This letter was read at the August 2006 meeting of the central board of MECDA by Doyne Allen. After recent heart surgury, Harry's voice was still horse.
Dear new President, members of the board, ladies and
gentlemen, good afternoon.
It is important for me to speak to you today in
candor. It is never easy to speak
the truth. It is much easier to be
silent ~ to be a bystander because it bears no responsibility, and no risk of
hurting anyone’s feelings or confronting anyone’s opinions or values. Many of you will remain silent because
it is troublesome, awkward and even painful to speak the truth. However, my conscience leaves me no
other choice. In the words of Dr.
Martin Luther King, “A time comes when
silence is betrayal.” I cannot,
in my right mind betray MECDA
anymore~ an organization in which I have been a member for 28
years.
I
have known Marta Schill for 30 years.
She has been a friend and colleague, and for many years was an excellent
president of the organization.
However, in recent years, her misguidance of MECDA has been of
incompetent proportions. Not only
am I asking her to step down from her current position as Vice President and/or
a Board Member but also I am demanding accountability by having her furnish all
of the files, records of funds, past and present, and all documents concerning
MECDA.
Here is what I know:
ü
Cairo Carnivale 2006 was a disaster on many
levels including the location at Santa Anita Raceway. Additionally, vendor
relations were so badly damaged that it is predicted that 1/3rd of
the vendors will not return next year. I am puzzled and it still remains a
mystery as to why Marta Schill decided to keep the same incompetent Vendor
Coordinator in charge when we all know that last year he was a total failure?
Both of these issues could have been diverted if Marta would have accepted
readily available counsel from members of MECDA. Instead, Cairo Carnival was the ship and
Marta was the only captain at the helm.
It was a dictatorial ship …not a democratic
one.
ü
The printing and mailing fiasco of “The
Teachers Directory” was a faux pas so serious that in any legitimate company in
the United States it would have been means for reprimand and/or dismissal of
whomever was involved.
ü
Unaccounted salaries plus bonuses for employees of
MECDA should come swiftly to the forefront of major problems in the
organization. Need I remind you
that this is a “non-profit organization.”?
The very definition of non-profit organization is: an
organization that is not operated for the purpose of making a profit for its
owners, employees or shareholders.
ü
Marta Schill has been involved in MECDA for
28 years and has refused over and over again to make public files/documents and
annual income reports. The
summaries that she has recently made public were embarrassingly short of
critical details and should have been a “red flag” for anyone concerned about
MECDA and its future.
ü
Five years ago, the disappearance of a
$1,500 laptop computer is not only questionable but should be recorded and taken
as a very serious matter in MECDA, not one of
indifference.
ü
Am I correct or misinformed that any member
on this board can write a check from MECDA funds for themselves without a
secondary authorized signature? Are they treating MECDA’s funds like their own
bank account?
If this is true, then I believe we have a serious
problem.
ü
The negotiations between Cymbal Magazine,
Habibi Publication and The Chronicle’s Magazine should have been for Membership
knowledge.
ü
Latest developments: One of the Founding
Mothers of MECDA along with one of our long time members were frustrated enough
to go and complain to IRS about the way MECDA is mishandling the funds. A few
months later when another member tries to do the same, complaining to IRS about
the Inland Empire Chapter for disappearing funds, IRS tells that member that
they already have a red flag on MECDA’s files and they will be audited. So get
ready board members, this is not going to be a pleasant
experience.
ü
And finally, as we all know, the MECDA
Anniversary party is going to be held at Santa Anita Raceway, the unfortunate
location where Cairo Carnival was held. Many members are asking why? This venue should not be used for MECDA
Anniversary Party. Marta Schill and the Board Members are not visionary, for
them MECDA is here, it’s working and it’s okay. They are out of touch with
reality. They keep ignoring the most wonderful resource,
the
These are only some of the problems that Marta Schill has
been a catalyst for, causing fragmentation, rumors, gossips, tensions and
disputes in and around MECDA.
Membership and public faith in MECDA is eroding and until Marta steps
down from her position in the organization we will not be able to start the
repair process, which is so desperately needed. If Marta does not step down then the
spirit of MECDA will suffer under her, who has created an atmosphere of anxiety,
doubt and total mistrust. However,
if she resigns, she will show fortitude, wisdom and courage allowing MECDA to be
shaped by new leaders in its deep need for new guidance and not a dictatorship.
Presently Marta is no longer an asset to MECDA. If she doesn’t show humility and
grace by stepping down, then that will be upon her conscience and everyone’s
conscience here today who sits silently by and says nothing, and that will keep
hurting our Middle Eastern Cultural and Dance
Association.
Thank you
Harry
Saroyan