PROBLEMS WITHIN GOAL AND OTHER GROUPS

[bluepride]

Ok......who's going to address the latest election fiasco of.......

[1dbigjim563]

Ok, I giess all is not goodness and light in Gotham just now. Let me guess, you sdhowed up to mintor the elction and no one voted, or better yet twic as many people voted as were present!

[bluepride]

Well...I didn't show up after the nonsense that was pulled. Like selective ballots...... and mailings and other stuff....

[flblue09]

Get this ...

My best recollection; 33 ballots were counted ( cast?).

[bluepride]

I won't go into specific details at this time but myself and a few other members from BP went to the latest meeting and we finally came away with some hope. We were all favorably impressed with the way the President has stood up for himself, stood up to people who would unneccessarily challenge him, and put a few people in their place, who NEEDED it.

I will give this tidbit from the meeting though. It's on the record so it's not as if I'm telling tales out of school. There was a new board member present who was elected unopposed during the last bogus election. There was a serious question of his eligibility to even run but he did and won, again, unopposed.

He and another new board member were asked their feelings on the organization and what they feel could be improved on and how they could help implement any positive changes to the group.
One new board member was very articulate and related past experiences where she was given short shrift by past board members when she needed assistance. She wants to help improve things and I believe she is sincere. The other new board member literally hemmed and hawwed. He couldn't put a complete sentence together. I was sitting 3 feet away from him and could not understand a single word. He was so unsure of what he was saying or trying to say. He was completely unprepared for the simplest of questions.

Later, there was an open forum where a few members asked questions and we had a give and take of opinions, questions and history lessons. At one point this new board member, who apparently was in cahoots with another member, started to interrupt the President in a loud voice, cutting off the President's remarks at every turn. To his credit, George stopped him in his tracks but he'd just continue to rudely interrupt George. And George stood his ground and got louder than this guy. He reiterated that he was the President and he will NOT be interrupted by anyone. He was 100% right on this. This board member was blatantly trying to disrupt the meeting and George's statements. When he realized he'd lost the battle, this new board member got up and threw what can only be described as a "hissy-fit". He said he'd tender his resignation in writing while wildly gesticulating in the middle of the room. Without missing a beat, George said "Thank you" and continued what he was saying. He was excellent. The board member left the meeting and it continued successfully. This is what has been one of the problems with GOAL. These board members think they've been crowned Kings and Queens of countries and act it. And the gall. This guy is brand new to the board and he acts this way?? I don't think so!!!

Some info:

There was a major question as to his eligibilty to run as he may not have attended the requisite three meetings within a certain time frame last year.

He was finally "allowed" to run. Yes, I know it's bogus but this is what happened. And he ran unopposed. He wasn't even at the meeting where he was elected. (The whole election process this past year was bogus)

He hasn't contributed to the organization in ANY way except that: 1) he apparently paid his annual dues 2) he marched in the last Pride Parade and participated in the afterparty to an extent 3) he is particularly close to another board member who apparently is his "mentor". Other than that, most of the membership doesn't know him.

So: He gets elected even though he's unknown and hasn't "paid his dues" by making any meaningful contributions to the organization by volunteering, organizing, participating in meetings or anything that would give you a foothold in the group.

Then: He attends a general meeting and is asked a simple question about his feelings toward the group and what he can bring to it....and he can't even utter a complete sentence as to what he can bring to GOAL.

Then: In the midst of a heated Q&A session and legitimate discussion, he attempts to thwart legitimate statements by the President, who is attempting to clarify things for a member who was asking questions (with an agenda, and in cahoots with this board member). He finds some cajones and starts loudly and rudely interrupting the President, attempting to thwart him from giving an honest answer. When the President stands his ground against someone who was literally GIVEN his position on a silver platter, he gets up and acts out like a child and resigns and then leaves the meeting.

Well...good riddance to this guy. People like him are part of the problem that GOAL has been having. He should be given his dues back and told to never return to the group. The absolute gall of this guy. George did the right thing by standing up to him and putting him in his place. And I give him credit for that.

Some people fail to realize that being a board member of an organization is not a license to indulge in ego fulfilling antics. If you're not about all of the people in your organization, you need to find another organization.

So...to close.....If this is an indication of some much needed house cleaning within GOAL, then I say CONGRATULATIONS to George Farrugia. I've been on and off the fence so much with our current President that my ass is completely chapped at this point!
(And NO comments from you, Hoosiercop!!)

But again....not telling tales out of school. It's on the record and it's not like I'm airing dirty laundry. I'm actually airing CLEAN laundry! The meeting was one of the best in YEARS and it was a breath of fresh air that accomplished a lot. Thank God. There's some hope yet.

[flblue09]

That meeting certainly did stir and stoke the fading embers of G.O.A.L. and, hopefuly, the pheonix will now rise again! Tip of the hat to George ... well done Georgie Boy

[flblue09]

Based upon the following article, what do others on here think about the idea of LGBT Criminal Justice/LEO organizations such as G.O.A.L chapters, L.E.G.A.L chapters etc. stepping up to the plate with PFLAG and upping the reward to 15K or 20K in this case ?

I think it would make a significant statement of solidarity as well send a strong statement at both the local as well as the national level to civilians and agencies alike.

"Reward Upped In Arizona Gay Bashings
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: February 16, 2007 - 12:01 am ET

(Scottsdale, Arizona) The reward for information leading to the arrest of a gang of men who attacked a gay couple outside a Scottsdale restaurant last December has been raised to $12,000 thanks to a donation from PFLAG.

Andrew Frost and Jean Rolland were set upon by as many as seven men as the couple walked out of the restaurant hand-in-hand.

Frost, 19, needed more than a dozen stitches to close wounds on his head and face. Rolland, 28, suffered many bumps and bruises.

Frost said that as he and Rolland exited the restaurant he heard someone yell "fag". He said he turned and saw two men. Frost said that he replied to the slur and one of the men punched him. He said that at least five others rushed from the restaurant and joined the attack. Frost and Rolland have filed a police report, but no one at the restaurant seems to have seen anything. The couple said they had never seen their attackers before.

Police said that if the assailants are caught they could face hate crime charges. Arizona includes sexuality under its hate crime law.

Despite extensive news coverage no one has come forward with information. This week Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays donated $1,000 to the Phoenix Police Department’s Silent Witness Program.

For Frost the December attack was the second against him in the past three years. When he was 16, he said, he was attacked by two teens and an adult in Mesa. One used an aluminum baseball bat."

[bluepride]

I agree with the sentiment that we'd like to help our own, no matter where they reside. But where is the gay community in Scottsdale? It shouldn't fall to only P-FLAG to step up and offer real support. I'm sure there are other groups and individuals who could help. The idea of gay LEO groups donating to the cause is a nice one but isn't it a bit unrealistic? Most groups that I know of are not rolling in money and what finances they do have are used to keep the groups afloat. And some have major expenses upcoming (i.e.: GOAL N/E, GOAL NY, Florida LEGAL to name just a few). If a group has the extra money lying around, sure, a donation would be a good thing. But the local gay community should be more vocal and financially supportive because the same type of violence perpetrated already could happen again to anyone in Scottsdale. I hope I'm not seeming to be uncaring about this incident because it's not that way at all. But I know that finances are tight with gay LEO groups these days in spite of what some may think.

I fully support the notion that gay LEO groups across the country express their support for the victims and for the Police who are investigating. But the community has to also step up and give information as well as offer support.

[flblue09]

With the amount of money spent on the organization's "representative's" airfares, hotels, meals and "other expenses" (if any) for "representation" at events ...
all of the combined LGBT Law Enforcement organizations and its members in this country could easily muster 5K ...

If every GOAL- NY member donated $5.00 and the organization put up what it could, I suspect 2k could be easily raised.

[bluepride]

Just to update a little......As I had mentioned before, the new Assistant Treasurer pulled his little shenanigan at the last meeting, resigned and walked out of the meeting. Well, the next day, George, the President got a few phone calls from one or two members with agendas, asking to take the guy back. Of course, George was 100% right in refusing to do it. A few days later, the ex-Asst. Treasurer sent an e-mail to the VICE-PRESIDENT stating that he changed his mind and would continue as Asst. Treasurer. As if it was just that easy. George got a copy and e-mailed back, standing his ground. Well, at the last Executive Board meeting, the board members who weren't present at the meeting where this misconduct occurred verbally beat up George and tried to bully him into returning this guy back to the board. Again, George stood tall but he was battered. There are one or two board members who have been trying to manipulate things and people in the organization for some time now and this was just a further example. They proposed that the former Asst. Treasurer come to another board meeting to explain what happened.

Well...anything he could say would be orchestrated and manipulated by some other board members and some of their "less than credible" friends. So George said that if this guy was going to come to the meeting to state what happened, then everyone who was present at the meeting should attend also to state what they saw. It is a real shame that members of GOAL should have to kiss the rings of a couple of board members who weren't present to see this debacle that took place at the last meeting. One was in California, at GOAL's expense and the other was not present at the meeting because he was working. His new assignment, which he got through his position on the board and some other connections, is as an undercover officer in Internal Affairs. His job is to assist in trying to entrap Police Officers in conduct that they would not ordinarily engage in without being lead into it. His position is that of a small furry rodent. And he is a KEY member of the Executive board of GOAL. Pretty sad.

So, we'll see what happens later this week. I have a feeling that even if 100 people "testified" as to what really took place, the nincompoops would still try to put this guy back on the board. There is a history of a few nefarious individuals within GOAL who, whenver they are involved, only do serious damage to the organization and they get away with it because they've built up their "activist" reputations and some fools fall for their hype. They are cancers to the organization.

I would hope that any leaders of the other groups across the country contact George and give him their unconditional support in this most serious time. The future of GOAL NY is in the balance.

[1dbigjim563]

I don't think this was what the founders were thinking of a quarter century ago. I guess things are so good for Gay and Lesbian Cops there these days that the board (and it is the board not the membership) has nothing better to do than participate in internecine warfare for the second time in less than a decade. What a waste of energy.

[bluepride]

I'll try to keep this as short as possible. It's an update on that special board meeting that was held to address the problem with the board and the guy who resigned his position.

There was a special Executive Board meeting held on Tuesday March 6th. People who were at the meeting when the problem occurred were invited to the meeting to state what they saw. Well, the President addressed the issues and rehashed what happened and he dressed down the board members who decided to not believe that he acted properly on February 13th. The were the board members who were absent from the meeting. He gave a synopsis of the whole meeting and then he gave the former Assistant Treasurer the opportunity to state his case and explain himself. The guy's first words were, "Why am I here?". He was pretty arrogant and agreed that he was over the top at the meeting and did over react to things. He was asked a few questions by another board member who was trying to clarify things and get more of an explanation as to what happened. He never apologized, was completely arrogant and played the victim role to the max. Then in the middle of someone's statement as to what happened that night, he and his partner got up and walked out of the meeting without saying anything. Hopefully we've seen the last of him.

After he left, the meeting continued with discussion and statements by the witnesses as to the events. Just by coincidence, four BP members were at the meeting and all had something to say. Even though Burner, Levon and myself all made good points, I have to applaud Flblue09 for so eloquently, politely and decisively shaming the board members for their "high school" "sophomoric" and "childish" behavior. He did it so well and was so effective without being condescending or mean. But his point was made for sure. We all expressed our concerns and reiterated that George is "the Boss" and no one should ever try to undermine his authority as President of GOAL. I think the whole board got the message that their infighting and childish behavior will NOT be tolerated any more. But, time will tell. The ball is in their court. It's up to them to mend any broken fences, although the VP shook his head "no", when asked if he could work with the President in the future. My opinion is that he needs to go. As well as at least one more board member. Toward the end of the meeting, the guests were asked to leave so the Board could conduct some business. When they finished and came out into the hallway, I didn't notice any blood and they seemed to be in fairly good spirits. Let's hope that things will improve from this point on. We got rid of one bad apple. Let's see what the future brings. I think George finally realizes that he has support. It was there all the time but he chose to not utilize it. But he knows it's there now.

[flblue09]

While I appreciate the "tip of the hat" Bluepride, each of us who spoke up critically relative to this horse-sh*t saga did so equally well - in honesty and with sincere desire to preserve dignity and purpose within the GOAL-NY organization. That said, I must admit that I am disheartened and doubtful about the future of GOAL- NY.

I am appalled at the mentality and behavior that initiated the rise to the whole issue, and I was disturbingly disheartened by the actuated follow-up meeting of March 6th. That this "issue" should have been forced to attain such level of "low-class drama" importance is/was immature, unprofessional and embarrassingly demeaning to all of the individuals involved; including witnesses to the initial event. Frankly, though lacking in Dr. Phil potential, it certainly was not lacking in Maurie Povich possibility. IT WAS DISGUSTING!

Cops can be temperamental, shall we say. Childish, petty and paranoid, egotistical and untrusting. None of us are perfect, for sure. The nature of "doing the job" lends significantly toward defining one's self - be one a police officer, firefighter, lawyer or whatever. But, such is no excuse or defense for ill-mannered, immature, and unprofessional behavior.

What is the purpose of affiliating one's self to an organization like GOAL? Bottom line, it's NOT about what one may gain: power, recognition, advancement, status or any elbow rubbing potential. Hopefully it IS or SHOULD be about making "doing the job" better and, as a result, making life better for the LGBT community as a whole. It is about serving, not obtaining. Obtaining is selforiented - serving is community oriented.

While I do not mean to identically equate the horrific historical events of the African American or Chinese American or Native American and other such violated peoples and communities to that of the LGBT community - I can't help but recognize that the intentions and motives behind those who did, and today do, willfully engage in denying equal status are not all together dis-similar: to besmirch, disenfranchise, set apart, alienate, suppress, oppress and even, ultimately, eliminate. Undignified antics, like those of March 6th, only lend tangible fuel to such agendas. Essentially, such occasions play right into the hands of the opposition.

Should GOAL-NY come to its demise from the power-play drama I witnessed, it will be earned by self-centered individuals who truly comprehend little of the factual history and troubles others preceding them have endured and fought against so that life for others in the future could be, would be and are better.

Additionally, such demise of GOAL-NY would give immeasurable validity to the opposition's long held, ever present belief that LGBT people are: unstable, inconsistent, irresponsible and frivolous by nature, incompatible with mainstream ideals, lacking in basic ethics and morals, psychologically self-cenetered and immature and, therefore, ill-fit members of normal society. Frankly, I've little doubt that, should GAOL-NY fall, the ripple effect will, over time, negatively affect every like LGBT organization and effort toward unfettered equality in this country.

For any who might be inclined to seek a position of power ...
one might do well to honestly look at one's true motives behind any apparent motives for doing so. That is to say, "What's the motive behind the motive?"

[bluepride]

Once again you've hit the nail squarely on the head! Even though the meeting was "illegal" per the by-laws, it was held and hopefully it did some good. If anything, it put to rest the fiasco of the former Assistant Treasurer. That could've been put to rest on the night he bared his fangs at the President but the organization had to bow down to the egomaniacs who weren't present to witness it. And actually, by the time you finished speaking your piece, the two main offenders were slouched in their seats in defeat. Because you dressed them down perfectly and you touched nerves. Their body language spoke volumes. And by the time everyone else finished, they were toast.

My concern is the immediate future. Will they learn from what they heard the other night or will they regroup and try some other nonsense to satisfy their egos? The next general meeting should be a telling one. They and all members of all groups should learn that the organizations they "serve" are not pathways to glory for board members. Actions speak louder than words so I'll be looking at these clowns very critically from here on in. The President needs to strengthen his board with new blood who will back him and assist him in getting the jobs done that GOAL needs to be addressing. My hope is that at least two of the current board members resign. I doubt that will happen though. Once they do (if they do), this Poseidon Adventure of an organization will have a future.

[burner]

All the points made are valid. But there's enough blame (for this fiasco) to go around...and the general membership has its share to take responsibility for. Too many members like to just pay their nominal annual dues, march in the parade and go to the parties. They can't take two hours out of their "busy schedules" once a month... or even once every OTHER month ...to attend a meeting and keep up with what's going on in the organization. And it's times like that that one sees attempted coups by those seeking to promote themselves and their own agenda, "while nobody is looking." But just let one of these layabouts get jammed up and you see them come screaming "Help me!" Good. I got that off my chest.

Having said that, the membership can also be the lazy tiger that just wants to be left alone but, once aroused, can be ferocious. Those who refuse to learn from history do so at their peril.

GOAL By-laws are very specific... so tight in fact that my dear friend BLUEPRIDE says they say you need permission to go take a leak ...but I digress. They are specific in saying that all power vests with the membership, and the Board and the individual officers have only the limited powers delegated to them by the members. Even the President is not granted excessive latitude but he/she IS delegated the power and responsibility to lead the organization. Those who, today, are trying to undermine his authority are repeating history, and will come to regret it.

Nine years ago GOAL had another President whose Board did everything to undermine his authority. Then, as now, the members were initially apathetic. Then, as now, the ego trips and tantrums were not harming the President, they were harming the organization itself. I'm proud of the part that BLUEPRIDE and myself played at that time. We didn't resort to tricks or theatrics; we didn't have to. We simply used the By-laws themselves, roused enough of the "lazy tigers" to let them know what was going on, and forged a resolution that resulted in throwing every single Board member, save the President, out of office! And THAT was having the back of a President whose policies none of us really supported, but whose authority we all agreed had to be defended for the sake of the organization. At least now, with George at the helm, I'm feeling better because I'm backing someone I actually support.

GOAL survived then, it will survive now, as long as there are enough of us who still believe it has a vital role to play and a need to exist. And it does! It may be on life support, and some of us "old-timers" may be tired of always being the ones to rush in with the bandages and IV tubes but, damn it, someone has to do it.