[Occupymendocino] Senior Center

[Mark Safron]

Thanks Ann for attending the meeting I couldn't make. I was misinformed about the origin of the petition and understand that when Charles was made aware of it he pulled it from the dining room. I know from past attendance at board meetings both at the Senior Center, City, and others that the public is excluded from executive and/or personnel sessions. Was Charles at the meeting? Did board members seem hostile towards him? I'm still of the opinion that the main problem is that Charles is not doing his paperwork. But, you know how wild rumors can get. Instead of "hysterical bullshit," I'd like to downgrade the emotional weather report to a Tempest in a Teapot.
Regards, Mark 



On Aug 30, 2013, at 3:29 PM, Ann Rennacker <annxpress at live.com> wrote:

Mark, The petition went around endorsing Charles, and Dan Gjerde, Howard, Irene and I went to todays Board meeting to find out what the complaint against Charles was.  The Board was surprised to see so many people at the meeting, and even Frank Hartzell came to report on the 40th anniversary of the Center.  Charles did not want us to talk about the petition, and it got submitted by another employee there, but the woman chairing the meeting ditched the letters to Board members and the petitions, and finally one Board member asked her if the correspondence would be put on the agenda or read out loud.  She said no, there would be a closed session for new correspondence.  So after hearing the committee reports, the financial report and some talk about the anniversary party, we were made to leave (and so was Charles) while the Board had their closed session.  Syd is on vacation and probably does not know what happened.  As we were leaving, I told the Board that we would be interested in hearing the outcome of the issues brought out in the correspondence and the petition.  We left at around 2:15 and will wait to hear what the complaints against Charles are, but if they try to fire him or replace him as Director, we will demand that it be made public and give all Seniors a chance to weigh in.  During the financial report it came out that Charles has given back $20,000 of the $50,000 salary the director gets and Joe Curran used to take.  He also got an anonymous donation of $50,000 for painting the building which the person is encouraging Seniors to match the donation, as the Center is suffering a loss during this Federal cut and the State cut.  We all think Charles has done a great job, and the campaign against him is secretive and weird.  I hope you are right about it being hysterical bullshit and that it all goes away soon.   Ann 
 
> From: marksafron at att.net
> Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:09:50 -0700
> To: occupymendocino at lists.mcn.org
> Subject: [Occupymendocino] Senior Center
> 
> Ann my apologies, but I think this is hysterical bullshit. 
> 
> There are obviously two sides to every story. It appears that said petition was drafted by Charles Bush himself, as he hand-carried it to Thursday's Soroptimists meeting at the senior center, asking members to pass it around the community. Pitting the community against the Sr. Ctr. Board, calling them "evil" for attempting to do their job, is unfair. Is there documentation, other than hearsay, that the Board is attempting to eliminate Charles? Is there documentation, other than hearsay, that "Vomma" wants his job? And who is "Vomma"? Rumors such as this can bring down the center. 
> 
> Personally, I like Charles a lot and think that he has done a terrific job at PR for the Senior Center and has treated Occupy fairly. Considering the mess he inherited he is a great improvement. However, the general public has no knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes. It seems I have slightly more info than you. There's a board meeting today at 1PM.
> 
> Check it out yourself.
> 
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