Dear Skål Presidents,

There is a lot of rumor and speculation surrounding recent events involving our Skål International VP Burcin Turkkan and former VP Fiona Nicholl. You may have seen Facebook posts and even received emails of the events that transpired a few weeks ago. What you may not know is that members of the Skål International Executive Committee must sign a confidentiality agreement. You also may not know that members of the committee who resign must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with a duration of 5 years. This means that nothing can be publicly disclosed about the reason for the resignation. Posting on social media would seem an obvious violation of the agreement.

Many of us have known and have worked with Burcin for several years. She served admirably on the Skål USA EC for 7 years culminating as Skål USA President in 2018. She has always kept Skål USA foremost in her mind.  She carried our banner as she joined the Skål International EC in 2019 as a director. Last year Skål USA voted unanimously for her to be elected to the Skål International EC as VP. Because she garnered the most votes last year, she became Senior VP and Fiona became Junior VP as is Skål policy.

 

Burcin has honored her confidentiality agreement and has not spoken out nor given her side of the story. She has taken the “high road”. Hopefully Skål President Bill Rheaume will soon disclose all the facts which include a three-person panel of ex Skål Presidents and Skål lawyers finding her blameless of any wrongdoing.   But because so much has already been made public, well-meaning but partially informed Skål members are starting to take sides. People are creating a divide. Us against them!!! We cannot let this happen. Skål is FRIENDSHIP not division.   We should be working to bring people together not drive them apart.

 

I ask that you continue to support Burcin. She has been working tirelessly for us and for all Skål. I ask that you choose unity over division. I ask that you choose Skål!!!

If you agree please take a few minutes and send your endorsement of Burcin to President Bill Rheaume.

Best regards and Skål,

Jim Dwyer

President

Skål International USA