It’s with a sad heart I’ve been following the news concerning the La Plata County Humane Society and the latest rift between the board and the membership. Unfortunately, history tends to repeat itself, and we’re witnessing it again at the shelter with the board being at odds with the membership.
Because of the nature of the humane society, emotions tend to run high at all levels of shelter operation from the board to the staff. I have witnessed the extreme emotional stress involved in running an animal shelter without acknowledgment and awareness from the board, staff and membership; strange and odd things begin to affect the shelter and the thrift store. Sometimes, individual members of board or staff are so passionate and adamant in their beliefs they assume “ownership” of the organization and shanghai it from the membership. When members and volunteers can be “banned” and employees squeezed out, the atmosphere becomes strained to the detriment of the goal of the LPCHS, which is helping animals.
A major problem over the years has been the board and individual director’s manipulation and alteration of the bylaws and policy and procedures to fit their own agendas and specific situations, creating animosity between membership, staff and the board. The bylaws now have so many loopholes they resemble Swiss cheese, and the structure becomes coercive and restrictive instead of smoothly operational and functional.
When discussion and debate at an annual membership meeting becomes this contentious, it’s time for everyone to step back and do what’s best for the organization. It’s important to remember the board as a whole and individual directors serve at the pleasure of the membership, and they in no way “own” the shelter.
I encourage all members to write the current board of directors and request that an outside evaluation from the American Humane Association and a comprehensive outside financial audit be conducted immediately.
I hope the board will get help in evaluating what has gone wrong and how to get the LPCHS operating from a healthy and inclusive perspective.
Ginny Elder
Durango
