Could Be Worse - SSA

From the SSA e-news service, I assume this it's on the member web site too:

"State of New Mexico authorities have already informed us that no
interest or penalties will be imposed. We are working diligently with
the IRS to mitigate federal penalties and interest."

Also, it sounds like the Society has endowed funds that may be able to
pull its (our) ass out of the fire -this time- at the cost of the
endowment and, no doubt, incurring the ire of those who've funded it.

Shawn

The news also included a comment about referring the mater to the SSA's
attorneys and the Hobbs police dept, with no further details. It would have
been nice if they had shared more information on what was going on.

Mike Schumann

"Shawn Curry" scurryfifenynteam@comcastdotnet wrote in message
. ..
From the SSA e-news service, I assume this it's on the member web site
too:

"State of New Mexico authorities have already informed us that no interest
or penalties will be imposed. We are working diligently with the IRS to
mitigate federal penalties and interest."

Also, it sounds like the Society has endowed funds that may be able to
pull its (our) ass out of the fire -this time- at the cost of the
endowment and, no doubt, incurring the ire of those who've funded it.

Shawn

It seems to me from the latest letter that most of the effort is on focusing
the blame on the CFAO instead of the BoD. IMO, the core fault is on the
Board for not implementing the audits they were required to do, as quoted
here from a letter:
"Over the ensuing years, the Board decided not to spend funds on audits,
instead allocating money on other tasks felt necessary to grow the Society."

Therein is the core problem. Had they done the audit, this would not have
happened.


"Mike Schumann" wrote in message
ink.net...
The news also included a comment about referring the mater to the SSA's
attorneys and the Hobbs police dept, with no further details. It would
have been nice if they had shared more information on what was going on.

Mike Schumann

"Shawn Curry" scurryfifenynteam@comcastdotnet wrote in message
. ..
From the SSA e-news service, I assume this it's on the member web site
too:

"State of New Mexico authorities have already informed us that no
interest or penalties will be imposed. We are working diligently with
the IRS to mitigate federal penalties and interest."

Also, it sounds like the Society has endowed funds that may be able to
pull its (our) ass out of the fire -this time- at the cost of the
endowment and, no doubt, incurring the ire of those who've funded it.

Shawn

...It would have
been nice if they had shared more information on what was going on.


"It would have been NICE," you say?

The SSA leadership is not trying to be nice. They are trying to do
the right thing. They are working very hard trying to solve this
problem. They are taking financial and legal advice from experts.
They have your interests at heart.

If they had "shared more information on what was going on" earlier, it
probably would have made the problem worse. And knowing this, they
decided not to entertain you with sensitive news. They are smart
people. They are working for you.

They are motivated by their love of the sport and their sense of
responsibility. Their tangible reward for this work is zero.

Each week, after working on the real problem, and at a time when I'm
sure they'd like to take a small break, the Executive Committee
composes and publishes a remarkably complete and carefully worded
update for the membership. They aren't doing it to be nice; they are
doing it to keep you informed. They think you deserve it. I'm not so
sure.

Quit your sniping.

-Pat

The following is a copy of a recent newsletter I sent out to subscribers:

The SSA problems are going to be very expensive. Not only for the
organization, but the SSA Directors who are volunteers.

Phone bills and travel expenses will be enormous and most have full time
jobs as well as families. Back when I was a director, it cost me about
$3,000 each year for the privilege of serving the members. Those who hold
leadership positions within the society spend much more each year.

Each of us needs to consider helping our local directors with financial
support during this present crisis.

Tom Knauff

www.eglider.org

For the sake of this discussion, I will acknowledge your basic premis that the board is acting in WHAT THEY perceive to be our best interests.
that said, they are, imho, compounding a bad situation by creating THE APPEARANCE of covering their collective asses. The update news note in which the attorney obviously tried to deflect responsibility by saying that after the first year the audit was never even discussed and thus the error was one of OMMISSION rather than COMMISSION, was a clear statement that the attorney is working hard to save the directors from responsibility.
further, there has been NO MENTION whatsoever, about the professional responsibility of the accountants. NO MENTION of hitting their E&O policy for compensation. What has happened is that the board actually used these guys to file the back reports and I think to conduct the forensic investigation. How can you possibly go after a firm for professional malpractice if you continue to employee said firm???
Finally, I do not understand why the ED is still around. nor the assistant cfo. ..
The APPEARANCE is beginning to develop that the board is trying to isolate the assignment of fault and responsibility to the cfo. While he appears to be a truely bad guy, he was able to do whatever it was that he did because of inattention and overt actions by the board to their basic job, compounded by professionally poor work by the accountants.

A credible resolution to the mess requires the appointment of an independent master who reports to the members through the board and is truely independent.
point by point now
1. They are taking advice from "experts who have agendas that are perhaps in conflict with the membership
2. Are they also working to save themselves from potential personal liability while seking to represent the ssa?
3. Telling someone to "quite your sniping" when they raise legitimate issues is bull****. We trusted these individuals to supervise the operation and they failed to do so. Both the accountants as well as the board. It is NOT SNIPING to raise the issues of real responsibility.

4. Reading between the lines of the last note, it appears as if the board made a decision to somehow "borrow" money out of special funds to cover the immediate cash requirement. My question becomes which fund did they borrow from and under what terms? Further, i wonder if they actually had the right to divert such funds.. either under te bylaws of the ssa and/or under the endowment terms? Another poster said that contributors to an endowment that is raided might be a bit miffed.. Did the board's hole just get dug a bit deeper???





"Pat Russell" wrote in message ...

...It would have
been nice if they had shared more information on what was going on.


"It would have been NICE," you say?

The SSA leadership is not trying to be nice. They are trying to do
the right thing. They are working very hard trying to solve this
problem. They are taking financial and legal advice from experts.
They have your interests at heart.

If they had "shared more information on what was going on" earlier, it
probably would have made the problem worse. And knowing this, they
decided not to entertain you with sensitive news. They are smart
people. They are working for you.

They are motivated by their love of the sport and their sense of
responsibility. Their tangible reward for this work is zero.

Each week, after working on the real problem, and at a time when I'm
sure they'd like to take a small break, the Executive Committee
composes and publishes a remarkably complete and carefully worded
update for the membership. They aren't doing it to be nice; they are
doing it to keep you informed. They think you deserve it. I'm not so
sure.

Quit your sniping.

-Pat

5-BG wrote:
For the sake of this discussion, I will acknowledge your basic premis that the board is acting in WHAT THEY perceive to be our best interests..... (Long criticism of the board follows).

From the september 7 update on www.ssa.org: "the Executive Committee is
actively pursuing several SSA members with financial experience, but
who have never been part of Society leadership, to oversee all of its
activities as we attempt to bring these problems to the best resolution
possible, and protect the Society in the future. " It sounds like you
are an ideal candidate to volunteer for this effort. I'm sure it will
take no more than a few hundred hours of your time, plus fun-filled
trips to Hobbs and other meetings. Email Diane Nixon or your regional
director and volunteer.

If you think the board is a bunch of nincompoops, here's another
suggestion from the SSA website: "SSA Regional Directors, Call for
Nominations. This is the offical call for nominations for the upcoming
election of your SSA Directors representing Regions 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,
11 and 12." Step up and do it right. It's likely that there will be
many more opportunities to serve on the board in the near future, given
how fun it is for the current occupants. r.a.s. critics ought to be
prime targets...I mean candidates.. to stand for election. Too bad
your email is anonymous so we can't nominate you right away.

Let's not forget this board is a group of dedicated volunteers, elected
by us, the members. It's not some secret society. If you think they are
not doing a good job, there is only one answer: volunteer to help them,
or to serve and do it better yourself.

John Cochrane BB

Thank you John for your, on the point , comments.
Those that have all the answers better be on the board or volunteering
right now so they can point fingers with authority.
If you are not holding any of these jobs them please do run for a
board position and volunteer for one of the committees. I think Tom
Knauff indicated that it will only cost you about $3,000 plus many
hours of your time to do this volunteer work. Yes, the BD did make
some mistakes in judgement and put their trust in hired staff and tried
to manage from a distance, but they did this with good intentions. The
Endowment fund has been borrowed from before and handles these loans
like any other investment. If SSA members do not continue to renew and
new members join then this is a threat to the repayment of these loans.
We need the SSA for a number of reasons and now is the time for those
who have skills important to MANAGING this organization to step up and
offer your time and skills. Yes, I have done so through my Director.

Tom
Idaho
BB wrote:
5-BG wrote:
For the sake of this discussion, I will acknowledge your basic premis that the board is acting in WHAT THEY perceive to be our best interests..... (Long criticism of the board follows).

From the september 7 update on www.ssa.org: "the Executive Committee is
actively pursuing several SSA members with financial experience, but
who have never been part of Society leadership, to oversee all of its
activities as we attempt to bring these problems to the best resolution
possible, and protect the Society in the future. " It sounds like you
are an ideal candidate to volunteer for this effort. I'm sure it will
take no more than a few hundred hours of your time, plus fun-filled
trips to Hobbs and other meetings. Email Diane Nixon or your regional
director and volunteer.

If you think the board is a bunch of nincompoops, here's another
suggestion from the SSA website: "SSA Regional Directors, Call for
Nominations. This is the offical call for nominations for the upcoming
election of your SSA Directors representing Regions 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,
11 and 12." Step up and do it right. It's likely that there will be
many more opportunities to serve on the board in the near future, given
how fun it is for the current occupants. r.a.s. critics ought to be
prime targets...I mean candidates.. to stand for election. Too bad
your email is anonymous so we can't nominate you right away.

Let's not forget this board is a group of dedicated volunteers, elected
by us, the members. It's not some secret society. If you think they are
not doing a good job, there is only one answer: volunteer to help them,
or to serve and do it better yourself.

John Cochrane BB

Hear, hear John. Personally I think you folks are doing an exemplary
job in some pretty ugly circumstances. Speaking for myself - thank you
all.

For those others on r.a.s. (are you listening/reading 5-BG?) endless
speculation on something you know nothing about is pointless and
counterproductive. Questions as to why the ED is still there and the
CFO is not, whether the accounting firms insurance should pay or who
should hang are all based on your speculation and not on any facts
whatsoever. The boards decisions to date have been based on what they
knew then or know now. Facts, not supposition. If they have not yet
chosen (or for that matter, never choose) to share those facts with you
or the general membership, that is their decision to make - not yours.
It's what we elected them for and also what they can be replaced for if
the membership eventually decides that the decisions that were made
were inappropriate.

In the mean time as was pointed out, nominations for Regional Director
are open. Step up or shut up pal - the sniping isn't needed at a time
like this.

John - to you and the rest of the excom again, my thanks.

Jay

"Jim Vincent" wrote in message
. ..
It seems to me from the latest letter that most of the effort is on focusing
the blame on the CFAO instead of the BoD. IMO, the core fault is on the Board
for not implementing the audits they were required to do, as quoted here from
a letter:

"There but by the grace of God, go I." Had I been on the BoD, given the
same information, knowledge and assumptions as the others on the board, and not
armed with the "rear view vision" that the group here at ras now is blessed
with, I might well have voted right along with them. I think the board honestly
felt at the time that skipping the audits was a reasonable risk, and now the
assumption is that they realize that they were wrong.

I thank the board for their service and hope they can get us out of this
mess.

I also respectfully look forward to a rational explanation of why our
professional ED was not on top of this a year ago. I have not yet heard even
the beginnings of one.

Vaughn