I broke my vow of silence on MOFIB when I saw Mark Vera speaking on my behalf. I broke my vow of silence on MOFIB when I saw the BOD intimate/imply the above threat to Thales. I broke my vow of silence on MOFIB when I realized that the current BOD no longer has any intentions of putting itself at risk in the promised upcoming elections...instead the elections held will be for 4 new seats that have yet to be created. I broke my silence on MOFIB when it came across that basically, if you disagree with the leadership, you should step aside and shut up.
Knowing full well that what I posted on MOFIB will likely be REMOVED, I am posting it here as well, as a matter of public record for those who spend the time looking for it. I assume that it will be preserved here. I also assume that given the various threats and insinuations I've seen thrown around, this might very well make me the first person to be banned from MOFIB. Yes, the founder will be the first one banned. I'd actually welcome it at this point. Bring it on MOFIB!
Here's my message to the members after 6+ weeks of silence:
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I am confident that the free speech contained below will be viewed as hostile, volitile, threatening, inciteful, and otherwise inappropriate. So be it, which is why it will be posted both here on MOFIB, and other places where free speech still exists for dissenting viewpoints and opinions. In other words, it will take a lot of restraint for certain individuals to NOT remove this post, given their past inclinations.
Mark Vera":hjqz8t3b said:
Respectfully, what fight is everyone fighting? To bring Matt back on the BOD? Contrary to popular belief Matt is welcome back on the BOD through the next election should he follow the conditions to be released to potential candidates(virtually all MOFIB membership) and agree to work with fellow members. Matt himself has expressed he is not interested at this time and is welcome to change his mind any time he would like.
Respectfully, after well over a month's worth of silence, I won't stand silent to have people speak for me here if I believe that statement isn't fully accurate. Mark, to simply say that I am "not interested in running for reelection to the MOFIB BOD" implies that I no longer care about the organization I started. The truth is that I care deeply for the members and supporters of the vision, yet I wholeheartedly disagree and do no support the actions that have been taken by those individuals who I believe have abused their power. I'll ask again here, have the moderators seen their Moderator Powers restored after having them usurped by the acting BOD? Or are moderators such as Aomont and Thales still unable to perform their moderator duties at this point in time? What's become of the committee charters? I was thrown out of ever committee I was a member on during the "coup"...who's leading those committees now? Do those committees still exist? What's happened to those existing committee members?
Getting back to the notion of Matt Pedersen running for and/or sitting as an elected official on the MOFIB BOD - The simple truth, as I have stated countless times prior, is that there are a handful of people, all of whom are in positions of power, who I do not wish to work with on a personal or professional level. It is my choice to chose who I will, or will not, associate with. As a volunteer, no one can force, coherence, or obligate me to work with someone. Some of these people I chose to no longer associate with are people who I feel have put personal motives ahead of their fiduciary responsibilities and legal obligations. Others who I view as having simply volunteered largely for the title and prestige, and did little actual work.
If I were to run and be elected to the BOD, if these people remained in their current roles, my first order of business would be to motion for their wholesale removal, as I believe that IS in the best interests of MOFIB. Some may view this as vindictive or personal attacks. Some may consider such a stance immature or unprofessional. Others may consider these remarks slanderous, libelous, or otherwise against the user terms and agreement here (those same terms that I authored). As I have posted them here, they are but my opinions and no names have been mentioned. Yet, perhaps I shall become the first person completely banned from MOFIB for my remarks here and elsewhere? The truth is that these are my points of view, my opinions of the individuals and their contributions. Some have said that I was the one "destorying MOFIB", or that I have some modus operndi...I ask all of you who've known me for all of these years...what benefit would I have in intentionally destroying a labor of love and passion for over 2 years? When have I ever put my personal benefit ahead of MOFIB's? It is my stance that these people are the people who caused MOFIB to go from being a pleasure and joy to a chore and burden. Seeing as MOFIB was 110% voluntary and selfless for me, to recommit to a bad situation and to be forced to endure bad relationships yet again simply isn't worth it.
Yet, the truth is that in all of this, it is my
wife who has asked that I no longer volunteer to lead MOFIB. She was a firsthand witness to the dedication and committment and sacrifice I made to bring MOFIB to fruition. It was her sacrifice too, in giving me up for countless nights and weekends as I invested every ounce of freetime into MOFIB. Even she, completely outside of MOFIB in every possible way, was pulled in to feel some of the abuse I endured. Therefore, any nomination to run for an elected position on MOFIB would need her approval. If she doesn't grant it wholeheartedly, I won't even consider it. My family should not suffer for MOFIB any longer.
So too, I myself had said, since the literal inception of MOFIB, that I had NO intentions of running the show forever. In fact, initially, I, much like Mark, proposed a limited timeframe that I thought I'd be involved (my timeframe was 1 year). In truth, in learning what it really takes, 1 years, 2 years, were not enough to get MOFIB to the point where it was ready to take that next step. I'll never know if 3 years, 4 years, or 5 years was enough...I was not given that courtesy or respect. And so, my tenure in a position of leadership has ended, but not in the manner I ever could have foreseen. I continue to be a man overextended in every front, so having the business of MOFIB off my plate, it has simply be replaced by many other worthy projects. Perhaps the time of my return to MOFIB might be measured in years or decades rather than weeks or months.
Sadly, I believe that fundamentally, the recent actions perpetrated by a few members have destroyed the very thing that made MOFIB special. Folks seem to think that what made MOFIB special is that it's a breeding community, a central repository of information. Perhaps to some extent that's true, but the REAL thing that made MOFIB special was the community and collaboration took place. The equal playing field afforded to the newbie breeder who didn't know what a rotifer was to a breeder like Witt who has reared over 50 species of marine ornamentals. Having been in a position of truly being the one to get the ball rolling, to being the one to struggle to incorporate this organization specifically to ensure it's long term viability long after my departure, I must say that I've had significant time to get to know many members strengths and strengths and weaknesses, and as politically incorrect, the relative value of certain members to the community as a whole.
Since March, the hostile actions of a few have rendered MOFIB sadly just another one of many typical online communities, where dissent and disagreement are not truly tolerated, and members find themselves abused by the leaders. Despite my best intentions, MOFIB was unable to rise above people's petty ambitiions and differences...sadly, this is far too typical among hobbyist and industry organizations large and small. That, is a sad commentary on the caliber of MANY hobbyists. Perhaps that viewpoint alone will ensure that I could not be reelected...and perhaps that's just as well. Having spent time in every aspect of the hobby and industry, I've seen it from all sides. I believe that we, as a whole, will prove to be our own undoing. I will continue to remain a singular voice, speaking my own opinions, in the hopes that maybe what I say has resonance with my fellow hobbyists. Clearly, it fell on some deaf ears here too.
Some folks may say I myself "abused" certain members, and that is their opinion. I have always followed a very FAIR "modus operendi"...a philosophy that people with committements and obligations need to follow through, or step aside for folks who can do better. Ask nicely, repeatedly, but at some point if carrots don't work, breaking out the stick is most assuredly appropriate. Volunteer does not equate to half-hearted, sloppy, or indifference.
I will simply say that I held all members to very high standards, especially when it came to their commitments to their FELLOW MEMBERS. I believe the membership on the whole deserves better than what it is getting, but I am no longer the person to provide it. To see in this thread that a moderator, a volunteer, is lectured that his free thoughts are disrespectful and not in line with the "mission" of MOFIB. Perhaps I'm guilty of the same in some poeple's eyes. So be it, but I see it from a very different perspective. Sadly, I'm the one who wrote our mission statement, our Terms & Conditions, as well as the invitation letter that started this whole thing, and I can assure you...every person has the right to say just about anything on their mind. That was fundamental to MOFIB. People can disagree, but they have to respect the rules and authority. This current BOD has blurred the line when it says "A mod is part of the ruling of MOFIB and should be aligned and collaborative with the Site,it´s mission and authorities.Which you don´t seem to be." I will say that the commentary displayed by Thales is part and parcel of what MOFIB was founded on. Not the tyrannical threats that if you're not with us, you're against us, or if you don't stop speaking your opinions, don't stop stirring the pot, we might just ban you.
Mark Vera":hjqz8t3b said:
With the exception of myself your BOD was hand chosen by MP. With four new BOD the existing BOD is actually a minority. Unless your aim is to seek vengeance against the existing BOD the new BOD members only gain from having the sitting members experience. Again, let's put whats good for MOFIB ahead of what we want personally
Mark, you are again posting factually incorrect information, and it is simply that you were not a member in any way/shape/form when we incorporated MOFIB. In truth, MOFIB's first BOD member was yes, hand picked by me. John Lauth was not picked by me, but mutually agreed to by SPK and myself. It is John and myself who considered many potential candidates for our third initial BOD member, ultimately approaching Luis. These choices represented complete compromises on my part, as the truth is that given SPK's 5 month absense, the need arose to incorporate MOFIB in some fashion, and after debate among many founding members (moderators), the route of an LLC was selected as the best possible choice. Only when word of that reached back to SPK, did he come back at the 11th hour to provide his input, which forced me to change course dramatically in order to keep MOFIB going forward at the time. And that is the truth of how the existing BOD, sans Mark Vera, came to be.
I am sadly, firmly convinced that, given my experience, the choice to incorporate MOFIB as a not-for-profit was fundamentally the wrong choice for MOFIB, even though it was what I promised early supporters and what I followed through on. The ultimate goal of a non-for-profit has yet to be realized a year later, and frankly, I don't believe this organization in its current status would be meritorious of charitable status. Sadly, incorporating MOFIB as a not-for-profit was ultimately my choice to make, and you are all seeing the results of that bad decision. In hindsite, the simple truth is that given the current realities of our community as a whole, the best way forward for such an effort like MOFIB is a self-run, self fulfilling operation. Incorporation forever burdened MOFIB with the inability to remain nimble, proactive and reactive, and will likely continue to restrict the organization in ways it shouldn't be. An organization such as MOFIB needs a clear leader with a singular vision and the ability to execute on that vision. What is being proposed is an expansion of what I felt is fundamentally wrong with MOFIB...a situation where everything is done by committee rule, and the title of "president" is a label for legalities, nothing more. Only when a BOD can accept the disproportion of volunteer capacities, and understand the extreme value of a charismatic leader with a clear vision, who can be supported rather than hindered by the BOD, only then will MOFIB truly start to succeed. This is how it works in every REAL business, and sadly, this is what I saw had more impact for MOFIB.
To learn that the promised elections will consist solely of 4 new board members is nothing short of an outrage and an affront to the members. This fiasco has "powergrab" written all over it. Every member who has been involved in this "crisis" from its inception knows about the suggestions of elections as a way to reshape the existing BOD of three - that is to say that Matt Pedersen, John Lauth and Luis Magnasco were all gonna be up for election. These elections at the time were rammed down our throats with no timelines or notification, and when I posted the proper way to legally hold the elections in the state of IL, you all saw me locked out of MOFIB during my vacation, and now here we are.
I find it sadly humorous that the individuals sitting in power now are outwardly unwilling to risk their positions of power. I will simply propose a crucial truth I have learned in all of this - wisdom I will carry with me through the rest of my life. Those who seek and desire positions of authority and power, and attempt to retain it at all costs, are, as a general rule, not the ones who should have it. It is those who begrudgingly accept such positions, when their peers or situations call to do so, that are truly the right people, and often the best people for the job. The last time certain individuals had issues with my own authority on MOFIB, I put it to the people in an informal vote of confidence and stated that I would step down if I saw overwhelming support for my departure. Clearly, that didn't happen -
http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/view ... 237&t=2557
I understand the arguments for expanding the BOD from 3 to 5 and now to 7, as well as the arguments for staggering elections. That is, sadly, the BOD's authority to decide. I believe we all can see that there are, in reality, two very distinct sides to this coin. The proposed arguments are legitmate, but as other members have posed, there are far better transparent and fair ways to go about this IF this is the BOD's ultimate course.
To learn that there will be new qualifications for who can be a BOD member sets off further concern - MOFIB was founded on the premise that ever registered member on the website is a MEMBER of the organization, and that every last member in good standing (basically anyone who is not subject to permenent disciplenary actions by BOD mandate, who has a current functioning email address) would be a valid candidate. I strongly encourage anyone even remotely interested in this process to brush up on the corporate laws that govern not-for-profit corporations in the state of ILLINOIS. As much as MOFIB's BOD might like to set up qualifications for BOD membership, state laws govern this as well. Where there is a conflict, it is the state law that prevails, not what is established by the sitting BOD.
It would seem that these statements and policies serve as a warning threat to the four new BOD members who will be elected, especially if their first order of business would be to remove one or more of the currently seated BOD members (as is their right). The threat? Play nice, or we'll be completely uncooperative. "Learn from our experience"...don't even think about thinking for yourself. You're inexperienced and unwise...so take it from us...trust us.
This is hardly the BOD's first threat to the members - one need only look at the BOD Meeting Minutes forum to see the ominous and threatening "
Forum rules
INFORMATION POSTED IN THIS FORUM IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED IN PART OR TOTAL IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE MOFIB BOARD OF DIRECTORS.". Of course, anyone even mildly versed in copyright law knows that publicy available information such as that contained in the minutes are subject to copyright law, and as such, can be reproduced under the terms of fair use. Of course, the average MOFIB member probably doesn't understand that - all they see is a very threatening warning. "Play by our rules or else" - The Board of Directors.
Mark, I respect your efforts in all of this, and I have continued to share my honest opinions with you, and have supported you from the outside. You entered into this organization as a true outsider, which gives you the benefit, perhaps, of impartiality. Pretty much, you are a singularity in that you still have support and cooperation from me. The rest of the individuals involved in the running of MOFIB sadly do not have my support and cooperation at this time.
I appreciate those people who've withheld participation here on MOFIB as a show of solidarity and support for me. I've seen some of the best contributors turn and take what they've learned and shared here, to refocus back on their local fellow hobbyists to inspire and support them...certainly noble efforts. I will continue to remain silent and withhold participation and support of MOFIB so long as a disagree with its leadership. My last shred of optimism was lost in reading the BOD statements posted here today. My optimism for MOFIB will only return when I see fresh new leadership in place, leadership that is committed and dedicated to the COMMUNITY IDEALS I set forth when I founded MOFIB.
Currently, MOFIB has become something other than I intended it to be. That was the risk in bringing people in. As much as MOFIB made the mission of promoting captive breeding easier, the truth is that for committed individuals, the work might once again get a little tougher given the current level of participation and contributions here. Whether or not you continue to participate or support MOFIB, I can only implore you to stick with breeding as a past time, our hobby needs it. Do not let MOFIB's political fiascos stand in your way from breeding and exchanging information and seeking out your fellow breeders. As much as I always wanted MOFIB to be "THE" platform for the Marine Fish Breeder, it has never been the ONLY platform. In the end, it is the MEMBERS, the contributions, that made MOFIB what it was. And so too, that is the one ultimate card you as a member hold.
MOFIB should still belong to the members, so it is ultimately up to you, the members, to institute the changes YOU want to see in your organization and decide how that change is brought about. Remember that, MOFIB belongs to the members, NOT the BOD, unless the BOD opts to change what constitutes membership.
Currently, I will play no role in MOFIB for the betterment or detriment beyond what I have to do to ensure that the transition of MOFIB is completed in totality. As I have posted elswhere, and is still current today, it is now over 6 weeks since I handed everything to Mark Vera. As of today, May 19th, 2009, I am still the registered agent with the State of Illinois as listed in the online real time database for corporate records. This is a matter of FACT and public record, free for anyone to verify if so inclined. Mark Vera has relayed to me that there had been an error in the paperwork filed. Mark has told me that the paperwork was resubmitted to the state on May 8th. It is now May 19th. MOFIB has a legal obligation to file an annual report with the State of Illinois prior to June 1st, 2009. To see that I am still listed as the registered agent with the State of Illinois only 8 business days away from this filing deadline has me concerned. To see that this has taken over 6 weeks and is still unresolved, especially considering that this was one of the most important aspects of the transition for me and my family, is honestly a bit disappointing and disrespectful in my opinion. The moment this is resolved properly, I will breathe easier and finally can say that every last tie between me and MOFIB has been severed. Until then, I am stuck, for better or worse. Starting tomorrow, I will be engaging directly with the State regarding this matter. Frankly, I should not be the one having to take initiative on this at this point.
MOFIB lost me due to the actions of other poeple. My withholding of participation and support is a loss MOFIB will have to endure for the time being. Instead, I will put it to the members and my supporters, the folks I started MOFIB for in the first place. Make MOFIB a place I once again feel comfortable calling home. That's my challenge to every member out there. I will echo Mark's sentiments that if you want to change MOFIB for the better, member involvement and organization is now more important than ever.
Where Mark and I will disagree is that I believe change in MOFIB needs to occur from the top down, not the bottom up at this point in time.
This will be my final word posted on MOFIB here until circumstances dictate otherwise. I will be happy to answer any emails directed to me from people I actually want to hear from. I will continue to drift and waft about...where I settle remains to be seen.
Matt Pedersen
----NOTE - came back to edit this----
For the record, so long as the actual posts and threads remain, the statements made by Mark Vera that I quoted here, as well as a statement made by Luis (simply as an inline quote in the text of my response) were all made on this thread -
http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=5071 - that is where I also posted the above response.
FWIW,
Matt
