||| BY MIA KARTIGANER, SPECIAL TO theORCASONIAN |||
With much the same provocation that led me to run for Port Commissioner two years ago, I find myself once again moved to action by the discord in our community. How is it possible that a group of people, many of whom I know and respect, can be so at odds with one another?
Right or wrong their issues have been brought into the public arena and we now understandably want to know “What’s going on at OIFR?!” So far this investigation is unfolding like a Mamet play: intrigue, credible accounts that lead to ever shifting certainties regarding the truth, plot twists, and misunderstandings.
My pre-analysis is this:
The three most important assets of Orcas Island’s Fire and Rescue are the union responders, the wonderful volunteer responders and our tax dollars. Subtract any one of these three assets and OIFR isn’t possible. Administration and staff are responsible for the support and guidance of these three assets. The role of Commissioners is to make sure that the administration has everything it needs to do its job well.
Most of what I have learned about leadership came too late to benefit my own employees. It was a disservice to all of us. But I wasn’t running a business supported by our tax dollars so the shame is all mine and I will continue to apologize as allowed. You can see where I’m going with this. Now for the bold statement.
Without exception a crisis among teammates is due to a crisis of leadership. There is no deflection or distraction worth the time taken away from focusing on this truth.
And this team is multi-tiered with leaders at every level.
I will continue to search for the “why” of how things got to be this way. I will take a deep dive into the veracity of the complaints as well as the motivation of individuals. I wish I could say that there are only two sides to this story or that everyone’s timelines mesh seamlessly. But I’m willing to verify, fact check and remain respectful and considerate of the human beings, our neighbors, our community, as I go.
Each time we exercise our right to make a public document request we create more work than a quick search and the push of the print button. In the interest of lightening the burden on OIFR, theOrcasonian has offered to publish the public records that I (we) receive.
You are welcome to reach out to me at miamsk@icloud.com with either documents or verifiable information.
I am here to listen with compassion and an open mind.
[Mia Kartiganer has stepped up to investigate this issue for theOrcasonian.]
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Hi Mia,
I am unclear if you have been appointed by one of the stakeholder groups at OIFR to do an investigation or volunteering
to do an investigation on your own.
Please enlighten.
Thanks.
Thanks for the heads-up, Janice. You’re correct!
[Mia Kartiganer has stepped up to investigate this issue for theOrcasonian.] That has now been added to the story.
I am very glad Mia is undertaking this project. I have always wondered what was wrong with OIFR, and how to make it work smoothly. It is such an
important asset we have on the island. Why isn’t it functioning well. Thank you. I trust your judgement and welcome some clarity as to what is going on.
I have been saying to my husband that we need a local Bob(bi) Woodward investigative reporter-type to get to the bottom of whatever-this-issue-actually-is, since it has been on the one hand publicly aired on an ongoing basis, but maddeningly clouded by innuendo and blurry statements of blame. At this point, in seems that no one in the community has the full picture of the intrigue (or even just the WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE and WHY) and it would be good to finally get the story out. Even in direct conversations with some of those who are part of OIFR claim they are in the dark on this one! Mia, if you are stepping up to the job, THANK YOU very much, and we look forward to your full account of the matter, so that whatever is going on can simply be brought to light and handled appropriately. And we can, as a community, all move on.
Mia, how will you investigate if no one but the aggrieved ones will talk? Both sides of the story are needed. The Board really needs to appoint a non-biased investigative panel.
I believe Mia is interviewing both volunteers, staff, administration and BOFC members. Hopefully, each will speak of their experience and she can report back.
Why would the board or the administration even submit to an unauthorized interview?
Since the Board has already had two private investigations that can be had through public record request, why not get this information first ?