November 7, 2005
To Members and Former Members of the Council of The John Birch Society
Dear Gentlemen,
It is my hope that this is the last communication you will receive from me relative to my departure from The John Birch Society’s leadership. And I prepare this message so that the record, from my perspective, is made straight.
The past seven weeks have been horrific, to say the least. From amongst a jury of what I thought were true patriots who understood the difference between rule of law and majoritarian democracy, I have been accused, tried, found guilty, and condemned without ever being given a chance to defend myself.
When some sound-thinking Council members were confronted with these issues, they would ask, “Have you presented your concerns to Vance?” The answer was generally, “No, Vance would only deny the allegations, and you know how persuasive he is.” Thus, the kangaroo court was being put in place. Homeland Security could not have pulled this off any better.
On several occasions, Mr. Welch began written explanations by stating: “If You Want it Straight.” In the next few pages, I will do my very best to present the “other side of the story” as straight and as honestly as I know how.
In June of 1991, I was asked to take the leadership of the Society at a Council Meeting held in Chicago. The Executive Committee met in consultation with the Council and chose me to be CEO, Tom Gow to be Vice President, and Jack McManus to be President. That was the correct procedure. That was done in the same way that Mr. Welch had prescribed. It was the way he announced his own replacement in the April 1983 Bulletin. And it was the procedure used each and every time a new leader was appointed (enclosure 1 and enclosure 2).
Setting the record straight #1
Jack McManus has stated that the Board of Incorporators was, in 1983, going to exercise a corporate legal technicality to make a leadership change. Number one, they didn’t do it. And, number two, knowing that Thomas N. Hill was an incorporator, such a foolish departure from Mr. Welch’s wishes would have been nixed by him immediately. (enclosure - Monolithic Structure).
After being appointed in June of 1991, our team gave leadership to the Society that always focused on the words and principles laid down by Robert Welch. As a team, we knew the importance of those principles, and we knew that the Insiders understood the Society’s vulnerability if we veered from that correct path.
During the 14½ years that I served as CEO, Jack McManus lived in his Wakefield, Massachusetts home. He did some speaking and some writing using the title of “President,” but he was never involved in the business side of the organization. That went okay until the year 2000.
Setting the record straight #2
But then Jack started speaking at religious conferences where he was both video- and audio-taped. His message on conspiracy and the books he promoted sounded very much like those given at Birch functions. (He was even introduced as president of the Society and publisher of TNA at some of these events.) Except he concluded for these audiences that the real enemies were the Masons and the Jews behind them. Jack is very proud of everything he has ever written, and I’m certain he would happily send you copies of “Know Thine Enemy” and other speeches he gave on those subjects.
When the Society’s officers and Executive Committee learned of Jack’s newly expressed views and agenda, they became very concerned that the Society’s fundamental principles would be compromised, and that individuals like Morris Dees could possibly attack the Society and cause it irreparable damage. Attempts to persuade Jack to modify his non-religious conclusions and cease such public activity were only mildly successful. So with his concurrence we took steps to “wind down” his role within the Society (enclosure).
Setting the record straight #3
I bring this past point up for very good reason. Over this past many years as both assistant publisher and then publisher of The New American, and as publisher of the Bulletin, Tom Gow has been the valiant watchman to see that only correct principles were published. On a number of occasions, he supported Gary Benoit in stopping or changing articles, written by various authors, laced with inappropriate comments on Masons, Jews, Israeli Lobby, etc. Other contributors were phased out and would-be leaders rejected when it was judged that their extreme views might compromise our mission. With Tom no longer there to give guidance and support to Gary, others had better do so, or the Society’s publications could well be reduced to little more than the old “Spotlight” tabloid.
Exactly seven weeks ago, I learned that a smear campaign had been going on secretly for weeks and possibly months. It was clear that Art Thompson had gone out from our private leadership meetings with messages of fear and frustration. He spoke ill of my leadership, and his style of “it’s just awful” gossip encouraged others to complain and commiserate with him. He would then take those stories, based on some truth but with embellishments and distortions, to members of the Council and JBS staff and even some members at large.
Setting the record straight #4 – Art Thompson’s Ascent to CEO
To his credit, Art Thompson was one of the few staff members willing to move to our Appleton Headquarters. So it was decided to try to keep him in leadership positions. It gradually became clear, however, that while he was able to appreciate problems once they were pointed out to him, he was very short on ideas for solutions and the leadership to implement them. (Though in leadership for several years, there is not a person on the staff today that was hired by Art Thompson.)
During his three years in Appleton, Art worked first as Development Director with poor results. Then, he was placed in charge of the field – again, he came up short. Desperate to get results from leadership, we added more men to the Development Department and tried Art, once again, there. By summer of this year, results were so poor from Art and his team that I suggested he return to his home state of Washington where he could again supervise Coordinators.
Art was not pleased with the move, but his wife was thrilled with it. The move took place. What I did not know was that during the move, Art was simultaneously orchestrating his “Vance is a terrible leader” campaign. And, sadly for the JBS, it worked. Today he is your CEO.
Setting the record straight #5 — Steve Bonta’s resignation
Steve is a brilliant man. He did a wonderful job in helping to get RWU off the ground. He and I worked well together in some areas — the “Reclaiming America” seminars, etc. — but we clashed when it came to the administration side of Steve’s responsibilities. As a result of the latter issue, Steve quit. Within a month he had picked up and moved from the area.
In his letter of resignation (enclosure), and on messages sent to me by him on voicemail, Steve expressed a desire to have an amicable separation. He also desired to maintain a working relationship with both RWU and TNA.
It was several months, and only after others agitated him, that Steve jumped into the “get Vance” fracas. Part of the reason, as I understand it, is that I was accused of saying something negative about his character. That rumor, spread by others, simply was not true. I will explain.
The week after Steve resigned, Jack McManus replaced him at the Pennsylvania youth camp. The following week Jack called me to report on his camp experience. He started to tell me about a conversation he had with a young lady. I stopped him and asked him if I could record his message. He agreed. The young lady told Jack that as far back as November 2004, Steve was already talking about leaving RWU for various reasons, including concerns about location relative to his parents and his desire to go to law school. I did play the message to the Executive Committee and a few others for the purpose of demonstrating that besides Steve’s unhappiness in working with me he had other reasons, as well, to resign from his position with RWU. There was nothing in that taped message maligning anyone.Impugning Steve’s character by suggestion, innuendo, or insinuation did not happen.
Setting the record straight #6
Sixteen members of the Executive Committee and Council petitioned Jack McManus, Larry Waters, and John Fall to postpone their October 21st Board of Incorporators meeting for just eight days so that the matter could be discussed, both sides heard, and thus adhere to correct, long-established succession procedures. The three of them refused. They held their meeting and changed the basic leadership succession to where a smear campaign can topple any leader in the future. Very handy for the Insiders – I’ll explain.
Both in the Blue Book and his subsequent writings, Mr. Welch emphasized that he had chosen the monolithic/authoritarian structure for the Society because it was the only structure that could measure up to the challenge of providing effective leadership against the Conspiracy.Without that structure, he knew that the Society would not be able to maintain its intractable purpose and focus.He wanted no part of democratic organizations that could be readily neutralized by spreading dissension. The already mentioned enclosures demonstrate clearly that he would regularly reinforce the importance of that structure throughout his tenure at the top. That structure is, as of October 21, 2005, now gone!
Setting the record straight #7
While the hue and cry of the gossip mill was, “If Vance is not forced out immediately, many more good people will quit,” the reality is that much of the real staff leadership did leave. I was forced to resign on October 21st and I asked no one else to do so. Other top leaders, Tom Gow included, did resign simply because they could not honestly support people who would behave in such a manner.
Although the hue and cry was that Vance was the problem, the agitators clearly were determined to have their way regardless of the cost to the organization.Recognizing that their views likely would not convince the men on the Executive Committee, who were sensitive to other and larger issues, they mounted a simultaneous attack on the Executive Committee as being in my pocket.These men also were denied the opportunity to defend themselves, and with such irresponsible diplomacy several key financial supporters were recklessly alienated.
One of these donors, knowing of our financial shortfall, pledged to bring a check for $100,000 to Orlando. His plan was to put it on the table and challenge others there to dig deep and join with him in making a financial sacrifice. The dissidents knew of his gift and fundraising plan as they dismissed it and him out of hand.
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There have been several other falsehoods and distortions spread about in recent weeks, and some were reported to me from the recent meetings in Orlando. I will conclude this lengthy missive by bullet-pointing some of them and “setting the record straight” below:
#8 Charge: “Vance was unfair in his management style. His great sin was ‘micro-management.’ ”
Like the eight years of the “conservative” Reagan administration when the Birch Society was in constant turmoil, the “conservative” Bush administration has dealt a difficult hand to the Society. Anyone reading this letter can ask: How many people have I recruited? How many have come to my home for video presentations? How many prospects have I taken to Birch speeches or meetings? Asked honestly, most of you can report very little. It is a very difficult time. And when times are tough, we too must be tough.
Yes, there were many demands put on Art Thompson and the fundraising team. Under his leadership, fundraising was down considerably and Art was feeling pressure from me. The same can be said about demands I put on other managers. Did I ever step over the line? Did I demonstrate frustration when confronted with poor and lackluster attempts to get results? Yes, from time to time I did. Did I apologize to any offended when I did step over the line when those things happened? Yes. Did I fire those who did not measure up in their assignments? No, I put them in other assignments where they had greater opportunity to succeed.
In retrospect, however, and even though I’ve been accused by those orchestrating this present coup of being a head-lopping Attila the Hun, I am probably guilty of being too lenient. There are some on the JBS staff, because of age, burnout, and just plain inability who, after being reassigned, never have stepped up and carried their weight. Part of my rationale was Mr. Welch’s often used quote, “We must cut the suit out of the cloth available.” Nevertheless, as a responsible leader, and based solely on poor performance, some staff members throughout the years should have been asked to resign.
Twice a year, senior field staff met in Appleton. The senior field staff consisted of the Director of Field Operations and the Regional Field Directors, the Director of Development and the fundraisers. At those meetings, charts prepared by Jeff LeClaire and David Lewis were shown to those men. And goals to improve were discussed and accepted. (The charts used in those meetings were similar to those shown to the Council in Orlando.)
#9 Charge: “Vance has nearly bankrupted the Society and has stolen its membership lists.”
We have recently heard from a few RWU donors who have expressed great concern. They were told by fundraisers that Vance, after resigning from his position with the Society, had taken all of the JBS funds and transferred them to RWU, and that he had stolen the JBS membership lists.
Number one, when our leadership team left on Friday, October 21st, the Society was, and has been for many years, current on all of its financial obligations. All salaries were paid every two weeks, all field expenses were current and up-to-date as they had been for years and years, and medical claims and accounts payable were current. (I did keep a copy of a recent financial report in order to verify these facts in the weeks and months ahead.)
No, there were no funds transferred to RWU. The accounting departments of both organizations know the truth of that.
No, I categorically deny taking any membership or TNA subscription lists. Those charges are as false as the early smear allegations.
While disappointed in their behavior, it may be helpful to RWU that fundraisers have made such outrageous statements. There are laws relative to slander and defamation. If a lawsuit proves necessary, episodes like those mentioned will be helpful. By having donors (third parties) that can be deposed relative to slanderous statements, we will be able to protect future RWU donors as the university moves forward to become a great educational institution.
#10 Charge: RWU is being stolen from JBS.
The John Birch Society is a Massachusetts corporation. RWU, a California corporation, has always had a completely separate corporate structure, and the present JBS group has no claim to it. We have a wonderful new RWU director, Dr. Lisa St. Louis, as well as a very competent and devoted staff. RWU plans to continue to build its online university program and to advance the cause of freedom. It has every intention of working in harmony with JBS as long as the latter does not in any way compromise the mission stated clearly by Robert Welch. If it does veer, as discussed earlier, RWU will cut its ties completely.
When Tom Gow, Paul Smith, and Kathy Braun resigned from the JBS staff on October 21st, we all moved to the RWU headquarters, thus keeping a very good leadership team intact. For 14 ½ years, I have served as the CEO for RWU, and it is my intention to continue in that capacity. While a percentage of my time at JBS was allocated to RWU supervision, I have taken no salary check from RWU. And it is my intention to continue for the foreseeable future in the same manner.
(When I resigned as the JBS CEO, I signed a separation contract authorized by the existing Board of Directors for salary continuation of the same duration as had been afforded the three or four previous CEOs. They had each served no more than three years while I had been at the post 14 ½ years. Therefore, the agreement consisting of the same number of weeks of full salary is more than fair. While JBS honors that contract, I will not draw a salary from RWU.)
#11 Charge: Vance foolishly spent $115,000 on lawyers to reclaim a JBS inheritance relative to the DeMille estate instead of cooperating with other plaintiffs.
The John Birch Society had been notified that it and a number of other institutions had been named as beneficiaries in the will of a generous member who had just passed away. We were also told that a relative of the deceased had manipulated himself into being made estate executor. As such, he had taken steps to disinherit many of the beneficiaries including the JBS.
In counsel with others, we did retain the services of a lawyer, Mitch Lathrop, with the law firm of Duane Morris. We did pay him nearly $65,000 to fight for a $350,000 settlement due us. The agreement with him was that his fees paid before the settlement would not exceed $75,000. Also, he told us that he was most confident he could retrieve all of our legal fees from the errant estate executor when this matter was finally settled. This case it still pending. The horror stories told to the Council in Orlando were as confused and erroneous as the other tales that were invented to do so much harm.
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All is up to you. There is simply no one but you, individually and collectively, who can or will step up to deal with these critical problems. Even though the present three ruling members of the Board of Incorporators have stated that you, the Council, have no vote, the opposite is true. You have the 47-year JBS history, as well as the respect of members and staff. You definitely have a “vote” and an important say in not only the future of JBS, but, more importantly, the future of our nation and, yes, even the future of our civilization.
We are fighting a godless and ruthless enemy. A Conspiracy that has already enslaved most of the world’s population. A Conspiracy that has encouraged, if not orchestrated, the deaths of over 350 million people in the 20th century alone. A Conspiracy that currently presents the American people with a “conservative president and Congress” who have done more to destroy our nation and personal freedoms than any before them.
As the mantle bearers, what kind of “dynamic leadership” are you going to insist upon? Will you get it from Jack McManus who has seized an opportunity to appoint himself the “top man”?
During the past 14½ years, Jack refused to move to Appleton where he was needed. Has that changed? Will he now move to Appleton? It will not be difficult to guess that answer. In recent years, Jack has been unwilling to develop the new skills needed to reach broader audiences. Will that change? I doubt it. Robert Welch said, “we mean business every step of the way.” I don’t believe you’ll see Jack demonstrate that any time soon.
Mr. Welch also stated, “It is the leadership that is most demanding, most exacting of its followers, not the one which asks the least and is afraid to ask more, that achieves really dedicated support.”
Will it be possible for the Society to succeed with leadership that does not require the field men to have goals, results areas, prescribed zones to work, etc.? Will soft, namby-pamby leadership work in fighting a desperate war for freedom? Again, you will have to decide that.
So, if you want it straight, good Council members, start by recalling that all of you were selected to the Council because you were considered men of dignity and character. Some of you were appointed to this august council by our founder Robert Welch. You know and understand that The John Birch Society was established on sound principles that, if left in place, would ensure its effectiveness in the battle for freedom for decades to come.
Again, all is now up to you. You have the power and influence to restore the original organizational structure essential to the Society if it is going to rout the Conspiracy and preserve the Constitution. You can, with your influence and demands, take back the organization from the three individuals who have brazenly stolen it through a backdoor legal technicality. You can then, using long established and practiced procedures, select and put in place new leadership who will lead the Society correctly and stay focused on the principles laid down by Robert Welch.
I stated “new” leadership because I am in no way suggesting that I be reinstated. There are, however, others you can select who do not bring baggage or incompetence to the table who have the experience and ability to give leadership to the Society. Over the years, members of the Executive Committee insisted that I give them progress reports on a few people who were being prepared to replace me when I would step down or if something unforeseen should happen to me. They know well that competent people were identified and being groomed for the position.
You, and only you, can put the Society back on its proper track. Or you can do nothing and take responsibility for the consequences. It really is up to you.
May you have inspiration from Heaven as you deal with these most critical issues. And may we all pray for God’s blessings in these perilous times to save The John Birch Society that it may continue its role in helping good patriots preserve freedom.
Sincerely,
G. Vance Smith
cc: Selected individuals
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