The following posting on the KWVA Ad Hoc (Yahoo Groups) is indicative of the problem facing the members of the Korean War Veterans Association. Those members who voice their concern over the current administration constantly come under ridicule and/or are threatened with expulsion by Dechert's appointees and his yes men on the council.
Winning candidates for national office who opposed Dechert have been expelled, forced out of office, and/or placed "on probation". Once the winners were ousted, losing candidates who are Dechert supporters were appointed by Dechert to fill the "vacancy."
Council members have been told to spy on other council members. KWVA members who voice their opinions against Dechert's methods of leadership have been likened to terrorist suicide bombers. They have been called "maggots" and other derogatory names.
Members (and even spouses and non-KWVA members) have either actually been expelled or have been given notice that they are under investigation for possible expulsion from the organization "for cause." Essentially, "for cause" means "cause we don't like you."
As a result of this circus of events and because they are sick and tired of the abuse of power found within the KWVA national council, a number of KWVA members have written to their Congressmen and Congresswomen requesting that they not support the KWVA's efforts to get a national charter until the KWVA cleans up its act.
"No one joins a club to be lambasted for asking a question, or, disagreeing with set policies. No one pays a life membership, only to be kicked out because you got behind a candidate of your own choice to oppose the current one. No one expects, or wants to belong to any organization where e-mails and other forms of communication, including the world wide web, are used to heap sarcasm and downright libelous accusations at members who don't see eye to eye with the administration." - Ken Buckley, editor of The Ferret
Lynnita Brown Comments:
Soon after Buckley's post, the following message was posted by Dechert-supporter and KWVA director Lee Dauster.
Lee Dauster Comments, 8/05/07
Source: KWVA Ad Hoc (Yahoo Groups)
"To KWVA ad hoc membership and Buckley et al: The constant gripers.
If the KWVA fails in its mission, and in fact does close in the near future, we can attribute the failure to these people who live in such a small world that criticism of KWVA leadership is of preeminent importance. It is difficult to imagine this group of the membership who contribute NOTHING to the well being of the KWVA. They don't run for office where their "GOOD Ideas" could contribute. No they sit back and do nothing but criticize. In other arenas of military accomplishment these people would be named TRAITORS. They do everything they can to harm the organization. They never offer constructive ideas. They do not run for office or a seat as a Director, where their imaginative minds could demonstrate the leadership they profess. But alas, how much simpler it is to write letters, in an attempt to sway the membership to the Jane Fonda type of KWVA membership. To write to congressional members and denounce the KWVA is indicative of a total lack of loyalty to the VETERAN COMMUNITY. These people have the option of resigning. Why don't they exercise that option?"
Lynnita Brown Comments
Dauster's remarks questioning why members don't run for office fall short of reality. In truth, members have opted to throw their hats into the ring for national office--and they won. Unfortunately, their removal from office was immediately orchestrated by the Dechert Administration and the will of the voting members was ignored and negated. (The winners essentially ran and won on an anti-Dechert platform.) Even the dues of some members were deliberately not processed prior to the deadline to declare candidacy. (Members not in good standing cannot run for office.) Meanwhile, more and more members have been brought up on innovative "charges" that will likely result in their removal from the organization due to the Dechert-controlled majority on the council. Those not yet brought up on charges are constantly being ridiculed for voicing anti-Dechert concerns.
The Dechert administration's member-bashing/witch hunt is sending a very loud and clear message to the members of the Korean War Veterans Association: Keep your mouth shut about the way we do business, otherwise we will ridicule you publicly or we will boot you out the KWVA door. (So much for the liberty that Korean War veterans fought and died for in Korea.) Ken Buckley's excellent commentary on the sad state of the KWVA tells it exactly like it is.
Will You Be Next?
Thirteen members of the KWVA charged with wrongdoing. One non-member investigated for expressing an opinion about a KWVA director.
Will you be next?
According to a news release from the KWVA [June 24, 2007], legislators in the House and Senate will jointly introduce bills that, if passed, would grant a federal charter to the KWVA. Members are being asked to contact their representatives and senators to urge them to sign on as co-sponsors of this legislation.
Word has been received that the Lou Dechert Administration has started the KWVA's election process for the Year 2007 campaign by tampering with candidate eligibility. The application of John "Jack" Edwards of Largo, Florida, was rejected by the KWVA's Nominating and Election Committee based on an arbitrary ruling by Dechert-appointed KWVA Judge Advocate Leo Agnew. Agnew determined that Edwards (a Dechert opponent) ceased being a member in good standing of the KWVA as of October 2006, and thus is not eligible to run for office. Edwards reportedly was never notified that his status in the KWVA altered from "good" to "bad" at the KWVA national convention in Texas until he sought to run for office on an anti-Dechert platform. He has been receiving issues of Graybeards as all members in good standing do. And thus the Year 2007 "circus of silliness" (otherwise known as the Korean War Veterans Association national election) begins with Dechert supporters attempting to control the election process.
More coming soon.
