Either I'm the worst communicator in the world or people keep reading things into my statements and questions that I never said or implied. I'm not an enemy to the Association, I'm a member with questions and concerns.
Betty,
I have (mostly) stayed out of this for quite some time, and didn't anticipate getting back into it.
I understand that they are volunteers, for which I am grateful, really.
Mine was a status update, not intended to be a view of the final outcome. I suppose some of my personal doubts, based on how things have been handled show through, but...
(an important) Part of transparency, of service, even for volunteers is communication. The sense of neglect/indifference left by their lack of communication, is, at least in part, the result of their failure/neglect/option to remain completely silent about these questions...
A simple "We're working on it, please be patient." would go a LONG way in making people feel like they matter, that their concerns matter (even if they don't) and that they have been heard. If that communication has been made, I've missed it and I'm WAY off base.
It is difficult to hold hope when it is supported by nothing. Fearing the worst when communication is so lacking is a reasonable default position. At this point, I don't care that much, but it is respectful to respond to questions asked, issues raised, so I did.
My hope is that your ending scenario is an accurate representation of the actual outcome.
Hello George,
First a disclaimer ... I do not know anything about what the Ethics Committee is or is not doing or will or will not do or even if they are actually working on the complaint that was filed.
I do know that the folks on the Ethics Committee are volunteers and that they all work full time.
The other thing I know is that what you have written is negative-outcome conjecture. Of course that's okay ... you have a right. For me, I'm conjuring a positive scenario: The Ethics Committee is taking the complaint seriously. They are busy volunteers. They will eventually issue a formal reply in a way that is professional and ethical.
Betty Scarpino, editor, AW