The Board of Directors of Town Cats of Morgan Hill has been made aware of some concerns by employees and volunteers in recent weeks. Town Cats takes these concerns very seriously and the Board of Directors has conducted a thorough investigation. In our investigation we have
determined that while some of the concerns had merit, many of the issues that have been brought up were not merited or were the subject of miscommunication or misunderstanding. We also determined that all of the issues that had merit were already resolved or were in the process of being worked on, under Stormie Yarahmadi’s leadership. Unfortunately we also discovered that some of the social media commentary devolved into accusations and rumors being spread, some of which were substantially off-base and inflammatory.
As a result of our in depth investigation into the issues, we have unanimously concluded that Stormie Yarahmadi, our Director of Operations and Marketing, acted appropriately in dealing with the issues outlined, and we stand behind her in support. We also noted that some of the issues that were valid concerns were caused by things that were done prior to Stormie joining Town Cats, and we as the Board take responsibility for these issues, rather than unfairly blaming Stormie.
In her short time at Town Cats, Stormie has had to deal with larger-than-usual staff turnover that started before she joined Town Cats, which is difficult to manage, and we are proud of the transition she has made. She has done an admirable job at keeping our cats safe and healthy, as well as ensuring our staff and volunteers have all they need to provide excellent care to cats in our community. In any business endeavor, whether in the nonprofit or for profit sector, there will be challenges and issues to deal with and at times the action required may not be taken as swiftly or completely as everyone would desire. Having said that, Stormie has been clear and candid with the Board when deficiencies were discovered, and has been consistently advocating action be taken to address them. To that end, we are working with our landlord to take advantage of some of the opportunities for improvement we have at the shelter itself, to ensure safety and comfort for all our cats, staff, volunteers, and community members.
Town Cats is always interested and willing to hear concerns, whether they are from a volunteer, employee, or a member of the community in general. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us support more cats and ensuring the safety and enjoyment of our volunteers and staff. We greatly appreciate your input.The best way to ensure any concerns are heard and dealt with is to contact us directly, rather than via social media. Any concerns about the operation of the shelter, the conduct of any of our employees or volunteers, or anything else regarding Town Cats, should be directed to the Board of Directors. You can contact the President individually at ann@towncats.org, the Vice President at laura@towncats.org, or the entire Board at BoD@towncats.org.
Town Cats would like to thank all of our community members, employees, and volunteers for their continued support. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do. We believe strongly in our mission and relish the opportunity to work with you all to ensure safety and care for cats in the Bay Area.
Signed:
Ann Wondolowski and the Town Cats of Morgan Hill Board of Directors