Submitted by MacD McRae
- Corruption
- Mismanagement
- Poor Board morale
- Loosing direction and function
The tail is surely wagging the dog and the meanest things are done. Since 2006 the Te YWCA (Y) has been faltering and now at it lowest ebb. Six Board members fled within the last 6 months and another stormed out recently.
Sabotage and subterfuge rule among women who should be empowering and supporting each other. Leakages. The Marilyn Rice-Bowen, several times removed Past President never gave up the throne. She wields from behind occasionally raising ‘the serpent’s head’.
Elections to the Board are rigged so only a prescribe set gets on and into top positions. Those who she can manipulate. Decisions are made by a few, President, VPs and Assistant Secretary Treasurer, with her advise then the Board is informed. Large sums are paid out without documentation or Board approval then the Board is informed. The Admin Assistant is sacked without due process then the Board is informed at next BM.
The Purpose of the Y is to build a fellowship of women, empower women and work to improve social and economic conditions for them and the communities through programs.
Breakfast Club encourages laziness, lawlessness and perhaps pilfering. There is not structure to the activity and the Board has no control of it. Actually there is an overreach of that activity to the Bard that is troubling. Lack of accountability to the Board.
Information sharing to Board and members of the Association is absent. General members have precious few meetings, 1 in 2015. No financial reporting to Board.
Rules of Order are subverted.
Marilyn Rice-Bowen fired the General Secretary/CEO during her presidency and ensures that a replacement is not installed. This position is prerequisite to Affiliation of the World YWCA and effective management. Without that separation of CEO and President there is conflict of interest n transparency. Agenda items like Treasurer’s Report are never on/presented to the Board. As 3rd signatory and legal representative of the Association this post is critical. since 2010 President and 2nd VP signing cheques although Constitution states General Secretary and Treasurer. President involved in day to day operations in a meddlesome and subversive manner.
Rice-Bowen advises courses of actions that are contrary to Constitution, Best practices or/and the Rule of Order.
YWCA is to empower women through training towards self employment and independence. Traditional programs are no more but a Breakfast Club (a Marilyn Rice-Bowen initiative) that feeds all and sundry and does not liberate, even the children. Seems a conduit for families and friends to supply their larder. It swallows the space needed for programs that could and have earned handsomely over the decades for YWCA’s operating costs. The coordinator complains bitterly about carrying the load but…
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