Home > Tell the People > Archives > 2008 > November > 06 > Entry
Community Blog: With Mills Gone, Who’s Next?
With Downtown Waco Inc. defunct and the executive director of 18 years going to jail, I have to ask, “Who’s next?” Non-profit corporate governance DOES NOT belong to the executive director, or a group of inured special interest insiders, or large donors. It is governed by federal tax-exempt laws and state non-profit corporation laws. It is owned by the community. The same community that allows you to have your tax-exempt status and the ability to receive tax dollars. You answer to the community! NO secret society, NO non-disclosure of financial information, NO closed meetings, NO non-disclosure of any public information, NO inured benefit for insiders, NO destruction of public records, NO collusion! And NO ONE is above the law!
Board of Directors! You do not own the non-profit corporation! If you see some irregularities, you must act immediately! If it is illegal or intentional deceptive activity you must take action and report it to the proper authorities! Immediately begin proper steps to protect your integrity, after all, you are merely a volunteer serving your community for worthy causes. And ignorance is no excuse of the law! You have been given legal and binding fiduciary authority and community stewardship of protecting community funds! These community funds are given graciously for community advancement and special causes! To allow the manipulation of this system for personal gain is wrong. Should you not act immediately prepare to face the consequences for allowing such activities to take place. NO EXCEPTIONS! Know your legal role as a board of director for a non-profit corporation.
Executive Directors, you do not own the non-profit corporation. You were hired to advance the organization. You are compensated with a salary, not internal entitlements and liberties for personal inurement and benefit! Creating opportunity by neglecting or overriding internal controls will be discovered by disinterested parties. Establishing collusion with employees, directors, vendors, or other third parties will also be discovered and expect an unforgiving community once everyone starts “tattle-telling” on each other. And rationalizing your evil deeds will only justify your punishment. You can thank Margaret Mills for setting the precedence when the community finally says “enough” and the district judge is given another opportunity to “get it right”.
Community, change is here! The credit crisis and the economy dictate tax-exempt operations. Tax exempt dollars from private entities must be used for community advancement and purpose. Minutes should be readily available and the directors should be knowledgeable to answer all questions. Public tax dollars are not just “giveaways” and should be scrutinized more than ever by everyone. Governmental tax dollars from local governments should be audited and reviewed by everyone. The non-profit tax-exempt laws protect no individuals when public scrutiny is in order. EVERYTHING is open for public review. You just have to request it. The general public has every right to make requests, not just members, directors, or a select few. The more requests the better. Let’s change Waco for the better, and start holding non-profits accountable should the need arise. Are there any other organizations that need to be publicly scrutinized for legal compliance? What do you think?
Comments
By jess
November 10, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
This sounds alot like the shady business affairs that has been going on at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. How did that man and his wife get away with doing the same thing that Margaret Mills did. I guess they have stolen enough money or the fact that all the board members are just as corrupt as the husband/wife team. I don’t know why people are still throwing money at these thieves.
By Curious
November 11, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
I agree - We the people have to learn to hold people accountable and boy did we learn about our power when we elected Obama - the people spoke through their vote - loud and clear - now get use to it - show up at the polls for every election - Remember at election time the lack of accountability to the people that some elected officials display when in office - like the hanging tree painting still in the courthouse - forget about Baylor - why is there no outrage about the noose still hanging in OUR courthouse - remember who voted to keep it “hanging”
remember the lack of an audit by the city for Downtown Waco - remember the obvious conflict of interests by some of the elected council members and the tax monies they award to non-profits who do not do what they are suppose to do with the money remember judges that let child molesters get probation remember the bankers who practiced deceitful banking practices and allowed a problem to get to the worst level for everyone - do you want your money in their banks Yeah, we the people need to keep going to the polls and holding people accountable - that is the only way we are going to enforce the fact that they work for us and need to think about that when they are making decisions Change is coming!!!
By Wind of Change
November 11, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
This whole ordeal just shows that people in Waco want justice but don’t do anything to get it. City government should have to answer for not requesting audits. Banks should have to answer for allowing business checks to pass through private accounts. Board members who are professionals in their industry should have to answer for allowing this action to take place for so long. And the community should be outraged for allowing this to happen over and over again.
But I guess when you have the old establishment stripping tax revenue from the poor and giving to their buddies and not worrying about accountability, local bankers who still “redline” and laugh because loans and deposits are centered around their church members and frat brothers,self patronizing board members who could care less about the organization because they are selfishly using their “community service” for some political career, and an ignorant community who has allowed itself to be manifested into pure followers and beggars then you get what Waco is today. We are truly a sad community with overwhelming bias and prejudice. The voting and election process is our only hope. Otherwise, expect to see reality billboards about Waco, negative national exposure for our “real” economic development, and the same old people doing the same old thing. Vote everyone out and elect new blood, if you have the guts. If you have never voted, now is the time to make a change.
By jess
November 12, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
What do you mean “change is coming”? More money printed up for people who are not being held responsible or accountable for the money they had. All I have heard Obama talk about is how much more money he is going to spend. $75 billion for his healthcare plan. Where is this money going to come from…me and you. The hardworking backbone of this great nation. There is no change. No matter who it is the taxpayers are here to dish out money. Maybe I need to look into buying a printing press.
By bussybody.08
November 12, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this
This Jess is as nutty as the person who wrote the main article. Fifteen years in banking! Ask him why he isn’t still in banking. He went from banking to selling used cars on Franklin Avenue and is now a gopher for a local bail bondsman. And in 1996 he was the treasurer for the Hispanic Chamber when it was deeply in debt. What happened then and where did the monies go!
By jess
November 12, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
To Busy Body:
Your name should be spelled with one s like busybody. You must know the person who wrote this. Where did you get your facts from? You must be one of the people down on their luck he tried to help you know something usually having to do with drugs or jail.
By Today Not Yesterday
November 13, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Maybe we need to begin the investigation starting in 1996, or is everything destroyed. What does this have to do about Margaret Mills and non-profits today? Sounds like busSybody.08 has an ax to grind with this guy. I think the blog is on track. Public money is not a “giveaway”. And no one owns a non-profit, or are certain people too ignorant to understand that? Sounds like it’s run by a bunch of illegals who don’t know the law anyway. But wait! They don’t know Spanish and the ones that do sound like peasants.
By shernandez76710
November 13, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Bussybody.08, I welcome your comments, but if you have a personal issue with me you can email me at shernandez76710@yahoo.com.
This is a community blog about our community. All my community blogs are meant to be informative and thought provoking. I never mentioned an entity, but the community speaks in an open forum. Just like you. Sorry if the community touched a nerve, for whatever reason that might be.
I will write about what interests the community. Sounds like my past experience with the Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce should be considered by indications of your comments. I resigned in 1996 from the organization and have not been affliated since. But I welcome your invitation. My articles speak for themselves, and my responses from the community reflect that. To write about my personal experiences would be of no interest. And to create personal attacks for deflecting the issues do not work with me. But maybe my non-profit experiences with the Mexican chamber could be more interesting. Thanks for your interest and your insight and be looking for future blogs about your interest.
S Hernandez
By Curious
November 13, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Ok Jess I do not understand your comment concerning Obama’s healthcare plan and how it relates to the blog -
But I do understand that there are other non-profits that may need to be looked at more closely - there has been a rash of corruption with some Waco non-profits - the Lions Club, The Animal Shelter and Downtown Waco… and there are still some questions that have not been answered about the Hispanic Chamber - like nepotism, financials… and the city recently awarded them more tax money - and a city council member did the audit - and the city council has a member who is related to the chamber ed - and the ED did do some unethical things to a member of the board
Non-profits do not pay taxes on the funds they receive because they are suppose to benefit the community - are the non-profits you know doing this? everyone is responsible to ensure that accountability is happening - we have to remain vigilante and hold people in authority accountable.
And don’t hate the blogger (Steve) hate the corruption he is warning against
By jess
November 13, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
You are right Curious, Obama’s healthcare plan has nothing to do with this blog, but hearing the rhetoric of change with no substance annoys me.
Anyway it is obvious that BusyBody was offended; therefore, he must have a guilty conscience. Very low blow and ignorant what was stated. Please stay on topic and I agree with Curious on this one don’t hate the blogger but don’t hate the truth either.
By Wind Of Change
November 13, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
Whatever happened to the LULAC-Hispanic Chamber marriage? Why did the board never comment on this? For that matter, why didn’t both boards comment? Co-mingling of funds, taking trips together without board approval, buying personal items. Why hasn’t anyone made a public statement about these three question marks?
And what is this about a city council member doing the audit? Never heard of that one. I guess city hall didn’t learn from DWI. Curious, I would like to know who this person is. I could go through a public records request, but why when we can take full advantage of this community blog? What else does the community need to know about these non-profits? You are tax exempt, so therefore you do answer to us, and public disclosure is open for discussion. If they need to be exposed, then I for one say, “Waco, We Do Protect Our Tax Money From City Hall” Isn’t that our motto? Waco We Do. But Do What? This is a start. Hold everyone accountable.
As for the personal attacks? It just means you’re on to something. Simple minded people playing simple minded games. Stick to the issues. I recommend you respond with MORE information, and I would like to know more. So, yes, do another blog about these questionable community organizations that are city hall exempt. And Thanks for your blog.
By Curious
November 13, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
The only one on the council that is certified to do an audit is Randy Riggs - he did the audit for the Chamber in the past - it was in the Paper - the city knows they should have a copy…oh wait a minute don’t make any assumptions - that is if they require a copy of the audit - you never know concerning the city.
By Steve Supporter
November 13, 2008 6:19 PM | Link to this
Steve, now I know people who support Groper Joe are not about to go after you personally, cuz there are muncho dirtys with him and his people. Where do we start? Just keeping it real.
By funky h
November 13, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
Groper Joe…hilarious! Dirty old man. Some Executive Director.
By Insider
November 14, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
The councilman is Randy Riggs. He is the account that has and maybe still is doing the financial audit for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Alice Rodriguez is the wife of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Joe Rodriguez.
By busybody2008
November 14, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Why doesn’t anyone ask for financial information or corporate minutes from these people? With an Open Records request as non-profits they are required to give all information. And anyone can request it. If they don’t respond I think that’s when the Attorney General gets involved. But I believe you have to ask for the information from them first. I mean infromation from the city, Lulac, Cthcc, and the other shell organization they created. It’s time to find out what’s really going on and who’s all involved. That board is legally accountable. Make them act now!!!!!!!
By Curious
November 14, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
The Board of Directors of non-profits take on the financial responsibility of the organization and are accountable to the community they serve to ensure that what ever funds they raise is going to further the mission and cause of the organization. If the Board has members related to the Executive Director like the Hispanic Chamber it makes it very difficult to act on behalf of the community when a board has to. I understand a step daughter, a step grandson, cousins, wife, compadras… serve on this board. And what is even more interesting nepotism is not against the law - the non-profit has to set policy on this - and why would these board members set policy to get rid of themselves?
By Wind of Change
November 15, 2008 2:24 AM | Link to this
So let me get this straight. The Hispanic Chamber ED has a step-daughter, step grandson, and other family members and family friends on the board? Who’s on the board? So I guess they don’t have a conflict of interest policy that spells out nepotism. I thought that was required by the IRS on the form 990? Who does their tax filing? And these people are under the auspices of a non-profit organization? And now they think the community shouldn’t question their activities? How long has this been going on? Where is the Hispanic community in all of this? And what is city hall doing about it? So the wife of the ED (Alice Rodriguez) sits on the council, they get an audit from another council member (Randy Riggs), and every other council member just lets it go without questions? No wonder why we are considered a border town and a violent city. Everyone is either sleeping or “playing politics”.