Gail Posner Karp resigns from ASA Natl. Board

[Guest guest]

Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 2:38 PM

Subject: My ASA Board Resignation

April 20, 2003

To The ASA Board of Directors;

It is with deep regret that I am withdrawing today from the Board of the

Autism Society of America.  Almost six years ago I was elected to this board

because I believed in the goals of our Autism Society.  I am a life member

of the Society and deeply believe in our mission.  Two years ago, I came to

realize that I had basic disagreements with our Executive Director and Board

President.  These differences have understandably arisen as we worked

together, but I was more than willing to live with these differences in view

of what I believed to be our shared support for autism advocacy, education,

research and support; reinforced by our mutual respect of each.  Implicit in

this relationship was my tacit resolve that we would not aggravate our

differences by extensively focusing on them -- especially our differences

over how to approach and fulfill our mission and the objective basis of

ethics as it pertained to drafting and implementing policy.

Despite my objections to numerous policies, decisions and restructured

priorities that have been implemented by our current leadership, I still

felt that I could help to lead the Autism Society without compromising

the mission and goals of the Society.  During the past few months, however,

I have been totally divested from my hope that Article I (namely our

mission) of our Bylaws is being advanced.  Not only do I believe that we are

experiencing "mission drift", but I believe that we are being led astray

into a cosmetically enhanced, yet "belt-way insular", form of administration

and leadership.

Allow me to explain:

This is more than a secondary or minor disagreement.  Resolutions and

recommendations have been handed down to the board in a didactic way, often

with no prior explanation for assertions of the utmost importance on

everything from chartering of chapters0 to the process of board

restructuring1 to questionable fundraising practices2.  In addition to these

issues, I have also voiced concerns regarding executive compensation3,

financial accountability/reporting4, chapter billing/reporting requirements

that are not "user friendly"5 and listserve censorship6.  My concerns, when

addressed, are very politely marginalized and have no received no ongoing

serious consideration.

As a member of the Board, I bore the responsibility of having to assent

support (despite my negative vote) for these changes by virtue of a board

majority passage.  Were I to default on this responsibility while my name is

still on the board roster, my silence would result in confusion amongst our

members.  For many months, I sought to read, listen and learn more about

organizational change with the hope that my concerns might have been based

on personal disaffectation, distrust of organizational change, or that my

convictions were rooted in outdated theory and practice.  Most reluctantly,

I have come to strongly believe that this is not the case.  It is therefore

with firm resolve and profound sorrow that I hereby tender my resignation

effective immediately.

Sincerely,

Cantor Gail Posner Karp, CFRE

4721 Belle Avenue

Davenport, Iowa 52807

Daytime Phone: (563)650-1827 Email:ibntibn@...

ASA Board Member 1997-2003

Former Officer, National Conference Chair, Information Referral Committee

Chair, Advocate Committee Chair, Nominating Committee Member, Financial

Oversight Committee Member, Conference Awards Committee Member.

(Endnotes below)

0 Article I, Section G, of our Bylaws states that one of our purposes is

"to encourage the formation of chapters".  Despite serious inquiries, we

have not fully chartered a chapter in over a year.  In addition, anticipated

changes to the chartering process for local chapters (which are still in

process) are expected to impact this aspect of our mission in a severe and

negative manner.

1 I voted against this board resolution at the July 2002 board meeting as it

lacked the implementation plan (which was promised at the July 2001 board

meeting) that was to be in place prior to the mailing of the ballots.

2 Specific references: Discussions concerning a) fundraising calls in 2001

when staff left messages identifying themselves "volunteers" [sic.  for the

evening] calling on behalf of ASA.  The acceptance of a major gift from

the NFK Holding Corporation to underwrite the 2002 Congressman Burton dinner

in Indiana, when the origin of the funds, donors, goals and purposes of this

"corporation" were - and are to date - unknown.  I was told that this donor

operated as a "shell" for Congressman Burton's political fundraising

efforts.  c) Several fundraising proposals during the past 2 years (all of

which passed the board) involved approving percentage-based compensation for

fundraising consultants and firms.  This practice is in violation of the

Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethics [of which I am a

member].

3 I voted against the award of a second $25,000.00 raise within a

six-month period as requested by our Executive Director based on the premise

that ASA had turned a "profit".  This represents to me a disregard for

mission and a negative cultural shift in the organization.

4 I question the motivation and intent of the usage of the AICPA

disclaimer listed on all recent ASA/ASAF Financial Statements.

5 I believe that recent ASA office policies which required the use of

proprietary software for chapter reporting (resulting in a surcharge/fine

for non-compliance) were poorly communicated, imperious and too hastily

implemented.  I also reacted the same way to the recent chapter requirement

of Directors Officers Insurance coverage.

6 There is no set, committee-approved policy for the content of email

submissions allowed on the ASA Chapter Leader¹s Network Listserve, yet

submissions that are viewed to be non-constructive are not permitted to be

posted there

     Autism Society of America

Autism Society of America Foundation

7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814

Voice: , Ext 105.   Fax:

www.autism-society.org

rbeck@...

The voice and resource of the autism community'

Lee Grossman, President            April 20, 2003

Cantor Gail Karp, CFRE

4721 Belle Avenue

Davenport, IA.  52807-1227

Dear Cantor Karp:

This letter is to acknowledge receipt of your email dated April 20, 2003

regarding your resignation from the Autism Society of America¹s Board of

Directors.

On behalf of the Board, and myself I wish to thank you for your years of

dedicated service to ASA.  I am confident you will remain a strong advocate

for your family, ASA and the entire Autism Community.  I wish well in your

future endeavors.

Regards,

Lee Grossman

President

Autism Society of America

L. Beck, Executive Director                April 22, 2003

Cantor Gail Karp, CFRE

4721 Belle Avenue

Davenport, IA.  52807-1227

Dear Gail:

Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter of resignation from the ASA

board of directors.

I view as a sign of health a board of directors in which differing views

exist and have the opportunity of being aired and considered by all in the

decision making process.  Thank you for contributing to that process and for

caring enough to share your points of view for consideration.

Wishing you the very best of your future endeavors,

Cc: ASA board of directors; A Pulley