Open
Letter to the Board, Executive and Members of the Radio Amateurs of
To: RAC Corporate Secretary
cc. RAC Board of Directors and Executive
RAC Members
Greetings, all.
When I accepted the ten-month
appointment of the Board of Directors to the position of president of the Radio
Amateurs of Canada on February 24, 2009, to fill the remainder of the term left
vacant by the resignation of the previous president, it was with the
understanding that the Board saw an urgent need for change within the
organization. I also understood that
no one else approached by the Board would accept the task.
Therefore, in good faith and with
the belief I had the support and cooperation of the Board, I reluctantly
accepted the appointment. Two months
remain in that appointment.
My acceptance was “reluctant”
because I never aspired to the position of president and never expected it.
I accepted because I agreed that serious action was required to prevent
the corporation from falling deeper into what might be seen as despair and
disorganization, and because of my genuine affection and sincere concern for the
RAC.
Make no mistake; being president of the RAC is a huge undertaking, requiring hours of dedicated work and dealing with fires big and small. Anyone who has been there will know exactly what I mean. Anyone who hasn’t will have little or no idea what is actually involved. Fortunately, my previous years of experience with the Board and Executive prepared me in large measure.
Over the ensuing months, I went
about the task of dealing with matters of concern to the Board, with integrity
and vigour, in a
straight forward manner and always with the best interests of the RAC and its
members in mind. Certain
circumstances made the job even more onerous than normal.
However, at the same time I
became increasingly dismayed at what I saw as wrong-headed and misguided actions
of the Board. The show of support I
expected and needed seemed to be slowly but surely decreasing, while at the same
time my efforts on behalf of the RAC were increasing.
In fact, I was spending eight to
ten hours or more virtually each and every day of the week on RAC business and
making monthly trips from my home in
I became disillusioned and
disappointed as the majority of directors adopted an attitude which I saw as
being detrimental to the corporation’s goals and objectives and contrary to
the best interests of its members in general.
It also became less than collegial, thereby increasing the level of
personal stress put on me.
The result is I have lost all confidence in the ability of the present RAC Board to govern and manage the affairs of the Radio Amateurs of Canada Incorporated.
For that reason, I hereby resign
as president of the Radio Amateurs of Canada Inc., effective October 31, 2009.
This action is completely of my own volition and not because of any request or demand by the RAC Board, contrary to what reportedly has been suggested by one Director in a public venue.
I do not take this action lightly
and am greatly saddened that circumstances have made this decision necessary
but, at the end of the day and in all good conscience, my sense of duty and
personal values leave me no other option. This
is no longer an organization of which I wish to be an officer.
There are those who will say,
among other things, that my resignation is a “knee jerk” reaction, the
result of being disappointed at not being elected to a full two-year term in the
recent election of executive.
They will be wrong.
My decision to stand for election
to a full term as president, a decision that was agonizingly made only in late
August 2009 after interviewing a person who, the following month, I hired as
RAC’s office manager, was because I wished to continue what I had started in
my efforts to bring the RAC back to a viable full service organization for its
members. I did not particularly
relish the job but I saw it as being necessary and was ready to take it on.
Had any other fully qualified candidate with proven experience as a RAC
executive or director stepped up for election, I most probably would not have
put my name forward.
The organization is hurting.
This is not the time for the RAC to change horses in mid stream, to
switch to untried and inexperienced leadership lacking knowledge of the RAC
inner workings, regardless of good intentions by newcomers, and I have no doubt
those newcomers have good intentions. But
I wonder if they fully understand what they are getting themselves into and the
challenges that await them. I have
to wonder at the Board’s rationale in allowing this to happen at such a
crucial time in the RAC’s history, when both revenue and membership numbers
are so tenuous. I, for one, find
this to be a cavalier and dangerous course.
There is no ego trip or personal
agenda involved on my part, just an honest, sincere and principled desire to
complete what I started for the good of the RAC.
Nor do I consider myself as being the only person in the RAC membership
who can do the job, given the necessary knowledge, time and support.
However, I was already in the
position and closely acquainted with the problems, as well as with many of the
solutions. I could see what had to
be done and, employing my knowledge of and long experience with the RAC, I
wanted to make sure it happened. That
opportunity is now gone, not for me personally, but for the RAC.
I wish to point out that Ontario
South Region Director Geoff Smith VA3GS, and Quebec Region Director Noël Marcil
VE2BR, were to the best of my knowledge the only two members of the Board to
recognize the error of the Board’s ways and to display what I consider as
integrity throughout this crisis. As
a member of the RAC, I extend thanks to them both.
It is my fervent wish that the
RAC, as an organization, will be able to rise above the current situation and
act in accordance with its constitutional mandate by putting the organization
first and foremost. My belief in the
need for a viable national Amateur Radio organization has not lessened one iota.
I’ve had a long association
with the RAC. The success and
strength of the RAC as a member-based national organization for all Radio
Amateurs in
I leave the RAC executive with my
head held high and with apologies to the many friends and supporters I have
within the Amateur Radio community that this decision had to be made.
I trust that they will understand my reasons.
Sincere thanks go to them for their support.
Congratulations and best wishes
are extended to my successor and to all those who allowed their names to be
placed in nomination. Good luck to
you and thank you for your willingness to volunteer as a RAC official.
73,
Bob
R.D. (Bob) Cooke VE3BDB
President
Radio Amateurs of Canada Inc.
“We’re ALL about Amateur Radio!”
“Tous ensemble pour
la radioamateur!”
Postscript: I am overwhelmed with heartfelt gratitude to all who, by telephone and especially by email, have shown their support of my actions. Thank you all so very, very much. Words cannot adequately express my appreciation. -- VE3BDB 05 Nov 09
.