My Support Forums - View Single Post

snowgoose · Mar 04, 2012, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Looked through this a bunch again. If I follow corrrectly, the board and the property owners are separate sets of people. You like both. Neither is an instigator of the wrong-doing. Your working is not harmful to either group.

Yes, separate groups and yes I support both. The question I am mulling is whether or not I can work for a group IF they allow the City to influence their decision making. And if I do accept their conflict of interest influence am I not then party to or at very least condoning unethical behaviour? Sure I could just shrug it off as 'out of my hands' but only 50% of it is out of my hands. I could brush it off because I face my own practical pressures.

I still don't know the ethical answer but, "I do know that the next step to take will be clear in time to take it."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

I don't get the sense that the property will be bought by the Center. Leased, yes? Either way, the city will continue to want the property even if the Center locates there.

Yes, a lease agreement and yes the City will still go after the land.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Even if the dissuasion of the president had not occured, locating there would present an on-going challenge to their operation. This is a legimate concern on their part.

Agreed there would be an on-going challenge and there are legitimate concerns to consider. I am fine with that. Due diligence is critical to any decision making process. What I am not fine with are decisions by intimidation. It becomes an indicator of things to come from my experiences. Plus this would be happening on my watch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

I'm guessing the center is a charitable organization(?)

No not yet. They are a non-profit community service society - a friendship centres whose mission is in part 'to service the needs of urban aboriginal people and others living in the community..... to build bridges between cultures, collaborations with and support other community organizations.....

The station house is one of those other community organizations that has actively support the friendship centre. Do they not deserve the same consideration when the opportunities arise? Does this not darken the 'mission' of the friendship centre? I think it does and that concerns me. I would feel the same no matter the 'other' organization.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

(Especially) as such, it would be a good thing to choose the situation that will best allow them to focus on that worthy work. So considering these things (as they should) it may not be simply a matter of spinelessness. It is not just a matter of physical location, it is full consideration of what is best for their enterprise in all aspects the property impacts.

All addressed in my recommendation. All agree the station house is the best fit for the friendship center. As a space and as a location and especially at the costs. We live in a small town, less than 4,000 people. There is politics every which way you turn. It is a matter of how much weight one gives it. Besides it is nothing compared to the politics around the fact that it is a native friendship centre. A street front location (only other options) could be worse politically and practically because 'no one wants to see a bunch of Indians hanging around town'.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

.... as straight up bullying..

They admit it is a bully tactic.... perhaps a lesser of two evils. Still evil.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

I wouldn't write them off.

I don't know how this will unfold. I don't know if I will be writing them off as a client. Either way I won't write them off completely. I will continue to volunteer my time and talents as a member. I will continue to serve the interests of the members in anyway I can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Guess it boils down to I don't see what would be gained by walking over it. If they have a good enterprise to house, it is good to help that and not presume too much about their decision making process. (I've been on a planning committee, and I'm sure all are like this in that we do discuss aspects and considerations that those outside the group are not privy to. It does not mean they are bad things. Also, things always seem simpler from the outside. Nothing underhanded about it, it's just the way it is.)

I hear you and so long as things are done fairly and honestly I am good to go. We don't know yet if the councilman's influence will take hold. We do know he exerted it so time will tell. There isn't much that goes on with the Board that I don't know about. I am the adviser they hired to develop and train the Board; to develop the policies and bylaws and to write funding grants. This is a new Board and I will be doing an orientation session with them next week.

At the end of the day I am resting my hope on the Board to make the right decision for the centre with no intimidation. They are good people and I would really miss this opportunity to do some direct program delivery again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innerzone

I think you are more valueable in than out. For starters because you care.

Thank you for saying that. I honestly think that unless I can feel good about the outcome of this decision I would likely be more problematic to the cause than useful. I can still care and I can still contribute but from further away is all.

Thank you for taking so much time with this. I am sorry if I come across are argumentative or immovable. It is not my intension. I respect everyone's thoughts on this. You have all been very supportive and helpful.

I haven't talk about this with anyone else. I know what I would hear and I am not up. It always feels belittling and I end up feeling like an alien joke. I don't understand why they think it is so cut and dry. Take the money you fool!! So I don't say anything. I try to figure it out on my own. Thanks for being here.

I will let you all know how it unfolds. I should hear something tomorrow. I will admit to another undercurrent in the story...... I am as scared as hell that the job is too big for me anyways. I am still very fragile emotionally. Stress is a killer issue still and I am afraid I won't make it through the year. I thought I was up to this. I have made some gains this year but now I have to wonder. I haven't admitting until now, even to myself how nervous I am about making this long of a commitment.

And now looking at how this one blip has me in a state of confusion; symptoms flaring up from all directions; mental and physical exhaustion from trying to keep the flares to a minimum.... to regain some balance…. and based on comments that suggest I am coming from way out in left field on this..... I wonder more and more if I really am well enough to go either way.

I think now that I have fussed about this so much I just want to run away. Run away from the job; run away from my brain. I think I best take the evening to pull everything down a few notches. Some mindful time dwelling on what is beautiful sounds very appealing right now. Sleep will be even better.