Is HAS muzzling volunteers?

Would you want to volunteer for an organization that limits your
free speech and contact with the press? As part of the Healdsburg
Animal Shelter’s new policy of transparency, it published a
Volunteer Manual and Contract Agreement on February 13, 2012 that
effectively muzzles its volunteers’ right to free speech. The
Volunteer Manual includes descriptions of jobs and policies related
to volunteers, as well as a “Standards of Conduct Agreement” which
all volunteers must now sign, comply, and submit to the Volunteer
Manager by February 27, 2012 or the volunteer will have his/her
status changed to inactive and will not be permitted to volunteer
at HAS in the future.
Imagine the choice the dedicated, devoted volunteer (some who
have volunteered at HAS for 10 years or more) has to make in order
to work with animals that need his/her help. Page 11 and 12 of the
Volunteer Manual/Contract limits the volunteers’ first amendment
right of free speech. It states that: “At no time should a
volunteer contact or address the media without consent and written
permission of the Chief Executive Officer (p 11).” The Volunteer
Manual goes even further in limiting volunteer free speech by
stating: “No other HAS employee or volunteer may correspond with or
otherwise communicate with the media on behalf of HAS, identify
themselves as a HAS volunteer or employee when corresponding with
or otherwise communicating with media (as doing so may give the
impression that the person is speaking on behalf of HAS) or release
information about HAS to the media without express written
permission of a designated spokesperson. This policy includes
reactive media relations (e.g. responding to reporters’ requests)
as well as proactive actions (e.g. writing letters to the editor)
(p 12).”
WHY has this policy come about? Because volunteers have written
letters to the editor of this newspaper to ask questions about the
new animal shelter building when they were unable to get the
answers from HAS itself.
HOW can HAS limit the right of free speech? It is a 501(c) (3)
corporation, and private corporations are not subject to first
amendment of the United States Constitution which only applies to
the government, not private corporations. However, is a healthy
organization one that needs to devote three pages of its manual to
disciplinary procedures to silence volunteers who are donating
their free time to animals in need? A healthy organization develops
policies and procedures that are understood by everyone and
encourages its employees and volunteers to express themselves to
the management in order to make the organization function more
efficiently to accomplish its mission. A healthy organization is
not afraid of the press and does not limit free speech because in a
well-run organization there is no need. February 27, 2012 is a sad
day for those volunteers who are forced to make the choice to serve
the animals or give up a fundamental right that all Americans
cherish.
At the January 8 meeting of the HAS Board, the public asked for
transparency and written policies and procedures. The Board has
responding to some of the public questions by posting the answers
on their website at the end of January while at the same time
stating that in the future all meetings will be closed to the
public. Is this transparency? The most important question is still
not answered and was a subject of a recent volunteer letter to the
editor of this newspaper, that question is: When is the HAS Board
going to publish its financial statement? As a 501 (c) (3)
corporation, HAS must file IRS Form 990, which must include public
access every year. Since tax statements aren’t due until April, why
doesn’t HAS post Form 990 for 2008, 2009, 2010 on its website so
the people of Healdsburg can judge for themselves? Rather than
trying to silence its volunteers, it is time for HAS to speak
up.
Pat Ajemian is a Healdsburg resident.