"so what's wrong with the decision to get a full report for oversight review and take it from there? don't you think we should have the facts before us to evaluate before coming to conclusions and acting one way or another.This got me to thinking, as I have heard these accusations before:
in your zealousness to correct some bad things you are ending up attacking and destroying the reputations of some good programs and organizations and causing damage to the good along with the bad.
maybe it's time to stop the shotgun approach and become a bit more directed to specific targets - this chemotherapy is damaging not only the bad elements but the whole collective system (what's left of it)!"
Yes, it's true, if it hadn't been for the last National Jewish Population Study, we would have no inter-marriage crisis in the United States. And, if it weren't for this G-d forsaken Blog and real reporters in the independent Jewish media, just think:
- JFNA would be the Garden of Eden some of its leaders actually believe it is;
- Jerry Silverman would be considered to be a competent CEO;
- The Global Planning Table would be transformational in changing Jewish life across the Globe;
- MASA would be doing just fine, thank you, with no perceptible oversight;
- Federation allocations to JAFI/JDC/World ORT would be as great as Federation CEOs believe them to be;
- None of the New York non-profits that have been at the center of news of corruption and a lack of oversight would have any difficulties;
- Etc., etc., etc.
My Anonymous friend points to a flaw he/she has identified in the reporting on these pages -- that I use a blunderbuss when a rifle would be more productive. I am not certain that I fully understand the charge inasmuch as I believe that these Posts have been pretty damn specific as to those I hold responsible for the damage done and being done to our communities and to the "whole collective system (what's left of it)."
And, so it is, that as long as abuses continue to threaten the very existence of some of my/our treasured institutions, I will highlight them even as the leaders of these institutions turn away and refuse even to acknowledge the possibility that their nonfeasance threatens the institutions they have been elected/chosen to lead. And I will do so until these leaders stand up, confess error and lead.
Sorry.
Rwexler
I never suggested that you stop speaking out - just that you target the real problems of our collective system and the disasterous merger and not throw out the baby with the bath water.
ReplyDeleteAs the guy who took Richard and others to task for being overly focused on personalities, I would just day that in this case he is focused on the meat of the issue - a culture of leadership and management that defies all acceptable norms of responsiveness, transparency and accountability. Yes, the victim is the good works of the agency but the perps are from within the ranks of those who perpetuate obfuscation, patronization and the failure to look in the mirror.
ReplyDeleteAs a loyal reader of the blog it seems to me that RW is targeting the real problems of our collective system. Furthermore he is getting at the cause of the disease and not just focusing on the symptoms. I don't remember him ever suggesting to throw out the baby with the bathwater.
ReplyDeleteRichie, In this week's Forward there is an attempt, in a lengthy article on the collapse of FEGS in New York City, to ascertain what happened over many years to tens of millions of dollars transferred by the non-profit to a for-profit "subsidiary"that FEGS created. Nowhere is there any suggestions of oversight, lay leaders involvement or lay engagement. One can see how the creation of a multitude of "public benefit companies" by JAFI could lead to the same circumstance there.
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with us?
We have been promised a lot over the past ten years, from transparency to accountability, and we have received nothing of the kind. In most every non-profit I have experienced, this kind of failure of responsibility would be met with the removal, quietly and respectfully, of the current leadership. But not at this mess that we have perpetuated by our silence.
ReplyDeleteMy love for the Federation movement stems from the commitment over the decades to create a fair and neutral philanthropic platform on which Jews of different ideological and religious beliefs can unite and which balances support for Jews in need, Israel and overseas endeavors and enhancing engagement in Jewish life. Current malais, ineptitude and confusion will, I fear, create a vacuum that will be filled by hyper-partisans of a single ideological bent and/or advocates of a single narrow funding stream. I can live with being called a nostalgic old dinasaur but the true losers will be our communities and the Jewish world as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAs a JCP (JEWISH COMMUNAL PROFESSIONAL) PLEASE IT IS TIME FOR OUR PHILANTHROPIC ENTERPRISE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME TYPE OF DISRUPTION EVERY OTHER INDUSTRY MUST COMBAT WITH SAME COURAGE AND STRENGTH A SYSTEM WITH OUR HISTORY HAS.
ReplyDeleteRICHARD IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS LACK OF VISION ON THE PART OF OUR CURRENT LEADERS.