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Masser Letter to the Editor-Governance and Consensu

KC-KS-Lion

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2005
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http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-6-11-2015-1.1896092

Conclusion in last sentence is most disturbing,
"Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority."

Better governance

Editor: The Times-Tribune recently ran an editorial on the governance of Penn State University (“New hope for board reform,” June 6). We would like to set the record straight.

The Penn State board of trustees devoted well over a year on a series of reforms, working with a nationally recognized governance expert, conducted benchmarking and deliberated on various changes to our governance structure. The board overwhelmingly approved a new structure that will make Penn State better.

We know this because the university received an Aa2 rating from Moody’s Investor Services with a positive outlook, citing Penn State’s strengthened governance, management practices and risk management procedures. The report follows a similarly strong AA rating by Standard & Poor’s, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education found Penn State met all 10 of its accreditation requirements.

Since 2011, the board has expanded its committees and opened those meetings to the community. We added permanent seats for the Penn State Alumni Association, a faculty member and a member of the student body. With a 10th seat on the board devoted to alumni, no university in Pennsylvania or the Big Ten provides its alumni with more direct input into its governance.

We now have a board structure in place that includes constituencies from alumni, business and industry, agriculture and government. The creation of additional, at-large positions ensures the board can identify and recruit candidates with skills that may not necessarily fit into traditional constituencies. Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority.

KEITH MASSER

CHAIRMAN,

PENN STATE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
 
I think BOT members truly believe if they say stupid things like the above over and over again they and the rest will start to believe it...
Straight from the Goebbels playbook.

Separated at birth?:

th
th
 
http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-6-11-2015-1.1896092

Conclusion in last sentence is most disturbing,
"Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority."

Better governance

Editor: The Times-Tribune recently ran an editorial on the governance of Penn State University (“New hope for board reform,” June 6). We would like to set the record straight.

The Penn State board of trustees devoted well over a year on a series of reforms, working with a nationally recognized governance expert, conducted benchmarking and deliberated on various changes to our governance structure. The board overwhelmingly approved a new structure that will make Penn State better.

We know this because the university received an Aa2 rating from Moody’s Investor Services with a positive outlook, citing Penn State’s strengthened governance, management practices and risk management procedures. The report follows a similarly strong AA rating by Standard & Poor’s, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education found Penn State met all 10 of its accreditation requirements.

Since 2011, the board has expanded its committees and opened those meetings to the community. We added permanent seats for the Penn State Alumni Association, a faculty member and a member of the student body. With a 10th seat on the board devoted to alumni, no university in Pennsylvania or the Big Ten provides its alumni with more direct input into its governance.

We now have a board structure in place that includes constituencies from alumni, business and industry, agriculture and government. The creation of additional, at-large positions ensures the board can identify and recruit candidates with skills that may not necessarily fit into traditional constituencies. Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority.

KEITH MASSER

CHAIRMAN,

PENN STATE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Nothing like drinking your own cool-ade. Where is Jim Jones when you need him. In a nut shell, it is easy to see why these people think so much of what they are doing and at the same time, distancing the alumni. They are truly dillusional.
 
http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-6-11-2015-1.1896092

Conclusion in last sentence is most disturbing,
"Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority."

Better governance

Editor: The Times-Tribune recently ran an editorial on the governance of Penn State University (“New hope for board reform,” June 6). We would like to set the record straight.

The Penn State board of trustees devoted well over a year on a series of reforms, working with a nationally recognized governance expert, conducted benchmarking and deliberated on various changes to our governance structure. The board overwhelmingly approved a new structure that will make Penn State better.

We know this because the university received an Aa2 rating from Moody’s Investor Services with a positive outlook, citing Penn State’s strengthened governance, management practices and risk management procedures. The report follows a similarly strong AA rating by Standard & Poor’s, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education found Penn State met all 10 of its accreditation requirements.

Since 2011, the board has expanded its committees and opened those meetings to the community. We added permanent seats for the Penn State Alumni Association, a faculty member and a member of the student body. With a 10th seat on the board devoted to alumni, no university in Pennsylvania or the Big Ten provides its alumni with more direct input into its governance.

We now have a board structure in place that includes constituencies from alumni, business and industry, agriculture and government. The creation of additional, at-large positions ensures the board can identify and recruit candidates with skills that may not necessarily fit into traditional constituencies. Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority.

KEITH MASSER

CHAIRMAN,

PENN STATE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The quality of governance is usually determined by the quality of the "governors". Using that standard, those in charge, the BOT has hit rock bottom and remains there until real reform can be implemented.
" Nationally recognized governance expert", Reallly! wonder how much that cost - to get someone to go along with what they wanted. BTW, who was this person! Imagine in charge of the BOT and needing someone to tell you what "good" governance is! What the hell have they been doing up to now? UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!
 
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The quality of governance is usually determined by the quality of the "governors". Using that standard, those in charge, the BOT has hit rock bottom and remains there until real reform can be implemented.
" Nationally recognized governance expert", Reallly! wonder how much that cost - to get someone to go along with what they wanted. BTW, who was this person! Imagine in charge of the BOT and needing someone to tell you what "good" governance is! What the hell have they been doing up to now? UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!
The so called "Nationally recognized governance expert" was Holly Gregory......who admitted to having NO EXPERTISE wrt university governance issues (LOL....you couldn't make this crap up)

Holly "Don't Make Me Cry" Gregory was apparently to cheapest - and least ethically pre-disposed - "expert" willing to provide a veil to the Scoundrels.

th


This is the ding-dong who was on the verge of tears as she stammered and stuttered in response to even the simplest questions from the elected trustees. Had to be rescued by Masser/Eckel/Dandrea and the Scoundrels who thought hiring this ding-dong to promote their agenda was a good idea.

The one tangible product of her "study" (how much did that cost us?) was her contention that the PSU Board size was right at the "norm" among peer institutions.....when a 3rd grader with access to Google could - in 30 minutes - see that it was, in fact, more than double the size of PSU's peer group. Even the scoundrels had to be cursing under their breath.....for having spent good money on such a disgracefully incompetent boob.
 
Masser makes the case for why REAL reform is essential the future of OUR university. It's time for the mutual admiration society to be disrobed of its smoke and mirrors production of reform. Unfortunately, his PR ploy will play well to the masses who believe superficial rhetoric. For anyone who makes a little effort to review the facts; they speak for themselves....Gov. Wolf's been wrestling with the budget...sure would be nice if he took about 60 seconds to remove the Gov. appointed trustees he inherited (unless of course, they truly do represent him, in that case he will serve only one term) ....leave the positions vacant until real reform is complete....
 
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The so called "Nationally recognized governance expert" was Holly Gregory......who admitted to having NO EXPERTISE wrt university governance issues (LOL....you couldn't make this crap up)

Holly "Don't Make Me Cry" Gregory was apparently to cheapest - and least ethically pre-disposed - "expert" willing to provide a veil to the Scoundrels.

th


This is the ding-dong who was on the verge of tears as she stammered and stuttered in response to even the simplest questions from the elected trustees. Had to be rescued by Masser/Eckel/Dandrea and the Scoundrels who thought hiring this ding-dong to promote their agenda was a good idea.

The one tangible product of her "study" (how much did that cost us?) was her contention that the PSU Board size was right at the "norm" among peer institutions.....when a 3rd grader with access to Google could - in 30 minutes - see that it was, in fact, more than double the size of PSU's peer group. Even the scoundrels had to be cursing under their breath.....for having spent good money on such a disgracefully incompetent boob.

Holly Gregory was selected because she was a lawyer and could provide ACP.
She is not a governance expert

See Eckel's comments 11/15/2013
BOT meeting minutes
And follow-up article

---
11/15/2013
http://www.centredaily.com/2013/11/15/3889384_penn-state-trustees-to-consider.html?rh=1

A group of Penn State trustees is expected to recommend Friday that the board hire a firm that will help the university study a number of governance reforms that have been under the public eye in the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
...
The governance consultant is expected to help with determining the best size of the board. Penn State has said that the current size is a good fit because there are six committees, but alumni, lawmakers and even some trustees think the board is too large.

Trustee Keith Eckel has said the hope was to hire an attorney so that attorney-client privilege would apply to the discussions.

---
11/15/2013
http://www.psu.edu/trustees/pdf/november152013minutesglrp.pdf

A special meeting of the Committee on Governance and Long-Range Planning was held via conference call on Friday, November 15, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
...
The meeting was called to order by Chair Eckel, who stated that the sole purpose of the meeting was to consider governance consultant engagement proposals. Following roll call, Trustee Lubrano suggested postponing the discussion based upon legislator discussions.

Chair Eckel framed the process leading to the special meeting, in particular that at the September meetings of the Committee and full Board, it was reported that the Board would be moving forward with a review of consultants to advise and assist the Committee and Board with respect to ongoing review of governance issues. Chair Eckel outlined the process for solicitation and review of proposals, including that eleven proposals were reviewed by a three- person subset of the Committee (Eckel, Doran, and Masser), and three firmed were identified for invitation to present to the full Committee; presentations occurred on October 31 and November 1, 2013. In advance of this special meeting, each Committee member submitted a rank order preference of the three firms in order to facilitate the discussion. Seven individuals submitted preferences: Vendor A received one first preference; Vendor C had six individuals indicating first preference; and Vendor B had no first preference endorsers.

Chair Eckel called for any discussion among the Committee. Trustee Lubrano indicated he did not respond to the rank order, and that he supported Vendor A. He suggested that Vendor C, in a previous setting, discussed marginalizing dissenting trustees and was unresponsive in providing him follow-up information. Trustee Shaffer made a motion to engage Vendor C, and the motion was seconded by Trustee Arnelle. Trustee Lubrano re-iterated his concern with Trustee Doran expressing a similar concern. Trustee Shaffer noted that all three firms responded to the questions posed by the committee.

By a 7-2 vote, with Trustees Lubrano and Doran voting against, the motion carried to engage Vendor C. Following concluding thoughts by Chair Eckel regarding the importance of working together to move forward in exploring best governance practices, the meeting was adjourned.


---
11/21/2013
http://www.psu.edu/trustees/pdf/november212013minutesglrp.pdf

A handout on Holly Gregory, governance consultant, was passed out for informational purposes to the Committee.

---
11/23/2013
http://www.centredaily.com/2013/11/23/3905480/trustees-notebook.html

A lawyer from New York will help Penn State’s board figure out the best governance practices for the university.

Lawyer Holly Gregory — a partner of the firm Weil, Gotshal and Manges — was formally announced by the board’s governance committee on Friday. The committee voted to recommend her during a conference call last week.

Among the governance issues under study will be the best composition of the board, term limits for trustees, the way board members are elected and selected, the qualifications of trustees, and the board committees.

The university didn’t say how much Gregory will be paid for her work.

Trustee Keith Eckel said Thursday that comments the consultant made were taken out of context by fellow trustee Anthony Lubrano during the conference call. Lubrano said the consultant advocated marginalizing dissent on the board, but Eckel said the comments were generic and not directed at Penn State’s board.
 
Holly Gregory is a paid fig leaf.

Moody's and S&P know as much about governance as they do about mortgage-backeds.
 
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Holly Gregory is a paid fig leaf.

Moody's and S&P know as much about governance as they do about mortgage-backeds.

Moody's and S&P do not analyze governance - they analyze cashflows and creditworthiness. Absurd to even mention the rating of SEC-Registered NRSROs in regards to this topic - beyond absurd.
 
Moody's and S&P do not analyze governance - they analyze cashflows and creditworthiness. Absurd to even mention the rating of SEC-Registered NRSROs in regards to this topic - beyond absurd.


Well, from Moody's rating of the PSU 2015 Series A and Series B:

"Penn State's Aa2 rating reflects its position as one of the nation's largest and leading public universities, sustained philanthropic support, modest financial leverage and significantly strengthened governance and management practices. The Aa2 also incorporates risks associated with the anticipated significant expansion of healthcare operations that is more than offset by very strong liquidity and robust cash flow."

Honestly, they might be better at analyzing governance than they are financials.......... which ain't saying much if you didn't catch the hint.
 
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http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-6-11-2015-1.1896092

Conclusion in last sentence is most disturbing,
"Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority."

Better governance

Editor: The Times-Tribune recently ran an editorial on the governance of Penn State University (“New hope for board reform,” June 6). We would like to set the record straight.

The Penn State board of trustees devoted well over a year on a series of reforms, working with a nationally recognized governance expert, conducted benchmarking and deliberated on various changes to our governance structure. The board overwhelmingly approved a new structure that will make Penn State better.

We know this because the university received an Aa2 rating from Moody’s Investor Services with a positive outlook, citing Penn State’s strengthened governance, management practices and risk management procedures. The report follows a similarly strong AA rating by Standard & Poor’s, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education found Penn State met all 10 of its accreditation requirements.

Since 2011, the board has expanded its committees and opened those meetings to the community. We added permanent seats for the Penn State Alumni Association, a faculty member and a member of the student body. With a 10th seat on the board devoted to alumni, no university in Pennsylvania or the Big Ten provides its alumni with more direct input into its governance.

We now have a board structure in place that includes constituencies from alumni, business and industry, agriculture and government. The creation of additional, at-large positions ensures the board can identify and recruit candidates with skills that may not necessarily fit into traditional constituencies. Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority.

KEITH MASSER

CHAIRMAN,

PENN STATE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES


need more toilet paper
 
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The so called "Nationally recognized governance expert" was Holly Gregory......who admitted to having NO EXPERTISE wrt university governance issues (LOL....you couldn't make this crap up)

Holly "Don't Make Me Cry" Gregory was apparently to cheapest - and least ethically pre-disposed - "expert" willing to provide a veil to the Scoundrels.

th


This is the ding-dong who was on the verge of tears as she stammered and stuttered in response to even the simplest questions from the elected trustees. Had to be rescued by Masser/Eckel/Dandrea and the Scoundrels who thought hiring this ding-dong to promote their agenda was a good idea.

The one tangible product of her "study" (how much did that cost us?) was her contention that the PSU Board size was right at the "norm" among peer institutions.....when a 3rd grader with access to Google could - in 30 minutes - see that it was, in fact, more than double the size of PSU's peer group. Even the scoundrels had to be cursing under their breath.....for having spent good money on such a disgracefully incompetent boob.


LOL! You're not even qualified to carry her brief case. http://www.sidley.com/en/people/holly-j-gregory
 
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LTE in reply:


"PSU BOT Chairman Keith Masser’s recent public pleas, arguing that the current PSU BOT leadership is capable of “reforming itself” would be laughable…..if it weren’t for the fact that he and his cohorts were not attempting to be serious. Masser and his cohorts are scared to death. Fearful that Senator Yudichak’s reform bill will be enacted.

Much of the discussion surrounding Senator Yudichak’s proposed bill centers around the Bill’s ability to break up the Cabal that has controlled PSU for far too long. What has – thus far – not received much attention is just why the Old Guard controllers are so fearful of losing control.

One of the provisions of Yudichak’s bill would open PSU’s financial books to audit by the PA Auditor General. Historically, PSU’s board leadership has shown an aversion to “sunshine”….much like a vampire at the approach of dawn. Given that the Board’s Capital Planning Chairman is – incredibly - a known associate of construction companies convicted of Fraud and Bid-Rigging, is it any wonder that PSU’s leadership will stop at nothing to maintain control and secrecy?

The PSU BOT is sick, and it requires outside intervention to be made well. Contact your PA Senators and Representatives and ask them to support Senator Yudichak’s reform bill."
 
LTE in reply:


"PSU BOT Chairman Keith Masser’s recent public pleas, arguing that the current PSU BOT leadership is capable of “reforming itself” would be laughable…..if it weren’t for the fact that he and his cohorts were not attempting to be serious. Masser and his cohorts are scared to death. Fearful that Senator Yudichak’s reform bill will be enacted.

Much of the discussion surrounding Senator Yudichak’s proposed bill centers around the Bill’s ability to break up the Cabal that has controlled PSU for far too long. What has – thus far – not received much attention is just why the Old Guard controllers are so fearful of losing control.

One of the provisions of Yudichak’s bill would open PSU’s financial books to audit by the PA Auditor General. Historically, PSU’s board leadership has shown an aversion to “sunshine”….much like a vampire at the approach of dawn. Given that the Board’s Capital Planning Chairman is – incredibly - a known associate of construction companies convicted of Fraud and Bid-Rigging, is it any wonder that PSU’s leadership will stop at nothing to maintain control and secrecy?

The PSU BOT is sick, and it requires outside intervention to be made well. Contact your PA Senators and Representatives and ask them to support Senator Yudichak’s reform bill."


Yowsuh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1
 
LOL! You're not even qualified to carry her brief case. http://www.sidley.com/en/people/holly-j-gregory

CR-if she were an expert she would understand that what she shoveled was a big pile of CRAP!

I won't question her credentials, just like I won't yours, but anyone who considers themselves a governance expert would NEVER, AMS I mean NEVER promote and support the actions of this board.

It's a shame someone with such qualifications can be BOT off like that-it's governance heresy to allow a small cabal-like group to control a board like this .... But somehow I think you already know this, don't you?
 
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interesting that the resident bootlicker doesn't know the difference between CORPORATE governance and UNIVERSITY governance
 
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http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor-6-11-2015-1.1896092

Conclusion in last sentence is most disturbing,
"Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority."

Better governance

Editor: The Times-Tribune recently ran an editorial on the governance of Penn State University (“New hope for board reform,” June 6). We would like to set the record straight.

The Penn State board of trustees devoted well over a year on a series of reforms, working with a nationally recognized governance expert, conducted benchmarking and deliberated on various changes to our governance structure. The board overwhelmingly approved a new structure that will make Penn State better.

We know this because the university received an Aa2 rating from Moody’s Investor Services with a positive outlook, citing Penn State’s strengthened governance, management practices and risk management procedures. The report follows a similarly strong AA rating by Standard & Poor’s, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education found Penn State met all 10 of its accreditation requirements.

Since 2011, the board has expanded its committees and opened those meetings to the community. We added permanent seats for the Penn State Alumni Association, a faculty member and a member of the student body. With a 10th seat on the board devoted to alumni, no university in Pennsylvania or the Big Ten provides its alumni with more direct input into its governance.

We now have a board structure in place that includes constituencies from alumni, business and industry, agriculture and government. The creation of additional, at-large positions ensures the board can identify and recruit candidates with skills that may not necessarily fit into traditional constituencies. Perhaps most important, this healthy makeup ensures no single group can control the agenda and requires real consensus building to reach a majority.

KEITH MASSER

CHAIRMAN,

PENN STATE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Masser,
We've had alumni representation for a long time -- nine of them, in fact. You and your ilk just ignore them.
 
"Since 2011, the board has expanded its committees and opened those meetings to the community. We added permanent seats for the Penn State Alumni Association, a faculty member and a member of the student body. With a 10th seat on the board devoted to alumni, no university in Pennsylvania or the Big Ten provides its alumni with more direct input into its governance."

This is a lot of emphasis on adding the Penn State Alumni Association seat as the means for alumni to provide direct input. This seat is occupied by the immediate past president of the PSAA. It makes me wonder about the future of the 9 alumni elected trustees.

 
"Since 2011, the board has expanded its committees and opened those meetings to the community. We added permanent seats for the Penn State Alumni Association, a faculty member and a member of the student body. With a 10th seat on the board devoted to alumni, no university in Pennsylvania or the Big Ten provides its alumni with more direct input into its governance."

This is a lot of emphasis on adding the Penn State Alumni Association seat as the means for alumni to provide direct input. This seat is occupied by the immediate past president of the PSAA. It makes me wonder about the future of the 9 alumni elected trustees.
Uh......the Cabal has been trying to reduce/eliminate the elected trustee seats for the last few years.

Where've ya' been?
 
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Masser's crap has made it into the Seedy T, how long before Penn Live joins the act?
 
LOL! You're not even qualified to carry her brief case. http://www.sidley.com/en/people/holly-j-gregory
Penn State needs to stop hiring the 'smartest people in the room', those that have a sterling yet unjustified public reputations whose limitations have been illustrated with their stints with Penn State, from the communications guru who was going to lead going on the media offense, to Lanny Davis, to George Mitchell.

The real smartest people are those with a balance of common sense, true compassion for others, and grounded in reality.

Not being a governance expert, but having led the creation of a formal governance process for a large IT division, governance boils down to the consistent and transparent whats and whys of organizational decision making around collection (of wants, needs, and benefits, etc.), prioritization, and allocation. As or more important as the (sometimes bureaucratic) processes are executing these processes in the spirit of a common goal
vs. 'good ole boy network' we continue to have. Those who fail in governance lack either the formal structure of process or the informal structure of ethics, cooperation, or trust.

By the way, I would politely decline to carry her briefcase. I'm sure there are many who make multiples of what I do with a fraction of the common sense or self esteem I have to do so.
 
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