Even in our world of Orwellian double-speak, how is this not flat-out racial discrimination?

Dear Mr. Sykes:

I recently submitted my resume and background to run for a MATC board position.

I had endorsements from the County Executive and The Tool, Die & Machining Association of Wisconsin (TDMAW).The TDMAW is made up of approximately 160 Wisconsin owned and located, manufacturing companies with over 2,500 employees.

On the social side, I went to Lafollette grade school, where I was one of less than 20 white students. I was a guidance consular (while a student at MU) at St Boniface Church, when Father Groppi was pastor. I helped form the first inner city business consulting group at Marquette University (we worked with Lena's food); and was the CEO of Smileage Dental where we built the first new dental facility in 25 years in the inner-city. Added to this, I am a CPA and was budget director for a $250 million dollar manufacturing entity.

I believed my business and social background in healthcare and manufacturing would be of value to MATC and worth considering. However, on March 17th I received a call from the MATC corporate counsel advising me that I did not meet the gender and race criteria for a board position.

I did attend the interview meeting on March 20th and spoke to how offended I was at this institutionalized prejudice and bias would not even let my qualifications be considered. In addition, I asked the selection committee (approx 20 school superintendents) to address this bias on behalf of past and future candidates. My parting comment was that "I felt like Satchel Paige".

I find it interesting not one mention of this appeared in the Journal, nor was I asked one question by any of the 20 school superintendents on the selection committee.

Note: On Monday this week, the owner of SEEK Employment commented she had experienced the same rejection within the last few years.

Mr. Sykes, I deliberated for some time before writing you. I do not want this to be personal or sound like sour grapes, I value my community. But, I am writing because there is something symptomatically wrong with an intuition, (with taxing authority and a budget of $350 million dollar) that has its board appointed by K through 12 school superintendents using prejudicial legislated regulations. Where are employers, or for that matter, the tax payers represented? This process is just wrong.

 Forty years ago there may have been some validity for these quotas but, that time has long passed. I think in analogies, and this situation reminds me of a manual choke on an engine. You need to turn it on to get the engine started but, if you don't turn it off; the engine will never run properly.

In my view, we need to reverse the choke at MATC or its mission will be sub optimized to gender and race criteria rather than education...

Thank you,

Greg Grambow