TWHBEA Announces Result of Polling Investigation
Monday, January 27, 2014

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TWHBEA announces the investigation of an unauthorized poll, which purported to be a TWHBEA product and was not.  This investigation was conducted by the Enforcement and Bylaws committees and extended from October, 2013 through January, 2014. The Executive Committee has approved that report, which is posted at www.TWHBEA.com, and has issued recommendations based thereon.

The combined Committees found that the purported “poll” was a “push poll”, which advocated for a specific outcome; was deceptive in several ways; was disseminated selectively; was created without the endorsement and knowledge of the Executive Committee; was mailed in violation of the rules of the Association and Tennessee law; misused and misappropriated the logo of the Association; and was thereafter used to misrepresent the rules of the Association. The mailing list was obtained in violation of internal rules and state law, and the present status of that list is in doubt, as a result of the lack of cooperation of the principals. 

TWHBEA has previously engaged in impartial polling on the so-called “Whitfield amendment”, the last such poll being conducted in early 2013.  That poll, a copy of which is included in the report,  covered a number of topics related to economics and other interests,  and then asked questions unaffected by bias, photos, or pictures. The  results show a very different majority opinion;  a strong  majority of those polled oppose that legislation, a result in accord with the December 2013 vote of the International Board and the Executive Committee.  

As a result of the acts and omissions of the TWHBEA members responsible for this deception against TWHBEA, its members, and the public, the privileges of Clant Seay, Pat Stout, and Fran Cole, as members of the Association, have been suspended, unless and until they comply with the investigation of the matter. In Ms. Stout’s case, she was also directed to comply with efforts to preserve and recover the mailing lists procured. The final resolution of this matter now rests with those individuals, who have been informed and encouraged to cooperate with the rules of this Association in determining the facts and appropriate remedies. 

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