Dear Members of VATSIM-Scandinavia.
It has been a turbulent month for the network, in the aftermath of Simons dismissal (for lack of better word). As we are about to launch the election, allow me to explain the end of this story as it is for now.
Dismissal
As I entered discussions with BOG and VATEUD, it was done with an openness, and a will to understand the background of what had happened. The explanation of the issues with Simon, seemed mutual, ranging over a longer period, and had just reached a boiling point. While generally acceptable of the reasons, there was a severe lack of due process behind this.
I therefore entered talks with the divisional director to plot and outline the grievances, and while there were some understandable explanations, there were also a lot of holes, and decisions without evidence. There seemed though, to be an understanding that mistakes were made in the process and a willingness for a collaborative effort moving forward, which I accepted. I urged VATEUD to make things right with Simon, not by re-instating him (because that would not benefit anybody) but acknowledge to him the faults in the process and essentially an apology for how it shaped out. A good way to move forward together, I thought!
Behind the curtain
Behind the curtain I did have additional information moving into the talks with BOG and VATEUD that I kept close to my chest. A particularly disgruntled VACC member, with no love for neither myself, Simon or the VACC it would seem, had leaked screenshots of private conversations between him and the Divisional Director. The nature of this highlighted a huge conflict of interest and opened a door for the thought of the decision being influenced. Based on the lack of hard evidence, warning, and directly false nature of parts of the dismissal, justified to have at least a suspicion of wrongdoing from my end.
There is no admissible evidence of “foul play” or “collusion”, but the conflict of interest and bad display of judgement is enough. As I would put it:
“If the judge is unsure of the verdict, he should not ask the prosecution for advice” This is essentially what happened in a nutshell.
It did not make things better when the same person leaked that “VATEUD Divisional Director would veto me if I would try to run as VACC Director because I pissed him off by asking for an apology to Simon”, basically resetting the negotiations back to zero, and engaging me in a very direct conversation again with BOG. Again, this was a second-hand report from a voice channel, so while it is nothing to directly impeach someone, the postulate that it happened showed again the issue.
Path Forward
Now comes the morale. We can now sit here and be mad with VATEUD, rioting for a new Director, requiring our own division status and the whole nine yards. But I sincerely believe this is not in our interest (at least not yet).
We should not seek Vengeance; we should seek fundamental change.
This story is not about the people; it is about a system. A system that concentrates all power of 24 VACCs to a divisional board of 4 people, where the top guy just needs one to agree with him, and any change can be done. Naturally this will, in time, taint the process of decisions.
This I have spend the last weeks addressing, and providing feedback to BOG, to get the ball moving on initiatives in collaboration with other VACC directors, that could change VATEUD to a more sustainable division that we all can be happy with.
Expanded VACC situation
We are not the only VACC who are in the spotlight. Estonia recently lost their Director in a suspension case as well, and while this is not related to VATEUD, it is enough that some of us start asking the very uncomfortable question:
“How many hours do I put into this organization only to get dismissed or suspended based on angering the wrong people”.
This is the most unacceptable statement I can imagine. We all need to contribute to this hobby and 95% comes directly from all of us in the VACC. VATEUD or Supervisor department, Processes like this need transparency and involvement of several people, especially when it comes to official representatives of VACCs and other departments.
Final Thoughts and words to next VACC Director
This has been a tumultuous ride. This story has shown how some very few people have tended to forget this hobby and network as a place we have fun, come together and make friends. Instead selecting to concentrate in a dark corner playing games for maximum influence and power, something I have felt myself now, as I have felt targeted with accusations by some of the people that have been exposed by this case.
Some may be feeling the need to sharpening the pitchforks following this case, but I highly advise against this, because every person who has been in a staff position of responsibility knows the difficulty of this network, about standing alone with the work, receiving scrutiny and criticism from many corners, without involvement in rectifying them.
The fallout on this situation needs to reflect upon us as a VACC as well. Because we have the power to do this now. I can only encourage our future VACC Director to seize this opportunity that has been presented because of this. An opportunity, not to criticize and scrutinize, but to take VATEUD and VATSIM to a more sustainable place, by increasing the burden of responsibilities out to all the VACCs.
I will of course offer my assistance in the early stages until it is no longer needed.
Thank you all for the substantial time it took to read through this. I am happy to answer questions, but please keep it sober, and don’t ask for names and details you already know I can not reveal.
