AWSDA: Direction and Decision
August 15th, 2008 by Lisa A.Rape is a women’s biggest fear and the Rape Prevention Instructor Certification Course that was given at the AWSDA seminar yearly through 2007 gave us tools to defend and teach women how to defend and fight back - as is our absolute right.
This board took that away. Board members Sheila Haddad, Susan Baldwin and Jen Haas all voted NOT to give that course because of accusations from Carol Montoya, an officer of the Board, about then Defensive Tactics Strategist Phil Messina. While the Bylaws clearly state the procedure for such accusations, the Bylaws were not followed!
It was this ignoring of written procedure and unprofessional method in which all this was handled by the board chair that resulted in the resignation of 6 out of 9 board members over a period of a few months.
There was already an “independent investigation” performed by Ilsa vonLeden because of the way this Board had dealt with the matter at the beginning. She took it upon herself to find the truthful answers to ignored or redirected inquiries.
The Board states sloppy record keeping. These are THEIR records - not the records of previous Boards.
The Board states Modern Warrior monopoly. Kerry Copeland was not a Modern Warrior student and she was a phenomenal Executive Chair. Neither were several past board members direct Modern Warrior affiliates.
The situation AWSDA is in is NOT Modern Warrior produced. It is the result of fraudulence and blame casting, using Modern Warrior and Phil as scapegoats for indiscretions of this Board and one of its officers.
As AWSDA members, where do we go from here? We weren’t allowed to hear it, but you can read about it.
Do you have it in you to step outside of the closed General Membership Meeting and seek the other side’s view and position? It’s as easy as clicking your mouse.
Lisa Abbott saildragon@yahoo.com
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