RE: [FSP Board] Response to accusations
rod...@porcfest.com
My comments below in blue.
Rodger Paxton
PorcFest XV/XVI Producer
“Liberty in our lifetimes!”
From: fsp-...@googlegroups.com <fsp-...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of julia miranda
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2019 11:42 PM
To: FSP Board <fsp-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [FSP Board] Response to accusations
FSP Board,
Please see my responses below, in italics:
She met with him and identified herself to Ian as the Interim Executive Director of the Free State Project. She then proceeded to tell many untruths to Ian about this situation.
This is not accurate. I asked Ian for a quick chat, yes, but it was not a secret and I was not speaking to him as Interim ED. I asked him as an old friend to not make a big dramatic show of this because I was only in the role short term. The fact is that you imitated the meeting, let him know very early in the meeting that you are the interim ED, and you met to discuss a decision by the FSP board while ED, and then told him things that were untrue. This is completely accurate.
To Ian, she said she had no idea who was behind making this sponsorship an issue when, in fact, she is fully aware that her boyfriend, Marcus, and she herself are the only ones who raised the concern in the first place and that she at one point herself considered not taking the Interim ED position over this.
Inaccurate. He asked me who the volunteers mentioned in Jason's email were and I said no. I would not have given him any names regardless of who it was. You say that what I said was inaccurate, then you essentially say it happened just as Ian told me it happened. You knew full well who the volunteers that had the issue are and you told him you did not.
The only complaint for this issue was from Marcus and Julia.
Rodger misunderstands the complaint. It is less about Ian (though yes, we do have an opinion on that) and more about the way this was handed to us. Really? Here are quotes from emails you sent directly to Jason that he inadvertently included in an email chain he forwarded. “Regarding Ian, yes, I have very strong opinions on the subject and would love to share them.” “I believe whole heartedly that it would be a mistake to take his money and this is only the beginning of a much larger plan.” ”Above all, it is a power play on his behalf.” Considering every one of these quotes was directly related to Ian specifically, it seems this is a personal issue with Ian.
I will not speak for Marcus, but I know that he felt like he was being asked to "break the law" since there was no discussion around this far as he knew. Roger was incredibly rude in his email, which I was shocked to see considering how much time he has happily given the FSP over the years. He simply asked about it because he was confused and Roger's response was unkind. Rude in my email? Not even close. I was direct, because that is how I am. I am a very busy person and do not have time to play semantics or to coddle anyone. But I was never rude. Please point to anything I said in my email that was rude. I would not say a single thing differently in my email.
The board having a discussion, vote, and making some kind of announcement about this change is something entirely different than what happened. I would feel differently about that had it been the case. As Jason has already stated in a separate email to Ian last night “ In general we want to leave these decisions to the ED and the event organizers. When they disagree the board reluctantly steps in.” As I replied to that email, “Interesting. There was no disagreement between the event organizers and the ED, as this decision was made with the full knowledge and support of Rachel, weeks prior to her going on maternity leave. The disagreement is with the interim ED who was not involved when the decision was made and who we were assured would have no involvement in PorcFest and our decisions.
I will in no way work with someone who shows such a lack of integrity, nor will I work with an organization that will pander to threats from someone who says they will take their ball and go home unless they get their way.
Who have I threatened? I was told by Rachel that you were considering not taking the interim ED position due to this decision. Marcus threatened to stop working on the PF site and doing design work for PF. That is a threat.
If this level of integrity is what the current FSP board wants to pander to, then I cannot in good conscience remain a member of the board nor do I have an obligation to do so.
I have not asked to be pandered to. If the board made a decision/announcement, that would be their right. However, I feel strongly that if that decision was to be overturned suddenly, it should include all board members. I did not feel good about the way this was done, with no discussion or announcement overturning such a big, dramatic decision. Yes, you did, based on your emails to Jason. You and Marcus were the ones who stirred up this shit show, period. You used your position to sow discord and to reverse a decision that was in the hands of your predecessor and the PF Producers that was made prior to you coming on board. That is asking to be pandered to.
In further regards to PorcFest, Jessica and I will continue to run the event with the full autonomy that has been discussed between us and Rachel, as long as Jessica’s health is not a concern. We will not, however, work with Julia on this event in any way, because we will not work with someone of such low integrity. This decision was made by us in a discussion with Rachel prior to Julia coming on board as interim ED, and that decision still stands. If we as PF organizers have any needs, we will go directly to the board.
I was honest with Rachel about how this bothered me right before I took over. It bothered me that it did not come from the board, and that I was not told. It bothered me that as soon as Ian's money was present again, similar bullying tactics of the past were already trickling down. Bullying tactics? The only bullying tactics in this situation came from you and Marcus who said if this stood, you were going to take you ball and go home. There was not a shred of negativity from Ian. As a matter of a fact, he used significant time on his radio show in 200+ markets to talk about PorcFest because of this sponsorship. This was only good for PF. Now PF and the FSP will lose thousands of dollars on this event. Thanks to you.
As I told her, years ago I would not have accepted. A short term role isn't worth that level of dramatic uprising. Ultimately, I agree to do it because I wanted Rachel to be able to take her much deserved time away to be with her family, and I knew she was having trouble finding someone. There was no drama until you and Marcus stirred up drama. That is a fact. This was a simple business transaction that was needed for the organization financially, and it was working in our favor.
I did not ask for this role and was absolutely shocked when Rachel reached out. After discussing what the role entailed, I felt I was capable to do what she asked and have taken it extremely seriously.
Thanks, Julia
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julia miranda
Roger,
I've known Ian for 15 years, longer than anyone in the FSP, sans a select few. The way you are presenting a brief conversation between old "friends" (for lack of a better word) is simply not true. Of course the interim ED came up - I was copied on Jason's email with @fsp.org.
You'll have to forgive me for not realizing I wasn't supposed to talk to him as IED. I felt no obligation to give names, and would give any volunteer that courtesy.
I won't waste any more time of yours, the Board, or mine, so I'll conclude by saying wholeheartedly that you have misunderstood me, as well as my opinions, actions, and intentions. For my role in that, I am sorry.
Yes, I gave my opinion when asked in Jason's welcome email, but it was the first communication with The FSP Board (maybe ever?) and it came after the meeting happened, which I knew nothing about.
I do want to point out that I am not Marcus, who has his own relationship and history with the FSP. I encourage you to reread his email, because he didn't make threats. If anyone feels like I have threatened them, please reach out so I can genuinely apologize.
As upsetting as this has been, I mean it when I say that I'm sorry you feel this way. I can't help but feel like you decided this before I started, since you never said as much as hello, and you have seen what you wanted to. But I hold no ill-will towards either of you and hope this might someday be resolved.
If anyone has any questions or concerns about my integrity or intentions, or if theq Board wishes me to not continue, please reach out. I will not be replying to this email chain after this, as I feel it has caused enough distress to all involved.
-Julia