Molly Janczyk: Why not allow a little latitude when only a few are speaking?

From Molly Janczyk, January 19, 2007
Subject: RE: STRS Board Chair "hammers" Dr. Fluke out-of-order

This was so unnecessary as there were only 5 speakers. A little latitude please for our retirees coming long distances. Surely another moment of your time would have not harmed anyone as some retirees have endured untenable suffering these last few years. 45 min. is allowed for speakers. If only a few are speaking, perhaps, timing is a bit silly and overly punitive for absolutely no reason. Please! The force with which the Chair called this 75 yr old gentle man was disrespectful. It was most clear he did not hear to any in the room. This is not a rude man nor an aggressive one. We are not dots on paper or just names. This is an intelligent member of STRS who works very hard for retirees. I was insulted and embarrassed by how he was treated.

Then no microphone for Bob Jones making his speech hard to follow as it was intricate for some of us. Would it have killed anyone to politely ask him to begin again so all could hear what he was saying. No common sense was used yesterday for these 2 wonderful men who want nothing by to help others. No compassion or feeling of any kind. I cannot imagine that Dennis Leone or John Lazares would not have asked for a moment more due to number of speakers or for Bob Jones to have time to read his speech in entirety once the microphone was back up. This lack of concern for your membership is exactly what Leone and Lazares mean and what Curtis and Parshall addressed at the CORE meeting when it is said: The Board must recognize membership at times of concern (and in this case in obvious times of plain common sense and fairness. What would it have hurt? Please don't tell me schedule as you must allow time for 15 speakers when making the agenda).