I am assuming that Alison will be doing an in-depth study of the Board. I believe she will find that the George Fiske she quotes has been on board for barely seven months and has been the Chairman of the Board for an even shorter period of time. I believe others on the Board have been involved for a similarly short period of time.

As a biased member of the TCAN family and supporter of Michael, I believe the issue is much different than described. It seems to me the problem isn't Michael, but the Board. From what I understand, the Board couldn't figure out how to work with Michael, so they instead chose to fire him. This isn't Michael's failure, it is the Board's failure. Managing creative types is never easy and it is clear the corporate types that now infest the TCAN Board don't have a clue.

The Board has a fiduciary and duty of care responsibility to do what is best for the future of the organization. I believe that Board has already breached these responsibilities. There is sufficient evidence - the clandestine hiring of the fund raising consultant, the firing of Michael, and the ensuing e-mails from George Fiske to the entire TCAN mailing list, which includes Michael's industry peers - that the Board is operating so far outside of the bounds of its own policies and responsibilities that the Board members should step down. I also believe that the Board will not do this, so it is my feeling that the Attorney General's office should probably intercede.

The damage this Board has done to the TCAN community is nearly irreparable. Many in the community will not volunteer under these conditions. Others will not donate for the time being. And still others will ask for their membership dues to be returned. And I know that I will not attend an event there until Michael is returned as Executive Director and the Board is reconstructed in a meaningful and acceptible way.

I look forward to Alison's more in-depth pieces on this tragedy,

Sincerely,

Jonathan W. Baker