The way questions are phrased do create a biased answer.
This is easily missed. I also had missed Marvin’s pick-up on the “Derogatory comments about others as an issue in itself”.
It takes a legal mind to see through this phrasing of questions.

I agree Marvin. Thanks for pointing that out. I focused so much on the trust issue that I neglected this similarly important concern.

I completely agree with Marvin and would appreciate Joseph’s response to his valid concerns. Derogatory comments about others in executive sessions creates a toxic dynamic of “us” and “them,” as Marvin said. That erodes trust and diminishes a “we’re all in this together” cooperative and collaborative dynamic.

I find this conversation very interesting. It seems that while the Board is taking this breach of trust quite seriously, it appears that the instance of one of the Board members making a derogatory statement insignificant. This comes across to me as being hypocritical and sends a very loud statement of “us” and “them”! While I agree with you that a breach of trust is a very important ingredient to foster an atmosphere of open and transparency within the Board, but acceptance of a Board member making disparaging statements about anyone should be met with the same vigor and confronted as well. This too is inappropriate behavior, isn’t it?

I’m very much interested in your response.

Kindest regards,