BM 8-10-04

No minutes were taken on this date but one of our residents in attendance had this to say when he discovered the board had changed the rules for the open forum, which he often takes part in, without notifying anyone but those in support of the board. The board supporters all came with prepared statements, while non supporters were required to ad-lib.

This website is open to all residents of Shavano Ridge. Other opinions were expressed at this meeting. If those speakers would like to have their speeches presented here, they may email them (in word document or plain text form) to this address. dmacdougall@satx.rr.com

Open letter to the Board of Shavano Ridge Homeowners Association,

I am greatly saddened by the travesty of a board meeting that I witnessed on the evening of August 10th, 2004. I watched with disbelief as this board threw the rule book out the window and abandoned any pretence of fair and open democracy in this community. I realize that I was the only person present that openly disagreed with what you did. When you pull a stunt like you did on that night, you have demonstrated to me personally what you are capable of and what you are worth as human beings. I have no time for your fine words, for they mean little. Your actions belie your flowery self congratulatory rhetoric. You conceived new rules in secrecy, and used them to bludgeon the rights of your fellow citizens. You soiled yourselves with these underhanded tactics. I am ashamed of you and you should be ashamed of yourselves.

You secretively changed the rules, and then implemented those new rules, without consulting the membership of this community.
Before announcing the new rules at this meeting, you furtively passed along the information regarding the new rules to your friends, including spouses (Ed Kingshott, Lorna Wong) previous board members (Ron Wong, Barbara Michlowicz) and fellow travelers (Bob Wagoner).
These people then were given time to spend researching their pet issues and preparing, in some cases, long written speeches. They turned up in force at the board meeting. In fact there was an unusually high turnout at this meeting (7), all supporting the board, arguments in hand, except for myself.
I showed up for the meeting and heard about this rule change only after the meeting had been called to order.
One after the other, your friends and supporters got up and gave their prepared speeches, to hearty applause from the board. Bob Wagoners speech was on two type written pages, largely in praise of Bill Beverly. Ed Kingshott, who claimed to be independent, had a speech written on at least 3 pages and spoke for longer than the allotted time, breaking your new rules, even though previous speakers deliberately yielded him time for his performance. He spoke against term limits for board members, which includes his own wife, who is deputy president. Many of the speeches contained negative and derogatory remarks concerning people who were not present to defend their views, and some of which were directed at me.
I was thus placed at a great disadvantage and had to speak extemporaneously, addressing the multiple issues that were raised, and in only 5 minutes. I was treated to open derision and derogatory remarks. Contrary to your own new rules, people speak over the top of me, shouted at me, and generally attempted to intimidate me.
The nominal president, Jerry Smith, then decided to ask me multiple questions about my remarks, as did various other people. For some reason this pleasantry was denied the other speakers. Mr Smith asked what evidence I had of secretive activity by with the board. I should have mentioned the evidence of this very meeting.
Contrary to the new rules, unfair amounts of time were allotted to your supporters to speak out and shout me down. The president did not allow me to fully respond to his questions before asking new questions. Thanks for the generous opportunity to speak, Jerry.

Why are you all so afraid of open fair debate? What have you got to hide? By these actions you have condemned yourselves. By the way, you should be thankful to the activists in our community who pushed you to actually turn up at this meeting.

I know that many of you are retired military who fought bravely for this country. I have the utmost respect for those who wore the uniform and fought to preserve freedom. It is unbelievable to me that those who had the honor to serve and fight for this great democracy would be caught up in these petty attempts to suppress democracy and free speech in their own back yards. This is unworthy and dishonorable work. My own father was a soldier. Because of his strong belief in democracy he signed up to fight fascism before the beginning of WWII. I am proud to follow in his footsteps.

Chris
Chris Jenkinson, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine,
Director, Molecular Genetics Core, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio,

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