Dear Fellow Board Members and Executive Director:

I've served on this board for three years now. In that time, I've been nothing but frustrated. While I believe in the mission of our organization, we can't seem to get anything done without drama and teeth gnashing. To say that there communication and follow-through problems is an understatement. I've sincerely tried to offer insight and suggestions on how we can improve, but nobody seems motivated for longer than a day.

ED, I hold you responsible for much of this. You're a lovely person, but you're also terribly disorganized and undisciplined. Others have tried to explain our collective frustrations with you away as mere "personality differences." I don't disagree, but that's a cop out. Your position requires effective communication, strategic planning, and good organization. So, while you have a lovely personality, I don't think it's best suited for this job. That, of course, begs some serious questions; questions nobody seems to want to ask.

And regarding the member of your staff that I've had to deal with for the past three years. I have long struggled with her, too. For a long time, I thought I was being too hard on her. She is young, after all. I tried and tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. To learn today that she's actually DRIVEN three other employees to quit because of her mean-spiritedness and arrogance leaves me speechless. Why does she still have a job and where were you, ED, in dealing with all of this? How has this situation persisted?

When my term is up in April, I don't currently intend to renew. I don't really want my departure to devolve into finger pointing or a blame game. I'm merely acknowledging that it's not a good fit for me. I love volunteering for a cause and people that I care about, but I think my time and engery and passion could be better used elsewhere.

Thank you.