Letter to the Editor: The Real Washington Area Humane Society Election Results

Did you catch that boxing match at the  on Sept. 14? Maybe not, since tickets were doled out parsimoniously and only to those aligned with the favored opponent. But the post-match reviews have been rolling in.

The match was . With money to burn on expensive lawyering, once the board became aware that there were candidates running via petition for the five open seats, they rooted through the dense, sometimes incomprehensible Pennsylvania non-profit guidelines and found a way to cut off membership purchases 30 days in advance of the annual elections.

Though the same bodies have been at the helm for years, it was only this year, this election that they applied this heretofore (law lingo) edict.

In 2007 when the board president of this past year was a fledgling candidate himself, scores of memberships were purchased (to assure him of a seat?) up to the very day of that Sept. 12, 2007 annual meeting and elections. Same for 2008—memberships could be purchased up to the day of the meeting.

What made this 2011 election different? There were actually contestants—five for each side—something not seen for in a decade. And the incumbents were prepping the arena to deliver the knock-out punch to the infinitely dedicated, qualified professionals that were willing to put on the gloves and get in the ring.

With police at hand at the country club for the big election, at least one member who forgot her membership card and was not on "the list" was turned away. Another, whose membership was botched was nearly sent packing, but squeaked by.

The voting—a sloppy affair with ballots from the 130 attendees reportedly stuffed first into a hat as there was no proper ballot box, yielded positive results for the five board-nominated candidates (including three incumbents).

Whole families, many of whom worked for or with McIntyre's company, along with their underage children, voted accordingly. Even the ballots were suspect, with the names of those nominated by the board on top, the candidates by petition on the bottom. Was this to cue the party loyalists who otherwise would have no knowledge of who to vote for?

President Arch McIntyre who vacillated between avuncular and tyrannical, shouted “sit down” to more than one attending member.

Though a rosy picture was painted regarding the financial health of the shelter, instead of comparing 2010 to 2009 (as one would expect) comparisons were made between 2010 and five years before. Not hard to beat those numbers. Why not compare to 10 years ago for an even more stunning claim of improvement?

Despite tough questions asked by members about the board’s recent actions and other dubious decisions and directions by the dozen doughnuts presiding over the ridiculous spectacle, the stalwart cocoon of supporting sheep that shuffled in didn’t waver.

The board treasurer in a phone conversation as well as the vice-president (re-running for her second term) claimed no knowledge of the cut-off date. Why would the whole board—and particularly two members of the executive committee—be unaware of such a controversial manipulation? Even odder was how tongue-tied the vice president was when asked if the company that employs her as an attorney also represented the McIntyres. She didn’t answer, but Arch chimed in an unembarrassed, “Yes,” exposing one of many conflicts of interest.

Another incumbent was downright flippant in his opening remarks to the voters and he continued in this vein during the proceedings as though he was working the room at a late-night, stand-up gig.

One member asked about information missing in the handouts they received—reading aloud Article IV, section 1(e) of the WAHS by-laws:

“The number of members of the Society as of the date of the report, together with a statement of increase or decrease in such number during the year immediately preceding the date of the report, and a statement of the place where the names and addresses of the current members may be found.”

In response, McIntyre wondered out loud how he could have missed that in explanation for the omission.

Another asked about the absent adoption and euthanasia statistics. Oh…he forgot. He said he would email it. Wanna bet? Make sure you take the point spread.

While most of the sitting board members were mute, five of them were aggressively vocal. The “outsiders” were verbally jabbed on every aspect of their curriculum vitaes, while those nominated by the board did little more than state their names. One board member was so visibly exercised that her red cheeks foreshadowed a potential stroke as she continued aiming below the belt at the challengers.

In contrast, the candidates by petition remained poised, prepared and professional throughout the inquisition. They elucidated their varied skill-sets along with indispensible shelter knowledge compared to a board nominated candidate who admitted to having not set foot in the shelter. Yet they were all defeated.

It’s more than a shame that the leadership grabbed for the indentured rather than open up their hearts and brains to people who have proven winning records at the shelter. The only transparency that this board reveals is their fixation on embracing ambivalent, uninvolved disciple cronies and repelling accomplished, engaged volunteers. Not even Abe Lincoln could win a seat on this board as an independent candidate. The final score was five-zip, the net result being that the McEmpire has grown by the addition of two more cold bodies. But anyone who witnessed the event can tell you that it’s the shelter that suffered the black eye.

Can people indebted by virtue of employment whether an attorney or the cat sitter, truly express opinions contrary to that of the person who signs their paycheck? With so many relationships tied to “the company” it’s a little like the friends and family plan that Gaddafi had in Libya and we see where that is headed. It is unhealthy, unethical, and unnecessary.

And where was I during this “blood sport”? I was at the far more polished, but equally fantastic show at the Benedum—the other “Wicked.”

Faye Kennedy

Former volunteer coordinator and past member of the WAHS Board of Directors