Outline in English: Introduction A. Video to provide other insights and examination on Tom Holcomb’s actions and comments re: DCARA B. Holcomb’s actions started December 27, 2019 (today is January 18, 2020) C. Holcomb expressed his concerns and gathered/compiled information about DCARA. D. His gift to do so much quite excellent work in such a short time span is truly impressive! E. Yet, I have responsibility as community member here in the Bay Area 1.Holcomb had proclaimed how much he cherishes, takes pride and loves this community 2. I am assuming I am part of this community (63 years out of 65 I have lived here, been involved with DCARA many times, my family too) 3. Since he loves and respects this community, that should mean I can do this reflection and know he will respect what I say. F. In this video, I will focus on a few topics from what Holcomb had covered in his email distributions and the January 9 community meeting. Part 1: Timing (Why Holcomb chose this time for all that he has done with this?) A. His first “alert” to community members on his mail list - December 27, 2019 1. Right in middle of winter break, between Christmas Day and New Years Day! B. His next “alert” was January 2, 2020, a few days later. 1. Announced that he already reserved the Deaf Community Center for a community meeting C. The community meeting was on January 9 where he shared his discoveries. 1. Described the public record filed by DCARA (board) on October 7, 2019. 2. Then, shared about Liann Osborne and Raymond Rodger’s filing of denial opposing the board’s complaint that was posted as public record on December 30, 2019 (three days after Holcomb’s first “alert”) 3. Then, few days later, on January 2nd, Holcomb announced he had reserved the Community Center to share information he gathered about DCARA. D. Why now? Why didn’t he share his concerns earlier such as October 15 or 30, November 15, or even December 10? 1. The impression is that he was working in secret with Raymond Rodgers and/or Liann Osborne who were his dear friends and decided he would do this project. 2. That may be the reason he had so much information during this short time span, having had some time before to access the key information. Part 2: Community - what is it in light of Holcomb’s action/work here? A. The community meeting on January 9th. 1. My estimate of the number of participants is 80-90 people (excluding the approximate 10 DCARA staff members) 2. Apparently no documentation of the actual number. Videotaping/photos were forbidden. 3. Holcomb announced it was full house with standing room only. It’s really open to perception. 4. Is that representation of the community in the whole 14 counties that DCARA is responsible for and that it is expected to provide services? It surely is not. It was very localized. B. The 2-hour program for the meeting 1. Actually a one-man show. Apparently he worked alone on this. No committee. 2. No other community members involved in preparing based on what was said and seen. 3. Impressive indeed. Yet, can it be claimed to be a community thing without collective work in preparing? 4. That’s all right. It is his right to do this. 5. Now, the program was 1 hour and 40 minutes of Holcomb talking and sharing. 6. He said that 20 people came to share their comments (20 people for the remaining 20 minutes = average of only 1 minute per person). 7. Is that a balanced community view? I don’t think so. Part 3: Deaf against Deaf A. Holcomb said Deaf selecting a hearing lawyer to file lawsuit against other Deaf people is example of “Deaf against Deaf”. B. He didn’t say anything about the ugly campaign smearing the 100% Deaf board by Deaf staff and community members. Wasn’t that an example of Deaf against Deaf? C. If so, why didn’t Holcomb say the same about that and call that out and demand that we be gentle with other Deaf people, with each other. Figure a healthy way to process if we disagree with each other on something. D. Instead he focused only on criticizing the board for being against Deaf by doing the lawsuit. E. Also, Holcomb mentioned that board should focus energy & money on fighting the Oralist system for their oppression on Deaf people. I totally agree with that! Would be awesome if he would lead a campaign like that, like he did against the board who really did not do anything illegal or oppressive in filing a legitimate complaint to PROTECT DCARA, and focusing on what is legal, right, and ensuring DCARA focus on its core responsibility, not to protect those two people but the services for its clients. F. The board did not file complaint because the two people were Deaf. The board filed because based on the public document, they were obviously concerned about the two people’s actions that prevented DCARA from doing appropriate and legal procedures. G. Oh that’s right, all this fiasco could be traced to when LEAD-K collaborated with AGBell which has historically and systematically oppressed Deaf people. Did Tom Holcomb publicly objected and took action to repair that? I haven’t seen any. H. Would be awesome to utilize Holcomb’s gift of putting together and planning that! Part 4: Board’s Role and Duties A. Tom Holcomb focused extensively on the board, questioning, challenging. B. Did a decent job sharing his perspective with the limited information he could get. 1.Some things we will have to wait until we see the evidence C. He didn’t mention things from the ByLaws, i.e. 1. Board has complete authority over DCARA. The executive director does not. 2. Board members can resign anytime by submitting a note to President or Secretary 3. However, if the board has only one member left, that person can not resign, unless they contact the Attorney General and the AG takes over. D, Dave Martin is the only legitimate director left and he has not and refuses to resign. Liann Osborne is questionable and the others’ have some issues. E. Dave Martin obviously cherishes DCARA and is very accountable about DCARA and protecting its integrity. Therefore, he has to stay onboard past December 31, 2019 as he announced and requested DCARA HQ to share publicly. F. Note the timing once again. December 31 was supposed to be the last day of his board term. See how that builds in the timing of Holcomb’s actions? In Closing: Popularity vs Principle and Integrity A. The past year, I have been in middle of this fiasco along with my wife and family. It has not been a pretty experience that I do not wish that on anybody. B. My comments here in the video may not be popular C. However, “popular” is a word that means nothing to me now. D. Principle and integrity are number ones for me now. E. That’s why I am encouraging the community to remain focused on integrity and not popularity.
Thank you, Ella.
Outline in English:
Introduction
A. Video to provide other insights and examination on Tom Holcomb’s actions and comments re: DCARA
B. Holcomb’s actions started December 27, 2019 (today is January 18, 2020)
C. Holcomb expressed his concerns and gathered/compiled information about DCARA.
D. His gift to do so much quite excellent work in such a short time span is truly impressive!
E. Yet, I have responsibility as community member here in the Bay Area
1.Holcomb had proclaimed how much he cherishes, takes pride and loves this community
2. I am assuming I am part of this community (63 years out of 65 I have lived here, been involved with DCARA many times, my family too)
3. Since he loves and respects this community, that should mean I can do this reflection and know he will respect what I say.
F. In this video, I will focus on a few topics from what Holcomb had covered in his email distributions and the January 9 community meeting.
Part 1: Timing (Why Holcomb chose this time for all that he has done with this?)
A. His first “alert” to community members on his mail list - December 27, 2019
1. Right in middle of winter break, between Christmas Day and New Years Day!
B. His next “alert” was January 2, 2020, a few days later.
1. Announced that he already reserved the Deaf Community Center for a community meeting
C. The community meeting was on January 9 where he shared his discoveries.
1. Described the public record filed by DCARA (board) on October 7, 2019.
2. Then, shared about Liann Osborne and Raymond Rodger’s filing of denial opposing the board’s complaint that was posted as public record on December 30, 2019 (three days after Holcomb’s first “alert”) 3. Then, few days later, on January 2nd, Holcomb announced he had reserved the Community Center to share information he gathered about DCARA.
D. Why now? Why didn’t he share his concerns earlier such as October 15 or 30, November 15, or even December 10?
1. The impression is that he was working in secret with Raymond Rodgers and/or Liann Osborne who were his dear friends and decided he would do this project.
2. That may be the reason he had so much information during this short time span, having had some time before to access the key information.
Part 2: Community - what is it in light of Holcomb’s action/work here?
A. The community meeting on January 9th.
1. My estimate of the number of participants is 80-90 people (excluding the approximate 10 DCARA staff members)
2. Apparently no documentation of the actual number. Videotaping/photos were forbidden.
3. Holcomb announced it was full house with standing room only. It’s really open to perception.
4. Is that representation of the community in the whole 14 counties that DCARA is responsible for and that it is expected to provide services? It surely is not. It was very localized.
B. The 2-hour program for the meeting
1. Actually a one-man show. Apparently he worked alone on this. No committee.
2. No other community members involved in preparing based on what was said and seen.
3. Impressive indeed. Yet, can it be claimed to be a community thing without collective work in preparing?
4. That’s all right. It is his right to do this.
5. Now, the program was 1 hour and 40 minutes of Holcomb talking and sharing.
6. He said that 20 people came to share their comments (20 people for the remaining 20 minutes = average of only 1 minute per person).
7. Is that a balanced community view? I don’t think so.
Part 3: Deaf against Deaf
A. Holcomb said Deaf selecting a hearing lawyer to file lawsuit against other Deaf people is example of “Deaf against Deaf”.
B. He didn’t say anything about the ugly campaign smearing the 100% Deaf board by Deaf staff and community members. Wasn’t that an example of Deaf against Deaf?
C. If so, why didn’t Holcomb say the same about that and call that out and demand that we be gentle with other Deaf people, with each other. Figure a healthy way to process if we disagree with each other on something.
D. Instead he focused only on criticizing the board for being against Deaf by doing the lawsuit.
E. Also, Holcomb mentioned that board should focus energy & money on fighting the Oralist system for their oppression on Deaf people. I totally agree with that! Would be awesome if he would lead a campaign like that, like he did against the board who really did not do anything illegal or oppressive in filing a legitimate complaint to PROTECT DCARA, and focusing on what is legal, right, and ensuring DCARA focus on its core responsibility, not to protect those two people but the services for its clients.
F. The board did not file complaint because the two people were Deaf. The board filed because based on the public document, they were obviously concerned about the two people’s actions that prevented DCARA from doing appropriate and legal procedures.
G. Oh that’s right, all this fiasco could be traced to when LEAD-K collaborated with AGBell which has historically and systematically oppressed Deaf people. Did Tom Holcomb publicly objected and took action to repair that? I haven’t seen any.
H. Would be awesome to utilize Holcomb’s gift of putting together and planning that!
Part 4: Board’s Role and Duties
A. Tom Holcomb focused extensively on the board, questioning, challenging.
B. Did a decent job sharing his perspective with the limited information he could get.
1.Some things we will have to wait until we see the evidence
C. He didn’t mention things from the ByLaws, i.e.
1. Board has complete authority over DCARA. The executive director does not.
2. Board members can resign anytime by submitting a note to President or Secretary
3. However, if the board has only one member left, that person can not resign, unless they contact the Attorney General and the AG takes over.
D, Dave Martin is the only legitimate director left and he has not and refuses to resign. Liann Osborne is questionable and the others’ have some issues.
E. Dave Martin obviously cherishes DCARA and is very accountable about DCARA and protecting its integrity. Therefore, he has to stay onboard past December 31, 2019 as he announced and requested DCARA HQ to share publicly.
F. Note the timing once again. December 31 was supposed to be the last day of his board term. See how that builds in the timing of Holcomb’s actions?
In Closing: Popularity vs Principle and Integrity
A. The past year, I have been in middle of this fiasco along with my wife and family. It has not been a pretty experience that I do not wish that on anybody.
B. My comments here in the video may not be popular
C. However, “popular” is a word that means nothing to me now.
D. Principle and integrity are number ones for me now.
E. That’s why I am encouraging the community to remain focused on integrity and not popularity.