The Jacob Incident

The past week has seen some high emotions and major drama on base. What follows is mainly for the benefit of former HODR members. They have been getting only bits and pieces via Facebook and email, so I wanted to post a brief overview of events.

(On the other hand, I've been thinking that the events of the past week would make a good case study for a sociologist or business school student on group dynamics in a maturing all-volunteer organization.)

I welcome comments and corrections.
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The Jacob Incident


Tuesday morning, Ray and I went to get coffee from the Coffee Lady across the street. As we returned with cups of joe, I picked up some garbage on the front steps just outside the gate. It was a stack of small photocopies. I glanced at it and said “Hey, Ray, take a look at this...” We read through it. And after a moment, Ray said, “Oh, shit.”

The note was from “some local volunteers” on behalf of “all local volunteers”. It made the assertion that Jacob, one of the two paid translators on base, should be fired because he is from Gonaives, not from Leogane. In his place, HODR should hire a translator from Leogane. Another option was proposed, that all local volunteers should be converted to paid positions. At the end of the note, there was a sentence that I will paraphrase: “If you don’t do this thing, we can be sorry for Jacob.”

Jacob has been working with HODR since 2008, near the beginning of the Project Gonaives in Haiti. He worked closely with HODR toward a successful conclusion of that project in March 2009. When Marc and Stef, International Operations Director and International Project Director respectively, came to Haiti shortly after the earthquake of January 2010, they contacted Jacob as a trusted advisor and talented translator to help set up the project in Leogane. Anyone who has worked with Jacob knows that he an excellent translator and a fine human being – an asset to the organization.

Ray and I said, “This is serious.” I took a copy into the office and gave it to TC, the Local Volunteer Coordinator. I said to TC, “Take a look at this, I think it’s kind of big deal. Especially look at that last line (the threat).”. He took it seriously, and stood up to go speak to other staff members. In the meantime, Ray had met Stef in the courtyard. She was holding the letter and they were talking about it. I said to Stef, “Kind of a big deal, huh?” Stef said, “Oh, we’ve had things like this happen before.” In light of how subsequent event have played out, I find the response surprising and a little jarring.

The next installment was that Jacob stood up at Wednesday’s meeting and said he was leaving the project. I was surprised, as I think many people were. I assumed that there were other reasons, because I thought surely a mild threat from a coward who thought he might be able to manipulate the system would never be sufficient to make a good man leave the program. A further thought was that, if Jacob was leaving because of the threat letter, the response was handled poorly by HODR staff and management.

(OK, that’s the end of the narrative for now. I may get back to it when I have more time. What follows is a more stripped-down day-by-day account. Comments are welcome.)


Tuesday A flier is found on the front steps of the base saying Jacob, who is from Gonaives, should be fired and a Leogane resident hired in his place. There is a meeting with local volunteers, informing them that the local volunteer program is being suspended. Local volunteers are shocked and hurt. Local volunteers later have their own meeting to discuss the situation.

Wednesday Stef leaves town. Jacob stands up at the evening meeting to say he is resigning from HODR, and going home to Gonaives. We subsequently learn that it is because of fear for his safety, as a result of the flier.

Thursday Jacob decides not to resign. Plans made by HODR management to suspend the local volunteer program. These plans are later modified to maintain the local volunteer program, but in a much-reduced form.

The evening meeting goes long, with much discussion. International volunteers express a concern that suspension or reduction of the program will punish local volunteers over an act for which they are not culpable. Much angst. There is unanimous agreement among international volunteers that this has been handled unfortunately, in a way that has the appearance of holding local volunteers responsible for actions of one individual, who may not even be a local volunteer.

TC begins discussing plans to resign.

Friday  Lunch meeting. Some local volunteers come forward to name two Leogane residents responsible for writing and distributing the letter threatening Jacob. These two guys were former local volunteers who were asked to leave the program, and have been hanging around since that time.

Long evening meeting with much discussion. Chris reads a letter from Stef, who is still in Los Angeles. She outlines minor modifications to the reorganization, but indicates plans will go forward for reorganization Monday. Meeting concludes with international volunteers going outside the base to make contact with local volunteers, who have gone home in anger.

Contact is made with five local volunteers, who agree to come to Joe’s. They do some networking among themselves, and four additional local volunteers show up. International volunteers express to the local volunteers that none of them – not a single international volunteer – agrees with the decision by HODR management to suspend or modify the local volunteers program.

TC submits his resignation to HODR.

Saturday Noon meeting. Staff presents plans to go forward with reorganization. International volunteers express a strong sentiment that the reorganization should be postponed for at least two weeks, in order to minimize perception that the restructuring is a punishment for, or in any way connected with, the threat letter.

The local volunteer who came forward to name names is awarded with Local Volunteer of the Week award. The award is TC’s last official act as Local Volunteer Coordinator.

TC reads his resignation letter, which is translated into Creole for the benefit of the local volunteers.
TC leaves the base.

Sunday Marc returns to base....