[Reading-hall-of-fame] actions at IRA

Wed Feb 11 03:34:11 GMT 2009

RHF colleagues,

I cannot pretend to fathom all of the reasons why this seemingly  
arbitrary act might have occurred.  I can only hope that members of  
the IRA board and executive committee, including those who are members  
of the RHF, will find a way to take the cover off these highly  
secretive deliberations.

Knowing Alan as well as I do (he was my TA when he was in grad school  
at Minnesota) and knowing his ethical and moral standards as I do, I'd  
have to have a lot of evidence to convince me that he did something so  
professionally, morally, or ethically irresponsible that it merits  
this sort of dismissal. Alas, I can't pretend to know what I don't  
know.  So these secretive deliberations, no doubt promoted by legal  
counsel with a vested interest in continuing the intrigue, prevent us  
all from drawing our own independent inferences about the situation.

But I do know this.  Alan is our colleague.  Alan has given much of  
his professional career to IRA.  Alan has overseen its rise to an  
unprecedented position in the community of professional organizations.  
If nothing else, we need to mark, and to celebrate, his contributions  
to the field and to the organization. To that end, I plan to be a part  
of an IRA-independent event in Minneapolis  to celebrate his  
contributions to the field.  I'll have more to say on that when I have  
a sense of what is possible where and when.  I hope that you will join  
me in funding just such an event, in part to let the board of  
directors of IRA know that we think that regardless of what Alan might  
have done (still a mystery), he deserves our respect and  
acknowledgment for his contributions.  I also would like them to know,  
and yes this includes my friends on the board and in the Hall of Fame,  
that what they did was unconscionable, depriving, as their actions  
did, Alan of the right to go out on his own terms.  I am sure hundreds  
of IRA stalwarts will join us in just such a counter-organizational  
celebration.  It is important, indeed essential, that not one dime of  
IRA money be spent on such an event.  And I hope that no Board Member  
would dare to attend.

I also hope that other things will happen. For example, it would be  
important for someone, particularly state level folks, to introduce  
resolutions of censure directed at the Board and the Executive  
Committee at the Delegates Assembly in Minneapolis--not so much for  
the particularly decision, but for the secretive processes they used  
in making it--and for hiding behind the cloak of lawyerly privilege.

Also, I don't know what Board procedures permit, but I also hope that  
if members can address the board in their meeting in Phoenix,  some of  
you will address the Board and demand an open and transparent  
explanation of the decision making process and rationale.

Finally, I hope that someone is directing some attention to the  
psychological and professional well-being of the staff at IRA.  This  
must be a blow for them.

Normally, I would say that i am sorry that RHF members who are also  
members of the Board and Executive Committee have had to suffer my  
wrath, but I cannot muster such an apology.  This is just too  
outrageous--in process and substance.

With uncompromising ire.

David

On Feb 10, 2009, at 8:12 AM, Jay Samuels wrote:

I just sent an email about the situation Hoffman described and am quite
angry about the insensitivity of what has happened. Why am I angry?   
Alan
had announced that he would retire in two  years. I have no idea how  
many
years he has served IRA, but I know it was many years.  Given that  
Alan was
about to retire, to do this to him in this way shows a complete lack of
sensitivity. If this action came from the Board of Directors I think  
they
deserve criticism for their behavior. Jay samuels

-----Original Message-----
From: reading-hall-of-fame-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
[mailto:reading-hall-of-fame-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf  
Of
jim hoffman
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 7:14 AM
To: reading-hall-of-fame at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
Subject: [Reading-hall-of-fame] actions at IRA

I write to you as colleagues and friends of IRA. I write in a state
of sadness, anger and confusion. It has been reported to me, through
several "unofficial" sources that Alan Farstrup has been fired as
Executive Director of IRA. I have no details and attempts to get
confirmation of this action have been met with silence. I cannot
think of anyone who has given more to IRA than Alan and the thought
of his dismissal in anticipation of his retirement is
incomprehensible. . . . wrong, unfair, and on and on.  I cannot
imagine the range of emotions Alan and his family are going through
right now.  I am hoping that we, as members of the Hall of Fame, can
start an open conversation about what is going on and the ways in
which we can support Alan and IRA through difficult times. We are
headed into a conference in just two weeks, with members of the
organization not informed of this action. My inclination, honestly,
is to protest this action by not attending the conference -- but I'm
not sure what such an action taken by me or by  many would
accomplish.  Can anyone shed light on the events that have unfolded
and continue to unfold? What can we do individually or collectively
to address the situation?

jim
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