Subject: IFCSS Council tries hard not to let CSS down: A reply to a student from south Florida

From: Hongguang Zhou <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 1994 21:31:42 -0500 (EST)

To:	A student from South Florida

	Thank you for your attention to the IFCSS and its Council affairs. 

	As a Council Member from the Southeast, I have always believed wide 
and deep participation by CSS across the States in the IFCSS running and 
affirs is of vital importance for the IFCSS existance and development, for 
its Constitution stipulates quite clearly that the IFCSS is a natinal 
level coordination organization representing the interest of all the CSS in 
the USA. 

	Ever since I was elected to the 5th Council, I have made every 
effort along with my colleages to promote transparency of the IFCSS 
operation. Because we deem that, IFCSS is a not-for-profit corporate 
registered in Maryland, IFCSS has to have the accountibility for its 
members or constituents. Also the IFCSS Headquaters is only the 
executive branch of the IFCSS, it must operate under the scruntiny of the 
IFCSS members. Further, because the Council is the legal persons of the 
IFCSS, the Council has to be responsible for the behavior of the IFCSS. 
That's why the HQ should consult with the Council over major issues that 
may have great implications to the CSS community. Take the financial 
operation of the IFCSS for an instance, IFCSS HQ has to keep a clear 
accounting book. This is not only the responsibility of the HQ for the 
IFCSS members and donors, but also required by the US laws. 

	What's why the Council Financial Inspection Team has worked so 
hard to bring the IFCSS financial problems that has existed for years 
with the IFCSS into light. That's also the basic mentality of the Open 
Letter by the Council Finance Committee. What's why the job done by the IT 
is teamwork.

	You're absolutely right that 

> China's MFN status has been a hot issue since I first
> learned about IFCSS.

	That's why the Council Co-chair Ding Yungui, upon learned that IFCSS 
Officer was going to testify on the China's MFN before the US Congress 
THROUHG OTHER CHANNEL RATHER THAN from OUR OWN  HQ, urged that the HQ 
keep the Council informed of the development of the matter by sending a 
memo thro the council-wn, the closed net you mentioned. Howver, the HQ did 
not bother to inform the Council of the position its was going to take on 
the MFN until after the IFCSS Vice President Shi Heping finished the 
testimony. As a matter of fact, the HQ did not inform the public even it 
had sufficient time to do so. As this, please refer the IFCSS Weekly 
Journal before the week in which Shi testified. 

	Who tried to keep who in dark is of no question.

	That's why I stated that the Council should not be responsible for 
the testimony of the HS on this issue.

	Interesting is that after he testified, Mr. Shi sent a personal 
statement on the issue to the Council thro the council-wn, the closed 
net. Again, it is not the Council has tried to keep the public in dark on 
the issues concerning them.

	Sure, there some Council Members also like to keep the public in 
dark on the dispute with the Council and between the Council and the HQ. 
For example, the bill sponsored by Chen Dong, a Council Member from the U 
of Maryland, contains the constraints on the public knowing what's going 
on within the IFCSS. The bill also limits the discussion of the IFCSS 
within the council-wn, the closed net which I would like to abolish. Of 
cause I vote NO to that bill.

	You are also right that the expendenure of the Council should 
open to the public. But how about the HQ, the largest expending unit 
within the IFCSS? Do you want the HQ open its expendenture book? Of 
cause, I would bet you would say. Am I right?

	To tell you the true, as the acting head of the Council Financial 
Committee, I have no idea what's current financial status of the IFCSS. 
Reasons? I have not received any updated financial statement so far.

	In short, we, the IFCSS Council Members, have fight hard in order 
not to let CSS down by letting the public know the operation of the IFCSS, 
because we believe the public's RIGHT TO  KNOW, the RIGHT TO  ENQURY and 
RIGHT TO QUESTION are the cornerstones of the principles of the democracy 
on which the IFCSS claims to exist and operate.

	Hope above can be helpful to your underastanding of and support for 
our commitment to the wellbeing of the IFCSS.

	Thanks and regards,

Sincerely,

Zhou Hongguang
Council Member from the Southeast
---------------------------------------------------------------

On Fri, 11 Mar 1994, Ping Lu - Surgery 
wrote:

> Dear council members:
> 
> 
> I received a letter to IFCSS  council from a student in south florida.
> As he required, I forward it  to the council and CND.   
> 
> 
> Thank you for your attention.
> 
> Lu Ping
> *******************************************************
> 
> Seceived: by newssun.med.miami.edu (4.1/SMI-4.1)
> Date: Fri, 11 Mar 94 18:15:46 EST
> 
>                A LETTER TO IFCSS COUNCIL
> 
> China's MFN status has been a hot issue since I first
> learned about IFCSS.  

> Conference.  I'm not aware that there has been any
> debate on this issue in IFCSS after the 5th IFCSS 

> Now, one council member made the
> statement, as he were the IFCSS Council spokesperson,
> on MFN " I do not think Mr. Shi's position is that of
> the IFCSS Council", "the IFCSS Council should not be
> responsible for the 'position' Mr. Shi took on the MFN
> issue". Since I am not connected with council net, I
> have these questions: Has this council ever had any
> resolution  or discussion on HUMAN RIGHTS and MFN
> issues?  Does the council realize and care about what
> happened to political dissidents in China in recent
> weeks which got world's attention?  What is the
> Council's position on human rights and MFN issues? 
> Does Mr. Zhou's statement represent the council's
> position?  Have  council members contacted with the
> local CSS for whom they claim to represent on such
> important issues like MFN and  human rights ?
> 
> I thought that the council is the decision-making body
> not somebody just  watching and judging what HQ has
> done is right or wrong, especially since some of its
> members  have not been proved if they really have the
> expertise to do so, as showed in the financial issue.
> I feel this council (at least some members of it)  has
> the intention to keep itself in dark.  Not true? I
> heard it has a closed WORKING net for itself.  However,
> do not keep us CSS in dark, please.  Has this council
> ever discussed, and more important make effort to carry
> on  IFCSS's  programs, fund raising or anything other
> than IFCSS FINANCIAL issue? How much money this council
> has spent itself and on what business?  Should these
> bills open to the public for inspection? Can any
> council members speak on the behalf of the council?  It
> happened  several times, but the council Chair never
> questioned it. 
> 
> I'd like to hear the council's position on these
> important issues.  As CSS, we have the right to ask, to
> show our concern, to urge the council and council
> members to take actions on important issues following
> IFCSS's constitution and carry on the resolutions
> passed by the Conference.  Before I get the answers 
> from the council, I have serious doubt, (I hope I'm wrong),
> Can  this council act as the Board of
> Directors of the IFCSS on important issues like MFN,
> human rights?  Whether some council members are still
> qualified for the position they once were elected?
> 
> I sincerely hope that the council will not let IFCSS
> and CSS down.
> 
> A student from south Florida
>

---

From: dong (D.C.)
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 94 16:38:32 CST

I just came back and didn't know what is going on.
I was told by a friend that I was accused for something.
So I diged out this mail from honorable Mr. Zhou Hongguang,

>Date: Mon, 14 Mar 94 21:06:55 CST
>From: Hongguang Zhou <[email-masked]>
....
>cause I vote NO to that bill.

Pardon my bad memory, could somebody remind me which bill ?
As many people know, from the very begining, my principle is to keep
every thing open. Now I am confused. Probably somebody know me better than
myself can light me up.

Dong Chen,

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 31 Mar 1994 15:33:44 -0600 (CST)

Chen Dong,

You may want to compile a minute for each of the two Council
conferences (Email conference, and the DC working meeting)
which is over due.

Yungui Ding