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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2017 20:16:59 GMT -7
Clare Parker for South Glastonbury Director I am a longtime resident and am aware of Glastonbury history and the principles and values upon which the community was founded. I want to help with some of the difficult decisions the Board is facing concerning governance. I desire to see private property rights upheld and the GLA continuing to put landowners first, rather than growing the power of the association. I am in favor of freedom of religious expression and I initiated a petition to reinstate prayer at GLA board meetings.
My Concerns I approve of our current road policy and do not want to see it changed from a tier system to one that would give all roads equal maintenance. In order to continue road service at the present level, eliminating the tier system would result in a very substantial raising of assessments, since the GLA would be required to maintain roads in the upper forested areas to the same quality as primary roads.
I believe too much money is spent on attorney fees and that this money would be better spent on roads. Legal opinions differ, and if we are not vigilant, these opinions can sometimes be used to advance an agenda and to gain more control.
I am a strong advocate of private property rights. Project review needs to be revamped because it has become too involved and confusing. Landowners do not want to be micromanaged, and the process should be landowner friendly. I would love for you to vote for me, as I am determined to serve this community. Grateful for the opportunity to run, I am asking for your vote.
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Post by observer on Oct 2, 2017 20:36:59 GMT -7
I heard that you came to a committee meeting, voiced your disgust for what was done to your Edward, maybe claimed everyone was evil, then walked out saying you'd never have anything to do with the board again. Now, you are running for the board? What changed your mind?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2017 9:54:07 GMT -7
Since I don’t know Clare personally, I’m relating what I have heard her say at various times at Board meetings that she has attended in the past and also a few committee meetings, and especially one of the most recent Communication Committee meetings at my home.
Since Clare did not list the qualifications she would bring to the Board position as a representative of SG I will address her statements in the bio she put out there for landowners. Since I can’t vote for her, and she might be elected and make decisions that may impact my families property, plus there is not another way as yet to ask questions or make observations...here goes with my observations and questions.
I understand you know the history, principles and values on which this community was founded by Church Universal and Triumph. That is nice, but what does that have to do with the setup of a Montana Non-Profit Corporation? There are Corporate laws that we as a corporation must follow, along with best business practices, plus there are guidelines that Montana Non Profit Association puts out for non-profits.
Are you saying you would not follow Corporate law and our governing documents if they didn’t adhere with the “history, principles and values which the community was founded?” How then can you “help” as you say with difficult decisions the Board is facing concerning governance? Corporations are not run on opinions or feelings but by structured laws and our covenants that bind landowners to the same standards and requirements. This Corporation has been governed long enough by mercurial thinking and discrimination. Do you really advocate that type of governance? You want to “go back” to that?
“I desire to see property rights upheld and the GLA continuing to put landowners first, rather than the growing power of the association.”
I wholeheartedly agree with upholding property rights, especially since two (maybe a third) current boardmembers repeatedly trespassed and damaged a landowners property thereby violating the owners property rights where they had to get an attorney involved.
This does not “grow the power of the association” it gives the association the ability to “protect” the landowner. This is the structure of corporations. It gives protection! Laws and covenants that give protection “equally” no matter what the situation maybe. Equal protection under the law. A rich landowner vs a poor one, a boardmember trespassing against a landowner and so on and so forth. Covenants are there not for power but for protection, making everyone equal. For far to long our covenants have NOT been adhered to and making decisions of the Board(s) discriminatory.
“I am in favor of freedom of religious expression and I initiated a petition to reinstate prayer at GLA board meetings.”
I too agree with freedom of religious expression. Mine, yours and everyone elses but I disagree with it in and at board meetings. We all need to respect each other’s beliefs and by having a moment of silence we can all express those beliefs in our own way without offending our neighbors and starting a corporate meeting on what brings us together rather than what divides us. We all have a financial interest in bringing our Association into alignment with best business practices without creating divisions which is what “religion” does. That has been the problem now and in the past, religion brought into the board room. So, Clare may I suggest you exercise your religious expression quietly so as not to interrupt your neighbors.
Equality seems to be an issue with you Clare as far as the new Road Policy is concerned and you like the “old” policy that in my mind shows a certain leaning toward discrimination. I have heard your statements condemning people as “liars” and saying you would never again have anything to do with GLA. There is a closed mindedness I hear when you speak. A wanting to go back to members of Church Universal and Triumph running this Association for it belongs in some way to CUT and is a “spiritual” community. I’m sorry to inform you that GLA belongs to everyone who has chosen to live here for their own reasons and desires. That is freedom and what I believe “community” is all about and not a “spiritual” community for a select group of people.
I find it strange that you think that being governed by the Association, that was created by Church Universal and Triumph and the ovenants developed by its church members, as being micromanaged?
Sally Muto NG
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Post by Confused on Oct 10, 2017 8:14:53 GMT -7
Clare -
Where were you? It seems confusing, to say the least, that you were not at the October 9, 2017 board meeting when some very important road issues were approved and funded, yet you say you want to serve on the board and change the direction the Road committee is going. How can be you serious about getting on the board and really understand the issues when you do not come to meetings?
Confused
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2017 12:05:27 GMT -7
Clare, how can you compete with the 3 amigos running for re-election??? You have no clue what has been going on with GLA because you are NOT INVOLVED!!
Do you attend board meetings consistently? NO Do you attend committee meetings? NO Do you bring ideas or just complaints to this Association? NO-ideas YES-complaints Have you EVER walked the roads of this Associations? NO How many plugged culverts have you taken the time to find and inspect? NONE
What have you brought to this Association other than “us vs them” attitude?
Just asking - it seems to me you’d bring nothing that can compare to the 3 boardmembers running for re-election other than division and complaints from long ago ideas and knee jerk reactions to problems.
Why would we ever want to “go back to the past?” GLA is finally starting to operate responsibility and boardmembers are being held accountable for their decisions, financially staying within their budgets, collecting back assessments and our poor roads finally being dealt with without raising our assessments!!
You want a tiered road maintenance? Then not all landowners are treated equally. It would substantially increase our assessments you say? Where was your outrage over the fact that for 20 years we’ve been paying for the maintenance/snow removal for a subdivision road that is not part of GLA ?? We sure could use that money now don’t you think?
Dennis, Kevin and Mark have my vote!!!
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Post by Fair-and-Square on Oct 21, 2017 12:46:24 GMT -7
Here is a two-part article called "Religious Discrimination" authored by Clare Parker, once published on the worldwide web through her very own website. CP stands for the author's name - Clare Parker. Her thoughts and words are quoted below:
"Glastonbury Network NEWS for Landowners! Enjoying the good life... "They think they're geese and they want to take over the hen yard!
"Because this is a public website and no harm is intended,names are not used. "CONFLICTS:
Religious Discrimination!"
Part 1
"CP attended board meetings and community meetings where disgruntled landowners told board members to not appoint Church members to Board positions. CP was dismayed, not only because this was hateful and discriminatory against Church members, but because the GLA Board of Directors did not put a stop to their continuous demands for this type of illegal discriminatory action. Therefore, CP wrote the following strongly worded letter to the Board:
February 7, 2015 To: GLA Board of Directors From: CP Re: Religious Discrimination Complaint
"Most abhorrent to me is the fact that religion has become an issue as to who should serve on the GLA Board of Directors and who should not. It seems that it may now be becoming politically incorrect to be a member of Curch ____________and be appointed to the Board. Those opposed to members of our church serving on the board, who want to divide the community into two separate landowners associations, say that "fresh blood" is needed on the board. It seems to me that the board is enabling a "them" and "us" attitude and that the board is placating these disgruntled individuals. I see the board moving in the direction of selecting a new director to replace ______ on the terms that a director is not to be appointed if he is a member of the Church. In other words, "Church members need not apply!"
"It is a disgrace that some people in our community are going that route, and I am ashamed that the GLA is appeasing this kind of hate mentality. Discrimination on the basis of religion is unlawful in the United States; and the GLA needs to be more diligent in exercising its duty to act lawfully at GLA meetings and to not allow people to go off the beam with hateful speech. The board must not remain silent while certain landowners belittle others for their religious beliefs – because THIS, TOO, is a legitimate reason for initiating a lawsuit! "The GLA should, as a matter of policy, keep religion out of politics. Some people behaved badly and were very rude at the Feb. 5th (2015) road meeting held at ______, where Church members were insulted. I was shocked to witness that nothing was done to set the offending parties straight or to stop them from insulting the Church and our members, which, if it is allowed to continue, could lead to an intensification of internal strife within the community, and potentially involve the GLA in a religious discrimination lawsuit. Church members are not lunatics and fanatics that go around calling their neighbors names, such as "Fallen Ones", as one landowner claimed. I don't do that and I don't know anyone in our community who does – and certainly no one on the Board of Directors or who has ever served on the Board, or who is applying for that position – regardless of who (in the misrepresented history of our church) may have proven themselves to be ignorant or unbalanced. Every segment of society has a few of these types. Nevertheless, the Church does not go around calling people names, and it is not at all typical of our members. "It is up to the Board to address this matter. I realize that it will take some deliberation by the board to come up with a peaceful solution and a policy regarding how these kinds of volatile issues are to be handled. I will be keeping my eye on the GLA and how it rises to the challenge and responds to this complaint.
(Communication has been reformatted for the Internet and adusted for public viewing.)" "On February 20th I sent a second religious discrimination complaint letter to the Board because there was no improvement in the board's handling of religious discrimination. A serious incident had occurred that prompted me to write another letter: February 20th letter "CONFLICTS:
Religious Discrimination!" Part 2
"February 20, 2015
To: GLA Board of Directors From: CP Re: 2nd Religious Discrimination Complaint "I spoke with A and she assured me that the GLA had a nondiscrimination policy in place and that the Board was even working to improve it. I got the impression from speaking with her that at the next Board meeting, when the board was to choose the new board member, the Chair would point out to the landowners attending the meeting that church affiliation was not to be an issue in the board’s selection of the new board member because it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of religion, besides being very wrong.
"That did not happen, and so the winning candidate (the other being a member of the Church) stood before the Board and the assembly of landowners and proclaimed that he was “NOT affiliated with any CHURCH!” And he continued on to say that he “would NOT be pressured!” This remark was inappropriate, embarrassing to the other candidate and insulting to the Church, as well as to the many landowners belonging to the Church. Such remarks are divisive, as it divides the community into Church members and non- Church members, and at the same time implies that the Church is working behind the scenes in the Glastonbury Landowners Association (almost as a shadow government) to control it. The implication is that the Church pressures the board members that happen to belong to the Church into doing its bidding. Supposedly these board members then follow suit by forcing the Church’s agenda onto the community.
"You all know (or should know) that this particular ‘conspiracy theory' is an abominable lie and that nothing could be further from the truth. The small but growing minority of landowners in Glastonbury who may believe this lie are either ignorant of the facts or they are sadly deluded. It is time to put an end to it!
"It grieves me that, somehow, it seems to have become politically correct among certain landowners to run down the Church and its membership to the GLA Board of Directors – and that any number of GLA Board members patently tolerate these landowners denigrating the Church in their presence. Therefore, I am asking any and all Board members to tell me why the GLA Board says and does nothing to stop unkind, prejudicial remarks about the Church during GLA meetings, when such is hurtful and can be interpreted as hate speech and has lately become a criminal offense. Since my first letter went unheeded, I am disappointed in the President of the Board and in certain others who allowed these comments to pass.
"Since religious discrimination is illegal, and many witnessed the prejudicial remarks that went unchecked by the Board, I want to know what the Board is going to do about it and how Board members will handle themselves in the future.
(Communication has been reformatted for Internet and adjusted public viewing)"
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Post by Fair-and-Square on Oct 22, 2017 19:30:41 GMT -7
More from the CP website files and archives:
"Glastonbury Network NEWS for Landowners! Enjoying the good life..." "We pray!"
"Because this is a public website and no harm is intended to anyone, names are not used." CONFLICTS: Opening Prayer Dispute "At one point we thought the Opening Prayer dispute had been resolved. A petition was submitted to the GLA Board to reinstate the opening prayer. At the March 2016 Board Meeting the GLA Board voted 8 to 4 in favor of the prayer. Sadly, the opening prayer dispute has been reopened. See Meeting Disrupted. Freedom of religion is under attack in all quarters in America and around the world, including Glastonbury. On December 7, 2015 the GLA voted 7 to 4 to abandon the opening prayer given before GLA Board meetings. "Certain Glastonbury landowners were put off by the fact that the Board of Directors gave an opening prayer before starting with board business. The prayer given was universal and could not be identified as coming from any particular religion – but was generic in nature so as to be acceptable to all religions. In other words, people of every faith could give this simple prayer, together, without offending anyone. "Nevertheless, the forces of anti-God and anti-religion have taken offense, and at the December GLA Board meeting they pressured (bullied) the board into accepting a moment of silence instead of a prayer. A few landowners complained that they were offended by the teachings and beliefs of Church __________ and demanded the moment of silence, instead.
"The prayer given, of course, never had anything to do with Church _________, which is being used as a scapegoat and smoke screen to cover over the real issue, which is the right to officially call upon God in public. "The Church is being used as the excuse to take God from community life, at least where GLA business is concerned. And I'm afraid it will not stop there, as these people have complained many times and have tried before to prevent freedom of religious expression in more ways than one. "Until this small group of landowners objected to the opening prayer, it had been understood that if a landowner had found calling upon the Almighty offensive he or she did not need to participate.
"Atheists and the irreligious could simply arrive at board meetings a few minutes after the start and they would not have to be present during the prayer. Today, the godless have their way and everyone else has to be silent. We have here a case of the minority suppressing the majority. Nevertheless, irrespective of the numbers involved, it is our Constitutional right and our unalienable God-given right to call upon God at any time and in any place. "When God is pointed towards the door and shown the exit sign, the consequences are dire. Let's hope we get back our right to pray before anything too drastic happens. Meeting Disrupted!"
"Glastonbury Network NEWS for Landowners! Enjoying the good life..."
"How come we didn't get to pray?"
"Because this is a public website and no harm is intended to anyone, names are not used." CONFLICTS: Opening Prayer Dispute
OPENING PRAYER DISSPUTE REOPENED "Regarding the Board's decision to continue with Monday night's board meeting held on April 11, 2016 in Saint John's Episcopal Church, an unruly gathering of landowners found that they could use disruptive tactics to get their way without there being any negative consequences (to them), at least for the time being. "An organized group of Glastonbury landowners claiming to want positive change stopped the Board from giving the opening prayer. Even though the prayer is universal, they claimed the Church was trying to force its religion upon the landowners. They chanted in unisome, "We will not tolerate religion at an open meeting." "The landowner who started the chanting said he believed in prayer but that he prayed in his closet. Apparantly he thinks his manner of prayer gave him the right to tell others how they must pray. Who is forcing whose religion upon whom? "This was done in utter denial of the fact that many people have come together on American soil, on occasions to numerous to count, to give a universal prayer and no one faith was ever predominant over any other faith. The openinig prayer that is given each morning when the Congress of the United States is in session is a perfect example of this. Prayer is all we have, and without prayer we don't stand a chance to hold up against the godless, satanic forces targeting our free society, America and Western civilization – and that includes Glastonbury!
"Our people have the same right to prayer that the Congress of the United States has to prayer; and it would be a very sorry day for the USA if we were to let radicals eradicate the right of our legislators to say a prayer before making such crucial decisions for our nation. "Wouldn't you say the decisions the GLA must make for the community have importance, also, and that we need God's guidance? Surely, the right to call upon the Creator at any time of the day or night is an inalienable right which the Constitution of the United States affirms! "If we can't keep reasonable rights here in Glastonbury, how will we be able to preserve them in America? If we tell God to sit in the back of the bus, all will be lost! "The GLA business before the board was not so important as to have caused the board to proceed without giving the opening prayer, and, thereby, allowing the radicals to triumph, which can only serve to reinforce their bad behaviors. All the business the board accomplished could have been done by phone without interruptions and their obnoxious comments and interjections. "It is clear that we cannot have a meeting with these people in our face – prayer or no prayer! Therefore the Board needs to hold board meetings by phone forthe time being, at leaste until this group settles down. Besides, phone meetings would give others a chance to participate who can't be there in person. "I think some of the absente landowners might want to know what's going on. The positive change crdowd has an agenda that effects everybody, not just Church members."
"See the Petition that had been granted to reinstate the Opening Prayer.
Opening Prayer Letter
(CP sent a letter to the GLA Board.)"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 8:41:19 GMT -7
Oh Fair and Square where do I begin...
I would applaud you wholeheartedly if perchance we were back in merry old England. But alas we are not. If you knew your history this is precisely why this country was founded - liberty and freedom for all - whether “religious or not.” Free speech can be ugly, like yours, but the bottom line is that it is FREE. I too do not like some of the things said, but I understand where it is coming from and how they got there. When we stifle free speech and not try to resolve or understand it we do a disservice to the founding fathers of this great country. Your feelings are no more important and right than mine or others. I don’t take it personally and I’m sorry you do. Actions are what motivate me for positive change. Illegal, immoral and unethical actions over others are what concern me.
What your saying about others is precisely why we need to protect individual rights. Calling people, godless, Satanic foes, radicals (I’ll stop there because I’ll get mad). For the record I’m a Christian and taught a bible study for 7 years and my Lord Jesus Christ taught me that the 6 commandments that pertained to man could be summed up in one phrase.- LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF. You see the very thing your saying that these people are doing, and have done, you yourself are doing by diminishing them by labelling them with your name calling and accusations. The very thing you hate being done to you...you yourself are doing...try looking in the mirror you just might see something you’d like to change maybe? All the while losing your credibility as an objective person and giving a one sided view to people your trying to persuade, us verses them (discriminating again). Have you or Clare taken the time to get to know any of these landowners that have invested in Glastonbury? If not why not??
The biggest problem I have from the start is with your name “fair and square” may I suggest “fairly unbalanced.” And according to You, like a lot of people, give one side of the story, which in my opinion, creates distortions and hard feelings. I take it you obviously don’t like to color within the lines but like to paint with a broad brush, and we all know what happens then! Paint seems to get on everyone alike whether deserved or not, as I said I’m a Christian. Not an atheist, Satan worshipper, godless, etc. as you’ve called people who want positive change...I WANT POSSITIVE CHANGE AND IT IS FINALLY STARTING TO HAPPEN.
Roads are being dealt with and long term plans developed, finances are being dealt with in a “legal” way according to best business practices, a staggering $240,000.00 debt of back assessments is being brought to the forefront where it should have been from the beginning - no excuses. These landowners were already given “special treatment” now it’s their time to pay their FAIR SHARE of their responsibility to their neighbors. Equal justice under our covenants is what it is called.
Yes, this community started out being a “religious” community and what I have gathered in the the contract (covenants before incorporation) is that this originally was a closed community. And only tithing members of CUT could buy land here (a form of discrimination starting out) with contracts that allowed the taking of property - a persons home - without any reason whatsoever (tyranny comes to mind religious or not sounds like merry old England again). Do you or Clare really want that type of organization where there is no real freedom of speech or liberty?
I can’t and won’t speak for anyone else, but this is what I have seen since getting involved to bring positive change to Glastonbury’s governance. I was motivated from the start by being LIED to by 3 different boardmembers. First by being assured that the tower house built above our property adhered to all our covenants and master plan. Second when I asked, at a board meeting, if there were any “discounts” or “forgiveness” of assessments for certain people they answered no (discrimination rears its ugly head again). I saw rampant disregard for our governing documents and therefore discrimination. Favortism shown to certain landowners, there by disregarding other landowners rights to equal treatment under our covenants (discrimination again).
Let me get to the problem I have about Clare’s candidacy and Charlotte’s for the same reason. It’s all about religion and religious discrimination they claim. As I have said before I don’t give a rip about anyone’s faith or religion, that is what freedoms are all about. But I do have a problem with a prayer that offends my neighbor’s freedom from prayer in the board room of a “private corporation” and violates my neighbor’s FREEDOM FROM A RELIGIOUS PRAYER. They deserve respect ESPECIALLY from people who claim to be RELIGIOUS! Religious people of all faiths should be especially sensitive to others rights and not take that away from them. That is what you are doing by INSISTING on vocal prayer instead of a MOMENT OF SILENCE!! Religious people have throughout history been discriminated against SO WHY ARE YOU WANTING TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO RELIGION?? Tell me that is not in and of itself discrimination toward them? Do the Salem witch trials ring a bell?
FYI: A national law firm has told some landowners that they have enough proof to win against GLA for a lawsuit for discrimination against people who are not involved with the religion of the majority of the boardmembers, and clearly shows a pattern and win. I would suggest bantering around a “lawsuit of religious discrimination” be toned downed least you get what you wish for. These landowners are seeing change, but if it goes back to the old ways, which I believe Clare wants, they have the resources to bring a financial hurting to GLA. So please tone down your rhetoric, or you’ll get what you wish for, be part of bringing this Association into a functioning law abiding non-discriminating organization.
Please stay off your holier than thou soap box and respect and love your neighbor as your self, then just maybe then can we all make Glastonbury a wonderful place to live and enjoy.
Things I have seen and heard that concern me about Clare’s candidacy:
* Clare was heard & overheard stating that she thought the tower house was beautiful to look at and didn’t mind that it violated the covenants * Clare lobbied hard to maintain Dry Creek Rd, which is a county road, with GLA money in the tune of $120,000 for chip / crack sealing. Kevin, Walter and others went to Park County and got them to maintain the road and save GLA tens of thousands of dollars * Clare’s tierd road policy she wants the emphasise that brings more benefits to low South I wonder why, and discriminates against other landowners - just because upper South was discriminated against before is no reason to discriminate now - Glastonbury is much bigger now
What do all these things have in common? They go against our covenants!!
The issues about the board appointments were more about qualifications brought and time available to spend on GLA governance - Rudy Parker (Clare’s husband) stating he could give about 2hrs a week on GLA issues and Dennis Riley could give approx 10hrs and more if needed. Rudy being in Bozeman 5 days a week at his job and Dennis with a fuller resume’ being retired...WHY would the Board vote in Rudy over Dennis??? IT’S NOT ABOUT CHURCH OR CHURCHMEMBERS IT IS ABOUT DECISIONS LIKE THIS THAT THE BOARD CONTINUED TO MAKE THAT DEFIES LOGIC AND COMMON SENSE!!! THERE ARE MORE EXAMPLEs SUCH AS RJ OVER DEDDIE DEGRAA WHO WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED BY DONATING HER TIME TO BRING IN $8000 IN BACK ASSESSMENTS AND ACTIVELY HELPING RUDY BY DOING PART OF HIS JOB BUT THE BOARD VOTED IN A MAN I HAD NOT SEEN EVEN AT ANY BOARD OR COMMITTEE MEETINGS. NOTHING AGAINST RJ BUT HIS CANDIDACY COULD NOT COMPARE TO WHAT DEBBIE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND WHAT WAS SORELY NEEDED.
So, Fairly Unbalanced can you understand it is not about your church or church members it is about the board’s decisions they have taken, and coincidentally the majority were fellow church members, and that is how some may have rightfully thought they were stacking the board with “church” members over more qualified persons? Can you not see that is where a lot of this started?
If GLA is run professionally,legally according to our governing documents there will be no more discrimination period for Clare or anyone else.
Sally Muto
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Post by Worried on Oct 23, 2017 10:44:38 GMT -7
Sally - in reading your post, and that of Fair and Square, I become confused. I believe Fair and Square is "REPOSTING" what CP (Clare) had on her website but has taken down.
However, you may be right, CP may be reposting all that stuff as a backdoor attempt to get votes from supporters of Clare's desire to go back to the 1980's management philosophies when Glastonbury was founded.
Everyone - I believe Sally is right on target with all that she presents.
I for one do not want to go back to living under the philosophies that empowered the Board to "overlook" covenant violations of "friends.” Board Members and current candidates Kevin, Dennis and Mark have helped change the focus of Board decisions from helping one individual develop their dream, to insuring all covenants are enforced and all Landowners are considered when making decisions.
Worried – and not giving my name as I am one of those often referred to as concerned about reprisals.
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