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Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. A Case Study of Concerns
Among the alphabet soup of national Pagan organizations is a group that goes by W.A.R.D., Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. In recent months, several persons have been investigating the actions and activities of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. to determine the truth of several allegations that have been raised against this organization. The results of my personal investigation, as well as source document links and other supporting materials follow. For those who desire a short answer, this particular alphabet soup may cause food poisoning.
The report that follows details the severe and potentially criminal misconduct by the management of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc., Pennsylvania Corporate ID number 2844360. This report will be broken down into several key categories of analysis: Financial Management, Legal Compliance, and Ethics. For many of the referenced links, you will need to have a Yahoo ID and join the Yahoo Group WARDList in order to read the referenced messages. You can join this list at the following address. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList If you receive any notices of “message does not exist” when checking these links, be aware that Yahoo Groups list owners and moderators may delete messages from their archives as can the original message poster.
Financial Management
Be advised that the information in this section has previously been supplied to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and is referenced as tracking number T200203260096Z253278, transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department as of March 30, 2002.
The financial management of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. is perhaps the most troubling aspect of the organization. Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc., hereafter called the corporation, was registered as a not for profit corporation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1998. To date, there is no record of an application by the corporation with the Internal Revenue Service to extend their not for profit status to the national level as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization or any other classification as a not for profit corporation. Despite this lack of filing for tax exempt/charitable organization status with the Internal Revenue Service, the corporation web site carries this quote on their membership page: “All WARD donations are tax deductible.” From http://www.ward-hq.org/join.html as of April 11, 2002.
The revenues received by the corporation are largely derived from four sources. Those sources are cash infusions from the Board of Directors, membership fees, direct monetary donations, and donations of goods and services for fundraising projects. To date, no accounting of the net amount of these annual receipts has been received by this author or any other persons known to me. But we have been able to recover significant information relating to their revenue through their corporate communications list and web site.
Membership and Membership Fee Concerns
The membership fees range from free to silver with price ranges from zero to $60 per person. The typical general membership is $25 for which you receive specific materials, most notably a member’s handbook which is not yet available. This is of note considering that the corporation has solicited memberships for nearly 4 years and has yet to provide a members handbook despite advertising it as a part of the membership benefits. This note appears on their membership application page regarding the member’s handbook: “Also, please note that the Membership Handbook will only be available online when complete.” [emphasis added] From http://www.ward-hq.org/join.html as of April 11, 2002.
Another membership benefit listed for all paid memberships is the corporation newsletter, either a single copy or a subscription. A check of the corporation web site at this address http://www.ward-hq.org/newsletter.html shows only a single newsletter which is available free of charge to anyone clicking on the link. From http://www.ward-hq.org/newsletter.html
Also, despite the fact that this is an online application process and utilizes all 4 major credit cards for payment, the corporation still requires an abnormally large amount of time to process membership requests. “Your membership package will be mailed to you within 6-8 weeks. Thank you for your support.” From http://www.ward-hq.org/join.html as of April 11, 2002.
Recent posts from their corporate communication list archives indicate that this abnormally long processing time is still insufficient in order to process member applications, though payments are processed promptly. “Oh
heck, I can beat that...it's been about two years since WARD From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15527
This message received the following reply from the Membership Director: “I have sent you *3* different packages. You need to contact me privately about this, we have spoken before. This forum is NOT for addressing membership queries on.” [emphasis added] From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15528
Of course, a large portion of this allegation of payment for membership with no receipt of promised materials is also allegedly covered by this posting: “I have been the Membership Director since October of 2000. If you applied for membership prior to that, I do NOT have your records. The prior Director distroyed them as she was removed.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/14530
There is also this message requiring people to prove that they paid for their membership before they receive anything: “Membership packages are being processed. If you have signed up for anything other than a free membership, can prove your payment has been processed (i.e., cancelled check, credit card statement, etc..) please contact me off list so we can process the package if you have not gotten one.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/13233
The entire membership mismanagement is summed up in this message: “Now, the issue as of recently since October of 2000 when I took the position, was where WERE the records from prior members at? Darla said she had a copy "somewhere" but didn't know where they were (they are hardcopy, so this does involve SERIOUS typing and re typing them) and said to contact Calissta and get the archives. Amazingly enough, she'd "lost" the records.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/10203
These last two messages serve to illustrate how severely mismanaged the entire membership aspect of the corporation is. Message 10203 where the problem with destroyed/lost/missing records was first identified publicly occurred on Friday May 11, 2001 and includes the statement that this issue had been known about for a while and that the new Membership Director had tried to keep quiet about it. The destroyed records are used as an excuse six months later in message 13233 on Monday Nov 5, 2001. The destroyed records excuse was again used three months later with message 14530 on Sunday Feb 3, 2002. As of that most recent posting, more than 16 months had passed under the current Membership Director and still there is no accurate accounting of membership fees or promised materials. Exactly what happened to all of those memberships from November 1998 to November 2001 when people were asked to prove that they had paid for memberships? The corporation has three years worth of financial contributions which cannot be accounted for or attached to a specific donor while at the same time telling people that they can deduct their donations. “All WARD donations are tax deductible.” From http://www.ward-hq.org/join.html as of April 11, 2002.
Direct Donations
Direct donations of money to the corporation by individuals are the second most difficult type of contribution to track. Consequently, the amount of information uncovered relating to direct donations is less than the information uncovered regarding membership fees and Board of Directors contributions.
A single incident case of solicitation for funds to take fraudulent tax deductions occurred on October 21, 2001 by Assistant National Director, Darla Kaye Wynne. In a message posted to the corporate communications list, Ms. Wynne requested financial assistance directly from the members “I have become involved in a situation that I can't handle on my own and WARD does not assist in these matters, so I am going directly to it's members and requesting assistance.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/12829
Yet at the conclusion of this extended story, Ms Wynne makes the following statement “If you can or are willing to assist me in this matter, please send me a note along with your donation stating that it is for the dog and you can make your donation out to WARD and still claim it as a tax deduction on your taxes and send to WARD's address" WARD 44 Walnut Street Great Falls, SC 29055” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/12829
This message, posted on the corporation communication list, is requesting that individuals make financial contributions that are to be sent to Ms. Wynne for the care of an animal, a situation she states specifically is not a part of the actions of the corporation, yet also tells people to make their donations out to the corporation and claim the tax deduction. The last time I checked, that is tax fraud. By requesting others to assist in the fraud it becomes conspiracy to defraud.
I am also curious as to how the donations were recorded by the corporation and how they were then expensed to the corporation. In order for the donations to be tax deductible, the funds would have to be received by the corporation and thus recorded in their financial records. For Ms. Wynne to use the funds to offset her personal expenses with the dog she took into her care, the funds would have to be transferred from the corporation to her. I am wondering how that funds exchange is recorded by the corporation. Since recording the exact nature of the transaction in the corporate records would clearly indicate fraud, it is probable that the transactions were recorded in a different way, thereby adding a charge of falsification of records to the list of illegal actions surrounding this one incident of funds solicitation.
The question as to how many other similar requests for donations have been solicited may never be known.
Board of Directors Contributions
The means and methods by which the members of the Board of Directors provide contributions to the corporation is of great concern. Evidence of the commingling of personal and corporate finances exist such that an accurate accounting of what has been donated to the corporation, what has been given to the corporation in the form of a loan, and what has been repaid by the corporation may never be accurately determined.
The information provided by the Assistant National Director, Darla Kaye Wynne, during a recent inquiry to the corporations cash management, particularly as they concerned litigation filed by Ms. Wynn against the city of Great Falls, SC that was financed by the corporation served to fully illustrate these issues "Civil filing fees and copies amounting to $156.50 were paid for by Witches Against Religious Discrimination, according to a receipt attached to court documents." From http://www.onlinechester.com/onlinechester/myarticles.asp?H=1&S=485&P=240408&PubID=4534
Yet Ms. Wynne insists that the litigation, which bears her name, is a personal matter and that the corporation is not involved in the litigation. "You need to look closely at the Great Falls suit. That is my personal suit with the town council, not WARD's. Just because I am a member of the BoD does not make every action that I do WARD's." From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15160
The issue of the source of these funds as well as the corporation’s total financial record keeping becomes even less clear following an additional statement by Ms. Wynne "Yes, I did write a check of WARD's to pay for the services, but what you are not aware of is that WARD owes me well over $10,000 and on that very day, I put the money into WARD's account to cover those fees. While the check was of WARD the money was not." From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15184
This quote raises several questions. If the litigation is personal, why would she use a corporate check? Why would Ms. Wynne put her money into the corporation account to cover the expense if the corporation was already indebted to her? If the litigation is personal and the corporation owes her money, why then would she take the time to take her personal funds, deposit them to the corporate account only to draft a check the corporate account the same day? Did the corporation record her deposit as a donation, or as a loan? A personal description of the events of the day this occurred describes how tight the time table was for reaching the filing place for this litigation and that Ms. Wynne and another person made it to the filing place only minutes before their filing deadline. From http://www.ward-hq.org/news.html
If the time table was so tight, the extra step of transferring personal funds to the corporate account is a waste of time. Only three explanations are possible: Ms. Wynne wanted to use some form of fear factor against the town in her litigation by using the corporation check to finance the litigation; there was no transfer of personal funds to cover the expenditure, the litigation was wholly and completely funded by the corporation; there is no distinction between Ms. Wynne’s personal finances and the finances of the corporation. Since Ms. Wynne has claimed repeatedly that this is her personal litigation only one conclusion can be drawn. Whether she actually used corporate funds or the unknown funds that have resulted from her commingling of finances, or simply wanted the corporate name for the fear factor, she utilized the not for profit corporation for personal benefit. Operating a not for profit corporation for the benefit of its creator and an action strictly prohibited by the Internal Revenue Service.
Fundraising
Fundraising is the last primary means by which the corporation obtains its funding. Due to the haphazard manner in which fundraising is conducted by the corporation and presented to their public communications list, information regarding the financial contributions of individual members for the purposes of local events is also included in this category.
The first question regarding fundraising is whether or not the corporation is properly recording and reporting all contributions. Examples of contributions that are likely not being reported either for the determination of gross receipts or for tax purposes would be the expenses incurred by non Board of Directors members and donation of merchandise for fundraising events. “It
is a very true statement that WARD would, (if money From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15186
Has the corporation properly recorded the numerous cash and merchandise donations that have occurred over the past 7 years, extending back to the time period prior to the corporation’s current status as a Pennsylvania Domestic Nonprofit Corporation, all been properly recorded and reported? Has the corporation filed the required reports to allow these individuals to deduct these reimbursed expenses from their taxes?
Since each of the state and local chapters fall under the umbrella of the main corporation, are the proper financial records being kept for donations such as were offered here “I don't know how many people know this, but I make all kinds of metaphysical items and sell them on my website and on ebay, quite reasonably. In the Samhain newsletter for AZ WARD I will be donating all sales from Samhain until Yule to AZ WARD. (Only the shipping costs will be deducted from the sales. The cost of materials and making the items is my donation, and will go to AZ WARD.)” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/12414
“Second, IL WARD is holding a silent auction fundraiser at Pagan Expo this coming weekend in Chicago. We will have an information booth there as well. Donations for the silent auction are still being accepted.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/10339
Because of the questions that follow in the Legal Compliance section which bring into question the tax exempt status of the corporation, fundraising through means such as “I have done Pagan garage sales and made a little $. I have done nonprofit booths in malls and baked muffins and etc and made really good $.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/12394 Become highly questionable.
Financial Management Summary
When we consider the larger picture of the total financial management of the corporation in light of the specific examples of mismanagement, commingling of funds and fraudulent solicitation of funds, it becomes clear that any inquiry by a governing body of the finances of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. is almost certain to show extreme discrepancies, false reporting, under-reporting, misappropriations, and a host of other criminal acts and civil violations the cumulative result of which most certainly be terminal for the corporation, potentially damaging to their past contributors in the form of past due taxes, penalties and interest, and potential incarceration for one or more of the Directors.
Perhaps that is why Ms. Wynne is such a staunch advocate of the prison ministry program; she knew that one day she might need to utilize their services.
Legal Compliance
As a corporation registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. has required reporting requirements with the Pennsylvania Department of State, the agency which oversees their registration. The company also must meet certain legal requirements specified by the Internal Revenue Service.
Location of Corporation
The first question
to
arise is whether or not the corporation can legally claim to exist as
a Pennsylvania Corporation. The official address for the corporation
is the residence of the Assistant National Director, Ms. Darla Kaye
Wynne and is located at 44 Walnut Street From http://www.ward-hq.org as of April 11, 2002
Furthermore, it appears that there is not even an affiliated State group located within the boundaries of Pennsylvania as indicated on their State Directors list From http://www.ward-hq.org/directors.html as of April 11, 2002
Yet Pennsylvania requires that a not for profit corporation have an address within the Commonwealth in order to register there. “Q:
Is it a requirement to have a Pennsylvania address in order to have a
business in the Commonwealth? From http://www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/faq.htm
Department of State Annual Report
Assuming that some means of legally maintaining registration of their domestic nonprofit corporation in Pennsylvania despite having no state group operating there and having the corporate headquarters in South Carolina, the corporation must still abide by the reporting requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of State. Among these is a requirement for an annual report with a change in corporate officers. “Q:
Does Pennsylvania require annual filings for documents? From http://www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/faq.htm
The specific required reports that must be filed with a change in officers is REV. 1605 CT (names of corporate officers) and Annual Statement-Nonprofit Corporation.
According to the records of the Pennsylvania Department of State, the corporation has failed file either the names of corporate officer notice or the annual statement every year. The Department of State records shows that only the original corporate filing of November 4, 1998 is on record. From http://corps.state.pa.us/corhis.php?curpage=1&entityno=2844360&cornam=WITCHES%20AGAINST%20RELIGIOUS%20DISCRIMINATION,%20INC. as of April 11, 2002
When questioned about this lack of filing documents required to be filed pursuant to 15 Pa C.S. section 5110, this reply was given by Ms. Wynne on March 23, 2002 “I spoke with Christine Craft yesterday. She stated she recently did the updates so it must now be the fact that the state of PA is behind on putting information up on the web and not WARD. So it seems your concerns of WARD losing it's recognition is unfounded. Before that would happen any way, they would send Christine a letter and she would have the opportunity of making the necessary updates, which since the time we have been incorporated has not happened. [emphasis added] From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15122
Effectively what this message does is admit that for at least the preceding 3 years, the corporation has operated in violation of the law by their failure to provide required documentation to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The financial matters previously addressed also raise serious questions as to whether or not the corporation has maintained legal compliance regarding their tax and financial reporting to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service. As noted previously, there is no record that the corporation has filed for any form of tax exempt or charitable status with the internal revenue service.
Lobbying and Political Action
The Articles of Incorporation filed by the corporation include a section on the Internal Revenue Service provisions that apply to them as a domestic not for profit corporation. http://www.ward-hq.org/paper1.jpg In those Articles of Incorporation, the corporation states that it will conduct itself in full compliance with the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. One of the specific entries on the corporation’s documentation is the statement “No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be to carry on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by the Internal Revenue Code section 501(h) or participating in or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office” From http://www.ward-hq.org/paper1.jpg
The Assistant National Director has made it a standard practice over the past several years to use the resources of the corporation, most notably the corporate communications list operated on Yahoo Groups, to forward and repost information from various political action committees. These messages frequently endorse or denounce legislation, political appointees, and political candidates. Numerous examples of such messages exist in the list archives. “From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Thu Oct 5, 2000 7:29
am From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/6948
“From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Sun Oct 22, 2000 6:44
pm [This message includes frequent statements such as “WE MUST STOP THIS ATTEMPTED RIGHT WING COUP ON OUR GOVERNMENT!!!” and “VOTE FOR A PRO CHOICE CANDIDATE!!!”] From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/7214
“From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Sat Oct 28, 2000 11:39
am From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/7343
“From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Thu Nov 2, 2000 11:50
am From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/7449
“From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Thu Nov 2, 2000 11:53
am From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/7450
Frequent forwards of messages from People for the American Way, a political action committee; American Civil Liberties Union (not the not for profit ACLU Foundation); Amnesty International; and American Atheist are a regular and recurrent part of the corporation archives.
Of course, the candidate advocacy is not limited to forwarded messages. Ms. Wynne has also made her own statements that clearly support specific candidates for office From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Thu Nov 9, 2000 10:28
am [Includes the statement “This is truly the real problem with Bush being president and the Republican party being in control of the government.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/7671
It should also be mentioned that IRS Form 5768 was not filed for the year 2000 which would have permitted issue lobbying but still would have prohibited the candidate advocacy we have seen here.
I would also note that while the prior references all are from the time period of the November 2000 elections, the activity of lobbying and political activism continues at the current time. “From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Wed Mar 27, 2002 7:59
am From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15244
“From:
AKLover@a...
Date: Wed Mar 27, 2002 11:17
am
Of course, the diversity of the subject matter posted by Ms. Wynne and other members of the Board of Directors also shows a disregard for the mission of the corporation as listed on their Articles of Incorporation. What do arctic drilling mental retardation and capital punishment have to do with a corporation who’s stated mission is “to promote a better understanding of the art of witchcraft as a religion, its history, and the discrimination encountered by its followers and believers: and to end such discrimination through education, knowledge and the affirmation of religious freedom?”
Ethics
Much of the preceding information is relevant to the issue of the ethical standards of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc since it would indicate a lack of a strong ethical standard by their repeated violation of legal and financial requirements. Beyond the legal aspect, there are also numerous other examples of ethically questionable activities by the Board of Directors of the corporation.
Great Falls Situation
In addition to the information regarding the commingling of personal and corporate funds by the Assistant National Director that was reviewed under Financial Management above, there is other information available which shows additional ethical concerns relating to the involvement of the corporation with this litigation.
Information available in the Great Falls Reporter http://www.onlinechester.com would indicate that Ms. Wynne is engaged in a personal vendetta against the town government or specific members of that government, a vendetta which has at least in part been financed by the corporation. News reports of problems that Ms. Wynne has had with zoning variances and an ethical charge she made against the Mayor are detailed in these stories. The sequence of events is important to note in that Ms. Wynne made her ethics complaint against the Mayor on June 4, 2001, nearly 4 months after the alleged inciting incident which led to the litigation that was paid for by the corporation. The prayer litigation was filed on August 20, 2001. They Mayor was cleared of Ms. Wynne’s charges on September 30, 2001. On October 25, 2001 the City retained legal council for the litigation filed by Ms. Wynne. In December Ms. Wynne made allegations that she was being harassed by members of the city government by refusing to grant her request for a zoning variance. In March the city declared Ms. Wynne’s property, coincidentally the headquarters of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. a nuisance. The appearance is that Ms. Wynne has fired a shot gun blast against the town, throwing anything she can against the wall to see what will stick. It would also appear that Ms. Wynne’s later charge of harassment due to the denial of her zoning variance is now a moot point following the recent statement that the County enforce the zoning for her property which Ms. Wynne has apparently violated while seeking her variance. That corporation funding has been used in this matter, and may again be used to correct the nuisance issues currently being pursued by the city, is an ongoing concern both ethically and legally.
On a side note, how is any national civil rights or educational organization going to be taken seriously when their corporate headquarters has been declared a public nuisance; a designation normally reserved for biker bars, strip clubs and junk yards?
Mayoral Ethics Charges http://www.onlinechester.com/onlinechester/myarticles.asp?H=1&S=485&P=280852&PubID=5252
Zoning Variance Dispute http://www.onlinechester.com/onlinechester/myarticles.asp?H=1&S=485&P=295835&PubID=5534
Chester County nuisance and abatement officer to proceed with action. http://www.onlinechester.com/onlinechester/myarticles.asp?H=1&S=485&P=337078&PubID=6299
WARD Canada
Information was recently presented to the corporation communication list that the former Director of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. of Canada, Mr. Forfar, was claiming defamation of character by the current Board of Directors due statements made on the corporation web site. The corporation has since removed these statements from their web site though they remain in the communications archives as Formal Press Release from W.A.R.D. Oct. 29th, 2001 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/12936 The most notable component of the allegations against Mr. Forfar was that he was illegally using the acronym WARD to identify a new organization he had created after his departure from the corporation.
Mr. Forfar’s complaint was posted tot heir communications list here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15057
The reality of this is that Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. is registered under their full name in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania further restricts names which may be registered as follows “The name of every Pennsylvania business corporation must include a designator "incorporated", "corporation", "limited" "company"(or an abbreviation thereof), or "association", "fund", or "syndicate".” From http://www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/names.htm
As such “WARD” in and of itself may not be registered in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the new corporation has a slightly different name that yielded the same acronym and was not registered in Pennsylvania, nor did it even exist in the United States. As such, Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. did indeed slander and defame the character of Mr. Forfar simply because he chose to both leave the corporation and to start a corporation that potentially would compete with Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. for resources, cases and prestige.
When this was pointed out to the Board of Directors, their reply was “I guess our attorneys must be wrong.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/15069
The new Canadian division of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. still bears this disclaimer on their web site “W.A.R.D Canada takes this opportunity to remind all that we are NOT affiliated in any way with the newly formed Canadian National Celtic Witches Against Rights Discrimination group formed by the former director of W.A.R.D. Canada. W.A.R.D. Canada is a sister-organization to the much acclaimed Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. organization in the United States. Please see the W.A.R.D. Headquarters site for more information.” From http://www.wardcan.org/disclaimer.html
The WARDCanada issue also raises several questions as to the legality of the Pennsylvania Domestic Not For Profit Corporation filing. It would appear that the corporation exercises more than a bond of sisterhood with their Canadian counterpart. The following statement by the National Secretary of the corporation would appear to indicate that the Board of WARDCanada is appointed by the US Directors. “There have recently been some changes to WARD Canada. Jody Nevill has been appointed as your new director.” [emphasis added] From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WARDList/message/11796
The WARDCanada issue remains turbulent as of this report with the following information having been posted to the WitchWars list by the current, as of April 13, 2002, Canadian Director. “However, the organizations members are currently voting on the continued status of W.A.R.D. Canada, whats to be done with the money in the accounts, new directorship if it continues, and my written work involving the organization. I tendered my resignation last night, effective April 30th. Should W.A.R.D. Canada continue, I will stick around long enough to help a new director get established if need be.” From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WitchWars/message/12203
Other Ethics Issues
Numerous other ethics violations exist, in fact too many to detail here. The frequent and repeated banning of members of the corporation or the corporate communications list for asking questions, especially those questions relating to the issues addressed in this report; the lack of electoral accountability despite requirements in the by-laws of the corporation that such elections will be held annually; a method of selecting cases and situations for involvement which is fluid and appears to vary to benefit friends of the Directors; failure to investigate, acknowledge or report improper or illegal actions by the Directors and other officers of the corporation.
Summary
In summary, it would appear that the legal and ethical problems of Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. are such that the corporation is not likely to remain a viable entity in the future. The issues which have been raised here are such that any of the appropriate oversight agencies, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, the Pennsylvania Department of State, or the Internal Revenue Service are likely to force a cessation of operations by the corporation, at least as it currently exists as a domestic not for profit corporation. It is also highly probable that upon the release of this report to the greater population of the membership of the corporation as well as other potential donors that financial support for the corporation will dwindle. This reduction of resources, combined with the increase in demand for financial resources that will ensue as a result of the civil and criminal issued raised in this report, are almost certain to result in the dissolution of the corporation.
And from what we have seen here, that may be the most positive thing that Witches Against Religious Discrimination, Inc. could do for the Pagan community at this time.
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