June 14, 2024
750 1st Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
Sent Via NASW National Forum
Dr. Yvonne Chase, NASW President
Dr. Anthony Estreet, NASW CEO
Director Debra Faria,
Director Ryan Estes,
Director Robin Arndt,
Director Bisrat Abebe,
Director Cindy Bautista Thomas,
Director Karen McClean,
Director Yasodo Sharma,
Director Alice Locklear,
Director Jenny Conger,
Director Carol Campball Edwards
President Chase, NASW Board of Directors and Dr. Estreet:
On Tuesday, June 18th, you and NASW social workers from around the Country will gather in Washington, DC, to lobby for legislation that you prioritize as impacting Social Workers and marginalized people. As a fellow social worker, I share your passion and dedication. However, I will not be with NASW that day. I will not be there because I continue to take exception to the dismissal of several members of two long-standing governing boards within NASW and your lack of communication and transparency regarding the changes within NASW.
In December 2023, a seismic organizational change occurred when NASW, DC emailed Dr. Gary Bailey (Social Work Pioneer), Mr. Tony Benedetto, Ms. Lynn Koblin, Ms. Shirley Taaffe, and Ms. Christina Wong, dismissing them from their role as Directors of NASW ASI without any explanation. In response, the remaining directors, Lawanna Barron (Social Work Pioneer), Emily Donovan, and Dr. Darell Wheeler (Social Work Pioneer) tendered their resignations in protest. NASW also sent emails to Directors from a second separate Board, NASWIC, dismissing Dr. Betsy Cauble (Social Work Pioneer), Mr. Paul D’Agostino (Social Work Pioneer), Dr. Timothy Davis, Ms. Jean Parr, Ms. Deborah Reyes, Ms. Shirley Taffee and Ms. Libby Wallace. Again, in protest, the remaining Directors, Ms. Merry Korn and Mr. James Townsend, tendered their resignation.
Many Directors who were dismissed or resigned had been named Social Work Pioneers, the highest award NASW bestows on a Social Worker. Some may argue that NASW dismissed the people who were the driving force behind the success of NASW ASI and NASWIC, an operation that yielded tens of millions of dollars in dividends and sponsorships to NASW, DC, throughout 2007-2023.
According to the NASW’s own website, Pioneers have each “made an important contribution to the social work profession and to social policies through service, teaching, writing, research, program development, administration, or legislation.” They are described as role models for future generations of social workers. And yet, under your leadership, they were dismissed, some after decades of service, with no public acknowledgment or justification of why. Jane Addams, the founder of social work and Nobel Prize winner, was named a Social Work Pioneer, herself.
Pioneers are the heroes of our profession. Many others, including myself, take great exception to how they have been dismissed. We take equal exception to the dismissal of the Directors, not named Pioneer, who spent over a decade serving social workers and NASW. The situation begs the question: Why the secrecy?
As troubling as the dismissal of our heroes is, the fact that NASW did not feel obligated to communicate the change or the reasons for this significant organizational shift to its membership is equally troubling. NASW has a fiduciary responsibility to provide for, protect, and communicate significant decisions to its members. Membership dues account for approximately 50% of NASW's operating revenue; without members, you have neither mission nor margin.
Concealing a decision of this magnitude seems like a breach of that trust relationship, This lack of communication from NASW Leadership is inconsistent with the transparency, open dialogue, and respect for the dignity and worth of each person that our profession, Social Work, stands for. The lack of communication undermines the membership's trust. It interferes with our ability to self-determine and be informed, especially as we were called to vote for new NASW Board Members in May 2024.
Dr. Estreet, as the new CEO of NASW (2023), you have a crucial role in addressing the concerns of NASW members, including those who were dismissed or who resigned. The recent actions, or lack thereof, raise serious questions about NASW's leadership. Yet, many questions from NASW members to the organization remain unanswered.
We would like answers to the following questions:
1) Before dismissing Directors of the Boards of NASW ASI and NASWIC, NASW underwent a process to change the by-laws to allow for the removal of Directors. How and when were the by-laws changed, and who voted in favor and who voted against it?
2) When NASW voted to dismiss members from NASW ASI and NASWIC, which NASW Directors voted for the dismissal and which voted against it?
3) According to the April 2024 board meeting summary on the NASW website, the 2023 990 was approved for submission to the IRS on May 15, 2024. Could NASW make that filing publicly available to the membership since it is not available as of yet on the IRS website as of 6/13/24?
4) According to the NASW Website, specifically the 2023 Annual report, unaudited financial numbers indicate that over $1.2 M was spent on bank fees and 2.2M on “other”. What do you classify as “other”? How do you classify Bank Fees? What are they for? And, who do you bank with? 3.6M is nearly 10% of the organization's annual income.
5) Many on the NASW Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team of NASW were named replacements for the Directors that were dismissed or who resigned from NASW ASI and NASWIC. These members include NASW President Dr. Yvonne Chase (Social Work Pioneer), Dr. Anthony Estreet (NASW CEO), Sekou Murphy (NASW CFO). Debra Faria and Bisrat Abebe. Mr. Troy Brindle and Mr. Enrico DeGironimo were also appointed as Directors of NASWIC, and Mr. Brindle ran for the position of NASW Treasurer of the NASW Board of Directors in May 2024. The results of the election have not yet been made public. Is it against any regulatory requirements for NASWIC (subject to insurance regulation) to have such a comingling and overlap of board members?
The NASW Code of Ethics sets forth values such as service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. We ask that someone from NASW help us understand how NASW's decisions and actions from December 2023 until now reflect those values. We look forward to hearing from someone from NASW regarding these questions and receiving the documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act.
Thank you for your time and attention to these matters.
Regards,
Alexandra Burke, LCSW
CC: NASW Membership via NASW Forum
Note to the Reader: Several attempts were made to speak with NASW Leadership to verify accuracy and obtain comments without reply. Please note that if you are a NASW member and want to attend the Annual Membership Meeting on 6/19/24 at 1:00 PM EST virtually or in person, you must contact Governance@socialworkers.org to attend; attendance is strongly encouraged.
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