[Dialogue] Facts re: Communication from ICA-USA Board on Restructuring

Sat Oct 21 20:14:19 EST 2006

A few facts: The Keystone Community is the people who are tenants in the
Kemper Building. They include some of the recently "riffed" (reduction in
force - legal when you have a business reason like being out of money that
does not relate to personnel per se) ICA staff, former ICA staff, and other
good people. I don't know its details. I will leave that to another to
respond.

All staff were read a script (almost the same as the communication you saw)
at the same hour (10:30 Chicago which was 9:30 Denver and 8:30 Phoenix).
Then each was met with privately by a Board member and someone else (unclear
who - I know Jonathan Bucki was in Chicago and Bonnie Lucas in Denver) to
deliver the employment news. For those riffed (see below), the statement
began with "(name), I have some bad news" and ended with (for me and so I've
heard for the others) "your position has been eliminated." We got 2 weeks
pay in lieu of notice, any remaining vacation was paid, plus, if you sign a
rather ironclad with virtually no futuric options (not her word but my
attorney said it couldn't get much worse) separation agreement, somewhere
between one and 4 weeks additional pay depending on how many contiguous
salaried years you had put in. Plus, you could have access to your office
through the end of the week to pack up your personal belongings. Some were
allowed to buy equipment to get their independent practices going. Contrary
to the separation agreement (not included in it, either) was a memorandum to
program staff stating the wish that they form independent practices to carry
on and that support (marketing and other stuff) would be given. The attorney
said that would be moot if we signed the separation agreement.

Thanks to David for sending names. RIF is a legal way that personnel can be
laid off (ie through no fault of their own) - due to issues with the
organization that require a reduction in force to stay afloat. There's
probably more to it than that.

Sunny (a recent Denver "riff-ee")

  _____  

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of FacilitationFla at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2006 4:32 PM
To: oe at wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Communication from ICA-USA Board on Restructuring

What is the Keystone Community?  What is special about it; Who is in it and
what does it do?

Cynthia

In a message dated 10/21/2006 12:12:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
jonzondo at juno.com writes:

Larry & all,

With respect to this forum and with respect to the business nature of
the current ICA-USA, of course many of us have the right to ask
questions.  Your direct relationship to those affected gives you the
right to speak.  Also, ICA-USA has asked many of us for contributions
for many years.   Finally, and certainly in the context of this forum,
we all have the right to ask questions.

The only way I knew that something was in the wind was the fact that my
parents are part of the Keystone community.  Otherwise, this specific
letter would have come to me as totally surprising news.

How do any of us ever move into the future?
In my experience, each of us do so in a variety of different ways.
The "restructuring" of the ICA in the 80's was hard on many.  I'm still
feeling the consequences of my parents choice to join an organization
that promised to care for them in the elder years, and then mostly
failed to be able to fully follow through with that promise.  Yeah, we
cared for the world in a million ways, but we sometimes had the
dammedest time caring for ourselves.  In my own life, I'm still
learning how to do this!  LOL  So certainly, that struggle is very human.

That restructuring is occurring not surprising to me.  I look at the
systems all around the USA and things are falling apart.  Federal
government, state government, local grant programs, and much more.  The
way we have done it in the past is no longer working.  It is time for
some big shifts.  Sustainability is one of the keys.  So, from the
larger perspective, that this is happening with the ICA does not
surprise me at all.

My questions today are:   
How is the ICA going to move from here?
How much kindness and integrity can those involved bring to the process?
Will there be space for an airing of grievances?
How much participation and what kind of participation will be allowed?
What are the real numbers?  (of $, people, etc)
How much imagination can those involved bring to the process?
and (on a very personal note)
How will this affect my parents?

I can imagine that this is not an easy process.  I send blessings to
all those involved and look forward to the dialog that may occur here
in this forum.

Walk in Beauty,
Jon Mark Elizondo

Cynthia N. Vance
Strategics International Inc.
8245 SW 116 Terrace
Miami, Florida, 33156
305-378-1327; fax 305-378-9178
http://members.aol.com/facilitationfla

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