted for and now opponents are not being able to sit around a table and resolved simple matters such as ego, generation conflict etc..

In the meantime US (ITU Americas Region) is behind particularly with QO-100, seems that AMSAT-DL had a better vision and also showing better results than AMSAT-NA, more working united.

Thus I tend to agree with you that we need new blood at the board which hopefully will have a plan and vision for the future (not easy, I agree) but at least the internal war should stop asap in order to achieve same.

My one cent input and opinion as a member of AMSAt-NA (and DL)

73


Jean Marc (3B8DU)

> On Jul 27, 2020, at 10:52 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
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 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.
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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