From:
steve scholl
Date:
2006 Sep 20 14:12 UTC
Short link
I used the title of the Edward R Murrow movie to convey my resignation from
the committee.
I am going to have a problem attending the next two executive committee
meetings. I have a conflict with the meeting next Monday due to my
daughter's situation, and will be in Duluth on a job-related matter in
October.
At the time Tim asked me to be a candidate for the executive committee, my
developmentally-delayed, 17 year-old daughter began to have serious problems
with mental illness. During the spring things became so bad that she was
hospitalized twice, which lead to a 90-day placement at a crisis residence
during the summer. I think I missed the April meeting due to one of those
hospitalizations.
She seemed to be getting better during the summer, and moved to a group home
for 90 days at the end of August, with the expectation that she would return
home in December.
In the two weeks since school resumed, I have had to miss three days of
work, as well as to devote many afternoons and evenings to her situation, as
her mental condition has regressed.
When Tim asked me to become a candidate for the executive board, I was very
interested in knowing the commitment expected of me. At the time I was
already a member of two committees, the Special Ed Acvisory Committee (SEAC)
for the St Paul Board of Education and a JCC advisory committee. I missed
so many of the SEAC committee meetings last spring that I am no longer a
member. The JCC committment is only one meeting every two months and does
not require any outside work.
I have tried to be a conscientious as a member and as president of the
executive committee. As president I have delegated responsibility to give
everyone a role or stake in the progress of the committee and because of my
personal limitations. I have offered to be a member of several committees,
but realized that I could not take on the responsbility of leading a
committee.
During the brief time I have been president Grace Kelly has increasingly
criticized me for delegating responsibility. I think much of her resistance
to cooperating with me on the support letter has been due to her negative
perception of me. My personal response was to ignore her comments, but our
situation has leaked into the functioning of the executive committee and has
lead to unproductive activity and tension.
The productivity of the committee is already vulnerable and does not need
personality problems to further obstruct its ability to accomplish things.
I thought I could ignore Grace and just complete my one-year term.
Unfortunately she has only become more persistent, and due to the situation
with my daughter, I have concluded that my best course is to resign now.
I felt very honored that I was elected to the committe and that you would
select me as president. As president I have tried to focus on the needs of
the organization and to distance myself from personal opinions. I hope that
is how I have been perceived, and regret that any of my actions may not have
been consistent with that intention.
You have my best wishes for your success.