Molly was on the Board of Directors for this particular association, and she encouraged us to join. It cost $40 US, so all three of us joined online. The purpose of us joining was so we could attend this meeting (since we were in country), and vote for a new Counsel General (the person who will run the organization). Molly was very diplomatic about the situation, gave us information about each of the candidates, and told us to make up our minds ourselves.
The organization was also going to vote on renewing Board Members as well. Thus my earlier statement, Molly "was" on the board. She was voted off the board tonight as she sat right next to me. Apparently, the three of us walked into a very political situation within this organization.
There are a handful of Korean adoptee's that are VERY angry about their adoption experience. They believe that international adoptions must be stopped. Thus they don't want Molly on the board. Many are Holt adoptee's but feel like Holt is responsible for their bad fortune.
It was very eye opening to see this side of adoption. It's a side that I know is out there, but it's not a perspective I can relate to; or support for that matter. I feel like Holt saved my life, they gave me a better life than the one I probably would have had.
Two of the candidates were previously known to be candidates. Suddenly at the meeting, another woman was nominated for Counsel General; and she was allowed to be added. Several of us thought this was unfair, but a core group apparently knew about this last minute candidate; and challenged the addition so late in the process. Suddenly we were witness to a coup d'état taking place. The woman was allowed to be a candidate and almost won the vote. But the majority of the group abstained their vote, so no one was seated as Counsel General.
Here are the three candidates expressing their desire to be Counsel General.
Molly said she knew being kicked off was coming at this vote, but she took us anyway. We had no idea until we got there what was going on. After the meeting Molly told us that she lets go of what she can't control, and accepts responsibility for what she can do in the meantime. She said no organization can be perfect, there's going to be issues. She then told us she was kicked off the Holt Board for 12 years! and look how things turned out? ... she's now the Director and has been for 10 years! and Holt-Korea is flourishing under her direction.
Molly showed great humility today, and really demonstrated compassion in the face of discord. I admired her so much for that, and felt proud to walk out of that meeting beside her. I don't care what they think, I hardly believe they've ever seen what this woman does day in and day out?
All in all, this got way too political for the three of us, and we decided we didn't want to be a part of the "angry adoptee" group. Especially if they kicked Molly off the Board. So the three of us are going to ask for our money back.
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