RSS Another Haven Humane exec resigns
By Doni Greenberg • May 10th, 2008 • Category: THOUGHT: What's on Doni's mind
Rich Steele, Haven Humane Society’s director of operations for about three months, resigned May 2. (Not to be confused with Norm Ryan, Haven’s CEO, who resigned last month after 1 year on the job.)
Steele had no comment when I telephoned him at his home yesterday.
However, Yvonne Preston, Haven’s interim chief executive officer (Ryan’s stand-in), confirmed Steele’s resignation when I reached her on her cell phone. She refused to answer more questions.
“He resigned last week,” Preston said about Steele in a seconds-long cell phone conversation.
“That’s all I’m going to comment on now.”
As Kelly Brewer, our friendly Pink Hollyhock news sleuther and blogger pointed out last month, secrecy and silence seem typical at Haven lately.
Add to the dog pile: A current Redding police investigation that involves Haven. Resignations of key Haven executives and board members. Low morale. A revolving door of staff turnovers. A shrinking board that’s so tiny it’s a wonder it can function (legally).
What a stinky mess. Somebody get a shovel. It could take some digging to uncover the truth.
Stumble it!
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Thank you, thank you Doni! It appears that Ms. Preston (as Board president) created the job for Mr. Steele, her personal friend. He had absolutely no shelter or animal experience. We wonder how an organization that asks for donations from the public and receives a substantial amount of money from the City of Redding (our tax dollars?) can continue to withhold information. Does anyone have any suggestions on who to contact regarding a 501(c)3 charity that refuses to answer ANY questions?
Keep digging Doni…this situation should never have happened at a humane society but I’ve seen similar things that have happened at non profits like Women’s Refuge and Help Inc.
Certain people get greedy and throw them off track and are asked to resign.
It’s a shame that a group of people with a good cause can’t work for the will of doners but it sometimes get corrupt.
God help the animals that are in their care.
As a long time supporter of Haven Humane I would like more “facts”. I knowTimmons was there for years and did an excellent job. I’m also familar with three of the people who were listed as Board of Directors in 2007, and all have been active for many years as volunteers in a number of good causes.
Doni…looks to me like this place needs to have some kind of a “house-cleaning”, and not because of the animals. For some reason, something just does not seem right here. I mean, what is it about an animal facility that could bring about this kind of action? Are they using, or misusing, City or County funds?
Well, keep asking the questions, and maybe we will get some answers. You, though, are probably the only one that can get to the bottom of this…the paper wont.
Thanks,
Ron