Resigning after board's actions

My wife, Tamra Riecke, is out of town for several weeks and has requested I make public what transpired regarding the Bigfork Museum of Art and History’s Board of Directors firing of the Executive Director, Marnie Forbis.

On Friday, September 4th at 10:30 AM Tammy was notified by the Chairman, Shadowhawke, that at 11:00 AM that morning there was going to be a special meeting and that the Executive Director was going to be fired.   

This was the first Tammy knew there was any consideration of this action.  She was told by Shadowhawke to attend the meeting and was instructed not to speak.  She asked why she was not included in these discussions and was told the board had decided not to include her to avoid hurting her feelings.   Later the same day another board member told me the same thing.  

That evening at the reception Tammy presented Shadowhawke a letter protesting her exclusion from the discussion.  She has never received any response to this letter even though Tammy gave her phone numbers where she could be reached.  

Tammy feels it is her responsibility is to engage in all items regarding the art center, voice her opinion, and then accept the decision of the majority.    This she would have been happy to do so regarding this matter.  She also feels the art center is a vital part of the community and has worked very hard over the years to make it successful.   After this, to be treated in such a despicable manner hurts her deeply. Because of her treatment by the board Tammy will be resigning from the Board of Directors when she returns in October.   We will also terminate our membership in the museum. 

We will not support the museum until all of the other five current members of the Board of Directors are no longer on the board.  

We will again support the museum where there is a new board that is committed to operating openly and within their own bylaws and the state’s open meeting laws all of the time, not just when it serves their purpose.  

Gary Riecke, Bigfork