Well...we thought it couldn't get any worse...
Let's see...nearly five months after my last post...damn...way too long. I've been working hard to just do my job to the best of my abilities and keep Akaku's vision and mission statement, "Empowering our community's voice through access to media," alive. It has not been easy by any means. Akaku is near the end of its rope...on this last Wednesday, July 13, 2005, Sean McLaughlin, our President/CEO was wrongfully terminated by a vote of 8-7 by our Board of Directors. Making, I believe, one of the worst mistakes in the history of our organization, if not the single-worst.It is a sad day indeed when advocates of capitalist imperialism succeed in quieting the voice of the community at large. However, NOTHING will stop us from protecting the freedom of speech and free thought that we harbor here at Akaku: Maui Community Television.
There are several key issues to take into account when considering the wrongful termination of Sean McLaughlin as President/CEO of Akaku:
1. Not only was Sean an outstanding leader and advocate of free speech at Akaku, he truly believed in the mission statement of the organization, "Empowering our community's voice through access to media." Sean was recognized by the community at large as such. He was recognized by the Non-Profit Directors' Association as "Outstanding Non-Profit Executive Director of 2004."
2. Sean was NOT reprimanded ONCE by the Board of Directors for any of the actions that were quoted as reasons his position should be terminated. As a matter of fact he has NEVER been reprimanded by the Board of Directors of Akaku for ANY of his actions as acting Executive Director of Akaku.
3. Akaku Board Chairman Myles Inokuma did not run a legal meeting on July 13, 2005, in which Sean McLaughlin was wrongfully terminated and did not properly follow the by-laws under which the Akaku Board of Directors operates.
4. One of the voting members, Charles Jencks, was appointed to the board that day and has a longtime history of "shady" deals here on Maui, not to mention he's in bed with Everett Dowling who has been quoted by several reliable sources as wanting to shut down Akaku.
5. Flo Wiger, one of the "newly appointed" voting members representing MCC on the Board of Directors is an actual employee of MCC, which presents a direct Conflict of Interest in the decisions she makes on the Akaku Board seeing how Akaku paid some $232,000 to MCC in an agreement only a couple of months ago.
6. Another "newly appointed" voting member, Sadao Yanagi, representing the DOE does not participate in any of the meetings other than to vote. He simply sits there with his chin to his chest, hat covering his eyes. It is obvious to see that he is there representing the DOE, a state-funded entity, with no forethought, insite or intellectual capacity whatsoever as he does NOT participate in the meetings other than by voting one way or another.
7. There is more...and there will be more...and we will talk about it OPENLY and PUBLICLY without hiding anything. The TRUTH shall prevail.
Aloha and may your dreams be as sweet as your intentions.
Randy Mills
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