FROM Sandra Campbell: RE: Special Meeting of MGAB ... Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:02:10 +1000

NOTE: This same letter sent individually to all current MGAB members and this response is the only one received to date & receive on the day sent

Forwarded Message
From: sandra campbell <sandbags@activ8.net.au>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:02:10 +1000
To: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: Re: Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board

   I acknowledge your letter thank you Ray.
 All the best
 Sandra

On 10-Jul-14 2:44 PM, Ray Norman wrote:

Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

 Dear Sandra,

 RE: Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board

On July 9 each year Australia celebrates Constitution Day. As a part of this year’s celebration Alec Coles, CEO, Western Australian Museum, talked about taking “A tiger by the tail?” and he promoted musingplaces (my word) as platforms for “Freedom of Speech”. Every now and then celebration of one these anniversaries sparks an enlightening discourse. As Coles says, “it is not uncommon for Museums to be described as safe places for unsafe ideas. It is a phrase perhaps not coined, but certainly reinforced here in Sydney by Dr Fiona Cameron, a research fellow at the University of Western Sydney, in her paper: Safe Places for unsafe ideas? History and science museums, hot topics and moral predicaments.”

So here is a contentious idea worth considering ... a “kangaroo court is a judicial tribunal or assembly that blatantly disregards recognized standards of law or justice, and often carries little or no official standing in the territory within which it resides. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted" ... A kangaroo court is often held by a group or a community to give the appearance of a fair and just trial, even though the verdict has in reality already been decided before the trial has begun. Such courts typically take place in rural areas where legitimate law enforcement may be limited. The term may also apply to a court held by a legitimate judicial authority who intentionally disregards the court's legal or ethical obligations”…Read more here <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_court> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_court%3E>

The motion to be put before the proposed meeting on Monday, quite apart from being unconscionable, it is defamatory. Moreover, the proposed meeting promises to represent all the hallmarks of a Kangaroo Court and especially so in regard to the blatant disregard for standards.

 The motion fails so many tests that in the end it is extraordinary evidence of the lengths than can be gone to, and the depths that can be plumbed, to maintain the status quo for whatever reason.

 What tests does both the meeting, and the motion before it, fail?

• Natural justice: At no point has the substantive matter, or any evidence of it,  been disclosed to me. Rather I have been subjected to accusations that I believe lack substance and veracity. If  evidence exists where is it? Why have I not seen it?
• Fair Dealing: Consequent to the above I have not been given any opportunity to consider or counter any evidence, if it exists, in order to ensure that I, and the matter, can be dealt with fairly;
• Due Process: Consequent to the above any semblance of due process or procedural fairness is not present.
• 
  

Furthermore, given that this whole matter goes on under the aegis of Launceston City Council the issue of Council policies arises.

• Firstly, Council’s “organisational values” appear to be violated by not only the motion itself but all that led up to it – See <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/lcc/index.php?c=69 >
• Secondly, Given the MGAB is an example of Council’s engagement with the community any attention to its “Community Engagement Policy” is clearly missing. It is especially so here in regard to how volunteers can be treated by Council – See <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/upfiles/lcc/cont/_council/community_engagement/engaging_with_the_community/2187_lcc_community_engagement_framework_r_jan_2013.pdf >
• 
  

Declaration of Interests.
 I believe that it is well understood by MGAB members the MGAB Chairman and others that I have a declared interest, not a conflict of interests, not a pecuniary interest, but a research interest , in the QVMAG, and indeed all musingplaces, from the perspective of testing the concept of ‘Community of Ownership & Interest’ (COI) and applying them successfully to our museum. Indeed, I have provided the General Manager with a COI definition at his request.
 
Consequent to my research interests, I intend to interrogate and test the substance of Local Government’s legislative paradigm: internal governance and management models; policy making procedures; protocols and values; in the context of the ‘concept of COI’  having implications for musingplaces. And, especially so in ways that are consistent with the thesis that museums should indeed be safe places within which to interrogate unsafe ideas.

 Research ethics demand that I inform those touched by my research.  I do this again here so as there can be no confusion in regard to my intentions and purpose in the context of the actions I intend taking.

I will not lend any credibility at all to the meeting by attending. Furthermore, it seems to me to be an extraordinarily dangerous exercise to be engaged with. Consequently, I have decided to offer my conditional resignation to the Acting Mayor and Aldermen and no doubt a copy of my letter of resignation will be provided for you at or before the meeting.

 Regards,

 Ray    
Ray Norman
  <zingHOUSEunlimited>
 The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

PH: 03-6334 2176
 EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
 EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net
 40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
 Resume: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
 NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
 the exclusive use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you must not
 disseminate, copy or take any action in relation to the message. If you have received this message in error,
 please immediately notify the sender at the above address and delete all copies of the message
 The information in this email is absolutely confidential and commercial-in-confidence
  protocols apply to that information that may have a commercial application.

 Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of the author(s) apply in accord with Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws.

No virus found in this message.
 Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com>
 Version: 2013.0.3485 / Virus Database: 3955/7825 - Release Date: 07/09/14

------ End of Forwarded Message