VCA suspends members inc Maurice Laing
Discussion
All the website moderators (VCA) were removed today
and then:
September 9, 2013
Mr. Maurice Q. Liang
Dear Maurice,
This is to notify you that effective as of the date of this notice, your membership in the VCA is suspended for disruptive conduct in accordance with the authority in the VCA Bylaws Article II, Section 3c. Additionally, along with your status as suspended member is loss of any VCA Membership rights and privileges including the disqualification to hold any position within the VCA. This means that you are no longer a director or hold any positions including being on the Magazine Committee.
Some specifics of your unauthorized and disruptive conduct that has directly harmed the Club include:
Continued non-compliance of Article V, Section 1 that states “…, no National Officer may contemporaneously hold a Region or Zone officer position.†Despite being notified eight months ago and repeatedly thereafter that you would have to either resign your position as Northern California Region President or National Secretary, you have refused to comply with this requirement.
Direct violation of the Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, Conduct and Insurance Policy. This includes your unauthorized alteration of the board approved form and specific violations of Article II (j) as well as incomplete disclosure of financial matters between you and SRT that could present a conflict of interest. Despite being notified of your violations on in this area you have refused to correct your actions..
Direct violation of the VCA Board decision relating to Jon Brobst attending VCA events while being suspended from the club. The board made you aware of this decision early in 2012. Despite that, you acted contrary to this board decision and facilitated meetings between Ralph Gilles and Jon Brobst at Northern California Region events. This undermining and contempt of a Board decision harmed the club in several ways, including degrading the relationship between the VCA and Ralph.
You informed Ralph of your opinion of a needed wholesale cleansing of the board. This is a flagrant and detrimental violation of the fiduciary obligation that you had as a director. It specifically and severely violates the abovementioned Policy relating to conduct. Just because you crossed out the section does not give you a free pass to violate that section.
Maurice, several of your actions that have been directly contrary to specific decisions of the board are not correctable. Month after month Randall, Dan, and I struggled to work with you despite your ongoing refusal to correct the items that you could. But even worse was the undermining by you that we observed. While you may not agree with things that don’t go your way and have tossed out your “founding†status as a license to do whatever you want to, you were still obligated to abide by the rules of the club and the Conduct Policy.
To understand the level of financial conflict you have with SRT, you are required to submit full and detailed compensation agreements you have had relating to services you have provided them. Quite simply, the board needs to understand how much money or compensation is involved that you have gotten from SRT for books, trips, photos, etc. and if that is a factor in you placing the club in a secondary position in your statements. There will be no agenda item for your membership reinstatement until you have provided this information.
As counsel explained during the call this past week, as President, the bylaws provide me the authority to take this action, particularly as half of the national officers are in agreement.
Regards,
Lee Stubberfield, President
Viper Club of America
This was just sent to the Presidents
Subject: RE: URGENT: Notice to VCA Region Presidents
You know as the other Half of the VCA founders (Jay founded IVR) I suggest that we simply say goodbye because what this has become is a disgusting attempt to use all the years of goodwill and work by many to allow the profiting of a few.
So let me be the first to say:
Dear Viper Club of America,
Please remove me (VCA Co-Founder and past National President) from any future mailings or communications and please do not contact me on any VCA business going forward. My lifetime membership for service should be terminated as THIS is not what I built and I have no interest in being associated with your criminal activities.
So long,
Steven J. Ferguson
Co-Founder of Illinois Viper Club
Co-Founder of Viper Club of America
First National Vice President
Past National President.
Edited by Dr-Bob on Monday 9th September 22:44
Dear fellow VCA Region Presidents,
As your national secretary, I wish to communicate some actions that have just occurred in the last couple of hours. You may wish to pass this along to your members as well.
As we had announced, the Board of Directors had reached an agreement with Lee Stubberfield to resign as president, and give us his letter of resignation by the end of last week. He asked for some additional time to write the letter over the weekend, which we agreed to. However, Mr. Stubberfield has chosen to not honor the agreement and instead, has taken some aggressive actions.
This morning, Mr. Stubberfield has sent out the following announcements:
o Suspended SW Zone Director Jim Johnson as a member of VCA for "disruptive conduct" (for leaking the Chrysler letter, though no proof has been shown that he did)
o Assigned Ron Kooser as replacement SW Zone Director
o Suspended our national VP, Randall Arnold as a member of VCA, for disruptive conduct (for attempting to "seize power")
o Appointed national Treasurer, Dan Everts, as replacement Vice President
o Assigned presidential powers to Dan Everts (although it appears Mr. Stubberfield has not stepped down from office)
o Suspended national Secretary, (Maurice Liang) as a member of VCA for "unauthorized and disruptive conduct".
There may be more announcements coming, but since I have been suspended, I will not be able to communicate them to you.
I regret that our once proud club has deteriorated to this level. I fail to see how the above actions will help us restore trust from you and our members in the national office, or with Chrysler/SRT. I can tell you that the Board of Directors was united and working together the past couple of weeks with those goals in mind.
Whether you support or disagree with these actions, it's time to take action and express your views to the club's new leadership. It IS supposed to be YOUR club.
Maurice Liang
Founding President
Viper Club of America
As your national secretary, I wish to communicate some actions that have just occurred in the last couple of hours. You may wish to pass this along to your members as well.
As we had announced, the Board of Directors had reached an agreement with Lee Stubberfield to resign as president, and give us his letter of resignation by the end of last week. He asked for some additional time to write the letter over the weekend, which we agreed to. However, Mr. Stubberfield has chosen to not honor the agreement and instead, has taken some aggressive actions.
This morning, Mr. Stubberfield has sent out the following announcements:
o Suspended SW Zone Director Jim Johnson as a member of VCA for "disruptive conduct" (for leaking the Chrysler letter, though no proof has been shown that he did)
o Assigned Ron Kooser as replacement SW Zone Director
o Suspended our national VP, Randall Arnold as a member of VCA, for disruptive conduct (for attempting to "seize power")
o Appointed national Treasurer, Dan Everts, as replacement Vice President
o Assigned presidential powers to Dan Everts (although it appears Mr. Stubberfield has not stepped down from office)
o Suspended national Secretary, (Maurice Liang) as a member of VCA for "unauthorized and disruptive conduct".
There may be more announcements coming, but since I have been suspended, I will not be able to communicate them to you.
I regret that our once proud club has deteriorated to this level. I fail to see how the above actions will help us restore trust from you and our members in the national office, or with Chrysler/SRT. I can tell you that the Board of Directors was united and working together the past couple of weeks with those goals in mind.
Whether you support or disagree with these actions, it's time to take action and express your views to the club's new leadership. It IS supposed to be YOUR club.
Maurice Liang
Founding President
Viper Club of America
http://jalopnik.com/viper-club-president-decides-n...
A few regions have pulled out of the VCA inc Mauric's area
A few regions have pulled out of the VCA inc Mauric's area
Maurice also sent us the below letter, and it shows the level of changes that have occurred in the Viper Club in just the last few hours:
Dear fellow VCA Region Presidents,
As your national secretary, I wish to communicate some actions that have just occurred in the last couple of hours. You may wish to pass this along to your members as well.
As we had announced, the Board of Directors had reached an agreement with Lee Stubberfield to resign as president, and give us his letter of resignation by the end of last week. He asked for some additional time to write the letter over the weekend, which we agreed to. However, Mr. Stubberfield has chosen to not honor the agreement and instead, has taken some aggressive actions.
This morning, Mr. Stubberfield has sent out the following announcements:
Suspended SW Zone Director Jim Johnson as a member of VCA for "disruptive conduct" (for leaking the Chrysler letter, though no proof has been shown that he did) Assigned Ron Kooser as replacement SW Zone Director Suspended our national VP, Randall Arnold as a member of VCA, for disruptive conduct (for attempting to "seize power") Appointed national Treasurer, Dan Everts, as replacement Vice President Assigned presidential powers to Dan Everts (although it appears Mr. Stubberfield has not stepped down from office) Suspended national Secretary, (Maurice Liang) as a member of VCA for "unauthorized and disruptive conduct".
There may be more announcements coming, but since I have been suspended, I will not be able to communicate them to you.
I regret that our once proud club has deteriorated to this level. I fail to see how the above actions will help us restore trust from you and our members in the national office, or with Chrysler/SRT. I can tell you that the Board of Directors was united and working together the past couple of weeks with those goals in mind.
Whether you support or disagree with these actions, it's time to take action and express your views to the club's new leadership. It IS supposed to be YOUR club.
Maurice Liang Founding President Viper Club of America
Furthermore, regional presidents are now resigning left and right as well as zone directors. A letter forwarded to us indicates that the Houston region of the VCA is voting on whether to secede from the national club. Maybe it's the first step before all of Texas secedes? We've also heard that the Motor City, NorCal, Illinois (In this strongly worded letter), and Oregon chapters have already seceded from the club. This is a grade A s
t show now. But why? This is a car club.
Aren't car clubs for fun? Aren't they supposed to foster enthusiasm for the brand and not make members feel like an enemy of their own club? (Requests for comment from Mr. Stubberfield have not been returned)
Members have described the Viper Club, in private conversations, as less of a club and more of a dictatorship to benefit a select few. We've already seen that Chrysler was looking to distance itself from the Viper Club with its strongly worded letter to Mr. Stubberfield, and these new developments within the organization cannot be helping.
As far as we can tell, Lee Stubberfield is still the president and the business relationship with former president Chris Marshall's Viper Parts of America continues. But with this level of drama behind the scenes, how much longer will the club be around in its current form?
Dear fellow VCA Region Presidents,
As your national secretary, I wish to communicate some actions that have just occurred in the last couple of hours. You may wish to pass this along to your members as well.
As we had announced, the Board of Directors had reached an agreement with Lee Stubberfield to resign as president, and give us his letter of resignation by the end of last week. He asked for some additional time to write the letter over the weekend, which we agreed to. However, Mr. Stubberfield has chosen to not honor the agreement and instead, has taken some aggressive actions.
This morning, Mr. Stubberfield has sent out the following announcements:
Suspended SW Zone Director Jim Johnson as a member of VCA for "disruptive conduct" (for leaking the Chrysler letter, though no proof has been shown that he did) Assigned Ron Kooser as replacement SW Zone Director Suspended our national VP, Randall Arnold as a member of VCA, for disruptive conduct (for attempting to "seize power") Appointed national Treasurer, Dan Everts, as replacement Vice President Assigned presidential powers to Dan Everts (although it appears Mr. Stubberfield has not stepped down from office) Suspended national Secretary, (Maurice Liang) as a member of VCA for "unauthorized and disruptive conduct".
There may be more announcements coming, but since I have been suspended, I will not be able to communicate them to you.
I regret that our once proud club has deteriorated to this level. I fail to see how the above actions will help us restore trust from you and our members in the national office, or with Chrysler/SRT. I can tell you that the Board of Directors was united and working together the past couple of weeks with those goals in mind.
Whether you support or disagree with these actions, it's time to take action and express your views to the club's new leadership. It IS supposed to be YOUR club.
Maurice Liang Founding President Viper Club of America
Furthermore, regional presidents are now resigning left and right as well as zone directors. A letter forwarded to us indicates that the Houston region of the VCA is voting on whether to secede from the national club. Maybe it's the first step before all of Texas secedes? We've also heard that the Motor City, NorCal, Illinois (In this strongly worded letter), and Oregon chapters have already seceded from the club. This is a grade A s
t show now. But why? This is a car club.Aren't car clubs for fun? Aren't they supposed to foster enthusiasm for the brand and not make members feel like an enemy of their own club? (Requests for comment from Mr. Stubberfield have not been returned)
Members have described the Viper Club, in private conversations, as less of a club and more of a dictatorship to benefit a select few. We've already seen that Chrysler was looking to distance itself from the Viper Club with its strongly worded letter to Mr. Stubberfield, and these new developments within the organization cannot be helping.
As far as we can tell, Lee Stubberfield is still the president and the business relationship with former president Chris Marshall's Viper Parts of America continues. But with this level of drama behind the scenes, how much longer will the club be around in its current form?
The current (or recently former) leadership is whom the majority of regional presidents and board voted for. That is what makes me slightly sad about this, is that the club did have its elections and the majority spoke and it has led to this cluster. Make sure your regional president is representing your best interests (although we don't get a chance to vote on anything until next year).
I do have a slight issue with the board being in complete control of all decisions and watering down the presidential votes during election time. Current bylaws do not allow us to do much as presidents within the VCA. I am requesting a motion to the board that they allow regional presidents to create and vote on motions regarding change of bylaws, leadership, vendors, etc. If we can get 10 regions behind it, then the board must consider making the change. It does not mean that it will be enacted, but it is our only way to get some control back to the members. It is really the only option within our power and unfortunately it can be undermined with a simple "no" from the board. This is really the only option to have any sort of simple, civil, and democratic club.
So we are trying to be able to represent the membership, but who knows what will come if it. I can't imagine the work some of these guys have put into the club at the national level. In my mind you have to be crazy to want that kind of responsibility... but it is admirable if you are actually serving the membership of the club and constantly improving things. It is a different kind of crazy to cling onto it so tightly despite such widespread and loud opposition. I've only been elected this past year and it is so tiring that I look forward to the end of my term when I can let someone else improve upon my work
Summary: We are asking the board to allow regional presidents to vote for change. They will decide if we can or not. If they decide yes, then great! Members will now have a voice. If they decide no, then things will continue as-is up to at least the next elections. 7/35 regions support the motion so far.... let your regional president know your thoughts.
I do have a slight issue with the board being in complete control of all decisions and watering down the presidential votes during election time. Current bylaws do not allow us to do much as presidents within the VCA. I am requesting a motion to the board that they allow regional presidents to create and vote on motions regarding change of bylaws, leadership, vendors, etc. If we can get 10 regions behind it, then the board must consider making the change. It does not mean that it will be enacted, but it is our only way to get some control back to the members. It is really the only option within our power and unfortunately it can be undermined with a simple "no" from the board. This is really the only option to have any sort of simple, civil, and democratic club.
So we are trying to be able to represent the membership, but who knows what will come if it. I can't imagine the work some of these guys have put into the club at the national level. In my mind you have to be crazy to want that kind of responsibility... but it is admirable if you are actually serving the membership of the club and constantly improving things. It is a different kind of crazy to cling onto it so tightly despite such widespread and loud opposition. I've only been elected this past year and it is so tiring that I look forward to the end of my term when I can let someone else improve upon my work
Summary: We are asking the board to allow regional presidents to vote for change. They will decide if we can or not. If they decide yes, then great! Members will now have a voice. If they decide no, then things will continue as-is up to at least the next elections. 7/35 regions support the motion so far.... let your regional president know your thoughts.
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