October 4, 2009
I write to let you know that our long-time and most capable Executive Director, Michael McPhearson, has decided to begin a new chapter in his life that requires him to leave his position at the helm of VFP. He assures us that he is not "leaving VFP" and will be available for us to ask his wise counsel, but not in the position he has held for nearly five years. Michael came to us in the early months of our occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, a dynamic period of both tragedy and hope, as the peace movement responded with growing energy to the growing list of casualties from the wars.
There are several things Michael has brought to VFP that our members and the broader movement will long appreciate:
- He hasn't been lulled by a relatively brief upturn in our membership in the early months of the current conflicts, but consistently urged us to plan for our longer-range future.
- He has kept the question always before us as we planned any action, "Is this going to involve our identity as veterans? If not, why are we participating?"
- With a compassionate heart and a strategic mind, he's pushed us to broaden the focus of our concern, defining the word "Peace" in our name to include the struggles waged by others against oppression and injustice. He's reminded us often of the need to stretch our vision to make "common cause" with others.
- He has the talents of a first rate administrator as well as the interpersonal abilities of a skilled diplomat. One of the things I appreciate most about Michael is the way he has worked with an almost completely white organization without ignoring concerns about race and calling us on it when needed. In the best sense of the word, he has used his perspective and personal experiences to help us struggle with the paramount issue in American society; the issue that has most prevented us from uniting in solidarity for the common good.
Fortunately, he's given the board plenty of lead time to search for a new Executive Director and we have already begun that process.
We will miss Michael McPhearson dearly. We wish him all good things and much success in coming endeavors. And we thank him for the deep dedication and long hours he has given VFP as well as the greater cause of peace for our deserving planet.
Onward,
Mike Ferner
VFP Board President