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Post by jtcm05 on Jan 17, 2008 7:54:44 GMT -5
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jan 17, 2008 8:42:29 GMT -5
Man, I'm going to bet those home phone numbers he published in this letter don't work anymore, to say the least!
There is certainly some bitterness that comes through in this letter, but understood, of course. Three decades, and he's not sure if it will all be scuttled over time. It would really be nice to hear the other side of the story, but that doesn't seem to be forthcoming.
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Post by jtcm05 on Jan 17, 2008 11:14:39 GMT -5
I'm especially interested in the "bitterness" between Kent and his ex-wife.
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Post by kctomato on Jan 17, 2008 12:41:46 GMT -5
Im not interested in that at all.
It will be interesting to see a Form 900 and see how the money is spent over the next couple of years.
Taking over boards and groups is a trend. I've seen it locally and nationally with disability groups. Lawyers are getting really slick at it and using the law to muscle their way in and assimilate or push out those which they can't.
The big autism group, Autism Speaks, that supposedly represents those with autism and parents really doesnt. Iit has become a front for pharmacuetical agendascontrolling money and how that money is spent on research. People on limited budgets placed hope in this organization raising money they used to raise for local groups to now be sent off to pay for six figure incomes, park avenue offices, private jets and research which does not benefit the individuals.
Autism Speaks comes into communities with established fund raisers and either assimilates them or as they have done in several cities by:
scheduling similar events just before the local fund raisers have theirs and then hit the media hard with ads for their events and mailing to solicit local corporate sponors. This confuses people and the money that would have stayed locally to help people immediately, instead leaves with a promise of maybe one day helping. Which translates to, pay for the research so drug companies can turn around and sell you a product.
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Post by bunkie on Jan 17, 2008 13:52:38 GMT -5
as a person who's been committed to purchasing seeds from SSE to support them for 5 plus years, i am very concerned. i also would like to hear the other side. however, kent's words do really ring true with me from all he has done and planned. and for him not to be able to visit the places he helped set up or see his ex comrades of 20 some years. something's fishy?! his interests to help the SSE seem sincere.
i also am a member of the SSE forum and immediately went there to find info and there was nothing?!
i can't wait to see the 990 form, too.
i am/was readying my order for this year, but i think i really want to hear the other side first.
thanks jtcm05 for posting the entire letter. may we post it elsewhere or do we need permission? EVERY gardener should be reading it, imo....and if there is, a response, ASAP!
peace, bunkie.
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Post by Alan on Jan 17, 2008 14:02:37 GMT -5
I too really appreciate the posting of the letter jtcm05, it definetly gives me something to base my support for SSE on and to if nothing else become a member in the future to possibly help right the wrongs and curtail this from happening once again.
While I am sure there are personal grievences tied up in this whole affair, particularly between Kent and his ex-wife, that is in fact no reason to fire the man who spent a good portion of his lifes work and energy and dedication in setting up this great organization.
One thing that seems really out of place to me is if the SSE board is not willing to any longer support the Twin Valleys Projects and the ancient white park cattle it really will look horrible on them given their mission and the fact that this project was decided on and invested in so long ago.
Another thing that seems fishy in the amount of money offered to Kent for him to "hush up" as well as the 401K and retirement plan and the posistion that they offered him after amending the bi-laws to be sure he wouldn't have a say in anything, to me that sounds like a coup de ta and something fishy is definetly in the air, not to mention that this is a not for profit and that's an alwful large amount of money for a non profit, member supported organization to be throwing around.
Another thing that has struck me as strange recently is the fact that some of the board members definetly have vested interests and it is my opinion that if you have a commercial or vested interest in the organization that you in fact should not be setting on the board because there is no way you can be impartial.
For example, Amy Goldman, a woman with no agricultural background so to speak, who has written a couple of "martha stewart-esque" books while evidently using the SSE seed bank as though it were her own personal seed bank. Another member that irks me is the guy from Johnnys, don't get me wrong, I think they are a great company, but what is the owner or even a board member of a seed company doing setting in on the board of a not for profit seed bank which has much interst in keeping corporate greed and PVP plants out of the hands of big agriculture?
These are all things that stick out in my mind as wrong, but that is just me and this is just my two cents.
-alan
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Post by Alan on Jan 17, 2008 14:08:56 GMT -5
Also, I am going to re-itterate one other thing, I still do believe that this is in fact the business of the gardening public in general. I know many members of SSE will disagree with me, but the importance herin lies within the fact that modern dangers to our food supply by big agri-business and thier work with PVP'ing existing open pollinated varieties and genetic modification as well as the loss of the small family farm due to corporat litigation and property rights is very important at this point in the local and national small, sustainable agricultural and slo food movement. In my mind anyone who has ever bought a single packet of seed from the SSE knowing whatthe SSE stands for and what Kent stands for has an interest in protecting this organization from the dangers inherent in the objectives of this current board of directors, who seem to be walking a very fine line with what is so important to all of us, and as we have seen in the past the government of this country themselves do not have our best interests in mind when it comes to agriculture and regulations are not in place within our own government to protect the diversity that SSE does. If the SSE is weakened or becomes morally irrelevent like the ARS GRIN system, then we are all in the agricultural community, between a rock and a hard place.
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Post by bunkie on Jan 17, 2008 14:10:55 GMT -5
alan, the one thing that came to mind when you mentioned Rob Johnston of Johnny's being on the board, he has (is) made appropriations to allow his employees to take over his company in the next few years. it's a gradual move and i thought it was a super one.
perhaps with his interests and experiences in seeds, selling and growing, he might have been a perfect addition to the SSE board. also kent said he was a friend for over 20 years.
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Post by Alan on Jan 17, 2008 14:23:15 GMT -5
Well, thats a definite plus and something I didn't know. It just seems like people with a vested interest might not be good to have on the board but like you said I'm sure he does know a lot about seeds and diversity.
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Post by bcday on Jan 17, 2008 14:50:11 GMT -5
Steph, the site admin for SSE's forum, has posted this announcement and I am re-posting it here:
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Post by canadamike on Jan 17, 2008 14:51:58 GMT -5
Alan
I now have read the letter and I am in complete agriement with you. I just red in it that I have no voting rights. That pissed me a lot.
Since this organisation got A LOT of public money, I also just learned, and no democracy can be exercised by the vast membership, these people cannot represent the multiple interets of the general public.
It has become (in my mind) a matter of absolute public interest, and also an international debate, since this group has members and supporters all over the world.
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Post by plantsnobin on Jan 17, 2008 14:55:59 GMT -5
Thank you for posting this. I don't think there is as much bitterness on Kent's part as there would be from most people. I understand that when you become a non-profit you give up much control, but for this to happen is just a bit much. Can anyone imagine what this must feel like? To give birth to the idea, plant the seeds and see it to fruition, then a board come in and say 'it ain't your baby' anymore? Perhaps now that 'heirloom' is chic it is worth taking over. Sure it does happen all the time in corporate America, but it seems like it should be different with a place like SSE. It just goes against the grain of what they were founded for in the first place.
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Post by Alan on Jan 17, 2008 15:14:36 GMT -5
Oh, I have no doubt that if the SSE were my baby I would be steaming mad and definetly would have probably filled that letter with all kinds of ville things that would hurt my cause.
I think Kent came off very professional and to me it is obvious that he is only concerned with the well being of SSE stated mission and it's membership and how things are handled in those departments. His letter was well worded and really hit home. I know he has to be in a lot of pain about all of this and it has hurt him in a way that I am sure many will never be able to understand truthfully.
I think everyone, particularly those concerned with self sustainability and the state of agriculture and food safety in the united states given the current environment should be very concerned about this. The moves the board have taken seem very morally questionable and open the doors to some scary possibilites in my mind.
By the way, Kudos to Kent for not saying anything negative regarding his ex-wife and wether or not that was a motive in all of this.
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Post by bunkie on Jan 17, 2008 15:49:13 GMT -5
i was just on the SSE forum and saw their new post and came here to post it, but see bcday has posted it...good work bcday!
i totally agree with alan and plantsnobin's posts. i thought kent was very professional and was concerned mainly about the organization and the fruition happening with all the projects, and the respectfulness of the funders. if it were me, i would be extremely hurt too.
and it is scarey if this new board sets up rules where paying and supporting members cannot be apart of decisions or suggections, etc... because of the 'legalise' SSE mentioned, i'm now really curious what's going on!!!
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jan 17, 2008 17:47:06 GMT -5
My over active brain has been working overtime. Wanna hear my c-o-n-spiracy theory?
Amy Goldman, daughter of new money mogul Sol Goldman, (daughter also of Lillian Goldman, for whom the Visitor's Center is named, as well as a Yale Law Library, and a fund at Johns Hopkins, for God's sake!) is tired of puttering around on daddy's dime, making art and writing books (initially published after pulling some strings I am so sure) and wants to prove herself. But how? Daddy has the real estate thing all tied up, doesn't he? Or does he? Perhaps with another infusion of his money, earmarked for a Visitors' Center with a lovely name, little Amy can stage a coup! Yes yes yes! What Trump's real estate speculation(pun intended)? Non profit work does, absolutely! Someday, little Amy will have her name plastered on as many altruistic entities as dear mama.
I may be way off the mark, but I'm not totally full of shit... I grew up with people like this. Fairfield County CT in the 80s for sure will scar a kid who isn't enrolled at Choate! ;D
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