Door County Tsunami Warning Issued...
after HELP of Door County fails to help its biggest benefactor in a time of his greatest need

Years ago I once called to ask for HELP and was told that HELP existed for women and children... only. Men were not considered potential "victims" back then, only perpetrators... of violence against women and children. That call for HELP was made almost fifteen years ago. I had hoped that after more than a decade, HELP policies would have evolved.

The recent resignation of Allin Walker, after his abandonment by the officers and board of directors of HELP of Door County, should serve as a warning. Despite all of Allin's years of paid and unpaid service to this community and to his employers it seems that nothing tangible in regard to policy evolution has taken place at the agency. Men are still "perpetrators" and women and children their "victims."

According to a recent letter from Kirsten Dixner, president of the HELP board, and Tom Bronsky, president-elect of the agency, “There was a growing awareness of issues that warranted the board’s and Allin’s immediate examination for their potential impact on HELP of Door County, our clients, supporters and the larger community that we have served for more than 25 years.”

Instead of taking on the difficult task of providing a strong and supportive base for Allin Walker when he came under fire, they and their fellow board members chose to duck and cover, running for the exits in a most politically correct manner. Instead of truly considering the greater impact of their decisions on this community they chose a self-serving safe and tidy plan to dispose of their "problem."

This is the fundamental flaw in governance models utilized by almost all non-profit organizations. While there are many people who voluntarily work in the public interest, some individuals choose to serve on a board of directors because it makes them feel good about themselves. They show up for meetings and act very busy... once every 8 or ten weeks. Occasionally they serve on a committee. Meanwhile the paid staff suffers in the trenches each day, while their "performance" is evaluated from afar, by a collection of detached rulers... very feudal.

When Allin Walker fought to try to stop the inevitable reallocation of resources from social benefit programs to incarceration programs in building the inJustice Center he was cautioned by the HELPers to back off. When he claimed the recent Fischer case was further evidence of a lack of adequate social services and limited funds for mental health treatment in Door County he was again hushed. Now it seems a sniper has picked off Allin Walker, firing a bullet from so far back in his past that it's taken over 30 years to hit home.

Just like in all of those other assassinations, I'd like to get a close look at who it is that's standing just out of sight up on that grassy knoll. I'd like to ask them how they feel now after bagging their trophy, and I'd like to make sure they watch the wave of pain and loss and hardship that spreads outward in all directions. Allin Walker is not the loser in this tragedy. It's you and me and your friends and my friends and everyone else in this entire community... because that's how many people Allin Walker's efforts have benefited.

Has anybody here seen my old friend Allin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walking up o'er the hill
With Abraham, Martin and John.