Pi Governance Crisis 1989

On June 14, 1989, the Pi Board of Directors voted to remove Robert C. Platt as President of Washington Apple Pi, with a vote of 10 Yes / 2 No / 3 Abstain on the Board, and 24 Yes / 3 No / 7 Abstain among all voting members. A separate motion to expel Platt from WAP was discussed but withdrawn. The vote followed a resolution asking Platt to voluntarily resign that he did not honor.

Speakers at the meeting (per the minutes published in 1989-07 — V11 N07 and 1989-08 — V11 N08): Bob Platt, Cynthia Yockey, Nancy Pochepko, Greg Pochepko, Bob Shaffer, Priscilla Myerson, Chris Bastian.

Immediate consequences: - Tom Warrick returned as acting President (President's slot in July Officer list) - Dale Smith elected permanent Secretary - Dick Byrd appointed Sergeant-at-Arms - Tom Piwowar (longtime Journal lead) departed publishing role - Nancy Seferian became emergency Journal Managing Editor and redesigned every page from the ground up on short notice - The July 1989 issue is shorter than usual (71 pages vs 90+)

Settlement: - David Morganstein elected President in August 1989 (1989-08 — V11 N08) — his second term (first was 1981-85) - Chris Bastian elected Secretary - Bob Platt was NOT expelled — remained on volunteer roster (Dealer Relations Committee) - "Director's Corner" title briefly replaced "President's Corner" in Aug 1989, restored to "President's Corner" by Sep - The journal published full May/June BOD minutes in 1989-08 — V11 N08 for transparency - A WAP Journal Author's Guide published in Aug 1989

Follow-up reforms (1990): - Draft Standards of Conduct published in 1990-03 — V12 N03 - Proposed bylaw changes in 1990-04 — V12 N04 - Bylaws ratified during summer 1990 elections; Eric Rall elected President (1990-08 — V12 N08)

The minutes never specified the precise grounds beyond "necessary for the good of the corporation." See _meta/backlog for open questions about the underlying issues.