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Thank you for the clarification, Rebecca. And that is precisely the point, is it not? As I do not have the right or capacity to speak on behalf of the ARSC Board, neither does the ARSC Board have the right or capacity to speak for me. On 7/22/2020 7:55 PM, Rebecca Chandler wrote: > In case anyone neglects to read Kurt’s entire email or is confused, I wish > to clarify that the “ARSC Board’s Statement Concerning Recent Events” he > includes is NOT a message from the Board. Those are his own words. > > Thank you, > Rebecca Chandler > *ARSC President* > > On Wed, Jul 22, 2020 at 6:22 PM Kurt Nauck <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> I will /not /comment upon the proposed ARSC documents, as this is not an >> ARSC membership forum, and therefore not the place for it. Any comments >> I have concerning ARSC procedures and policies will be reserved for the >> next round of ARSC stakeholder input, which I presume will be held >> within a forum restricted to ARSC members. I will also be submitting my >> personal comments online prior to the August 1 deadline. >> >> What I /do/ wish to comment on is the */public/* statement on racism and >> police brutality made by the board and posted in this forum. My letter >> to the editor in the recent edition of the *ARSC Newsletter* accurately >> reflects my position, which has not changed. Parenthetically, I would >> like to point out that my letter was meant /solely for the ARSC >> membership/, as these issues are an in-house concern, not a public one. >> In fact, I initially read this letter to the ARSC Board over the phone >> during their fall board meeting in Montreal last October, after which I >> forwarded copies to the chairs of the DEI and Operations committees. >> Executive Director Nathan Georgitis wisely suggested that I wait on >> submitting my statement to the Newsletter until the Board and committees >> had time to digest and react to my comments. >> >> There were three things which prompted me to finally submit my letter. >> First, I never received a response from the Board or DEI committee >> concerning the comments I expressed at the fall board meeting. Second, I >> didn’t hear back from the Diversity, Equity & */Inclusion/* Committee >> regarding my May 23 request to join (in response to a public >> solicitation for new members). And third, the widespread dissemination >> of the *ARSC* *Statement Opposing Racism & Police Brutality*. It wasn’t >> until June 14 that I contacted Yuri about submitting my letter. (Two >> days later, I received a response from the DEI chair formally declining >> my membership request.) >> >> I state these things lest anyone think that my letter was a >> spur-of-the-moment decision meant to spread division and discord within >> the organization. I have been communicating with leadership for years >> regarding these matters, and up to now have restricted my comments to >> them, and to members in attendance at annual business meetings when the >> topic arose. >> >> That is all I have to say about the letter. Now I would like to address >> the *ARSC Statement*, again because this was a public position which the >> Board of Directors took without consulting the membership for their >> input. As such, the board deigned to speak on my behalf which it has no >> right to do, either legally, morally or within the constraints of the >> governing documents of the organization. >> >> As I did with the *Anti-anti Harassment Policy*, I will address my >> issues with the *ARSC* *Statement* by proposing a revised statement. In >> keeping with the stated goals of the DEI Committee, I will do so in an >> */inclusive/* manner. Notwithstanding the following statement, I still >> maintain that ARSC has no business publishing remarks on these matters >> regardless of the personal feelings and beliefs of those holding >> leadership positions within the Association. >> >> *ARSC Board’s Statement Concerning Recent Events* >> >> As we see current events playing out in our society and witness horrific >> acts being carried out across our nation, we, the Board of Directors of >> the Association for Recorded Sound Collections, feel compelled to make >> known our personal positions regarding these matters. Obviously, we do >> not presume to speak on behalf of our membership, as that is not within >> our purview, nor do we know where each and every member stands in >> reference to these events. Nevertheless, we hope that our comments will >> resonate with our membership and those who benefit from the work and >> outreach of our Association. We further hope to bring some sense of >> balance, wisdom and compassion to these dark times. >> >> In short, we grieve over the things we see happening in our country. Our >> hearts go out to all those of any color and background who have been >> harmed by recent events. We understand that people of many races have >> been subjected to abuse, oppression, discrimination and hatred within >> our society, and we believe that there is no room for such behavior in >> America. Having said that, we understand that there are two particular >> races who have borne the brunt of this intolerance: American Indians and >> African Americans. There can be no doubt that each group has grievances >> which are legitimate and deserve to be heard and understood. We hope >> that all sectors of our society can find a way to come together with a >> heartfelt desire to hear, understand and learn from each other. It is >> only through mutual love and respect that we can hope to see real change >> and reconciliation take place. >> >> We also grieve over our law enforcement agencies and those men and women >> of all races who literally put their lives on the line to protect us >> each and every day. We know that there are bad apples in every group of >> people you care to look at, but we resist those who would seek to paint >> all of our law enforcement personnel with the same broad brush. We call >> upon our leaders to identify and hold accountable those cops who are >> bad, even as we praise and thank the vast majority who are good. We >> resist all calls to defund police departments, knowing that the >> resulting anarchy will only lead to further oppression of those most >> vulnerable. >> >> We further grieve over the needless destruction of our cities and >> communities by those who avail themselves of every opportunity to steal, >> kill and destroy. We understand that there is evil among us, and that it >> is the job of the police to keep us safe, the courts to mete out justice >> and each one of us to be ministers of hope, healing and reconciliation >> within our neighborhoods and communities. >> >> We grieve not only for the shopkeepers and their families whose >> businesses and livelihoods have been destroyed, but for the >> neighborhoods that will be further impoverished due to the destruction >> of their local economic infrastructure. We call upon our police to >> identify and apprehend those who commit such heinous acts, and our >> courts to judge the perpetrators with wisdom and fairness. >> >> And finally, we grieve over the wanton destruction of those symbols and >> artifacts that commemorate (for better or for worse) the history of this >> country. As an organization committed to the */preservation/*, >> */access/* and */understanding/* of sound recordings of all types, from >> all eras and from all nations, we are appalled as we see our heritage >> being destroyed before our very eyes. We know that the past is not >> something to be hidden or denied, but to be revealed so that we can >> learn and grow from it. And we understand that we grow by seeing the bad >> just as much as the good. As an Association, we hereby renew our >> dedication to those artifacts that /are/ within the purview of our >> oversight, and commit ourselves to resist any attempt by any agency – >> public or private – to destroy our recorded sound heritage or to >> restrict access to it. In keeping with this commitment, we reiterate our >> strong support for our constitutional right to freedom of speech, for >> they go hand-in-hand. >> >> In closing, we wish to reiterate that we speak only on behalf of >> ourselves, the ARSC Board. Our comments are meant to help, not to >> hinder; to move us toward healing, and not division. >> >> Signed, >> >> The *ARSC Board of Directors* >> >> -- >> >> Kurt Nauck >> >> *Nauck's Vintage Records* >> 22004 Sherrod Ln >> Spring, TX 77389 >> >> *www.78rpm.com* <http://78rpm.com/> >> 281-288-7826 >> -- Kurt Nauck *Nauck's Vintage Records* 22004 Sherrod Ln Spring, TX 77389 *www.78rpm.com* <http://78rpm.com/> 281-288-7826