Who says you can’t fire a volunteer? The folks at Dressage Queen Canada have just proven that you can, indeed, do so. You don’t even have to give notice or a severance package. Sweet!
Just when I was lulled into thinking it was going to be the quietest year for DC since I started caring about a decade ago – to quote Emeril – BAM! Right out of left field. And I mean left field in every respect. Now, as has come to be expected of missives from the DC Board, today’ press release contains just enough information to leave everyone wondering once again WTF is going on. Or at least all five of us who care, anyway. Here is the opening sentence in case you are too lazy to click the link: “The Dressage Canada Board would like to announce the regretful resignation of Lorraine Stubbs as chair of the Dressage Canada High Performance Committee”.
There are so many rich layers of meaning to this simple statement. It’s like a message wrapped in filo pastry, with many flakes to pull away in order to get to that nubbin of meaning. “Would like to announce”? Really? “Like” as in it brings them great pleasure? “Regretful “? What can that mean? I think it means that Lorraine Stubbs is regretful. “Resignation”? That must mean she is feeling resigned, because one thing I know for sure: she didn’t resign in the sense of the word that everyone in the world understands. Except for the person who wrote that press release. Resigning from a volunteer post is entirely different to being forced out by an organization’s Board. Regret, indeed. And here’s one more flaky layer – who even knew she WAS the Chair of High Performance? I sure didn’t, because when she took over the post in March a little while after Lisa Hossack-Scott was relieved of her seat as interim chair (which followed the mass resignation of most of the HP committee last year – more on that in a bit), DC didn’t bother informing its members. There are a whole bunch of other things DC hasn’t bothered to throw into their E-News letter or onto a press release, too. I’ll get to that in a bit.
This particular piece of filo has a big air bubble in it, which as any baker worth his lard knows, is a serious flaw in pastry making. That air bubble is the space which should have contained other information about some voluntary resignations that immediately followed the reluctant one: DC Board members Noni Hartvikson and Maggie Murdoch (who is also the FEI Steward General for Dressage – methinks she’s seen a political thing or two in her life) both tendered their resignations in writing, and both cited the reason as being the means by which Lorraine was ‘resigned’ from her post.
Let’s peel away another layer. According to the release, replacing Lorraine with lightning speed (the speed and lack of warning or time to reflect are key pieces of this worm pie) as Chair of HP is Liz Steacie.
Would that by any chance be the same Liz Steacie who was one of five HP committee members that quit en masse last year and provoked many ruminations on my blog? If you are curious but confused, go to my post from just over a year ago. You know why Liz and her colleagues resigned last year? Because they claimed DCB was preventing them from doing their jobs in HP. The mind boggles. Even I can’t keep up with the ironies.
When I was led to the yellow taped area that marked off the shape of someone who had so quickly vanished from DC HP, I immediately began investigating the scene for clues and relevant information. Here are a few things that I quickly discovered:
1. not only was Lorraine made Chair of HP this spring, but a bunch of names were added to the committee with no disclosure to members – sure, they are on the website, but if a journalist like me isn’t trolling the DC website for unannounced changes, I can bet no one else is doing it either.
2. I took a gander at the list of DC Board members (Lorraine has already been whisked away and replaced with Liz), and noticed that it was missing the name of one new Board member who came on in 2011, Alison Elliott. Where’d SHE go? I asked someone who could and did give me the answer. Turns out Alison was also ‘resigned’ from the DCB for lack of participation. I guess DCB figured no one needed to know about that one, either.
3. Noni and Maggie are still listed as Board members as of today. That got me to thinking about what happened a year ago, when I got wind of the mass HP resignations well before DCB shared the news with members. When I asked then-chair Karen Thompson-Harry why they had not announced the resignations I was informed that, according to DC governance, the Board must meet and discuss whether or not to accept resignations from board and committee members before announcing them. I have news for you folks: you can’t not accept a resignation from a volunteer. You can’t even not accept a resignation from an employee. It’s not a matter of accepting or declining. They aren’t applying for the position, they are vacating it. And until you can invoke martial law in DC, you have no choice but to accept it.
4. The title of today’s press release is more than unfortunate; it’s dishonest. I have no idea if Lorraine deserved to be given the pink slip. I can’t say who was the driving force behind the move to remove, but there were some steps in due process that were definitely hopscotched over by DCB. And the problem with that is that, for most of the rational world, the means does not justify the end, particularly if that end could have been reached in a less hostile and humiliating fashion by following the rules. It seems to me that the group with the most to gain or lose by leadership in an HP committee are the athletes. If the athletes wanted a change, they are perfectly justified in asking for it. That is not in question. But the way this particular fait was accompli is beyond uncool.
Here is Lorraine Stubbs’ statement to the media, which arrived in my inbox as I was writing this very post:
STATEMENT TO MEDIA
Date: August 30, 2011
From: Lorraine Stubbs
Regarding: Response to News Release from Equine Canada datedAugust 29, 2011
I have received a copy of the News Release issued by Equine Canada onAugust 29, 2011. The News Release refers to my “regrettable resignation” as Chair of the Dressage Canada High Performance Committee.
I understand that a decision to remove me was made during an in camera session of the Board onAugust 25, 2011. I was contacted during that session and told I was required to either resign or be removed. This was sudden and surprising. I do not know the reasons for the decision and I disagree with it.
Regrettably, theAugust 29, 2011 News Release omitted the fact that I filed a complaint with Equine Canada earlier that day regarding the fact of my removal and the procedure undertaken to do so.
I decline further comment until Equine Canada has responded to my complaint.
I wrote to DCB chair Renee Young this morning in an as-yet unanswered email in which I requested her help in gaining a bit more of a foothold on how the picture looks from DC’s Mission Control. I pointed out to her that it’s nye impossible to get a fair perspective about a situation when one side of the table doles out only the tiniest little incomplete or misleading morsels of information, instead of being forthright with all the facts. And as someone else quite astutely pointed out to me today, if you tell people something voluntarily, nine out of ten of them will have no objection to what you’ve done. But if you withhold the information, everyone objects because they don’t know what’s going on and they don’t appreciate being kept in the dark. Think about when you were a kid and broke a plate. If you confessed (unless you had Russell Peters’ dad for a father), your dad would almost always have just given your hair a ruffle and told you to be more careful next time. But if you lied about it, well, you probably caught hell – and a bit of corporal punishment for good measure.
DCB is behaving an awful lot like a Secret Society (rumour is there is even a Masonic handshake), which is nothing new. Sadly, it’s just what people have come to expect, and I think that is the number one cause of the apathy that resulted in no nominations for the three open positions on the Board for 2012. I don’t really know why I still care about all this bad business that DC gets up to when we aren’t looking – and even when we are. They are as brazen as Vancouver’s coyotes, which steal people’s pets right off their leashes. I’ve been writing about DC for so long it feels like forever, and it sounds like a broken record. Not enough of you dressage queens out there care about all the inappropriate behaviour, lack of transparency and accountability that goes on in your dressage organization. Your membership and levy dollars are in their hands. Isn’t that enough reason alone to ask them to explain their actions?
- This is my friend Irene’s horse enjoying the wide open spaces of BC last week on his holiday. My husband says he looks like he’s doing an Elk call, but I say he’s telling DCB what he thinks of their behaviour.
thanks Karen ! Well said.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a post that allowed me no accountability and no responsibility to be transparent and communicative with stakeholders.
It seems clear to me that a membership organization should, at the very least be held to the same standard (at least) !
I’m sorry to read that Noni H and Lorraine S. are gone from this committee. Both are principled and likely brought a great deal of experience and common sense to the table. DC is poorer for having lost them.
Yes, and we also have the unfortunate loss of Maggie Murdoch as well
I’m to am sad about Maggie getting caught up in this but unfortunately she got caught between a rock and a hard place and chose her best friend over her job as a show stewart. I’m not sure what I would have done in her position as well but stepping down was the right thing.
Does resiging from DC really knock you off the Stewards roster? I thought you only needed to be in good standing and up to date with requirements through EC? Yet another reason not to get involved from those who might have been thinking about it.
Sounds to me like ALL new blood is needed.
Nasty!!
Seriously!! DC sounds like a bunch of bureaucratic nits that sit around a table feeling important and make rash decisions regarding volunteers when they should be focusing on their ATHLETES!!!!! hello you idiots thats what your there for no one cares about your opinions or views, you are there to improve the sport of dressage in Canada, not make a joke of it. Get a life DC!!!!!
My two cents worth
I don’t believe the person writing this article has been around the dressage ring this season to witness the goings on, especially with regards to the Pam Am Games. Lorraine Stubbs brought with her a level of unprofessionalism and negativity that was shocking to believe was tolerated at this level of competition. She was in complete conflict of interest being the chair of the selection committee and being a Judge at many of the qualifying events. Her abilities as a Judge currently, I can’t speak to what they were in years past, were without question the worst I have ever experienced. I’m not talking from a position as a rider that is pissed at the low marks they received but as someone that worked quite closely with her while she was Judging at the F.E.I level. There are quite a few competitors out there that will be surprised to know their scores were for lack of a better term pulled out of a hat.
For Dressage in Canada to move forward we need to have the old tired burned out squad at the top take the road to retirement and make room for some of the great younger people coming up in the ranks.
This is a great step forward for Dressage in Canada and I can only hope that the air of negativity that surrounded Lorraine where ever she went will leave with her.
It is unfortunate that someone as opinionated as you, are not brave enough to sign your name. Especially given the fact that your information is incorrect. Lorraine was never chair of the selection committee, nor was she a member on it!
Enough already! One is compelled to respond to the anonymous tirade. That is the most cowardly attack that anyone could imagine. To anonymously denigrate a person who has achieved so much in Dressage for Canada as both a international rider and a judge, and do so on the basis of a character assassination is beneath contempt. Certainly young people have to come forward for the future. But who will be left to teach them what it is they have to know, let alone at the international level?
I refer to the comment posted by the writer who could not leave a name. While the dialogue resulting from Ms. Robinson’s blog must be viewed as a “positive”, it is alarming to realize that one of those smiling faces on the competition grounds is hiding such viciousness.
That said, I am of the opinion that no matter what the nature of the problems was that the DCB had with Lorraine Stubbs, the behaviour of those members who hid behind a closed door and made the “telephone call”to Lorraine was reprehensible.
Perhaps we should eliminate and disqualify them all for “an act of discourtesy towards an official”. But how we start over from that point, I have no idea. Hopefully there are lots of ideas out there in the minds of people with organizational skills. Something must be done to retify the fact that the board is now a laughing stock.
Karen – blessed are your blogs! Dressage Canada has a reputation well earned in it’s ongoing failure to provide members with clear and transparent communication, and endlessly disappoints with poor decision making, absence of process and highly evident dysfunction! Sadly, the unnamed individual above makes themself a perfect example in commenting that Committees need to “make room for some of the great younger people coming up in the ranks”, as many of these younger people have been involved over the past few years, and have also “regretfully reseigned” at the hand of the Board. The only thing that we can “reseign” ourselves to is that Dressage Canada will religiously bring negative light to the sport, be relied upon to deceive and mislead it’s membership, neglect it’s fiducial responsibility, be an active party in some form of appeal, be the centre of negative publicity, and continue to provide fuel for the comic relief we find in your blog!
Here Here Lisa,
DC continues to keep dressage in Canada in the dark ages….
I find it shocking that I had to find out about this on my morning tour of Eurodressage. I have been a member of DC for many, many years and very rarely, if ever, get any news from them. Pretty much all of my info about dressage in Canada comes from Eurodressage.
Why can’t I leave my name, I was flat to told that if I ever brought up what I saw with Lorraine Stubbs in a public venue my chances of succeeding at any level of dressage in Canada was non existent and that was told to my face by one of the other people who resigned so you are all very very naive about what has been going on, you have no idea how this is a huge step in the right direction for Dressage Canada. One past performance cannot be a meter to over look ones inabilities in the present.
Karen, i think you hit the mark in that it is not a discussion of what Lorraine may or may not have done at this point. Rather a discussion of the lack of transparency and shall i go so far as the lack of decency with which the board went about this process. Everyone is entitled to a fair trial but to be forced out without even the knowledge of why? This only highlights the ongoing issues with the DCB. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel.
thanks for your blog and insight!
Again you are stating what you think you know from the outside, Lorraine full well knows why and the board actually did the decent thing by not disclosing what has/had happened and the reasons to protect Lorraine’s reputation, Lorraine going public stating she has no idea what/why this happened can only lead to stuff coming out she really doesn’t want, I was more shocked by her statement than Dressage Canada and if this ever gets to a point where it is all coming out I might even be inclined to sight the evidence I have and trust me jaws will drop. Dressage Canada is full aware of the situation I was involved in and unfortunately that wasn’t all. This blog is not an investigative report it is a report of events from a 10,000 foot level, if you really want the whole story you need to dig deeper and talk to people closer to this.
Dressage Canada has a bad history that does not incite newcomers to its committees. But we should act and be more present to help bring positive changes. About the actual case, the blog points mostly in one direction, and “Sorry” brings out the fact there are always two sides to a story. An organization like EC has to protect both its face and the member, and I clearly understand their “polite” letter, even if it opens doors to all possible discussions.
One thing is sure about dressage: it is growing. The past 10 years have seen an immense step in quality at the lower levels, which means better horses and better training. These people and trainers will soon get to higher ranks and bring freshness to the higher levels.
For up and coming officials, we (I am part of them) can just continue to follow this rise and eventually join and replace the people who were there to build the sport. We must try to make just enough waves to not drown ourselves.
Lets keep positive about the sport, and keep fair with your unevitable conflicts of interests. Thanks for your blog!
As a lover of the sport of dressage, that has managed volunteer boards of directors for over thirty years, as a consultant and paid staff person, I would strongly suggest an independent overview of the governance of this board should be undertaken. The Bylaws, Terms of Reference, and the Strategic Plan, along the function of this Board needs addressing. The issues are a lack of leadership, conflict of interest and a lack of transparency.
The leadership issues should be dealt with, from the results of an independent review. Equine Canada, as the governing body should be addressing these shortcomings. Any person who sits on this board and receives revenue from any part of the dressage community, from judges, coaches, riders etc., has a conflict of interest. Many questions here need to be addressed. Lack, of transparency has killed many organizations, which have very good intentions, but get caught up in their own political agenda. Many people find change painful, but in the long run change, can make a positive outcome. Why not make a positive new beginning here!
The Dark Ages indeed! This is the stuff that tv dramas such as the Borgias are made of. There is the ongoing struggle to keep your head on your shoulders ( literally) or to avoid being stabbed or poisoned on a daily basis. Pretty much DC modus operandi. I have no comment on any of the individual cast of characters. I was very disappointed at the final day of the trials at Palgrave to see a tractor harrowing the warm up( a real safety risk) with three riders trying to get ready for their tests, riders not announced or announced inaudibly and results the same, nothing posted for DAYS on the DC Facebook page and nothing on DC website. This all in stark contract to British Dressage FB and website for the Euro Champs. Yes, they did have medals to crow about but their medals have been years in the making. Here DC is spinning in the same nasty web of secrecy and collusion. I am grateful I am not a professional rider and my heart goes out to our athletes. I shall take my Canadian flag to London to wave for them. I just hope they will be there.
“Sorry Can’t Leave My Name” : Just stop. I know who you are and you are by far no innocent angel (since you know you shouldn’t be signing with your name).
These FEI judges/stewards and competitors are VOLUNTEERING their time. I asked a newly former DCB member about how to get involved and she told me not to waste my time that the system is so flawed there’s no point.
We SHOULD be able to figure out where the money is being spent as DC has many volunteers supporting most of their work.
l think instead of complaining on this forum or on various websites, take up your concerns with DC themselves. Remember they are a commitee for the people and are SUPPOSED to be looking after our best interests.
Keep on investigating. The dressage community needs to know what is going on. Good work
“Sorry Can’t Leave My Name”: Thomas, enough is enough. We all know who you are.
The incident Thomas is referring to happened at the RCRA May Dressage Gold Show that I was managing. This incident has nothing to do with Lorraine and DCB.
I’m not going to get into a fight online about the details as they are supposed to be confidential.
- Amanda Schickedanz
Amanda I was your biggest supporter and champion for RCRA, I was always there to cheer you on when you competed and would do anything for you to make sure you got to compete. But when I stood up for something I saw as systemically wrong I see that our friendship was only as strong as the FaceBook delete button. I ask all of you who compete how you would feel if you had trained long and hard and when you went in the ring the Judge didn’t pay attention to your round and when there were 6 marks unaccounted for that Judge just decide to give you 6′s, not to say maybe have you do the test over because of an error, would you feel cheated if you found out or maybe saw the whole thing on YouTube, I wonder how you would have felt.
To “soory can’t leave my name”: we know who you are, a wannabe scribe with an epic FAIL…now you are an angry, nameless terrorist.
No I never wanted to be a scribe, I was doing a friend (would seem a former friend now) a favour, I get a call to help I went to help, I had never scribed before and had little to no advice as to how to do it, I was thrown into it with a FEI judge who left we never wanting to do it again and actually not wanting to even compete again, if this was the shining example of Judging at the top levels then what was the point. And Amanda you need to realize that what happened with Lorraine had nothing to do with RCRA, Again if yo think that that one incident alone was some impotence then you are naive it was a long summer on the road to Guadalajara and there are other more serious and systemic issues that I have chosen to not bring out in public as it is not my place why I posted at all was the fear that in the world of internet public opinion that Lorraine would garner sympathy and may lead to a reversal of this discussion which can’t happen, it just can’t, I have been around the equestrian whorld for 40 years, maybe only a few around the Dressage ring but seeing things that I saw this year made me question why I wanted to go back into that crap pile, but when I heard of this decision it actually made me think that things could change for the better and maybe it was worth the fight. I applaud anyone that gets off the sidelines and tries to make the sport better for everyone and I condemn those that sit on the sidelines and do nothing.
This why I am not a member of Dressage Canada – there is no accountability to it’s membership and seems no desire to promote the sport in any positive or inclusive manner. I say get rid of all of the current crop and start anew!
The comments on this page are a reflection of what is truly wrong with our sport. We bitch about the people on the DCB, yet we don’t want to run ourselves (and really, who would?). Those that do get roped in, try to make a difference, and either hit a brick wall on the board, or nothing but criticism from the general membership and give up. Can’t say that I blame them either.
Personally, I think Equine Canada relies far too heavily on their volunteers to steer the future of the sport. Sure, consult the FEI judges, trainers, riders and stewards, but don’t put them in charge. Put PAID personnel in charge, and hold them accountable for their actions (ie, fire them if they don’t do their jobs), and then maybe, just maybe, we’d get somewhere.
The DC membership needs to ask for, and GET open minutes of DCB meetings, just like most every other non-profit national sports organization. It’s your NSO and you pay for it. Transparency and accountability would be a start.
It has been my understanding that ALL discipline committees of Equine Canada must post their minutes. I know other disciplines do so, but perhaps folks don’t know where to find them?
I think that much more consideration of the ‘stakeholders’ (read DC members for that) is needed, which includes notices of meetings, directions/links to minutes and so forth. We have laboured in the dark for too long.
sigh, this is all so ridiculous. I am rapidly getting fed up with both DC and EC. Neither appears to represent the interests of their members at all.