Dear TCAN Maintenance Committee Members

By now I'm sure all of you have heard that Michael Moran was fired last week from TCAN, by the Board of Directors. A core group of event leaders and committee chairs, including myself, urged the Board to find a solution where Michael remained and all the hard work that created TCAN was not unraveled, and TCAN was not put at risk. While there were several attempts to encourage counseling or mediation, the Board did not pursue this option. Yet another attempt will be launched tomorrow, and we hope that this idea will be given a chance. This is too important to give up on.

As others have noted in their emails to the Board of Directors, our group is among the many TCAN volunteers, who happily gave of our time to advance the ideals of this wonderful organization. We were the painters, electricians, carpenters, handy folks, lighting designers, acousticians, plumbers, architects, caulkers, energy audit coordinators, the stage apron researchers, the interior designers, the window and door leak solvers, the hardware changers, the willing to help-tell me what I can do, and the tell us the problem, and we'll try to find a fix-ERS. We also are members, contributors, performers, promoters, and audience attendees for many events at TCAN. Speaking for myself, I hope the board will seriously re-visit their decision, understand how much this organization means to those of us who feel TCAN is ours. While perhaps not intentional, the previous response and perceived lack of serious consideration of our request to try to work things out, has left many of us feeling the Board finds us irrelevant, trivial, or expendable. In my heart I believe that all of us, Board members and volunteers alike, still believe in the work of TCAN and that all of us can again re-group to make the organization better and stronger. We'll have a better idea before week's end if the Board believes this is workable.

At the present time, I have decided that I am no longer willing to chair the Maintenance committee. While our group has not been in place very long, I have really enjoyed meeting and working with every one of you. We were just getting a good head of steam going and accomplishing many improvements. I personally appreciate everyone's efforts. For those of you that are in the middle of maintenance related projects, where you have spent money on materials, placed orders, etc. that were agreed to by our group, you should definitely still submit your receipts for expenditures to Marsha as described previously. If any issues arise with this, please call me and I can intervene. I believe this includes Constance, Andy, Nick, and if there are others, please let me know. Barbara, I don't know how far you were in the energy survey either- but if you choose to do anything else, Marsha should be your contact for the moment.

I understand that the locks to TCAN have all been changed, so I no longer can get you into the building, but you can call the main TCAN number if you need to get in. If you want to complete the project you are involved with, or feel you want to abandon it, either is fine and fully understandable. I'll leave that to each of you to decide. I would appreciate your letting me know your decision.

Most of us joined the maintenance committee because of our relationships with Michael. It is my sincere hope that all of us stay friends, no matter what decision each individual makes, and that we are somehow able to put things back together.

Also wanted to let you know that there is an informational meeting this Sunday March 21 at 3:00 at Elizabeth Moran's home at 4 Aqueduct Rd. in Natick, which you all are invited to. You should feel free to invite friends and others you know from TCAN or elsewhere who would like more information. There is also a related website that you may be interested in. www.tcanites.org.

All the best,

Judy Bennett, AIA

Previous Chair of the Maintenance Committee