The Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP) is a professional organization that provides certification for proposal management professionals. However, in June 2022, Baachu Scribble, a well-established Approved Training Organization (ATO) with a positive relationship with APMP, was informed of the revocation of their ATO status through a legal letter.
This sudden and oppressive decision left me stunned and heartbroken. The sequence of events highlights the unfair actions taken by the APMP’s Board of Directors, who made decisions without providing any evidence and due process and failed to abide by their own established APMP Code of Ethics guidelines.
June 8, 2022: Baachu received a legal letter from APMP regarding the revocation of their ATO status.
June 13, 2022: Baachu requested an extension for their course materials until August 6th.
June 16, 2022: The extension request was approved by the APMP board.
July 8, 2022: Baachu submitted an appeal.
July 1, 2022: APMP announced a call for volunteers for their Professional Ethics Committee (PEC).
July 16, 2022: The initial selections were confirmed by APMP.
August 18, 2022: APMP informed Baachu of a PEC hearing scheduled for September 20th.
October 14, 2022: APMP proposed three hearing dates, none of which were suitable for Baachu.
October 20, 2022: Both parties agreed on a November 21st PEC hearing.
November 21, 2022: The PEC hearing was held with the APMP Executive Committee.
November 22, 2022: APMP asked questions about Baachu’s paid community.
November 24, 2022: Baachu responded to APMP’s questions.
December 20, 2022: Baachu received notification of the PEC’s unanimous decision to uphold the revocation of their ATO status by APMP.
December 20, 2022: Baachu instructed a Legal 500 partner for discrimination and rights protection against APMP.
February 7, 2023: APMP threatened legal action and sent cease-and-desist letters claiming fraud and intentional copyright infringement against Baachu and its founder, Baskar Sundaram.
February 12, 2023: APMP issued a statement on Baachu.
February 13, 2023: Baachu started a 14-Day Raising Against Adversity campaign to share their story against discrimination.
February 14, 2023: Baachu issued legal letter to APMP requesting evidence in support of their June 22 allegations and responded in detail to APMP Statements
AS OF 16 FEB 2023, IT IS A FACT THAT APMP HAS NOT PROVIDED A SINGLE EVIDENCE TO SUBSTANTIATE THEIR CLAIM THAT BAACHU HAS SENT OUT ADVERTISING TO APMP MEMBERS AND THE PROPOSAL AND BID MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY, URGING APMP MEMBERS TO CONSIDER BAACHU’S CERTIFICATIONS AS A “CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE” TO APMP’S CERTIFICATIONS
THE CLAIM BY APMP THAT BAACHU’S FEE-BASED PROPOSAL MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY IS A COMPETITOR OR ALTERNATIVE TO APMP IS SIMPLY NOT BASED ON FACT. BAACHU HAS ALWAYS BEEN TRANSPARENT AND OPEN ABOUT ITS BUSINESS MODEL, WHICH INCLUDES A PAID LEARNING ACADEMY WITH A COMMUNITY COMPONENT. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGED BUT ALSO RECOGNIZED BY THE APMP BOARD WHEN BAACHU BECAME AN ATO IN 2018/19, AS DOCUMENTED IN APMP’S OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE.
IT IS A FACT THAT APMP HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE ANY VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT ITS CLAIM THAT BAACHU MARKETED APMP MEMBERS TO JOIN BAACHU BID AND PROPOSAL COMMUNITY FOR A COST.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE REASONS PROVIDED BY APMP IN JUNE 2022 FOR REVOKING BAACHU’S ATO STATUS AND THE ALLEGATIONS OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IN APMP STATEMENT RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 12TH, 2023. IN JUNE 2022, THE REVOCATION OF BAACHU’S ATO STATUS WAS PURPORTEDLY BASED ON BAACHU PROMOTING ITS OWN FEE-BASED PROPOSAL MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY AS A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE TO APMP’S OFFERINGS, AS WELL AS BAACHU SETTING UP ITS OWN FEE-BASED PROPOSAL MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, THE RECENT INTRODUCTION OF A COPYRIGHT CLAIM IN APMP’S STATEMENT SEEMS TO CONTRADICT THESE ORIGINAL REASONS FOR THE REVOCATION. SUCH A CONTRADICTION RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE VALIDITY AND ACCURACY OF APMP’S ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BAACHU.
For the past 8 months, I have been doing everything in my power to resolve the issues with the APMP Board. Despite my efforts, they chose to communicate with me only through their attorney, which left me feeling discouraged and helpless.
As I look back on this situation, I am reminded that conflicts and differing viewpoints are a part of life. It is crucial to consider the mindset we adopt in resolving these conflicts. Opting for love and empathy increases the chances of a peaceful resolution. Conversely, choosing aggression often fuels even greater and more damaging conflicts. I will continue to share my side of the story and hope that the world will listen and comprehend my point of view.
Discrimination is a reprehensible act that should never be tolerated, and it is devastating to witness its impact on myself, my team, and my business.
I strongly believe in the importance of fairness and impartiality in decision-making and it is our duty to ensure that discrimination and mistreatment are not tolerated within our professional community. The events surrounding the Baachu Scribble ATO status revocation serve as a reminder that all professional organizations must adhere to the highest ethical standards and promote a culture of fairness and impartiality.
It is imperative for professional organizations to have clear and fair processes in place for handling grievances and disputes, and decision-making should be impartial and objective
It is also important for professional organizations to have an independent body to look into discrimination and mistreatment complaints.
Join the fight for justice by signing the petition to call for a fair hearing for Baachu. Your signature and support can help make a difference in this 14-day campaign against discrimination, “Rising Above Adversity: The Baachu Story”.
Being wrongly accused and punished is a traumatic experience that can leave a lasting impact. However, I am determined to not let this injustice defeat me and my team at Baachu. With your help, we can bring this issue to the forefront and demand a fair resolution.
As a valued member of APMP, your voice matters. We encourage you to sign the fair hearing petition as a way to hold the APMP Board accountable for their actions and encourage the new Board to open dialogue with Baachu. This petition is an opportunity for all APMP members to show support for open communication, fairness, and transparency in addressing disputes. By signing the petition, you can help ensure that all ATOs and non-ATOs providing APMP training are treated fairly and equitably.
We believe that by working together, we can create a stronger and more prosperous proposal management industry for all.
To show your support, follow this link to sign the Change.org petition: https://www.change.org/p/unite-for-justice-stand-with-baachu-and-demand-reinstatement-as-an-apmp-ato. Your signature will remain anonymous, yet still make a powerful statement in the fight for justice.
After signing, kindly share the petition using the hashtags #JusticeForBaachu and #BaachuStory, to help us reach 1000 signatories in the next 14 days. Your support and encouragement mean the world to us, and we cannot thank you enough for standing with us in this fight.
Together, we can make a positive change and promote fairness, equality, and accountability within the professional community.
I am grateful for the love and kindness that surrounds me, and I am reminded of the power of my voice. I am humbled and grateful for each and every one of you who have shown your support. I ask for your continued thoughts and prayers for strength and guidance during this challenging time.
Thank you for always being there for me.
With love, Baskar
#JusticeForBaachu #BaachuStory #BlackHistoryMonth #StandAgainstDiscrimination
