Dear Colleagues:
Is having a fair election for state board members at CAMFT in 2010 important enough for you to (1) Take a few minutes to read and print out a petition, (2) Find a stamp, and (3) Put it in the mail? (Yes, in the middle of the holiday season!)
The Situation: The CAMFT Nominating Committee recently decided that, “in the best interests of the association,” CAMFT will hold an “uncontested” election for all of its statewide board seats. The committee has already eliminated individuals that they deem less qualified or less appropriate for board seats. In March 2010, you will receive a board election ballot from CAMFT that essentially gives us no choice other than to elect the board’s pre-selected candidates. CAMFT eliminated many qualified candidates from running for board seats to ensure that their hand-selected candidates are on the board. If this sounds fishy to you, read on. With little time to take action, we do have recourse.
Our Candidate: CAMFT eliminated at least eight members from running for board seats through the nomination process. One such member is Jurgen Braungardt. Many of you know Jurgen from his participation in California Therapists for Marriage Equality (CTME). Among his involvements, he sat as a panelist in the first of three public town meetings that took place last summer on the subject of marriage equality and CAMFT. Jurgen was rejected because of a statement he made to the nominating committee: he is committed to changing the structure of CAMFT. Given our recent history with CAMFT, including the board’s reticence to support marriage equality, the publication of blatantly homophobic articles in The Therapist, and a presiding officer permitted to use his position of authority to further personal religious and political ends, we believe that the time is right for institutional change within CAMFT.
You can read more about Jurgen and his commitment to serving on the state CAMFT board at http://sites.google.com/site/camftprocess/
Take Action: The Bylaws allow for other candidates to make it onto the ballot through a petition process that requires 350 member licensed MFT signatures. These must be on paper and in ink. This is not your vote; this is simply to get Jurgen on the ballot. If you are not an MFT member of CAMFT but you care about this issue, you can still sign the petition to show CAMFT you care and forward it to your MFT CAMFT member colleagues. Click here to read, enter your name and license number and print the petition. We recommend you enter all but your signature prior to printing. Please Sign, Stamp and send your petition today.
If your letter will be in the mail before December 24, send to:
Attention: Petition Drive for Jurgen Braungardt
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
4344 Mountain View Avenue
Oakland, CA 94605
If your letter will be in the mail after December 24, send to:
Attention: Petition Drive: Jurgen Braungardt
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
7901 Raytheon Road
San Diego, CA 92111-1606
One Last Step for those mailing after December 24 will allow us to track the numbers of those who have sent their petition directly to CAMFT: Send us an email at braungardt@gmail.com with your petition information to confirm your petition is in the mail so we can keep a tally along with CAMFT.
Thank you!
Jürgen Braungardt, MFT, PhD, Member CTME & CAMFT
Barbara Rose, MFT, Member CTME & CAMFT
Bruce Weitzman, MFT, President SF CAMFT, Member CTME & CAMFT
Jim Walker, MFT, Member CTME & CAMFT
Dino di Donato, MFT, Board Member Gaylesta, Member CTME & CAMFT
K.Sue Duncan, MFT, EB CAMFT President, Member CTME & CAMFT