A continuation of James Donaldson’s contestation of his unjust removal from the NBRPA Board of Directors.
Question comes to mind which I posed to the board three months ago, why even have a Board of Directors?
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Here’s my letter to the Board of Directors:
“Sun 4/29/2018 7:11 PM
Greetings all,
Question to our Board of Directors members, Associates and Founders on this email.
Why do we even have a Board of Directors? Especially when we continue to not follow the policies and procedures put in place for us to follow.
What’s the need for a vote on a matter that is already decided on?
As Board of Directors, we have an obligation (and the trust) to the RPA members to run the association in a professional, legal and ethical way, pertaining to our bylaws and board policy manual. They elected us to do so. This Board must realize that we are either complicit with the wholesale mishandling of Association business, or we are abdicating our responsibility as Directors. Either way, we are betraying those who elected us.
I received Darren Macfee’s email explanation pertaining to our latest board issue, involving CEO/Pres. Scott Rochelle and his new employment contract signed off on by board chairman, Spencer Haywood.
Personally, I think everything was executed the way it was “by design”, and purposefully kept from having full board involvement and discussion. Even though Spencer Haywood, is our new board chair, he has been around long enough to at least familiarize himself with the basic concept and generalities pertaining to our bylaws and policies and procedures. I myself have had many discussions with Spencer over the last months leading up to All-Star weekend in February, so I know he is very knowledgeable.
I don’t buy for a moment, Darren Macfee’s explanation and lame excuse that perhaps “In his enthusiasm, Spencer mistakenly skipped the last part of the process” (note: Darren is being paid $3,000 a month to supposedly advise us on board activities!)
My question is, when will we start to get these things right and live up to the potential of being in the great board that we all profess to be? As anybody who has been around long enough knows, there have been many instances in the past were bylaws, policies and procedures were not followed and it does nothing but create dissension and mistrust amongst the board members.
There is a slogan being used quite often during the NBA playoffs, currently by the Philadelphia 76ers “trust the process”. But it’s so hard to trust the process with this board because so many things are done in secrecy, and purposely kept away from the board in its entirety. I’ve made my round of calls to some of the board members, and whether it is a board member not remembering discussion points, or not having the pertinent information, to board members being informed of a board conference call with only a two day notice, to where all of us board members made a vow to our association members, to have a greater “sense of transparency”, or towards us as board members not being able to “trust the process” because a variety of reasons, this is where we find ourselves.
I agree with Darren’s recommendation of what typically is done in these situations, and I do want to say that Spencer’s “mistake” does not warrant a serious reprimand, but it should at least be “an informal reprimand”, kept track of by the Governance Committee chair, Dwight Davis, and be noted in both the board minutes and for the record.
As for my own personal involvement with this “process” I will abstain from voting on the employment agreement contract provided to new CEO/Pres. Scott Rochelle by Board Chair Spencer Haywood, since it did not follow proper protocol. I “abstain”.
Please make sure my letter becomes part of the board historical files (not the board minutes, since it wasn’t discussed during the board conference call).
Thank you very much for your time and attention to the matter.
James Donaldson
NBRPA Member
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
