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

[jim hoffman]

Is it too far fetched to suggest that we make an immediate offer to 
the Board (and the Executive Committee and to Alan) to mediate a 
solution to the current issue that may lead to an alternate outcome 
than the dismissal of Alan as executive director?  I am thinking a 
couple of us with standing in IRA and a professional mediator. The 
issue right now is that only the lawyers can talk to each other and 
we need to get the people involved in the decision-making talking. 
It is my understanding that the action of the Board was communicated 
to Alan by a lawyer and that there has been no personal contact. 
Whatever the issues, I have to believe there is a better solution 
than this and to not attempt a resolution is to fail the organization 
and the people we care about (both on the Board and Alan).

jim



At 8:32 PM -0800 2/10/09, Shirley Brice Heath wrote:
>Thank you, Jim, for this sad information.  It may be that only by 
>attending the meetings will we be able to learn what is happening. 
>This is incomprehensible to all of us who are seeing those near 
>retirement urged to retire early, but to be dismissed seems 
>unimaginable, given his years of service.  This is not a time when 
>we need more evidence to make all of us more and more cynical about 
>professional organizations and academic life.
>
>
>
>At 05:14 AM 2/10/2009, jim hoffman wrote:
>>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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>>Reading-hall-of-fame at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
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>
>Shirley Brice Heath
>Professor at Large
>Watson Institute for International Studies
>111 Thayer Street, P. O. Box 1970
>Providence, Rhode Island 02912
>
>phone:  617 642-0061
>http://www.shirleybriceheath.net