Dear Mr. Fiske:

There is a core group of a few hundred active volunteers at TCAN and
I've considered myself a member of that group since the first week I
moved to Natick almost four years ago. Evidently, you don't yet know
too much about us but let me tell you a few of the things we do.

First, as volunteers, we are true "activists" in this community and
we've also been strong financial supporters of TCAN. We've been paying
our membership dues and renewing annually. Over the years, we've
donated air conditioners, computers and other needed items and we've
bought T-shirts, bumper stickers, jewelry, bricks, plaques and seat
backs. We're regular attendees at TCAN events and we've steadily
encouraged family and friends to join us.

We're also the folks who man the desks and answer the phones, sell
tickets, make coffee and hot cider, run and host shows during the week,
usher, fold programs, throw out the trash, sweep the floors, replace the
towels, toilet paper and light bulbs, arrange for artwork to be hung and
serve on all kinds of committees, including galas and fund raisers such
as phonathons. We maintain mailing lists, organize publicity and
solicit prizes for auctions. We're involved in building maintenance and
construction. We install electric outlets, move pianos, hook chairs
together, lift refrigerators, operate light boards, set up mikes and run
the sound system.

We show up at selectmen's meetings when they threaten to renege on their
agreement to sell us the Firehouse and we sometimes turn that Firehouse
overnight into a theatre or a venue for a tremendous formal opening
night extravaganza. We open the doors in the morning, fix the signs
denoting each day's specific attraction and we turn out the lights and
lock the doors long after the performers have left. And, boy, do we
ever talk up TCAN!

Believe me, there's a lot more. And most of us have been doing it since
the phrase "two doors down and one flight up" was invented. (You can
ask your fellow Board members what that means.)

Mr. Fiske, TCAN could never afford to pay us for what we do, or for what
we have done to help the organization reach this point in its
development. While Michael Moran certainly
has been in the forefront of this effort, he has not been alone. He's
been the band leader--
but we have been the band. Since members of this core group of
volunteers collectively interface with him daily, not once or twice a
month as most Board members, believe me when I say we can truly
understand a newcomer's apparent frustration.

Yet we also understand the classic difference between the so-called
"practical" business decisions made by an organization's directors, as
contrasted to the "visionary" goals of a perhaps temperamental--albeit
quite successful--executive director. We further understand the "new
broom" concept. These are not uncommon situations, as you know, and
they both have been obviously apparent in this case.

But when you ignored/rejected our plea to have the Board arbitrate or
mediate its differences with Michael, and made the decision to fire him
instead, we felt/feel that you have ignored, rejected and fired US as
well.

As a result of your action, many of us have had to conclude (despite the
now placating e-mails and phone calls), that the TCAN Board does not
understand, respect nor care about, our feelings, or the contributions
we have made to TCAN's growth over the years--and that it probably never
did. (In my time here, the Board has evinced little overt interest in,
or knowledge of, what is involved in day-to-day operating details.)

Your decision, unfortunately, has badly damaged our spirits, thus
sapping our energy and enthusiasm. As you are evidently beginning to
realize, it also has greatly diminished the incentive and willingness of
many of us to continue such activities as volunteering, renewing our
memberships and continuing to provide our financial and promotional
support.

Mr. Fiske, you may well replace our financial contributions quickly and
replenish any membership numbers which may be lost as a result of the
Board's snub of our plea, but I think that, by continuing to refuse
mediating your differences with Michael, it will take you a much longer
time to regain the spirit, the energy and the vitality we volunteers
willingly brought to TCAN.

That is a pity. For TCAN and for Natick.

Sincerely,
Richard Tellis

Dick Tellis dicktcan@webtv.net