Is the board's attempts at turning a profit the reason that stupid f'ing King Kong and V for Vendetta were some of the movies shown a few months ago?

What were some of the specific complaints about Bartone, and who made them? I'm always suspicious when people are terminated or otherwise disciplined for anonymous complaints. Who's on the board and how do they get there?

Maybe it's a good thing we didn't renew our memberships after they expired in April.

copy & pasted from the same OFSVolunteers wiki

To the Olympia Film Society Board of Directors: We, the volunteers currently on walkout, would like to thank you for hosting yesterday’s meeting. We would also like to recognize and express our appreciation for your voluntary work in the organization. Many issues were brought up, as we all have our own frustrations with the organization. Voicing them was long overdue, and your responses were heard. Upon consideration of the board’s position, we have determined a course of action. All the issues brought up are quite serious to us, but will be better resolved through standard OFS procedure. There is one item that we cannot leave to this process: the termination of Jeffrey Bartone. Whether intentional or not, we are convinced that the procedure followed to make this decision was flawed and needs to be remedied. We understand that fluctuations in board numbers have led to decisions made this way in the past. The severity of impact to the organization on this particular issue demands faithful adherence to the bylaws. We demand that the decision to fire Operations Manager Jeffrey Bartone be revoked, and a re-vote on the issue be taken. The re-vote, in accordance with Section 1, Article IV of the bylaws, will be decided by a board consisting of at least eight members. There will be no prior conditions to participation in the vote placed on any member. We submit this demand to the board in the hope that it will be considered with the best interests of OFS in mind.

I don't know what to make of that.

Indeed, the films in recent years have often been abysmal. A lot of us volunteers have felt that way. This was my chief complaint. Why were we showing V for Vendetta and Corpse Bride and Lassie and much other mainstream faire? Although I was unhappy with films such as these, I came to make a rationalization of why such films were shown. Last year, I started reading about Arts Non-Profit management, and these books often said that they way to financial security was to host events that would bring in enough money to support the organization while allowing the organization to focus on presenting more experimental and less-popular works. In this regard, I believe the Olympia Film Society has failed. Most of the movies they show these days are mainstream. If they aren't, they are dull dramas or agit-documentaries.

I've been to a few film selection meetings and always found myself disappointed by the results. Even if participants did bring up interesting movies to show at the theater, rarely were these suggestions actually used. Instead you get, for instance in the latest guide, the re-make of Hairspray. Why not show the original Hairspray, which is much more subversive, funny and doesn't feature John Travolta in a fat suit? I would think OFS would want to show the original, especially given there is a new print. From what I've seen, showing these mainstream Hollywood films often doesn't bring that many people in. I've been a lobby supervisor and concessionaire for over two years. My disappointment with OFS grows with each subsequent program guide.

As for Jeffrey, the board will unlikely give a re-vote, and even if they did, there decision will remain the same as the last.

Finally, who should shoulder the blame: Them for showing Peter Jackson's King Kong, or me for actually going to see most of it (it's the only movie I've ever walked out on.)

It's a fair call, but Society's to blame. ~ Right! We'll be charging them too!

 I don't know diddly squat about OFS, but I know subjective criticism when I see it.

When I was voted in as President of a home owners association by a majority of 14 people attending a meeting (30 total owners), the aftermath, when I tried to enforce the covenants (the former president was the worst offender) all of a sudden all this subjective criticism started up and there was a new election. "Abrasive" is a favorite of mine.  "Rude" is number two on my list.  Is someone abrasive or rude because they silently ignore rules on commons areas?  You catch my drift. 

I'll be watching this to see how it developes, but I smell special interest here.

"There is only one race, the human race" - The Neville Brothers

I am embarrassed to live in this era.  

And right now, I am embarrassed to say I live in Olympia.

I have attended more board meetings, volunteer meetings, coordinator meetings and organizational meetings in this town over the past four years than in my entire life. 

When I first moved to Olympia, I was enamored with the active population, the political atmosphere, the queer politics, the amount of organizing and non-profit projects & organizations.

I was thrilled to see that people still protested, stood up for themselves and organized boycotts.

Today, this is what I see.

I see a world of GLOBAL Corporations, Consumerism & Capitalism.  I see International Oppression.  I see hate, fed by hate, in the color of hate, that fuels more hate.  I see that the middle class is a myth, that "diversity" is the biggest fucking joke to fall into the workplace/education/community since affirmative action went into action.  I see that no child left behind leaves more children behind than ever, especially if they are impoverished, children of color, immigrants, ESL families... basically anyone who isn't white, financially stable, straight and personal friends with the Bush Regime.  

And I see that we're ALL FED UP WITH IT.  I see that most of us feel POWERLESS.  I see that as our backyards get smaller and smaller our cars get bigger and bigger, and the fences around those quaint little houses are taller and taller.  I see neighbors that only know each other's names because of some mis-delivered mail - that ends up back in the fucking mailbox with red pen on them stating "not at this address."

I see fear.  I smell fear.  I hear fear.  

I see that as time passes in this constant state of fear and isolation, we are looking far and wide outside of our communities to have our needs met.  I see that local government is passing crazy laws that make sitting on a public sidewalks illegal because the families of those kids that weren't left behind feel "unsafe" about shopping downtown on a Sunday afternoon with all that "dangerous" activity happening downtown.  (I moved here from the New Mexico Ghetto... ya'll have NO idea how good you have it in this town.)

The result of all that I see?

We are pitted against each other.  We all feel that there's nothing that we can do to bring Bush down, there is nothing that we can do to change Globalization (I mean, shit, did you make it to 2006 TESC Graduation?  The Governor addressed the graduates as the next wave in globalization... ouch.)  There is nothing that we can do about tokenizing, homophobia, heterosexism, poverty, child abuse, THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL... and on and on and on....

And so we wage war against each other.  The Transsexual/Transgender community hates the Lesbians, and the Lesbians won't see the evolution of sex and gender.  The gay men keep to themselves and move on to the more expensive condos and ignore what's happening to the entire community.

People of Color are turning their backs on Mixed People, and white people... they STILL will not see that racism is real, and happening, and WELL alive here in Olympia.  (How many people of color actually sit on the "unity in the community" shelf???)

Poor people hate each other for what the other has.  They have section 8 and don't have to pay rent.  She gets child support, and only has to work part time.  He gets free childcare.  They get more food stamps.  She only got the job because her mother works there.  And NONE of them are making their bills, and ALL of them are trying to, and they end up hating each other and fighting with each other and not doing anything about what's REALLY going on.

Bitch and Moan.  Bitch and Moan.

The Pacific Northwest is SOOOO fucking full of itself it's depressing.  It's not the rain.  It's the lack of empathy, and compassion and COMMUNITY.  

Protesting the decision and boycotting OFS is not the answer.  You really think you can do better?  Join the Board; see how demanding it is for yourself.  It's not a walk in the park, and it's not just one little hour a month to go to a meeting.  Think you can start a better organization?  Why not volunteer more at the one that exists, and has been STRUGGLING to exist for years.  Any idea how under budget they are?  Any idea WHY the beer garden happens?  If you have so many ideas, why not INCORPORATE THEM and be an agent of change, instead of a pain the in the ass?

As far as Jeff goes, Jeff had his own relationship with the board, and the staff.  Jeff has been approached for YEARS about the numerous complaints that have been filed by many people, not just Anonymous.  This is not a new issue; this is not a fake issue.  There is a point when people deserve to be treated with respect, no matter how long someone has worked at a place, no matter how much blood, sweat and time they have put in... No matter how big their ego is.  Jeff had many opportunities to take the feedback that was offered to him.  

Saying that the complaints are not real is like saying that a woman deserves to be beaten or raped.  You are saying that small voices don't matter, and that everyone should have loud voices that are backed up by hundreds of other loud voices to matter.  

Anonymous complaints are valid.  There is a reason people don't want to attach their names all the time.  Shit, I'd be afraid if I wanted to file a complaint if this is the way it would be received.

Stand up people.  Do something bigger than bitching and meeting to bitch and finding ways to bitch in public in large groups.  If you feel like the decision was unfair, then comfort Jeff.  Tell him that you support him.  And tell the board you do not support the decision they made.  Apply for the open positions, recruit people to apply for the positions.  Get more involved instead of standing aside with your complaints and refusal to support an organization that supports Olympia to the fullest of it's capacity.

I've not been involved with OFS, though I've often wished that there was room for it in my life. Jeffrey is one of the first people I met when I moved here in 1996, and though I don't hang out with him on a regular basis, I consider him a colleague and friend, which biases my view. Perhaps the volunteers and projectionists share this bias.

He's a uniquely gifted and compassionate individual whose legacy is indelible regardless of his employment status. His can-do spirit and tireless commitment have made lasting changes to the organization and the film scene in Olympia. (digital projection, Dolby sound) I guarantee that oodles of employers locally are pining for someone with his level of expertise and willingness to tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges.

If this was an end-around by the board to get rid of a dissenting voice, then shame on them. Its incumbent upon them to listen to people like Jeffrey and build a wide consensus. Most likely, however, its a combination of things.

One last thing- I empathize with those who have a problem with Jeffrey. Labeling anyone a newcomer is counterproductive.

However, I've personally witnessed at no fewer than 10 special events how problems stemming largely from: irresponsible planning, poor communication and last minute flawed judgment calls by organizers are dumped on Jeffrey. This is why, if you see him at an event, he's the one running up and down the stairs with a flashlight sustaining life in the technology a volunteer driven limited budget organization has provided.