Letter to the community: Why is YWCA unwilling to have open and fair conversation?

By Doris Overby

Midtown COmmittee for due process

We have been deeply concerned that the Minneapolis YWCA management and Board chose not to involve the general membership in decision making regarding the new costly pay to park system. We believe that it is now necessary to send this letter to each member of the YWCA Minneapolis Board of Directors.

Even more disconcerting is the lack of due process in the YWCA”'s decision to suspend the memberships of Doris Overby and Dick Taylor. Management”'s unwillingness to fairly and openly negotiate a reconciliation has impeded the reinstatement of the memberships. We believe the management”'s decision to suspend without due process constitutes a glaring injustice.

We are further concerned that management may have used surveillance cameras to identify a member who was peacefully exercising her First Amendment rights to inform members of the controversy that had developed over the abruptly imposed parking system and the unwarranted punitive action taken against two members who were acting within their rights.

In each case, these members have felt intimidated and treated arbitrarily as management has relied on vague terms in the Code of Conduct, weak arguments, and accusations not supported with factual evidence.

We prefer to resolve the issues with the Minneapolis YWCA management with an open dialogue in the presence of a representative body of members, management and a conflict resolution mediator.… Read the rest “Letter to the community: Why is YWCA unwilling to have open and fair conversation?”