Ten months ago, I was invited to be a board member of the Burbank
Temporary Aid Center. As an intake counselor for the past four years, I
was honored to have the opportunity to communicate the needs of our
clients directly. At that time, I was unaware of the extreme disdain held
by the board of directors toward the agency's volunteers.
It soon became obvious that this board discourages differing points of
view that are offered for discussion. At the Jan. 26 board meeting, I was
banished from the meeting without explanation. When I returned the
director of the agency said her actions were to prevent my participation
in the discussion of the recent firing of the pantry manager.
Is this appropriate?
If the board truly represents the community of Burbank, how can they
so blatantly exclude the opinions of volunteers and paid staff? Having
been in the work force at one time, the volunteers bring compassion,
insight and experience to all levels of management, from which the agency
could benefit.
As board members, we were given written bylaws by which to adhere to
and guide us. Nowhere in the bylaws does it state that the executive
director is part of the executive committee. This was probably to prevent
a possible "conflict of interest."
Article V of the board member bylaws states "the board shall make
policy, develop guidelines and evaluate the operation of the center." At
the present time the director of the agency is evaluating herself and
dictating to the board how well she is doing.
I know the board represents the community, but who really represents
the agency? In the past five months we have lost two board presidents,
one pantry manager, a large number of intake volunteers and now our
beloved executive administrative director, Stacy Schumacher.
If the board and its directors are not accountable for their decisions
and the director of the agency is not accountable for her actions, then
who is really running the show?
BARBARA RALPH
North Hollywood
Barbara Ralph has been an intake volunteer at Burbank Temporary Aide
Center for more than four years. She has resigned her position on the
board of directors.
