Herb Germann's Report to the BoT

Brief Report on the Board Meeting  November 8, 2010

 

Yesterday with unanimous consent and authority of ANJCC: The Assoc. of NJ county College Faculty, I presented a “Call for Action “to the Board of Trustees.  Essentially, ANJCCF called upon the Board to upon the College Board “to open up talks directly with the Faculty Association for resolution by mutual agreement of the impasse.”  Additionally, ANJCCF “calls upon the College Board and to work with the Faculty Association to establish and implement a blueprint for a more collegial environment at Ocean County College.”  I stated:

The Board’s action is a clear violation of N.J.S.A. 34:13A5.3, 5.4 (a) which states that:

Proposed new rules or modifications of existing rules governing working conditions shall be negotiated…before they are established.

 “The College President, Jon Larson and Academic Vice President, Richard Strada has knowingly created a hostile work place with the goal to install fear into the teaching faculty.”

A hostile environment, I could not believe how rude and uncivil certain Board members were in attempting to kill the messenger bringing the message.  The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Thulin rudely interrupted my presentation demanding to know “who I was, and whom I represented”.  I said “did you not hear my opening remarks that I represent ANJCCF.”  He then asked “If I was vested.” all in attempt to silence me. I told him “I speak with the authority of  ANJCCF”.  He asked “do you represent the Faculty Association?” I said:  “Were you not paying attention, I represent the Association of NJ County College Faculty and since the president of ANJCCF is in class, I as an officer of ANJCCF, am making the presentation.  Now may I please be allowed to continue?”  The rudeness was so unprofessional.

Next, Tara Kelly rudely interrupted asking: “Who are you?”  I told her she was way out of line and “I have the floor.”  Hostility on campus! It was alive and well at the Board Room yesterday.  How dare Tara Kelly attempt to suppress free speech and act with such incivility? By the way does incivility apply to Rich Strada, Board Chairman, and Tara Kelly?  During my presentation  Dick Strada, by his smirking expression seemed to suggest that this is all a big joke. Does he not realize the harm he is doing to the teaching faculty? He is unfit to be a leader of the faculty and by his irresponsible actions is in large part the cause the hostile and toxic campus workplace. 

 

Unite!    Come Together Against the Tyranny from Above

 

Respectfully

 

Herb Germann

Comments

[Bebop]

BlueStateBlues said, "I don't think he has one shred of humility or humanity in his body."

Glad you chose to share with us only the "lighter note."

[BlueStateBlues]

On a lighter note:

There is a show called, "Undercover Boss", that airs Sunday nights. As the title suggests, bosses of fairly large companies go undercover at their own business to see how the rank and file do their jobs. They are all humbled by the end of the process and vow to make changes for the good for their employees.

I laugh every time I watch this show because I imagine Larson going under cover. I imagine his reaction to the anxiety, stress, & fear that he has created at OCC. I imagine that he would be delighted to know that nearly every worker hates coming to work and detests him.

If Larson could be half the man that some of the CEOs on the show are, then OCC would return to being a decent place to work. I don't think that he has one shred of humility or humanity in his body. Karma can you hear us?

[Jefferson]

"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran Pastor & Theologian who opposed Hitler

[Herb Germann]

If this "Letter to the Board" does not post I will send it to the FAOCC email addresses

Herb Germann

[Herb Germann]

I am posting a letter to the Board of Trustees on this site because at a public meeting I was treated with incivility by several members of the College Administration and the Board Chair. They were in violation of their own policy on"Civility"

Mr. Thulin:

You might want to review the College “Civility statement with regards to how I was treated at the Board Meeting on Monday, November 8, 2010 while speaking with vested authority of ANJCCF: Association of County College faculties. ANJCCF is an Affiliation of the NJEA, which represents the interest of New Jersey County College Faculty. It has been active for more than 36 years.

The College “Civility Statement” is supposed to guarantee the following:

1. Courteous discourse Honest interactions and utterances
2. Fair and just treatment
3. Integrity and keeping promises
4. Open professional communications
5. Diversity, professionalism, and collegiality
6. Free expression of views without meanness or a desire to do harm
7. Tolerance of differing points of view

I was not given this civility during my presentation. In fact, I was interrupted at least four times during the public comment session. Ms. Tara Kelly who is not a Board member was way out of line in interrupting my presentation and challenging unwarrantedly, my ANJCCF credentials.

I was speaking the truth about serious issues at Ocean County College as a Trustee and officer of ANJCCF. One of the most important Calls for Action by ANJCCF was: “ANJCCF call upon the College Board and to work with the Faculty Association to establish and implement a blueprint for a more collegial environment at Ocean County College.”

ANJCCF was calling upon the Board of Trustees to work together to resolve crucial issues and find common ground for a healthy campus environment. How can there be such hostility for such noble goals.

Respectfully,

Herb Germann

Trustee and Treasurer of ANJCCF