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Accusations and Misrepresentations!. Oh No!!!. Summary. 8 months ago you were hired by Waterville Parks and Recreation Department as the Recreation Director. You received a letter from the executive committee of the parks and recreation advisory commission. The Letter.
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Accusations and Misrepresentations! Oh No!!!
Summary • 8 months ago you were hired by Waterville Parks and Recreation Department as the Recreation Director. • You received a letter from the executive committee of the parks and recreation advisory commission.
The Letter Dear Mr/Ms/Mrs/ WazzitTooya, We charge you and your staff in misrepresenting information to the City Council, used park issues to widen racial divisions, and have been unresponsive and insensitive to the commission and its duties. We also complain about a commission memorandum on city playgrounds had been aggressively and falsely characterized as an attempt by the Caucasian female outsiders to curtail or eliminate adult basketball for African American neighborhoods…
The Letter (Continued) … You have not established good relations with the commission, and you have not kept members informed of community meetings and other activities. There has been a history of communication problems between the commission and the parks and recreation department. The relationship between the commission and the previous director had deteriorated considerably before the embattled director resigned last year. We are angry at you. With Love, Commissioner Rita Williams Commissioner Mabel Rines Commissioner D
Summary (Continued) • “Commission Chair Rita Williams, in a published interview with a local journalist, acknowledged that the letter is critical, but it was meant to help resolve difficulties, not exacerbate them.” • Only 3 of the 4 members of the commission signed the letter, but Commissioner Williams claims that the whole committee supports it.
More Summary! • You showed the letter to your assistant, who said: “We’re following the City Council’s orders, which are to clean up the parks and recreation system. We have nothing to be ashamed of. My thought is that somebody’s relative lost a job in the reorganization, and that person is now seeking revenge.”
Summary… (It’s Complicated, OK?) • “Commission member Mabel Rines also talked to you in private. She said the letter is “an outreach from the commission, and I want you to pay attention to these concerns. I’m disappointed that we didn’t hire a parks and recreation director who can work with our commission.””
How do you respond? • Public? • Private? • Letter? • Email? • Carrier Pigeon?
How We Responded • City Hall Meeting • Public, allows for witnesses to reasons and actions • Made records available to the public • Allows the public to add their input • Newsletter
Diversity Fair www.atg.wa.gov
Model of Effective Communication Accomplished tasks and feedback Director Board Direct Lines of Communication Wants and feedback
