Merriam-Webster lists as a second meaning for the word
stakeholder ” one that has a stake in an enterprise”
It is my contention that all of us, myself included,
that donated money to the Gygax Memorial Fund (hereinafter referred to as GMF)
are stakeholders in the effort. As such, we have a right to know what is going
on; what has been done to finalize a site? How is the money being spent? What
is it being spent on? Just how much money is there in the GMF?
Recently, Tenkar’s
Tavern ( a blog at http://www.tenkarstavern.com/)
asked a series of questions of Gail Carpenter Gygax, most of which went
unanswered; some of the answers raised more questions.
Why were so many tax returns for GMF only made public
recently (since Tenkar’s inquiries), which is at variance for WI requirements
for transparency of all organizations operating
as a 501-c-3 Not-For-Profit entity?
Looking over the myriad papers, all sorts of things
stand out
The single biggest head-scratcher is realizing that
apparently none of the money in GMF is invested in ANYTHING! In the part of the
required filings where investment (interest is accounted for in this section)
proceeds are recorded, there is a glaring zero. Where is all of this money
(close to a quarter of a million dollars) “sitting”? In a checking account
earning zero interest? Is this a sound business principle?
One of the avowed principles of the GMF is to provide scholarships; the GMF could have provided a $2500 scholarship on the lost potential of last year alone.
One of the avowed principles of the GMF is to provide scholarships; the GMF could have provided a $2500 scholarship on the lost potential of last year alone.
I have never done real well with higher math and
business principles; I’m OK at arithmetic ‘cuz I use a good old calculator.
Totaling up the tax returns available online, they seem to indicate that GMF
received $244K between 2010 and 2014. The most recent statement shows that the
GMF has $222K
.
One document shows a person working .10 (1/10th)
of an hour per week; that’s six minutes a week or 5 hours for the year. When I
asked that person about it, he had absolutely no idea what it was about. How
does someone work just six minutes per week?
Who is on the Board (or whatever name your
organization uses for the group that oversees and directs it’s activities)?
When were they elected? Why was an original member not informed that he had
been replaced? Where are the organizational meeting minutes (as required by WI
statute)? Are the meetings open to interested parties? Stakeholders?
In a year that saw almost no income “because of
illness”, how was $1700 (four times the income for 2014) spent on “office, conference
and meeting” expenses?
What were the 260 hours claimed spent doing?
Just what is the target $$ goal of the GMF? How much
do you think you will need to accomplish your goals?
Has there been any success in changing the minds of
the city officials that seem adamantly opposed to the location you want? What
is the location that you have now, but don’t wish to use?
What is being done on the website? Why have you listed as “Audio Visual Engineer” a person that has had no contact with GMF for some years?
What is being done on the website? Why have you listed as “Audio Visual Engineer” a person that has had no contact with GMF for some years?
When will all the relevant, and required, documents be
made available?
Why has there been no visible progress for close to
two years now?
