Okay, thoughts on my letter of resignation? Anything I should add/take out/etc.?

I am writing to tender my resignation from the PR committee. I cannot be an effective member of the PR committee as things stand currently.

I am cc-ing the Board as well as the PR committee, so that everything is very clear to everyone.

I am not resigning because some people didn't prefer my newsletter design. I AM resigning because the newsletter problems are just the most recent example in a long line of problems that repeat themselves over and over.

My professional expertise in the area of PR and communications has not been respected or valued, and, frankly, I've gotten to the point where I feel like I'm being treated as free labor instead of an equally contributing member of the team.

It was recently brought to my attention that, as editor of the newsletter, I was thought to be "re-writing" people's articles and changing their intent. That is a very serious charge to me, because I am an editor for a living. I *know* what editing is, and what it is not. Yes, sometimes the editing process requires re-wording things so that they make sense and are grammatical. A poorly written article is simply going to make [group]'s newsletter look sloppy and substandard.

However, it sounds to me that what is really wanted for the newsletter "editor" is someone who will run spellcheck, and then give an okay to the article without ever considering whether the article is easy to understand.

And if that's what is wanted, that's fine, but it's not something I wish to be associated with. A newsletter that *looks* flashy and "cutting-edge" is not going to keep readers' interest if the articles don't make sense.

I ask you to consider why volunteers keep stepping down. Good people, who want to help, who are willing to offer their time and labor and skills free of charge -- we've all seen them join committees and then step down. Please consider that perhaps those of us who step down are not "disgruntled," and can't just be labeled as "not team players."

Maybe people keep stepping down because the skills and input they offer are being rejected and instead they are treated like unpaid labor who are merely given orders to be carried out.

I wish you luck in finding a replacement for me on the PR committee, and I thank you for the opportunity that was given for me to serve [group] for the length of time that I was able to.

Most excellent letter, Tep.

As per usual.

Most excellent letter, Tep.

Except you don't have enough commas in there.

Except you don't have enough commas in there.

Yeah, he might not understand what I have to say if it isn't full of misspellings, comma abuse, and incomprehensible grammar.

exactly.

I think you spend more time than needed defending your actions, which don't need defense. paragraph 3, 4, and 5 . I'd shorten them. but to what, I'm not sure.

Steph, very good and very clear. Just one quibble with the phrase "free labor" in the 4th paragraph. My original thought on reading that phrase was that all volunteer work is free labor, and it doesn't explain your concern.

You might want to consider something stronger (maybe "punching bag"?) that conveys your feeling of being put down.

What Fred Pete said. I'd also bump up the "disrespect" angle.

You might want to consider something stronger (maybe "punching bag"?) that conveys your feeling of being put down.

Also, you should insult the president's fashion sense.

I think you spend more time than needed defending your actions, which don't need defense.

It's just -- I'm so insulted that he thinks I'm overstepping my role by editing crap writing. I truly think that he thinks an editor just runs spellcheck.