Despite a lot of disinformation / misinformation being peddled by certain Board Members at auDA, this move of members to seek the removal of Stuart Benjamin as Independent Director (and Chair) is not down to a “personal spat” between Stuart and myself.
Nothing could be further from the truth. These Board Members are obviously trying to spin this line in order to shore up some sympathy votes for the Chair. Shame on them for doing so.
The only reason we are in the position that we are today is because certain people at auDA decided to break promises and assurances made to members. I (for one) would never have “taken up arms” had this not happened. It was the spark that set off a bushfire.
This is what I wrote on May 2nd – long before a S249D application was conceived.
♦ auDA, You Promised Members Better Communication!
“Why? Quite simply, the Board and/or CEO have not honoured some of their most important commitments and assurances to Members with regards communication and transparency. Let’s call it as it is – broken promises.”
Could This Fire Be “Extinguished”?
A legal friend of mine yesterday suggested that a specific “sit down” was definitely required between members and auDA. I said I had tried – but unfortunately I was rebuffed.
This is what I wrote on May 29th – also before any S249D was lodged.
♦ auDA – It’s Time For Conflict Resolution
“So my question to auDA is do we all prefer “Resolution” to “Revolution”? I know I much prefer resolution – and I speak for many auDA members (and friends).”
Check out my open letter to Cameron Boardman and the auDA Board.
So in my opinion, it’s time auDA brought in a specialist team of firefighters. Better late than never.
Ned O’Meara – 20th July 2017
Disclaimer
I think it comes down to this,
-Removal of the minutes by an organisation with well publicised transparency issues
-Unconstitutional code of conduct that seeks to prevent member criticism
Clearly AUDA wasn’t willing to have a proper discussion on either issue and it just continued to build and build.
26 signatories in a short space of time so hardly a personal spat.
Brace yourself Ned!
Given the regrettably politicised and adversarial environment we find ourselves in, some at auDA will continue to escalate their efforts to portray you as an outlier, a trouble-maker, a leader of a lunatic fringe minority that only seeks to destabilise and undermine the efforts of the organisation.
We all know that is not the truth and that you have taken a courageous personal decision to act as a spokesperson for a significant number of disaffected members. I’m sure its not a role you wished for yourself in late 2016.
I have read many of your older posts and it is almost painful to see how open-minded and welcoming you were initially, and how open to mediation and resolution you remained as things went sour.
The auDA Board must recognise that they have brought this upon themselves.
Also, don’t ever let them gloss over the fact that the resolution against Stuart Benjamin was always intended as one of a suite of resolutions and that, initially, the others were of far greater importance to members. Again, through auDA’s own decision-making processes, it is they, not members, that sharpened the focus to one motion against the Chair.
Exactly right, AUDA absolutely sees resolution 4 as valid. Also worth noting AUDA response to the suggestion the meeting could be withdrawn after they struck down the other 3 resolutions,
So they gave them a day give or take to withdraw.
When auDA Board Members,auDA Supply Members,auDA Demand members,some auDA staff,most ex auDA staff, major Registrars, Major wholesale registry players, want a new auDA Chair there is obviously a need for Stuart Benjamin to resign gracefully or be removed.
The disgraceful stubbornness to stay potentially brings auDA and the whole industry into disrepute.
Those auDA Directors who are phoning members to say this is just a personal issue between Ned and Stuart should be ashamed of themselves…but they won’t be.
Those who pulled the strings to get Stuart the job and $$$ should also resign….but again they will not. They get their own benefits being on the auDA Board.
The direction the two very inexperienced auDA CEO Cameron Boardman and auDA Chair Stuart Benjamin have taken auDA down is not only disfunctional but imo it is jeopardizing the .AU Namespace.
In 5 years Boardman and Benjamin will probably not even be in this industry. They both (and others) need to be stopped from what I believe is their erratic, chaotic and costly ($$) reign. auDA is not their piggy bank.
auDA Legal costs have probably gone through the roof again under their watch.
Publisher Note: This has been edited!
I reckon Ned is more annoying to auDA than Steve Irwin was to a croc of unknown sex.
Keep up the good work!
Crikey! 😀
I doubt people are fooled by the idea that this is a “personal spat”, its beyond the personal whims of a few. The entire culture of governance at auDA is under the spotlight and rightly so, its failing to meet its social responsibility in favour of, maximising its own income.