Gentlefolk,
The I&A controversy is serious and unfortunately to this point not backed by substantial doc-u-mentation. Below is a simple chronology backed up where possible with doc-u-mentation of what is being said. I have kept the Chronology as free of opinion as I possibly can. However I do have an opinion of the conduct that it demonstrates and a conclusion in regard the what it is saying about how some people in the AFA have conducted business to date.
First, this it is my opinion that this is a mess of Mr. Davidson’s choosing. As all of you that have read anything I have written in re Mr. Ferguson, I am decidedly not a fan of Ferguson. However, SIT DOWN FOR A SECOND, giving the doc-u-ments that I have reviewed Mr. Ferguson has with all his limited skill tried to engage with Mr. Davidson to resolve this matter before it reached the point that it is at. So I have to give him credit for that. Good on Dave.
Second, Mr. Davidson has asserted that Rich Garrison was dumped on by the Ferguson/Nolan cabal and fired as the project manager. This is a bald face lie. Mr. Garrison requested that he be relieved of the role in April. I personally confirmed this on the telephone in a conversation with Mr. Garrison. Was he happy with the choice or with the Fact that Mr. Ferguson was the one writing the letter, NO. But he acknowledged that it was done at HIS request and that is very simply all that counts.
Third, Mr. Davidson first entered into a contract to produce the AFA Certification Study Guide and then willingly chose to breach his contract with the AFA for its production. This contract was in fact a sub-contract created via the requirement in the I&A contract that I&A be given right of first refusal for all printing projects. It is my belief that this placed him in material breach of the overall governing agreement.
Forth, Mr. Davidson has stated clearly that he intends to breach the contract in re the publication of PF and has repeatedly refused to discuss the matter in a professional and rational basis. Regardless of how much Mr. Davidson has contributed in the past to the AFA, his actions are hurting the AFA now and his willingness to break his word to the membership by not acting like a professional and breaching his agreement wipe all of that good out in an instant. Honor is not fungible and there are no grounds to act the way that I see him acting in his exchanges.
Fifth, over the last couple of days I have been accused by I&A staff of being “Full of ***** (excrement)” and have received email containing the following amongst other accusations: “HAVE YOU TOO MADE A DECISION THAT YOU WISH TO RUN AN EMPIRE AS AN EMPORER. WOW - very disappointing!” I personal find these attempts at intimidation and accusation untoward and unprofessional. Be that as it may be I have invited Mr. Davidson and staff to submit any doc-u-mentation of their claims to me in writing and to date have not received a single response. Should they choose to reply I will edit the following Timeline to include their response for all to review.
Finally, what I see happening here is the continuation of a failed campaign. I like everyone involved with few exceptions felt/fell strongly that Mr. Ferguson should have resigned or been removed from office for cause. However, I watched the Board of Directors meeting in awe that not one single person stood to express these feelings on the record at the meeting, nor did any of them collect the necessary signatures from those present in Albuquerque to call a special meeting for the purpose of removing Mr. Ferguson. In effect Mr. Ferguson has received a pass on this. Since none of the men in the room had the intestinal fortitude to act when the acting was good, I think they should stop tearing the AFA up with continued bashing Dave because he is Dave. If they are men they will put this behind them and step up to help Mr. Ferguson move the AFA forward in a positive fashion. I am not advocating closing their eyes to any future wrong doing or ******ity, but I am saying that they need to grow up, be men and work for the welfare of the AFA, its membership, and the horses that we serve.
I advice any that read the following to read it with an open mind, ignore the opinions and dig for the facts. The true picture becomes a lot clearer when you want to find it, instead of listening to the opinions of people with an axe to grind and their own interests to protect.
If there is a question feel free to post it to me and I will dig out the answers and support them with logic, fact and do***entation, not emotionalism, opinion and obfuscation.
Chronology
April 20, 2006: (Per Conversation with Mike Nolan.)
Mike Nolan makes a verbal request for an electronic copy of the text from the 2005 Certification Study Guide. Scott Davidson indicates it is not available
May 22, 2006:
Nolan requests via e-mail that Ink & Anvil either supply the requested text or explain why it is not available. Davidson responds that the material is only available in a publishing software version.
June 6, 2006:
Nolan requests that I&A forward the electronic version, indicating that he will have it converted for the Committee.
(Exhibit 24)
June 7, 2006:
Davidson sends email to Nolan and others with final refusal to forward electronic version of study guide. Includes the entire email exchange back to June 6th.
(Exhibit 24)
July 10, 2006:
Scott Davidson declines a request to meet with the Executive Committee to resolve problems. But includes a list of grievances.
(Exhibit 16)
July 26, 2006:
Davidson accepts the contract to produce the AFA Certification Study Guide. Includes Nolan acceptance of the Ink & Anvil bid to produce the 2006 edition of the Certification Study Guide.
(Exhibit 25)
August, 11, 2006:
Nolan responds to Davidson Request for membership numbers.
(Exhibit 33)
August 12, 2006: (I have requested a copy of the minutes from this meeting)
Certification Committee meets and reviews the revised Study Guide. Several additional changes are adopted.
(Exhibit 35)
August 29, 2006:
Ferguson writes letter to I&A requesting meeting at Mid-Year Board Meeting.
(Exhibit 23)
August, 31, 2006:
Ferguson sends letter requesting a meeting with I&A staff in Albuquerque with the stated purpose of discussing and trying to resolve the issues between I&A and the AFA.
(Exhibit 23)
September 5, 2006:
Study guide text and cover photo sent to Ink & Anvil with directions to proceed with production.
(Exhibit 26)
September 6, 2006:
Davidson refuses Albuquerque meeting because he has other plans.
(Exhibit 6)
September 12, 2006:
Office Manager Jiulianti receives funding request for mailing of PF. Fax has wrong publication name on it but the count is correct for magazine distribution.
(Exhibit 51 page 2&3)
September 13, 2006:
Scott Davidson sent an e-mail indicating that Ink & Anvil was withdrawing its bid to print the Certification Study Guide, and making unsubstantiated charges against the Acting Executive Director.
(Exhibit 27)
Nolan sends Davidson letter establishing review policy on the content of PF.
(Exhibit 14)
Nolan informs AFA Attorney McSwain of the correspondence with Davidson and Davidson’s response.
(Exhibit 13) &
(Exhibit 14)
Jiulianti Faxes funding authorization to AFA Bank.
(Exhibit 55 page 9)
AFA Bank funds transferred to mailing house account.
(Exhibit 55 page
September 14, 2006:
Ferguson writes letter to Garrison notifying him that he has been replaced as project manager in the I&A contract.
(Exhibit 12)
September 15, 2006:
Ferguson sends Garrison letter to Nolan and requests that he mail it ot Garrison and the publications committee members.
(Exhibit 11)
September 15th, 2006:
Nolan drafts response to Davidson’s 9/13 email and forwards to EC and Voigt for review. Letter never sent.
(Exhibit 10) &
(Exhibit 32)
September 17th, 2006:
Voigt responds to his copy of Nolan’s 9/15 email.
(Exhibit 10)
September 19, 2006:
Jiulianti receives funding request for mailing membership directory from mailing house. Item count supports that this is a request for the directory.
(Exhibit 51 pages 3-5)
September 20, 2006:
Jiulianti faxes funding request to AFA Bank.
(Exhibit 55 Page 6)
Continued ....