Youth Football board, what would you do?

[Steel]

Since we are asking questions this is one that came up last week that I was really struggling with.

I am one of 9 board members on a Youth Football board. Since last August my wife and I had questions about the way money was being handled. I got home from Australia to find out that we made $8,000 on a fund raiser dinner. I was shocked yet again by the numbers. We, the board were handed a spread sheet on the cost of the dinner but it was not broken down on how much we made at the bar, Raffle prizes, or dinner tickets sold. I am very concerned and have been for months. They put me in charge of the equipment this season and I have very little money to spend and we need over $20,000 worth of new equipment. We held a Jamboree last season and we made $10,000 in profits. We bought no new gear and when I got back we only had $3,000 left in the savings. I talked with 3 other Presidents in our league and they said the minimum anyone has made on a Jamboree is $15,000
I went to a meeting last week and I asked to see some numbers on the dinner and numbers from last year. I could not make heads or tails of the numbers so I took them to my tax man and he said they were made up and he could not figure out what was done. I then called the Treasure and told her I would like a audit done as I showed them to my my tax man and he could not figure them out. She was very upset that I took them outside the board for someone else to see with out the boards approval. She then went on saying that the firm she checked with was going to charge a $1,000 to have them looked at. I tried to explain to her that it is money well spent as it protects us as a board. I hung up and called a friend and between the 2 of us we donated the money to have them done. I called and told her I had the money to get them looked at and it would cost the league nothing. I have not received a return phone call in the last 4 days. Today the president called me and got on me for upsetting the Treasure. I typed up a very nice letter and resigned from my board position and have pulled out as a coach also. The vice- President is going to get out also but now I am wondering what will happen. I have ran a lot of the numbers and I am coming up with over $10,000 missing or unaccounted for. What do i do ? Do I walk away or do I look into this more ? I can tell when a person is telling a lie and this person had them all going on. What would you do as a concerned parent for this league ? My wife and I have had questions since last August. They made a big mistake letting me get on the board. Any help or any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking of calling the IRS so they can crawl up their ass and find the problem. The kids are the big losers as we have very little money to spend on equipment and with us leaving the board god only knows what will happen. Any thoughts on what to do next ? Thanks

[Hoosiercatdaddy]

yeah bro if you are that positive something is wrong, you would do those kids a big injustice by walking away and doing nothing more. i think you go after them to the fullest

[Steel]

But do I call the IRS or what ? I am faced much resistence from the Treasure on getting a audit done. I am not sure of the next step and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[pwherr]

If that much money is stolen that is a felony.You should get the police involved.

[Steel]

Thank you pwherr, it is very hard to tell exactly how much money is missing but the numbers I have do not add up. The local police department tells me they do not have the resources to do what I need done. I believe the IRS is the best way to go because they go from top to bottom and that is their job. No need to hire any other resources to get this looked into. I am begging them to get the books looks at but facing much resistance. Thanks for your input Hoosier and Pwherr.

[PigSkinTerror13]

a good auditor will be able to find the error and render an opinion that is binding... people could face jail time or multiple fines

people like you and me get into youth football coaching because we love the game and love to teach the game... other people just do to have something to do and don't care how things get done

since you already resigned, why not continue with the investigation and see what you could find

[Klazerman]

We had a similar instance with a Co-op day Nursery school here.
About 5-10K was missing supposedly.
The matter was brought up tho the police and their passed it on to their fraud squad.
I think you need to bring it to the Police at this point. Esp if you are getting resistance from the board members.
klaze

[Steel]

The good old boy system in small towns is killing me. It just so happens that the deputy commisioner for our area is one of the people who was signing checks in our division last year. I am very ill at the moment with a Syst in my back that is hopefully going to be removed on Wednesday. I am trying to concentrate on my family and helath at this time. The lady in question has made excuse after excuse on why they can't get a audit even though I already have the money to pay to have it done. She went around on Sunday and slandered my name now that I resigned and has told people she can't go thru another year with me crawling up her ass wondering where money is. I am not pointing fingers at who took the money I just want them to open the books to a outside source so they can prove me wrong. I would love to be proven wrong and I would love for this resistance to stop on trying to clear this boards name. Never have the kids come into this and it seems that its more about protecting the past rather then not having the money to equip the kids for safety. I have coached for 9 years at various levels and the kids around here now me for football. I feel horrible walking away but right now I need to concentrate on my health. I want the right thing to be done but with the good old boys system they have I am afraid I am fighting a losing battle. What to do next is beyond me. I have already talked with the local Police about this case so they know where I stand. All I want is for someone to show me the money and to remember that the big losers in this are the kids. I smell a rat and when I ask questions I get negative comments from the people in question. The Vice President is resigning today along with his wife who is also a board memember. Trust me when I say that money is missing, I just don't have the energy to fight this fight at this time. It won't be washed under the bridge but please direct me if you know what I can do from home. They have people in the upper board so I basically feel like I am beating a dead horse. Thanks so much for all your input.

[skippy]

The best thing to do is to call up your local media and let them know that there seems to be some improprieties/irregularities going on in that organization. Once this is made public, I am sure the local constabulary will look into it.

[MIZZOU_PETE]

I agree with skippy. Go to the papers. You tried to give them a chance and get an audit. Now someone has to pay.

[Steel]

Have decided to go to the Grand Jury with a letter. The local D.A. is a good friend and he said they would be glad to look into it and will notify me if they need more info. Thanks for all your input. I am trying to keep this quiet right now because if to many people find out the kids will never be able to raise money for this special program. Thanks again.

[domafia]

Actually steel I think getting the press involved and spreading the word might help the kids' cause. It's obivously not a feel-good story with money being stolen, but ultimately I would think people would rally beind the kids and help fund the program once the criminals are outed and a new board is in place.

[The Kid 2822]

I think an anonymous call to the police is the best way to start...the PD would LOVE to get some good PR for nailing anyone who is doing something thats detrimental to the local youths and would follow through on this for sure. Just my opinion.

[bcbadgalz]

Originally Posted by skippy

The best thing to do is to call up your local media and let them know that there seems to be some improprieties/irregularities going on in that organization. Once this is made public, I am sure the local constabulary will look into it.

Agree skippy,
The local media needs a story like this one.
Get some steel, they will likey and bring it up, go anonymous or ask Jack for my e-mail and I will call it in from the outside ! Sounds like a bunch of BS to me bud, someone is stealing from the pot from the kids, not cool.

E-mail exchanges are not allowed here at the Mall, but I am a real good bitcher.
Perhaps he make an exception.

[Romanowski]

There was a similar story yet on a larger scale involving the Jockey Association or something on HBO Real Sports, an organization supposedly looking out for the jockeys interests(Pony racing), check it out Steel, They stole millions, and the Jockeys didnt even have basic health insurance