111 replies to this topic

[Mike Grehan]

I've just about had enough of all this avoiding issues by SEMPO.
There's stuff going on that is being withheld from, not just the
members, but people involved with the running of the organisation
itself.

Now, I have stated many times how much respect I have for the people
involved in the formation of this organisation. But I cannot believe
that ALL of you are still keeping this veil of secrecy over what's
really going on.

This is not your private organisation. You do not own it, you formed
it to accept fees from members and funding from sponsors. Cash, money!
And you are responsible to those members and sponsors.

And now those members, including me are asking pertinent questions
and expecting answers... and simply not getting them.

My respect at professionals who should know better is diminishing at
light speed I can tell you.

[SEMPO Board Members] you were keen enough to get into forums to promote the
virtues of SEMPO some months ago. Now have the courage to come back
and answer some questions in real time as you did then.

I wanted to support you guys... but boy, do you make it difficult.

I thought that simply by dropping out of the membership today I would
be making a point. Well I'm not doing that. I'm a member and like Jill
Whalen and many other members, I want some answers... and I'd like
them sooner rather than later.

Now is a good time for me!



[Edited by request from Mike.]

Edited by Jill, 23 August 2004 - 09:53 AM.

[Jill]

LOL@Scottie, never thought of that. That there are NO bylaws.

That must be it. They are fictional. That makes perfect sense.

If that's the case, then I hope they will simply come out and say so, so we can move on.

[Jill]

I wanted to support you guys... but boy, do you make it difficult.

Those are my sentiments exactly. And that's why I've finally had enough too. I've tried to keep the criticism at bay here and other forums, hoping against hope that someone official from SEMPO would show up to answer our questions.

We had a meeting in San Jose where that should have been done, and instead all we got were overture ads.

We had a newsletter sent the other day that could have done that, but all it consisted of was a few bullet points with no explanation.

Why is it so hard for someone from the board to speak out and give us some answers?

[SEO-PR]

Actually, there are bylaws. And they are being reviewed.

What there hasn't been -- until very recently -- was any serious interest from members in reading them. Which was perfectly understandable -- until now. And suddenly, there are requests for more information -- which is also perfectly understandable. And we are now working to ensure that those requests are met. But we're in transition -- from a volunteer board to a part-time acting executive director to a full-time executive director -- from a volunteer PR person to a part-time PR person -- from a pro bono lawyer to a lawyer on retainer -- from an appointed board to one that elects members. That isn't a secret. It is a process. And we'll get there.

So, your requests have been heard. They are being worked on -- and it will be met shortly (as in a couple of weeks from now). But, please just give us a little time.

Oh, and feel free to volunteer for any of the committees to help speed up the process -- although, based on my recent experience, the time it takes to reach a consensus seems to be lengthened, not shortened, by increasing the number of people involved in the committee. Still, that's the way democracies work. And the good news is that sempo is working very hard to be more democratic. The bad news is that this doesn't produce instant results.

[Jill]

Greg, that just doesn't fly. It takes all of one second to open up the word doc that the bylaws are in, and post them somewhere or email them to someone.

Sorry, but that just sounds silly to say that it takes time to process the requests. It doesn't. And again, it makes it look like there's something to hide, even if there isn't.

[OldWelshGuy]

My worry is that the by laws are what the organisation has been run by since it was formed. What is going to be presented can not possibly be the same bylaws that have been used, as , if they were then there would be no problem in serving them up.

What if the IRS or the charity commission (or whatever you have in the US equivalent to it) walked in and said 'Hey! lets see your articles of association' surely they would be made available without fail, or someone would have to say 'articles of what? sorry, what are they? we don't have them!'.

I think that is all people are asking for. The thing is, I have yet to meet a GOOD web marketer that is not a sharp cookie. I have yet to meet anyone who is good that is not above the cut in the brain stakes. Your not dealing with a plumbers union (not having a go against plumbers) you are dealing with people who could tie the average con man up in knots simply because of a better intellect.

Come clean, if not in public, then in private, & if not in writing (which I assume is what is holding things back) then via the phone with no paper trail. The members are not dumb, they know there IS a reason, and they kind of know that the reasons presented are not core objections, they are the skin objections. If a document is public record, then having to run it by a lawyer first sort of tells anyone who is smarter than the average bear that they have to be approved before they can be released.

Mu old grandad used to say, 'when your in a hole, put the shovel down!'

[Mike Grehan]

But we're in transition -- from a volunteer board to a part-time acting executive director to a full-time executive director -- from a volunteer PR person to a part-time PR person -- from a pro bono lawyer to a lawyer on retainer -- from an appointed board to one that elects members.  That isn't a secret.  It is a process.  And we'll get there.

Quarter of a million dollars and one year -- and there are no documents to look at? You've all formed companies before... jeeez!

Hey, let's take a look at the expenses... the huge dinner in Canada that the members paid for... most of whom could never have been there to begin with.

What did that get written off against? Corporate entertainment?

Please: please, I'm in a public place asking for some honesty, integrity and acknowledgment that the poor lowly $299 members do exist and deserve better than you're giving here.

They are mushrooms -- simply kept in the dark and fed nothing but bullshit

SEMPO wants honesty and support from me -- how about the same in return?

[bethabernathy]

If they have to change the bylaws so be it. Just put the original ones up on the site and make some comments about the changes. What does that take - 10 mins???

[Jill]

Exactly, Beth and Mike and OWG.

I think the members and the SEM community have already picked up on the fact that there are problems afoot with how the org was originally formed.

Just be freaking honest about it so we can all move on.

Tell us what you originally did, how it was seemingly a mistake, and what you're doing to correct it.

Honesty and openness goes a lot further towards winning people's respect than secrecy and silence.

[peter_d]

It is rather ironic that the unofficial SEMPOWATCH group appears to be able to communicate well, in timely fashion, and at negligible cost.

Perhaps SEMPO is waiting for the hurricane to blow over. Again.

[Jill]

Who's the unofficial SEMPOWATCH group?

[peter_d]

Those with questions....in the forums, the blogs et al.

[Jill]

Ah, okay, thought maybe I missed a cool new website...hmmmm

Hey how does your avatar keep changing every time I refresh, Peter?!

[peter_d]

Hey how does your avatar keep changing every time I refresh, Peter?!

I've cloaked my avatar

[bethabernathy]

 

But we're in transition -- from a volunteer board to a part-time acting executive director to a full-time executive director --

O.K. PR Guy: Did Barbara resign, step down or what? Her profile on Sempo does not indicate that she is Executive Director. Simple question here? It is after 5 in LT, CA.