The majority of those who worked for Richard Johnston, who for 20 years was director and chairman of the Connecticut Humane Society, found him to be mean-spirited, arrogant, obnoxious with little love for the thousands of animals he was paid six digits a year to look after.
With his removal under pressure, we now have a new chairman, Chris White, who for 15 of the last years, served on the board and fully supported Johnston and his management style. He along with five other board members were given no bid contracts for themselves or their businesses by Johnston.
To get an idea what kind of person White is, I have included a set of emails between White and a member of the Coalition For Change, a group of present and former CHS workers, volunteers, donors and animal lovers. You can judge for yourself whether White is a chip off the old block.
Chris White, CHS Chairman, From his Facebook page
By the way, while in press releases both White and Johnston defend their actions. Neither one has had the courage of their convictions to face the press. White had an opportunity on Saturday to defend his record when he was invited on the WTIC AM radio program where I was asked to discuss the issue. White passed on that opportunity. At least he knows enough to know he could not win: he either would have had to say that he didn’t know what was going on for 15 years or that he knew and approved – not a pleasant choice.
So here is Chris White responding in an email exchange:
From: James Luberda <james.luberda@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 8:18 PM
Subject: CHS
To: cwhite@mywesthartfordlife.com
Chris,
I have met you, though you won’t remember me. This is to officially inform you that I have heard of your subcomittee’s inability to reach a proper settlement that will change the way things are run at CHS.
This is also to officially inform you that, instead of Richard Johnston’s name, yours will be primary in my future postings on my
200+ facebook page, my twitter updates, and, given I have been both on
tv and radio commenting on this issue, I will focus on your name the next media appearance I get.
I hope things can be resolved sooner rather than later, as I like you as a person, but I cannot allow things to continue as they are without speaking out. And I am holding you personally responsible for the failure to work things out, because I know of your role, and am confident in your ability to make a meaningful change in CHS management.
James
From: <WethLife@aol.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 9:08 PM
To: james.luberda@gmail.com
James:
Wow! Wasn’t that an interesting email. I think the only thing about it that was factually accurate was that I do not remember you. But since I am rarely if ever threatened by complete strangers, I will certainly remember you from now on.
“I have heard of your subcomittee’s inability to reach a proper settlement.” Really? You heard that? Considering the fact that there are only four people on the planet who fully understand the committee’s findings and recommendations, and you are not one of those people, I’m curious to learn exactly what misinformation you are treating as fact. You clearly have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, but you seem to believe that if you say it passionately enough it will become true. Sadly, life doesn’t work like that.
You are free to hold me or any of the 12 members of the Board of Directors personally responsible. You can say whatever you feel like in any forum. I do hope you recognize however that actions have consequences and words have meaning. So you go ahead and do whatever you feel you have to do. And I will keep doing what I know to be 100% right. As a volunteer, I have donated literally hundreds of hours to the CHS in the last 2 months. My duty is to the institution and its long-term mission, and I feel we have made tremendous progress on numerous fronts.
The irony in all this is that over the last 7 weeks I have met with and spoken with dozens of current and former CHS staffmembers and volunteers, coalition members and concerned citizens. Everyone has been respectful and well-intentioned, passionate, yet polite. And to a one they have thanked me for taking the time to listen, for treating them with respect, and for dedicating so much time and effort to doing the right thing. I have made it clear to each and every one that my door is always open to them literally and figuratively. That same offer does not hold for you. If you can’t be civil you weaken your argument and lessen the credibility of your cause. Think of how much more you could have learned and gained had my first interaction with you not been a threat. I have truly enjoyed working with the many dedicated CHS staffmembers and volunteers, but I can honestly say that I hope our paths never cross again.
Chris White
Christopher White
Publisher, LIFE Publications, Inc.: Hartford Magazine,
LIFE Newspapers, Bushnell & Hartford Stage Playbills
President: LIFE Marketing & Events, LLC
106 South Street
West Hartford, CT 06110
cwhite@hartfordmag.com
LIFE Marketing & Events:
Sun Winefest (Jan. 30-31), The Great Taste, LEGO KidsFest
———-
From: James Luberda <james.luberda@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 10:34 PM
To: WethLife@aol.com
Wow, considering you are a media person, this was a surprisingly grand
mistake on your part. I’m not sure which is worse–the fact that you
appear to believe I am not well-informed–or the the fact that, even
as you claim otherwise, you claim to be well-informed and yet fail to
act with appropriate oversight, even though I can actually paraphrase
you, but I won’t, so I don’t reveal anyone’s identity. I was civil,
for the record–as a teacher of English, trust me, I know civility.
And I know about your meetings. And I know the mistakes being made.
And, being 100% certain about anything means you’re 100% certain to be
wrong, unless it involves the laws of physics.
I attended the OSHA meeting the other day. Ask Karen about the person
who said “bye” on her way out.
By the way, don’t be silly, I was actually factually accurate as well
in stating that I was on tv and the radio. I don’t know why you people
think we’re stupid or uncommitted, but that is the worst mistake you
can make, and, frankly, I don’t get why you are making it.
And, finally, if the issues weren’t so serious, and weren’t being so
poorly addressed, I wouldn’t be talking about taking your name to the
media.
James
———-
From: James Luberda <james.luberda@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 10:49 PM
To: WethLife@aol.com
By the way, I appreciate you being honest in acknowledging the fact
that you neither support the union or the reinstatement of the fired
workers.
———-
From: James Luberda <james.luberda@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 10:51 PM
———-
From: <WethLife@aol.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 11:15 PM
To: james.luberda@gmail.com
I apologize James, you are correct. My saying that everything in your first email was factually inaccurate was a mistake on my part. Apparently you WERE on TV. The part about your knowing committee decisions is still wrong, as is the new fantasy that I have acknowledged “the fact that you neither support the union [nor] the reinstatement of the fired workers.” I have never publicly stated my personal opinion on either matter regardless of what your secret source whose cover you don’t want to blow tells you.
And I do find it fascinating that you are the expert on whether or not the investigative subcommittee is acting with “appropriate oversight,” when you don’t know what the committee has done. Oh wait, you do know, you just can’t tell me because you would have to divulge the identity of your secret mole. It all sounds vaguely Orwellian, doesn’t it?
Please don’t bother to respond. I won’t read it. I am of course happy to hear from all other members of the Coalition who are taking this matter seriously.
C
860-953-0444 ext. 110
cwhite@hartfordmag.com
No shortage of vitriol there.
What a pompous ass!
Boy, sounds pretty paranoid to me.
Well said about volunteering Mark!!
Knew the Courant (today’s editorial page–also see Commentary at the bottom of their web site) would step up and shine the light on White and his crew. The more this gets out in the open, the quicker the changes that need to take place can happen.
Here is the part that REALLY disturbs me about Chris’s Statement….He says that he has “VOLUNTEERED” over 100 hours in the last few weeks…..THAT is not volunteering Chris, that is DOING YOUR JOB as a board member. If you don’t want the responsibility don’t do the job. It was all peaches and cream for years before the Coalition stepped in. Let me tell you what volunteering is. Volunteering is sitting on a cement floor in a cage with a terried dog, who is in a strange place, not understanding where his family is but knows he doesn’t know where he is. Sitting there for 30 minutes in hopes that this dog will just come over to you and sniff to see your not going to hurt him. Volunteering is going to CHS when it’s 10 degrees out and walking dogs for three hours because they still need to get out and “do their business”. Volunteering is spending time with an elderly cat who’s owner may have died and they have no idea why they are sitting in a cage now with people walking by all day long. Volunteering is going to the Shelter in the pouring rain, because the dogs still need their exercise and to do their biological functions. Volunteering is coming to “work” when it’s over 90 degree’s in the sun, yet you still show up to walk lthe dogs so they get their quality time from you. Volunteering is spending time training the pit bulls (one after another) so that they become much more adoptable to the public. Volunteering is showing up at the shelter and finding out that one of your absolute favorite dogs or cats was adopted and while your truly happy for them, you cry your eyes out cuz you miss them. Volunteering is working long and hard with specific dogs with behavior issues only to come in and find out that the dog was put down and there was nothing you could do to save him. The fact that you couldn’t even be there in the room while they were being put down so they could at least go out with love and dignity. THAT, MR WHITE, is volunteering!!!!! Your comparison to what we do, did or want to do is not fair. We appreciate what you are doing, putting in all this time BUT you are a board member, it can’t be peaches and cream all the time.
Well said, Thank You Mark, you are the definition of a TRUE Volunteer!
Well, I wish I were still there but with conditions as they were, it was time to walk away. I wish I were still a TRUE volunteer but as much as I miss working with the animals, I thought the poor treatment of PEOPLE which leads to the worse treatment of animals had to take precedence.
Amen.
Donated 100’s of hours? When and where? Isn’t that part of your job? Is this Chris White we are dealing with or Richard Johnston Jr.? The worst part is he hasn’t mentioned the well being of the animals in CHS’s care, sad to think that a person with his mentality has a position like this. Chris White, pack your bags, because you are on your way out!
How old is Chris White? From the photo, he looks very young.
I have to agree with that, he does look young…was he in Junior High when he got on the board? Of course I mean that in a totally complimentary way. He must have good genes….Wish I did….
I was thinking the same thing, but not because of his photo…these emails make him sound like a 12 year old.
He looks like a 12 year old with that clip-on tie.
100 hours…..Hmmmmmm $30,000 in advertising. So where does the volunteering come in….Raping the Humane Society is more like it. As for talking to the volunteers, which ones would those be the ones that are saying what have coached by the Union Busting Management… Yes things maybe changing but animals are stiil being put down. Volunteer are still being intiminate by sneers. Your new management is a joke they do not even introduce themselves to the volunteers. I have never seen a BOD member at event at all. How can you be so disrespectful to someone that is trying to talk to you about something so important!
All I’ll add at this point is, for reference, and for obvious reasons, I retract my offering of “I like you as a person” to Chris in my opening email. Rookie mistake on my part.
Volunteering is publishing advertisements for the Humane Society free of charge in his magazine, because he knows it sould help the animals get more attention, and find their forever homes sooner. He does NOT volunteer.
Also, I would like everyone to pick up a copy of any Hartford Magazine, this month’s, last’s, or any. Other than the paid-for advertisements, how often is CHS mentioned? Is there any listing of CHS events in the “upcoming events” calendar? Is there a monthly, seasonal, or even annual column featuring the contributions CHS has made to Connecticut in general, and the Greater Hartford Area in particular?
Mr. White has, for many years, had ample opportunity to draw vast amounts of attention to the Humane Society, simply by putting it on the cover of Hartford Magazine. For some reason, as a Board Member, he has chosen not to “volunteer” this wonderful opportunity.
Boycott Hartford Magazine, it is just a showcase for all the lame-ass, corrupt beautiful people around here. Anything they feature, I just avoid…
Chris, do tell us exactly how you donated literally hundreds of hours to CHS in the last 2 months. Then, please explain what you have done over the course of your tenure on the board. If it wasn’t for the chain of events that just happened, not many people would ever have known your name. I would also like to know who the dozens of current and former CHS staff members you have spoken with over the last 7 weeks. I can guess who most of the staff members are. Most likely the ones that have put CHS in the state of chaos. The ones who Dick controlled; his puppets. You need to speak to the ones who were fired or left on their own. Hear their side of the equation. Your door is always open??? That sounds familiar. Dick’s door was always open too. NOT! Your response to James was rather arrogant & pompous. Not at all what you’ want in a “new chairman”. It’s been way too long not having a compassionate person at the helm. Please, as Dick would say, “do the right thing” and step down. You’re too much like the mold that Dick came from.
Wow, Chris White sounds awfully defensive. In my experience, people only feel the need to cover themselves like that when they have something to hide. The Coalition for Change has only tried to expose the truth in order to effect change at a venerable institution. With the truth on their side they have not had to engage in any defensive “spin” such as what is seen here from Chairman White.
Again, you hear the phrase “doing the right thing”…what a chip off the old block! And,by the way, Chris isn’t “volunteering”..he’s receiving money from services rendered. He apparently has a lot to gain sitting on the board. He is inexperienced to be the Chairman. I was glad to hear Richard resigned but it doesn’t sound like CHS is moving in the right direction. I agree with Cathy regarding the last article…someone from the Coalition should be on the BOD. Someone needs to have a clue about how a shelter runs starting with the animal care and medical staff. Without them you can’t run a shelter and someone needs to be their advocate so CHS doesn’t head down this path again.
^^Roger these comments. Of course White has a lot to lose here. They are not providing services out the kindness of their hearts. The get to double dip on in…they get paid, which probably goes right to Chris’ pool or BMW fund, then he probably writes the labor off of his taxes on the back-end. That $30K donated print job just became $60K with a $30K write off. What is that awful smell? B.S. my friends, pure B.S.
Arrogant, condescending, deliusuonal…reminds me of someone.
I’d like to add that I worked at CHS, volunteered after hours, and went to many events…not once have I seen Chris Whites face.
Countless hours my a&$!
As I said before aside from Bob and Gretchen we NEVER saw any BOD members on CHS grounds unless they came in for their free sandwhich once a month.
They didn’t donate, ask questions, get involved, or even speak to any of the staff. This guy, like his predecessor, is full of hot air.
Thanks to James for sharing these emails with us…I’d also like to mention that emails Chris sent to other coalition members were equally if not more rude…so he obviously isn’t telling the truth. Surprised???
I don’t know which is worse…Board members that never volunteered at a CHS facility and blindly supported RJ – or those, like Gretchen, that witnessed various atrocities over the years at the Westport facility, and still supported him.
I would like to know if any investigations are being done regarding the Fox Memorial Clinic? I’m sure there is dirt to be dug up there as well. Did RJ step down from his position at Fox too?
Now, now…I’m sure Mr. White is being completely truthful about the “literally hundreds of hours to the CHS in the last 2 months” that he has spent on CHS business. Spinning, trying to cover ones butt and the butt’s of ones friends, media avoidance…all of these things take TIME, people. They just don’t happen.
🙂 yes cover-ups can be quite tricky deals
He just doesn’t seem very professional. The last thing that he should be doing is getting flustered and upset by emails from someone he doesn’t even know. It speaks volumes about his ability to handle pressure, and the nastiness and sarcasm frankly speak volumes about his character.
I fail to see how publishing what is essentially an email flame war is going to bring credibility to or further the goals of either the Coalition or the Board of Directors. In this exchange everyone looked bad. Just because White looked worse doesn’t mean Luberda looked like a white knight.
I also think a lot of energy is being misdirected over the Board/White’s use of the word “volunteer.” They are volunteers; they are technically unpaid. While I don’t like the Board implying (hopefully unintentionally) that they volunteer in the same sense someone like Mark volunteered, it doesn’t change the fact that their positions are unpaid. Whether they receive other benefits from sitting on the Board is a separate issue and nothing is accomplished by confusing the two points.
I know it is isn’t fair for someone who shows up for a free lunch to be identified under the same umbrella as those who give their weekends and holidays and come in the heat and rain and snow and give and give and give. Unfortunately, we don’t have a better word. My point is only that arguing over semantics is a colossal waste of time and energy. We have bigger issues to tackle.
I agree that we should focus on the true mission of the coalition and on fixing problems not fighting over them. However, the fact that BOD members do not volunteer, donate, or spend time at the shelters IS the issue here. And the fact that Chris White has not treated the coalition members with any respect EVER and has only dismissed their concerns, is another huge issue.
It is apparent to anyone that the BOD has failed miserably at the one task they were assigned or “volunteered” to do, which is protect the animals and employees at the CT Humane Society. For the past 15 years Chris has done nothing but benefit financially from CHS. And while all this corruption was taking place he turned a blind eye to it.
The concerns are that this man is not qualified, able, or even willing to do the duties a chairman of the BOD at CHS would do.
The entire BOD with the exception of a few…the volunteers, you know the ones who DON’T receive money for their services, should step down and let truly concerned and capable individuals do the job. And for once, do the job right.
I agree with your concerns. I only meant that when board says “volunteer” I don’t think they mean it the same way do. They all speak “Corporate” and in Corporate anything you do without collecting a paycheck = volunteer. In other words, a lot of people are getting upset over what I think is an unintended slight.
Regarding experience, volunteering with the animals, what the Board brought to the table so far, how they treat the Coalition etc etc, I agree with you 100%
Opheilia….I think the main point is that when you accept a board position, it IS in fact, a JOB and pointing out to us that it’s meant a lot of hours doesn’t hold any weight with anyone. It’s all part of the job, just like going in to walk dogs in the rain, snow and hi heat is part of the volunteer process. Chris White cannot expect any sympathy from anyone since he turned a blind eye for 15 years while under Johnston’s regime…..
OK, I wasn’t picking up on that point. I agree that it’s pompous to point out the number of hours he worked, as if the Board were ever the only ones working for CHS.
“Ophelia”–I will be short and to the point. I am not concerned about what I look like in this exchange, since I am not the chair of a board of a multimillion dollar charity from which I profit. As Chris White is, it’s his responses that merit scrutiny. And as a reminder, it was exposing *patterns* of behavior by that led to the ouster of Richard Johnston. That, fundamentally, is the purpose of sharing this exchange on the heels of the sharing of Cathy’s quite separate exchange with him–to give more public evidence of his character which, as even the title of the blog post suggests, is, to say the least, questionable.
Character which seems to be quite defensive. The last thing he should be doing is responding to emails he feels to be “unfriendly”. If he truely wanted support of the coalition his offerings of open doors would be more than just a magic show with smoke, lights, and a trap door for him to escape behind. I guess he really does feel superior and safe up on that high horse to comment and bicker like a child.
Complete denial. CW is like a cat covering up turds. This is a joke > http://www.cthumane.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=13763
Seriously, what is wrong with this guy? Clearly Chris is not a decent human being nor should he be the new chairman of CHS!!! I’m sure he will be taking more then $30,000 next time for his lame magazine that I wouldn’t read if he paid me to. Not only was his response to James’s email unprofessional it was a clear sign that he is being defensive. Hmmm I wonder why??? I’m sure he is still being led by Richard Johnston on the side so he can keep up with embezzling money from hard working people’s donations.
$30K here, $30K there + % of labor “donated” = Tax write-off. It adds up quickly.
That exchange of email between James and Chris is a complete disappointment. What was James’ goal with his first combative email? To start a fight? If so, he accomplished his goal. How does that help animals?
But Chris’ email is even more offensive — he is now writing as the Chairman of the Board of a significant nonprofit organization. My first surprise was that he didn’t issue the pablum that comes out of the pablum-spewing public relations director at CHS. He obviously wrote these email himself. My jaw dropped as I absorbed what I had read, I was shocked with his immature mud-slinging approach. I may expect attack email from shoot-from-the-hip people like James, especially in this era of volatile, angry hair-trigger reactive tea party-ers, but not from somebody who is speaking for a long-established, once (and hopefullly soon again) reputable organization.
And how does Chris’ email help animals?
A pox on both your houses. Stop this attack BS and look at the animals and the help they need.
p.s. I’ve never met James or Chris.
I appreciate your perspective, though not the pox : )
The intention of my initial email was not to attack, but to let Chris White know he would be held *accountable* for any lack of significant change now that he was in charge–and, given that CHS management has still failed to reach a proper settlement, and is still employing delaying tactics and, as noted elsewhere on this site, remained largely in denial, I don’t regret that.
The only way that we have seen the changes made thus far, i.e. the departure of Richard Johnston, has been through media pressure and/or fears of media exposure. No, it’s not pretty, but it’s what’s gotten the job done. And that is how it helps animals.
And please note, even though I no longer hold it true, I closed with “I like you as a person.”
There was never any intention from the BOD to remove RJ. Alas, he resigned…
The Coalition for Change appreciates all of the people who have come out publicly to support our reform efforts. James is one of the brave few who decided to share his exchange with the new Chairman. James is not a public figure. Chris White is. James’s intent was to open up a line of communication with Chris regarding the 5 workers who were fired. Like James, I too have been extremely concerned with these 5 wonderful people.
I tried to bring up these workers repeatedly in our meeting in Hartford, as well as in phone conversations and subsequent emails- to no avail. It was and continues to be extremely frustrating.
Like James, I also do not understand why CHS cannot find a way to quickly and fairly reinstate or settle with these discharged workers. Why would the BOD listen only to the unethical managers who did the firings? Not one fired worker has yet to be interviewed!!! CHS prefers to spend tens of thousands of dollars in donated money on attorneys’ fees to fight the reinstatement/settlement of the 5 employees. Even after the AG issued his serious concerns over these events!
Something is very wrong here. James, like all of us in the Coalition, just want the truth exposed. Unfortunately, exposing the truth can sometimes be a difficult, lengthy, and unpleaseant journey- even for those who initiated it.
I applaud James for his courage and integrity. It is not easy to come forward with information but those of us who have did it because we felt the CHS was to important an organization to be managed in this alarming way.
Most of the current BOD and all of the top managers need to be removed. The Society cannot function in a truely humane way and certainly cannot come anywhere near reaching it’s potential with the people presently in charge.
My thanks to James for allowing the public to see what we are dealing with. No matter what Chris White and other BOD members may say, they were all completely absent for the last 2 decades while CHS was suffering. James’s convictions and ideas about how the organization can begin to recover are correct.
I’ve stated before that the board is taking steps to fix things. All of these “issues” took two decades to create, we cannot expect the board to simply chamge everything overnight. There’s a process.
They have made another huge move toward progress by having one on one’s with the staff members or at least some of them. This is great! I only hope that the staff who DID go into the interviews were upfont and honest with Chris White and the board. Otherwise it would be senseless to even go into the room.
The only thing I don’t understand is why the manager’s were allowed to have their say also, that can be done at any time in a meeting with the board. And oddly enough, the managers were allowed to be interviewed first…that just seems strange to me. So lets let them get their say in first so we’ll have preconcieved opinions of what’s being said.
But progress is progress!!! I wish they would also speak to former volunteer’s, former managers and former staff members. At least that way they would get a TRUE representation of opinion.
“Progress is progress” isn’t enough. And, frankly, making marginal progress and Chris White’s failing to announce support for reinstatement of the fired workers or support of the union, or removing more than just Richard Johnston, we have a long way to go. Perhaps you would like to reveal your name and announce your support for the reinstatement of fired workers and the union?
Perhaps I have done that ten times over….But at least I can accept that they are taking steps.
They are also withholding raises for all animal care staff. They say they can’t give raises because they are fighting the union, which can take up to 2 years. They can pay a lawyer 100’s of thousands of dollars, and all upper managment have gotten raises and bonuses, but they can’t give the ones who truely deserve it anything? They are clearly still in favor of the RBJ way:(
Before you know it, this vitriol spitting, immature excuse of a young punk will begin to lose contributors in droves. I feel very sorry for the animals that they have under their care; I use that term loosely. There are any number of no kill shelters and a farm that does not destroy unwanted animals but allows them to live out their lives in peace. I just wrote a check for $ 100.00 to them because I like their goals. This pompous clown and the rest of the board should be dismissed and allow true guardians of animals to replace them. Isn’t this the same bunch that used to euthanize animals by putting them in an atmospheric chamber to suck the very life out of them. This is not a humane group.
I figured that while we have your attention we can use our efforts to help animals in need, thankfully, not in CHS’ care.
Please read the email below and let us know if you can help:
“I have someone who needs help. She has 45 cats and is looking to place them in homes. She does not want the police or anyone involved because they will just take them and they may get put to sleep because of the quanitiy she has.ÂÂ
Can you help with taking some? Do you know of another no kill shelter that can take some? If so, please have them contact me ASAP.ÂÂ
chuckscatlady@nycap.rr.com“
“Hi Everyone,
Remember the 45 cat rescue I needed foster homes for recently? I have some of the cats here. The cats never made it to foster care, they are now at the Mohawk Hudson River Humane Society as of this morning. I have 13 at my home right now. They all need medical care. I am writing to you to ask for help. I need donations of any amount. So far I have Noah’s Kingdom helping me with spay & neuter of 5 cats. Most of them have upper respitory. They all have fleas, and God knows what else.ÂÂ
If anyone can help with money donations to help these cats it would be very much appreciated. If you know anybody that can help please ask them too?
Please mail any donations to:
Marcia Scott
836 Meadowdale Road
Altamont, New York 12009
Thank you all so much for anything you can do to help!
Marcia”