Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7   Go Down

Author Topic: AMSAT BB Censorship  (Read 1246 times)

AC2EU

  • Member
  • Posts: 2793
    • McVey Electronics
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #45 on: November 16, 2020, 01:50:57 PM »

Quote
Were member funds used? And does it matter? A budget was in place. An organization felt threatened. They spent ALLOCATED funds to protect themselves ...


From WHAT?  Baseless rhetoric? Hmmmm...   :o

WE4B

  • Member
  • Posts: 165
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #46 on: November 16, 2020, 02:10:21 PM »

I have provided links to credible sources concerning my claims of malfeasances within the legacy, incumbent BoDs of AMSAT-NA. These links are credible as the information one can find there has been provided by a current AMSAT-NA Board member. Once again, here is the link:

http://amsat.wd9ewk.net

If one follows that link they can read all the details of what actually happens behind the scenes of AMSAT-NA leadership. In fact, one can also find the link there to the other AMSAT-NA Board member that was persecuted by a conspiracy of legacy, incumbent AMSAT-NA Board members but here it is for your convenience:

https://w5nyv.blogspot.com/2020/07/report-to-members-8-amsat-na-board-of.html?m=1

So, not only is what I’m reporting in this thread about malfeasances available from one source, it’s confirmed from two sources. This is important as both of these sources are current AMSAT-NA Board members and both of these sources spent money out of their own pockets to retain legal counsel to fight the conspiracy against them from legacy, incumbent Board members.

Please note, even though some want to deflect and run interference from the fact that there was a conspiracy and that well over $10K of members’ money was spent in a manner that violated AMSAT-NA bylaws and also violated AMSAT-NA corporate code and by doing so have put the non-profit status of the organization in jeopardy.

I will, once again, state that what I’m saying is documented by more than one, credible source (current AMSAT-NA Board members). Once again, no legacy, incumbent Board members have denied that there was a conspiracy.

In this thread we have an AMSAT-NA Ambassador who, based on his official signature, is speaking for AMSAT-NA and not himself. This particular Ambassador is violating the AMSAT Ambassador Code of Conduct by creating controversy and alienating current and potential members. This Ambassador won’t be reprimanded though because he is running interference for the legacy, incumbent Board members.

See, it’s really simple. AMSAT-NA legacy, incumbent Board members attempt to use smoke, mirrors, snake oil and Tang to deflect from the real issues. What people are seeing in this thread proves this. The thread was started by a potential member, who was immediately chastised and ridiculed. I posted in the thread with credible, scholarly links and have been rebuked by an AMSAT-NA President who resigned that position and has also resigned as the Secretary along with an AMSAT-NA Ambassador. This is what members or potential members will also experience should they speak-out and have alternate views of how AMSAT-NA should be operated. Oh yeah, and to the OP’s original post, you will also be censored and banned.

I’m a paid member of AMSAT-NA and I will not stop speaking out against what I few as wrong with the organization. I will provide credible information to backup my claims. I will not sell anyone snake oil or Tang. Babylon must fall.

Cheers and 73
http://we4bravo.com
Logged

AC2EU

  • Member
  • Posts: 2793
    • McVey Electronics
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #47 on: November 16, 2020, 02:33:04 PM »

I don't know any other amateur radio clubs that routinely budget for "legal expenses".
Liability claims are  normally taken care of by the insurance company, so no need for a legal budget.
Can the Ambassador please explain why AMSAT needs a legal budget?

W9FIB

  • Member
  • Posts: 3501
    • HomeURL
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #48 on: November 16, 2020, 05:56:26 PM »

>> ... Apparently the OP has some budget allocation beef.  As a member ...

He's not a member of anything ...

>> ... he should have a right to express his dissent without being labeled a malcontent.

Incessant whining ... misrepresenting the truth ... crying that he was tossed out of a group because - he admitted - he broke the rules ... That is a problem child under anyone's definition.

>> ... It also seems odd that the organization used member funds to retain a lawyer over the matter ...

Were member funds used? And does it matter? A budget was in place. An organization felt threatened. They spent ALLOCATED funds to protect themselves ...

Way too much bickering and lack luster web site just does not inspire me to participate in any way.
Logged
73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

W4HIJ

  • Member
  • Posts: 453
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #49 on: November 16, 2020, 06:51:49 PM »


He's not a member of anything ...

>> ... he should have a right to express his dissent without being labeled a malcontent.

Incessant whining ... misrepresenting the truth ... crying that he was tossed out of a group because - he admitted - he broke the rules ... That is a problem child under anyone's definition.

>>

I was a member for years. Then I watched a once proud organization go stagnant and not do anything of any substance for a decade. I watched it make a decision to bend over backwards promoting "Easy Sats" and put it's main focus on launching flying FM repeaters rather than pursuing more challenging goals. And there's nothing wrong with the "Easy Sats" per se but many members like myself wanted something more challenging than just that but we were rebuffed at every turn. So I chose to stop wasting my money supporting an organization that no longer seemed to have my interest at heart. Many others did too. We voted with our wallets.
 Still, there is no requirement of membership to belong to the AMSAT BB and I continued to follow it  and as I've already said, I held out hope for change.
 I then  made one comment that referenced the calling out and exposing of a known conman and huckster. I didn't even do the calling out myself, just made a comment and had a laugh at a humorous post about the individual in question. That's  what I admitted to earlier in this thread and that's absolutely all it was but it was deemed a "personal attack" by the moderator and I was not kicked off the board (yet) but put on moderated status. After that, many post I made that praised the two directors conspired against by the rest of the board were censored and never made it to the BB. Also, as already stated, anything the slightest bit critical of AMSAT was also censored. None of these post were uncivil or attacked  anyone in any way but they were rejected all the same. My run of the mill post trying to help someone out with an answer to a question or any other benign matters made it through just fine. Recently, I dared to make a joke comment on an FM satellite thread. Someone had listed out a bunch of the FM sats and I flippantly replied that "someone should wake me up when AMSAT got around to launching real satellites again ZZZZZ". That was it, that was my "violation of the terms of service" that got me kicked and the comment never even made it to the BB. Censored once again.  It's pretty ridiculous but that's how thin skinned the BB moderator and BOD are.
 BTW, now I have the known con man and huckster harassing me at my personal E-mail. I'm not naming a name or a callsign but I don't think it takes Sherlock Holmes to figure out who it is. He has an axe to grind with me because I support the people who exposed him.
 I'm so glad to see that this thread has served it's purpose, it's brought to light the rot from within that is going on with AMSAT. It's very nice to see hams that have no dog in the fight stepping up and being able to smell the rat.
73,
Michael W4HIJ
« Last Edit: November 16, 2020, 06:53:58 PM by W4HIJ »
Logged

WE4B

  • Member
  • Posts: 165
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #50 on: November 16, 2020, 08:04:01 PM »

BTW, now I have the known con man and huckster harassing me at my personal E-mail. I'm not naming a name or a callsign but I don't think it takes Sherlock Holmes to figure out who it is. He has an axe to grind with me because I support the people who exposed him.

This is a direct violation of the AMSAT Ambassador Code of Conduct. You should file a complaint against this individual. It won't do any good but it will make you feel better knowing that you did the right thing.

Unfortunately, this is what has become of AMSAT-NA as of late. The clubhouse mentality of the legacy, incumbent Board members is slowly killing the organization. This thread is just the latest where current, former and potential members state what their experience with the organization is or has been.

It's so funny how anytime anyone says anything that is not in lock-step with the legacy, incumbent Board members, they view it as a 'personal attack' and censor whomever said it. As elected officials of AMSAT-NA, Board members are politicians and should be able to handle criticism (negative or positive) but they are not able to do so. I'm willing to bet that these thin skinned people were picked-on as young children on the playground and now feel that they can compensate for that by having their own clubhouse at the expense of members' dues monies.

As long as the legacy, incumbent leadership keeps treating members, non-members and potential members in the manner in which they do, there will continue to be more negative press about AMSAT-NA. This negative press does have an impact on fundraising opportunities for the organization. I am a member. I want AMSAT-NA to succeed, but it cannot do so as long as it manages things in its current state. Satellite organizations which seem to be thriving are ORI (Open Research Institute) and Libre Space. These are two organizations that are progressive and steadily marching forward while AMSAT-NA just sits in the corner and licks its wounds.

Once again just so everybody knows, I am only stating here in this thread what two current Board members have made public and published on their blogs:

http://amsat.wd9ewk.net
https://w5nyv.blogspot.com/2020/07/report-to-members-8-amsat-na-board-of.html?m=1

I am also stating that I have been censored in direct violation of AMSAT-NA bylaws because I chose to run in the election for the Board of Directors. I'm a paid member but am blocked from viewing all of AMSAT-NA's social media and am blocked from posting on the AMSAT-BB mailing list. Want to know why? It's simple. I refuse to bow down to bullies that use sock-puppet, social media accounts in an attempt to harass members. I refuse to accept the fact that AMSAT-NA legacy, incumbent Board members have been involved in conspiracies that violate bylaws and Washington DC corporate code. I'm not making any of this up. It's not a figment of my imagination. It's all documented by two current Board members.

It doesn't matter what any snake oil salesman says in an attempt to deflect from the original post. What matters is what is duly documented by two current Board members who stand to gain nothing other than making the organization better for all amateur radio operators who are interested in space communications.  I have provided links to scholarly, credible, documented information from two, current AMSAT-NA Board members. Those selling snake oil and Tang can only offer hyperbole while offering no substantial rebuttals. Babylon must fall.

Cheers and 73
http://we4bravo.com
« Last Edit: November 16, 2020, 08:14:07 PM by WE4B »
Logged

K6LCS

  • Member
  • Posts: 2583
    • Clint's Stuff
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #51 on: November 17, 2020, 07:50:26 AM »

WE4B>> ... I am a member. I want AMSAT-NA to succeed ...

Yeah, right.

Cite for us ONE instance of you directly contacting AMSAT-NA and volunteering to assist them with any project or endeavor.

Just one. Say, within the past ten years.

Prove to us by answering this question that you truly desire AMSAT-NA to "succeed."

No, calling or writing them to volunteer is not a membership requirement. But it sure puts into perspective how hollow and insincere one who screams about all the "problems" is - when they truly do NOT support the organization.

Oh, and claiming conspiracies and illegal acts and mis-use of funds (NONE backed up with any evidence) is not what  would call such a "contact" with AMSAT-NA to assist.   (My post - my definitions.)

Clint Bradford K6LCS

PS You know what? Never mind. You answered this during your campaigns: You have never volunteered on behalf of AMSAT-NA. You remember, the elections that those who DID contact AMSAT-NA for information and DID weigh the benefits of membership and DO have minds of their own decided that you should receive the fewest votes of any candidate ... twice ...

Logged
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS

K6LCS

  • Member
  • Posts: 2583
    • Clint's Stuff
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #52 on: November 17, 2020, 08:10:20 AM »

Re-reading the ORIGINAL post of this thread ...

>> ... ["I admit I misbehaved. I admit I broke the rules. I admit the admins of that group were well within their rights to boot me ... But I am gonna SCREAM, "CENSORSHIP" anyway ... ]

"Censorship" is a "hot" word. I am sure the OP used it intentionally. Has no basis in fact - but it got peoples' attention.

No "censorship" occurs on privately run message boards. Not here on eHam, not on QRZ (where he and a couple of his friends were also banned from participation). No, "censorship" is well-defined in our Constitution. What many ignore are the first five words of the First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law ... "

These message services are NOT run by the United States government. "Censorship" does not come into play at all. It is called "editorial control."

What truly bugs troublemakers is when they break the rules of the groups - rules that they agreed to upon joining - and get booted. These message services have total editorial control. Any of us can be booted for, well, just about any reason - or no reason at all in many cases.

Screaming "censorship" resulted in four pages of mostly nonsense. Re-stated false charges, "citations" to ignorance and bias, and name-calling. 

So to address the original message, where the poster admitted he was in the wrong:

Tough, dude. You did it to yourself.

Clint Bradford K6LCS
Logged
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS

AC2EU

  • Member
  • Posts: 2793
    • McVey Electronics
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #53 on: November 17, 2020, 08:24:55 AM »

WE4B>> ... I am a member. I want AMSAT-NA to succeed ...

Yeah, right.

Cite for us ONE instance of you directly contacting AMSAT-NA and volunteering to assist them with any project or endeavor.

Just one. Say, within the past ten years.

Prove to us by answering this question that you truly desire AMSAT-NA to "succeed."

No, calling or writing them to volunteer is not a membership requirement. But it sure puts into perspective how hollow and insincere one who screams about all the "problems" is - when they truly do NOT support the organization.

Oh, and claiming conspiracies and illegal acts and mis-use of funds (NONE backed up with any evidence) is not what  would call such a "contact" with AMSAT-NA to assist.   (My post - my definitions.)

Clint Bradford K6LCS

PS You know what? Never mind. You answered this during your campaigns: You have never volunteered on behalf of AMSAT-NA. You remember, the elections that those who DID contact AMSAT-NA for information and DID weigh the benefits of membership and DO have minds of their own decided that you should receive the fewest votes of any candidate ... twice ...

You're the AMSAT Ambassador? Good Lord!!!!

I knew very little about AMSAT before this this thread.
Now my impression is that of a poorly run organization with all kinds of petty backbiting and squabbles going on. You never did answer my question about WHY AMSAT maintains a legal budget. ( I assume there isn't a good answer for that)
The website is terrible. Your project descriptions are vague.  The engineering page is like some kind of stream of consciousness writing that contradicts itself in the end.

Even "getting involved" page reminds me of a 20's speak easy but with a email address instead of a sliding peep hole.
So what's the password when I send the clandestine email ? Do I need a decoder ring?  ::)

Instead of saying anything positive or diplomatic, you go into attack mode! Wow!
What a toxic outfit! I guess things really are in disarray at AMSAT.

If I ever was considering becoming a member, that ship has sailed and sunk.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way , either.
No wonder AMSAT is under-funded and not doing as well as it's peers.


   

K6LCS

  • Member
  • Posts: 2583
    • Clint's Stuff
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #54 on: November 17, 2020, 08:50:07 AM »

You should address your concerns to the AMSAT-NA board ... But -

>> ...WHY AMSAT maintains a legal budget.

It is responsible for just about ANY 501(c)(3) to plan for problems. And if they don't occur, then they work on the next budget.

>> ... The website is terrible ...

Can you assist AMSAT-NA with suggested re-writes?

>> ... Instead of saying anything positive or diplomatic, you go into attack mode!

Well, with all due respect, it wasn't until several lies were written that I even entered the thread ...

>> ... No wonder AMSAT is under-funded and not doing as well as it's peers.

I know of no other volunteer organization that has disseminated more information about amateur satellites to the world.

Clint Bradford K6LCS

« Last Edit: November 17, 2020, 08:52:58 AM by K6LCS »
Logged
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS

K6LCS

  • Member
  • Posts: 2583
    • Clint's Stuff
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #55 on: November 17, 2020, 08:51:30 AM »

Read more about the AMSAT-NA Ambassador program here ...

https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/

Logged
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS

WE4B

  • Member
  • Posts: 165
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #56 on: November 17, 2020, 10:05:19 AM »

You're the AMSAT Ambassador? Good Lord!!!!

Instead of saying anything positive or diplomatic, you go into attack mode! Wow!
What a toxic outfit! I guess things really are in disarray at AMSAT.

If I ever was considering becoming a member, that ship has sailed and sunk.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way , either.
No wonder AMSAT is under-funded and not doing as well as it's peers.

Yep... everything you have learned about AMSAT-NA through this thread is true. I keep quoting credible sources while others just want to deflect and run interference but this is how AMSAT-NA operates. It's the current modus operandi. If a member, non-member or potential member does not agree with the legacy, incumbent Board members, they will be labeled as a troublemaker and will be censored.

Everyone reading this thread can clearly note that not once has there been any denial of a conspiracy committed by legacy, incumbent Board members in a direct violation of AMSAT-NA bylaws and Washington DC corporate code. It can't be denied because they admitted to doing it. Is this really any way to run an organization? It certainly doesn't seem to be garnering AMSAT-NA any good press.

This particular AMSAT-NA Ambassador is also not winning the organization any friends. He is simply costing the organization more members and backing-up claims of how poorly the organization is currently being operated. Once again, this is fact. It's all visible here in this thread. Anyone can read it. Outsiders have now seen it and commented on it.

If anyone reads this thread, it's easy to understand why AMSAT-NA continues to garner bad press, continues to lose donations and continues to be a second-rate, amateur radio organization.

Everyone that reads this thread can easily see that this Ambassador who keeps trying to defend and deflect cannot counter anything that I have written with anything credible. He can't counter anything that two current AMSAT-NA Board members have blogged about with anything credible. Why can't he counter any of these claims? He can't counter them because they are true, factual and documented. Liberal doses of snake oil or Tang can not and will not change truthful statements.

The best thing AMSAT-NA could do is to admit the error of their ways. Have a complete house cleaning of every Board member which has been involved in a conspiracy and has put the organization in a position where fundraising has plummeted, bad press is continuously generated and where the non-profit status of the organization can be called into question. Several people have noted in this thread that the organization seems to be cliquish. Trust me, it is. Any observation of outsiders making this deduction is true and correct. These cliques and clubhouse mentality have led us to the point that the OP spoke his mind and started this thread.

What the OP stated isn't an isolated case. If the legacy, incumbent Board members will conspire against two new Board members and spend over $10K of members' money, do you not think they would also attack just regular members, non-members and potential members? Of course they would and they do. It's sad. Babylon must fall.

Cheers and 73
http://we4bravo.com
Logged

AC2EU

  • Member
  • Posts: 2793
    • McVey Electronics
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #57 on: November 17, 2020, 10:07:58 AM »

Quote
>> ...WHY AMSAT maintains a legal budget.

It is responsible for just about ANY 501(c)(3) to plan for problems. And if they don't occur, then they work on the next budget.


I'm a member of a couple 501C organizations. They carry liability insurance. If they have issues with the 501C, they might hire a tax attorney ( if needed), but that's rare. None have an actual legal budget. Any extraordinary expenses are brought up and voted upon.
I can't imagine why AMSAT needs a lawyer. Are you being sued for something other that an injury?

Quote
>>

>> ... The website is terrible ...

Can you assist AMSAT-NA with suggested re-writes?

I did already, but you dismissed any improvements as "expensive".
To that I said " How much does a few member videos, pictures and some explanatory text cost?"
Coherent organizing and writing might help, too.
You need a better synopsis of what you do , how it's done, and how it works.




W4HIJ

  • Member
  • Posts: 453
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #58 on: November 17, 2020, 11:34:17 AM »


 After getting fed up with the endless self promotion of a fellow amateur, I let my anger get the better of me and criticized them for it openly. I was then put on "moderated status" for a "personal attack". I'm willing to admit a mistake and it was probably warranted but it's what happened afterwards that was interesting.
 

So there's no doubt what I actually said, I'm quoting myself above rather than someone paraphrasing and putting words in my mouth.
 
The person referenced above is a conman and has been exposed as such. There was even an old somewhat humorous website about them that poked fun at what an absolute joke they are. Someone linked to that website on the BB using the "wayback machine". I have been rightfully angry at this person for awhile not only because of his of his grift  but also the way he spreads horrible misinformation on proper operating practice that causes needless QRM on the sats. My comment on that post is what got me moderated. Not banned, moderated. A joke, a flippant comment about FM sats which I've already related is what got me kicked off. It was harmless and it's ridiculous I got booted for it and I think most everyone agrees.
 
Whats is happening on the AMSAT BB is most definitely censorship. Any praise for the two directors fighting for transparency and to take the organization out of the doldrums and into the future? Censored. Any comments about the organizations misuse of funds? Censored. Comment about the organizations propensity for launching flying repeaters? Censored.

 These are civil discussion attempts. They don't contain profanity or pornography or any of that mess. They do not violate the the TOS of the BB in any way shape or form. They just apparently hurt the feelings of the BOD and the moderator of the BB. A moderator who has now been appointed President by the ole boys club. Judge for yourself what's going on.
73,
Michael , W4HIJ

P.S. Speaking of lies, I hardly even frequent QRZ. I've probably made less than 5 or 10 comments there during the entirety of my internet access and I have never been banned there.
« Last Edit: November 17, 2020, 11:53:28 AM by W4HIJ »
Logged

VE3WGO

  • Member
  • Posts: 666
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #59 on: November 17, 2020, 11:55:01 AM »

$10,000 for legal fees?  That's about 35 or 40 hours I guess.  What was the actual misdemeanor anyway?  I read the Amsat online explanation but it's pretty vague.

Anyway, $10k is about 230 members membership dues, so I guess those 230 people paid for lawyers instead of for building new satellites.

I also read the ORI website, which is pretty interesting.  The previously nicknamed "five and dime" basestation (to work with Golf-Tee mode C/X) is being developed there I see.

73, Ed
Logged
Pages: 1 2 3 [4] 5 6 7   Go Up