On January 9, 2008 an email was received from Ellen Berz.  At the time Ellen was Treasurer of AIDS Network.  Ellen’s email was in response to my having expressed concerns regarding the lack of decorum exhibited at a recently held meeting of the board of directors.  It states, in part:

…In this important time in agency history, not just the ED is changing. Effective communication and professionalism must be learned.  Like anything new, these skills will take some time;  bad habits die hard. Think of yourself as a mentor whose mentees (Board and staff) need time, training and reinforcement to grow.  I value you as a colleague and mentor.

Ellen

Ellen K. Berz
Attorney-at-Law
Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender
17 S. Fairchild Street, 2nd Floor
Madison, WI  53703

What we learned from this email:

• It was an important time in the agency’s history;
• We were in the midst of the hiring process of the new Executive Director
• The Board was not acting in a professional manner and not communicating effectively.
• Old habits die hard
• Ellen valued me as a “colleague and a mentor”

Yes, Ellen, old habits dies hard. With the help of her able “assistant” Karen Dotson,  Ellen has set the gold standard for ineffective communication and unprofessional behavior.  She’s obviously doing a great job of mentoring her fellow officers.