There?s better way to handle Families in Crisis problems

When husbands lose their temper and lash out against their wives, Families in Crisis is there to provide a safe haven for these women and their children.

That?s why it was so surprising to see Families in Crisis members do exactly the same thing ? lose their temper and lash out against the organization. And just like domestic violence, this appears to be a regretful move.

About two weeks ago, four Families in Crisis employees spearheaded an effort to oust director Tammie Gribble and the board of directors. They did this by using one of the organization?s by-laws that says anyone who pays $15 to join Families in Crisis has the privilege of voting during a meeting.

The four disgruntled employees urged dozens of friends and family members to pay $15 and attend the meeting where the mutiny took place. The employees demanded Gribble?s resignation (which she has refused to give) and ousted a highly respected board of directors that includes McMinnville?s acting chief of police.

The Standard is not familiar with the inner workings of Families in Crisis but has been given a copy of a four-page report which is essentially an onslaught of complaints against Gribble and the way she is managing the women?s shelter. It?s possible some of the complaints are valid. Some certainly appear far-fetched.

Whether any of the allegations hold any truth is not for this newspaper to decide. But in protecting the best interest of this community and its residents, we can say it is vital for Families in Crisis to regain respectability and continue to offer women a place to turn at a desperate time of need.

The mutiny that took place two weeks ago left Families in Crisis with more than a black eye. It was completely unacceptable. It took the organization?s once-clean reputation and snapped it in two.

Upon hearing of the Families in Crisis hostile takeover, county officials promptly suspended the organizations $10,500 in funding. It?s also likely all the fundraisers and charitable donations that benefit Families in Crisis could encounter some quicksand as local residents wonder how their money is being used.

If there are in fact deep-rooted problems at Families in Crisis, employees should have found a better way to express their concerns. Air grievances to the board of directors and if at first you don?t succeed, try, try again.

If that doesn?t work, attend a city board meeting or a county commission meeting and let local officials know about specific problems. Talk to the mayor. Call the county executive. Write a letter to the editor or call a Standard reporter.

This community has no shortage of caring residents who want Warren County to be a quality place to live. And maintaining a battered women?s shelter is all part of looking out for public safety.

If legitimate problems exist at Families in Crisis, we have local leaders who will work to fix those problems. But trying to oust the director and entire board of directors is not a convincing way to endear people to your side of the story. It appears ill-tempered, short-sighted and looks to create more problems than it will solve.

Hopefully cooler heads will prevail at the next Families in Crisis meeting Monday night. The shelter is too important to lose in a fit of rage.