Frank, Because I feel responsible for pushing you over the edge last night I thought I would comment. I believe you are the best and perhaps the only person who can effectively chair the Bike Board at this time. Everyone in attendance at last nights meeting expressed similar sentiments after you left. If for any reason I am making your role as chair more difficult than it already is I would be happy to resign from the board so you might continue to provide effective leadership to the organization. I am also happy to remain on the board and continue to make the small contributions I am able to offer. I think the most important thing we might accomplish is to have you continue to serve as chair.
That said, I ask you to consider the following regardless of whether I remain on the board or not. I offer this only so some good might come of last nights uncomfortable ending. If you decide to remain as chair (and I and probably everyone else really hopes you do) you might define a term after which you will call for the nomination and election of the next chair AND at the same time agree to serve until the end of this term without resigning or threatening to resign (other than for unforseen mitigating circumstances of course). At the end of that term you can decide to accept your likely nomination and election for another term or not. Your resignation last night is the second or third of which I'm aware and these instances have been uncomfortable, distracting and feel like intimidation.
For myself I need to know that all opinions and free exchange of ideas are welcome at the table. I am happy to accept what ever changes in decorum you and others feel necessary to maintain the effectiveness of our meetings but I do need to know that everyone's opinion is valuable and that decisions on matters of substance will be made by the majority vote.
I hope you will consider my remarks in the positive spirit with which they are offered. More importantly I truly hope that you agree to continue as chair of the bike board with or without my continued membership as best suits your vision.
Cheers, Butch
------ _0 ------ _ <,_ ---- (*)/ (*) ________________________________________ From: bikeboard-bounces@bikemorgantown.com [bikeboard-bounces@bikemorgantown.com] On Behalf Of Frank Gmeindl [fgmeindl@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 9:13 AM To: Bicycle Board Subject: [Bikeboard] Resignation
Bicycle Board Members,
Please accept my resignation as Chairman of the Bicycle Board. Thanks for tolerating my somewhat dictatorial meeting management methods. Thanks to all of you present and past members for contributing your valuable time and energy to try to make Morgantown a community in which all citizens can enjoy bicycling safely and fearlessly anywhere, anytime for any reason.
Over the more than 6 years that the BB has existed, we've made some significant achievements but not nearly as much as I think we need to make a significant improvement in cycling here. The Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan provides the City sufficient guidance to make significant improvements. I hope you will show up to support it at the Nov. 27 City Council meeting. During my time as Chairman, my interests have narrowed, I've lost my enthusiasm and effectiveness as Chairman and I believe that someone else can do a better job.
With your permission, I will represent the Bicycle Board at November Traffic Commission, MPO, City Council and WV Connecting Communities planned activities including next Wednesday's TC meeting, next Thursday's MPO Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, the Nov. 17 MPO Long Range Transportation Plan Technical Advisory Group meeting, the Nov. 27 City Council meeting and the Nov. 10 WV Connecting Communities meeting unless the BB provides a substitute or the heads of those agencies shut me out.
Frank _______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@bikemorgantown.com https://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?8VddBNVVwSUqejhOYYCyYr01C3aWN_P-AU_YWs01M...