Train Wreck…the Beginning….
On Thursday night….July 10, 2008…Commissioner Dodd sat down and wrote an e-mail to send to the CIC Board of Directors….
On Friday morning Commissioner Dodd…showed it to his wife….and ….hit the “send” button….. around 7:30 a.m.
Commissioner Dodd sent this e-mail to the Chair of the CIC….Cristie Furth …to distribute to the CIC Directors….
Commissioner Dodd made a call to Marc Furth sometime afterwards to speak about a left over problem from the 4th of July event they both worked on the week before….
Commissioner Dodd thought Marc was “cool” towards him….and thought he was acting this way due to the e-mail…although Marc did not mention the e-mail…and neither did Stuart….
Marc Furth….did not read the e-mail prior to talking to Stuart….he read it shortly afterwards….and was stunned ….
Marc did not call Stuart …..and Stuart did not call Marc…..and so it began……this train wreck!…..
Stuart unfortunately used the “header” “Resignation” on this “ill-fated” e-mail….although…contained in the “body” of the e-mail……. that was NOT what he was requesting….
The correct action that should have taken place upon receipt of this e-mail by the Chair…(aside from a phone call to clear up any confusion)….
(BCbythesea…HISTORY….during the election both Cristie and this writer “resigned” ….with e-mails sent to the board….those e-mails never went any further….and both of us reconsidered after numerous phone call from board members… so a “protocol” was known ….prior to this request….)
The Chair should have sent it immediately to the 8 other Directors….
It should have been discussed among themselves how to respond to this member of the organization….
A board meeting should have been called….perhaps following the scheduled meeting of last night….with the member possibly being invited to speak…and answer questions….
The request ….if not covered in the current by-laws …should have been discussed…and a vote should have taken place to put it out to the full membership to vote on or not….
The member should have been confident that his situation would be handled…accordingly and in the meantime…instructed to wait until a vote was taken…. in order to come to a proper organizational response…and conclusion…..
None of this occurred….
After the e-mail was received….a “volcano” erupted…..and “innuendo”…accusations….and volatile “personalities” ran amok!…..
The e-mail was not sent to the Directors….ASAP….
Slanderous finger pointing went wild….. for some inexplicable reason NO ONE……NO ONE… ….involved at this point could stop the insanity…with a phone call…..to ask this fine FRIEND….. who worked side by side with them for so long….what he meant….by what he sent!….
They all knew …all too well…that Stuart’s verbiage….from his “Queen’s English”…often means something very different…from the American version…..
This had been a subject of much “good hearted” joking in the past….
The recipients of the e-mail….simply “fed” off each other…. dug in their heels ….turned their backs on one of their own…..and went way off base from his intentions ….
This train was just not going to slow down….much less stop…..it just kept going …….increasing in speed….bypassing all opportunities….to idle…..until it hit the wall….culminating in ….incredibly nasty e-mails…name calling…of “traitor”…..”puppet”….”user”…..and the anger that came last night…
How Sad!…..
The e-mail….. sent to CIC Chair Cristie Furth…. copied as Commissioner Stuart Dodd wrote it….
C.I.C. Board of Directors
Please distribute accordingly
Thursday, July 10,2008
Dear All,
As a new commissioner I feel that it is necessary be seen to be totally impartial by all the residents of this town who elected me. I am therefore asking to temporarily suspend my membership from the CIC so as to resolve any possible conflict of being labeled or associated directly with any political organization as a paid up member. I don’t want anyone to feel I’m not extremely grateful for all the assistance and help given to me by the organization during the campaign and election.
I have thought long and hard about this request and I think it best to ask that I suspend my membership so as to be able to maintain complete impartiality on all issues that effect the town. I would like to still be invited to address the CIC in my capacity as a commissioner on a regular basis and answer questions as well as take the full weight of input from all the members as I have and will continue to so do during my period up on the Dias. I will continue to follow very closely all the ideals of the organization without actually being a full member.
If I continue to try to do what I believe is best for the whole town I hope the CIC will continue to support me during my period as an elected official for Lauderdale by the Sea. I hope none of you will be upset or feel I’m being a traitor to the organization since I value greatly all the friendships I have established as well as the invaluable input from my closest advisors.
Sincerely
Stuart Dodd
more to come……
Tags: Civic Organizations, Local Politics, Scoops
