I was really disappointed to read John Leonard’s recent letter [“No Bullying,” Letter, February 13] criticizing Virginia “Ginnie” Frati, another prominent Hampton Bays woman worthy of respect and the founder of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays.
I served on the board of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center for over six years with a number of wonderful, dedicated volunteers. In that time, I got to know Ginnie both personally and professionally. Her love for the center, and the thousands of animals she has dedicated her life to rehabilitating, are beyond question.
Over more than 20 years, alongside her talented staff, volunteers and interns, she grew the center to be a model for rehabilitating wildlife in New York State. For as long as I have known her, she has always stood up for what she believes is right and acts with the utmost integrity. She challenged the Department of Environmental Conservation with a court action when they demanded that a doe be euthanized.
There was a time when her estate was to be willed to the center should something happen to her. When our namesake benefactor made demands that Ginnie didn’t agree with, she pushed back, never compromising her values or integrity for money. This is the woman I know, and the reason I gave my time and money to the center for all those years.
The center thrives because of women like Ginnie. I think we should support and uplift these women rather than throw petty, unfounded criticisms.
Anyone who served on the board of Evelyn Alexander, or who looks at a 990, knows that Ginnie didn’t work for the money. She was paid peanuts, by her own choice, for all the years she worked there, and certainly when I served. To insinuate that she took $2,000 after her retirement that she wasn’t entitled to is disgusting and off base.
Ginnie, know that many of us in the community deeply appreciate your unwavering commitment to wildlife rehabilitation. Don’t let this man and his husband’s disparaging remarks put a stain on your life’s work.
I think publishing private board emails with the intent to shame shows a level of stooping unbecoming of an elected official. The fact that his husband also had access to them to quote [“Not Bullied,” Letters, February 13] is beyond gross. There is a duty of care for privacy among boards when discussing staff. Those internal board discussions lacking context should never have seen the light of day, let alone be published in a newspaper.
Bad form, John, bad form.
Ronald Fisher
Southampton
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