Ellen Berz became President by lining up the votes to oust then President Larry Palm. The “coup” occurred at the annual meeting of the AIDS Network Board of Directors that was held in October, 2008 at the United Way Building in Madison.
Ellen had been gunning for Larry; a fact that was confirmed once again by an email I received from Ellen ten days before my resignation. Attempting to get me to be a warrior in her attempts to undermine and ultimately oust Larry, Ellen had been on a mission of lining up her supporters. She had informed me that she had told Karen Dotson, the new Executive Director, not to do anything that Larry said; to listen only to “Ellen or Greg” I then received the email with the “larry invertion.doc” attached.
Ellen was definitely setting the stage for a full frontal attack on Larry. I was unwilling to play her game.
Read for yourself the document prepared by Ellen and sent to me on April 26, 2007 (entitled Larry Intervention.doc).
Obviously, I wasn’t interested in getting into the mud with Ellen and undermine the President of the agency in order to further her political goals. Here is Ellen’s document:
I want to set the stage for discussion after I fully complete the background, without interruption.
You have been president for less than 2 months, in that time period, your actions have raised serious concerns as to whether you have the time, the commitment and the interest to be president
Examples
Staff Mtg Worsened relationship. Seen as arrogant, evasive, power-hungry and only here for own political advancement Informal drop-ins at AN office Presumptuous, interrupts work, disrespectful – he is more important than anything else staff is doing (Step B-6) On 1/7 (day after blind screening), all qualified candidates were to be invited to participate in 2nd stage Larry accepted responsibility to contact those for 2nd stage 1-22 e-mail EC voted for in-person interviews 1-24 Larry unilaterally decided on phone interviews & contacted candidates to schedule (notwithstanding that he knew EC against that decision) 1-25 EC mtg at Ellen’s house. EC again votes for in-person interviews. Larry disagrees citing his embarrassment. 1-30 Larry sends out confirmation letters for 2-1 in-person interviews 1-25 EC mtg at Ellen’s house. Larry informs EC that, notwithstanding his accepting responsibility for the task, he did not see the necessity in contacting those who did not respond to written questions. 1-31 Ellen contacts Evamarie who indicated that she had sent written response
1-31 Jim contacts all others. Mike had responded. Gary had not received questions.
More interviews have to be scheduled and process extended.
1-25 EC mtg at Ellen’s house. In-person interviews on Fri to be between 8am-2pm Larry schedules 9 am – 4 pm. 1-28 EC by e-mail decides not to invite Shiva Bidor-Sielaff to candidate dinner Larry directs Jim to invite Shiva Bidor-Sielaff 1-30 Letter from ARCW. Larry talks w/ Jim and “directs” Greg to withhold info from Tim and Ellen.
Larry angry w/ Greg for providing letter to Tim and Ellen
Larry meets w/ Dan Guinn & intends for both to meet w/ Jim Vergeront
Promises Dan copy of letter, never provides
1-31 EC mtg to figure out questions and logistics for in-person candidate interviews. (most important decision Board will make for years) Larry does not object to time of mtg but day of mtg indicates cannot attend 1-31 EC mtg. Motions passed:
1. That no action be taken or conversations held regarding the ARCW merger letter before the Executive Committee meets to address the topic.
2. That no meeting or conversation be held with Jim Vergeront by any officer of the Board or staff member before the Executive Committee meets to address such a meeting or conversation.
Larry upset – motions invalid bc mtg not called by him 1-31 EC mtg. Motion:
That the Board President be admonished not to hide information from other members of the Executive Committee, and, not make unilateral decisions or take unilateral action without properly referring the matter to the full Executive Committee.
Tabled to be discussed at EC mtg on 2/5 1-31 EC mtg & follow-up e-mail reminder. Interviewers should dress in formal business attire. Larry wears khakis and checkered shirt. All others wear suits. 2-1 Lunch w/ Larry, Greg & Ellen. Larry states that Jason (management staff) is angry with him. Greg suggests that Larry talk w/ him. Larry indicates that he will just ignore Jason. 2-5 EC mtg scheduled for 5:00. Lasted til after 8. Larry left before 6:00
2-10 EC mtg scheduled for 2:30 Larry shows up at 3:10 ** italicized not verbally relayed on 2/10 EC mtg.
Your actions have clearly shown that you simply do not have the time to do the job and you have a misunderstanding of your role.
As to your role, first and foremost, you are a member of a volunteer board. You have no greater vote than anyone else. You are not the boss of any other board member. Secondly, you are a member of the Executive Committee. You have no greater vote than anyone else. You are not the boss of anyone on the EC.
Thirdly, you are president of the Board. One who can make certain limited decisions in emergency situations when the Board or EC cannot be contacted. You are a figurehead – a leader by title only. You must earn the respect of people to obtain real leadership, i.e., people’s respect of your personal attributes and intents such that they wish to voluntarily follow you. That is called informal leadership. You have not yet earned it.
Certainly, you are not employed by AN. You are not management. You are not the boss of staff.
SKILLS
As to your skills, you do not have much, if any, education or experience with AIDS or even the fundamentals of management. But, you are a member of the EC –part of our team. This team has a wealth of experience, education and skills with respect to the agency, AIDS, and management — that you do not possess singly .
Vice President, your right-hand man, Tim: undergraduate degree in biology
Doctor of chiropracty
On the AIDS/HIV Statewide Action Planning Group
Board member for years
Past President, Jim: undergraduate degree and masters in English
Taught high school and college
Major planner for most ACT rides thus far
President of Board 3 years
Board member over 7 years
Well-respected leader of Board and staff
Secretary, Greg: undergraduate degree in Economics and Political Science
On the AIDS/HIV Statewide Action Planning Group
Executive Director of several non-profit organizations
Years of upper management experience
Working knowledge of accounting principles
Treasurer, me: undergraduate degree in History
Doctorate of Law
Graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Gov. Leadership Program for Senior Executives
Over 15 years of experience in senior management running state divisions w/ budgets exceeding $50 M
Head of Policy Group of NLADA –non-profit w/ thousands of members nation-wide
Media contact and Political liaison for organizations in WI and nationally (e.g., liaison to then US Attorney General Janet Reno for the NLADA)
Rather than tapping that wealth of education, experience and knowledge, you have chosen to fly by the seat of your pants, hide information and act unilaterally. That is unwise and unacceptable.
Of primary concern to us is the organization’s clients. It is to their benefit that the organization grow and thrive. It is to their detriment for you to be going by the seat of your pants and acting without the requisite amount of education, experience and knowledge.
The position of President is, to a great extent, a thankless position. You don’t have the power that the word “president” usually connotes. You don’t get the respect that the word “president” usually connotes unless you earn it over an extended period of time. You cannot earn it without us. You cannot succeed without us.
Don’t get me wrong, we want you to succeed. Succeed means being a valued member of this team to help the organization for the benefit of clients. It means taking on only those responsibilities that you can do. It means not acting unilaterally, but as a team member. It means not cherry picking those on our team you want to be in the know and those you want to be in the dark. It means tapping as much education, experience and knowledge as possible to join in making the best decisions possible.
If you are interested in changing course and working with us as I’ve outlined for the betterment of our clients, we want to work with you.
If you are not interested in changing course and choose to continue acting secretly, unilaterally and by the seat of your pants, you pose a threat to our clients – not out of an intent to hurt them, but out of an intent not to put forth the effort and teamwork it would take to responsibly help them.
Especially at this point in time, we want and need a functional, responsible, competent team. The question is: do you want to be a part of that team?
Frankly, I do not believe the problem is with your intentions. It is with you having a full-time job, city council, ACT steering committee, Housing Committee, I do not think you have the time to devote to be President. If that is true, it is not dishonorable to recognize it and step down. What would be dishonorable would be to continue notwithstanding your lack of time.
Ellen’s tactics of personality assassination may work in her Public Defender’s court room work, but it doesn’t cut it at an AIDS Service Organization. Time to consider new volunteer efforts, Ellen?
