CCAA President's Response to Member Concerns Over Recent Posts on Social Media

To All CCAA Members:
 
I'm writing this letter to address some concerns that membership have brought to me about an audio recording between myself and another club member that is making its rounds on the internet. If you haven't already seen/heard it, I wouldn't recommend that you waste your time to try and find it. If you have, please allow me alleviate some concerns that have been expressed to me. As President, I am open to conversations with any member of the club. If you call and ask me questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability, while following Florida law, our Bylaws, and Robert's Rules of Order. If you ask for my opinion, you're going to get my opinion. If you don’t agree with my opinion that is okay. 

If a member chooses to use my discussion with them in a negative way, whether putting it out in email or on any other social media sites or putting it out as a recording that the member has secretly taped without my knowledge or consent, it reflects more on the character of that member than on mine or the club itself. If you choose to release it in order to disparage myself or the club, it is your prerogative. Again it is a greater reflection on the member rather than on the club. Please know though, that this will not affect me answering any other member calls or questions. This will not stop me from speaking with any member who asks. I am the President of this club and I hope that membership feels that they can come directly to me. You can reach me at [email protected].

Any opinion I give is just that, my opinion. It is not necessarily the opinion of the entire board. Your board is comprised of 13 volunteer board members that you have elected to work on your behalf to better the breed and the club. No one person controls or dictates the actions of the board, no matter what you may have heard. When there is work being done by those board members for the club, the board votes on those matters. If it is something like a Standard change or a Bylaws change those go to the entire membership to vote on for the ultimate decision. Our monthly board meetings are available to club members to listen to on the CCAA website. I encourage you to listen to them to hear for yourself what is being discussed.

Unfortunately there are some members and former members, who thrive on drama and negativity and even some who find a way to make money from it. There will always be drama in the club. This is no different than any other organization comprised of a diverse number of people. I understand that and I hope you understand that also. I also hope that you make the choice to not participate. What I fail to understand is why people who have such contempt for the club would spend the money to join the club, just to disparage it. But there are those who do, and it is what it is.

For those who have asked, we cannot just “throw” members out. The only way to remove a member is detailed in our Bylaws. Basically that member can formally resign with a letter addressed to the secretary, they can choose to not renew their membership at the end of the year (lapse) or they can be expelled by membership vote at the annual meeting after a grievance hearing that they have been found guilty at.

I hope that this letter addresses any concerns that you may have had. Please know that the board is working diligently to continue to make this a club that is for the Cane Corso, an amazing dog we all know and love.
 
Thank you,

Rebecca Simonski
CCAA President