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Your Viewpoint Letters to the Editor The rumor mill concerning certain board members of the Jasper Lakes Area Humane Society is running rampant, and we feel the need to respond. Most of you have heard one side of the story and intelligent people know there are always two sides to every story. Due to an ongoing investigation, the current board members have had to remain silent, even though we've been accused as being on a "witch hunt" and "troublemakers" from the previous board members we felt our duty to the public to vote off. This discord, among the board, began when the current board members were trying to correct the wrongs of the previous board members. The JLAHS van was being used for personal reasons with donated funds used to pay for fuel and maintenance. We could not and have not received a correct accounting of the JLAHS donation jar money. This would have easily been corrected before now, but the board members who know of the obligations of a 501c3 organization, had been out voted. All we set out to do was operate according to the rules and regulations of the IRS, applicable to any non-profit organization. This is where we met with resistance with those board members who felt they had no accountability. Upon an audit of the JLAHS equipment purchases, a possible inappropriate handling of funds was discovered. Some have called it a "witch hunt," but we felt it our duty to bring forth and it is now being fully investigated by the proper authority. By doing this, we have become the enemy of the previous board members who "looked the other way" even as the wrong doing continued. We have done the right thing and will stand by our decision. With the changes we have made by the removal of several board members and the resignation of one, the current board is now operating as it should with honesty, accountability, documentation of all incoming/outgoing funds and any donated items. We are now following the IRS regulations and are in compliance should we be audited. As you know, JLAHS is an all volunteer 501c3 charitable organization. For this reason, public funds raised and/or donated have to have a strict accounting. We (JLAHS) are responsible to the public for any and all donations received and have an obligation to supervise all donations received in a prudent and responsible manner. Board elections will be held Jan. 7 and we need your support to make sure that the humane society continues to operate with the dignity, accountability and transparency necessary to continue to ensure that all donated funds are used for the purpose intended. Letters to editor criteria set The Jasper Newsboy would like to publish your thoughts and concerns about issues that are important to you. All Letters to the Editor should be accompanied with the writer's name and daytime telephone number for verification purposes. Phone numbers will not be published, but the author's name will be. Under no circumstances will the author's name be withheld. All letters are subject to editing for newspaper style and clarity, without changing the meaning of the content. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Letters endorsing or opposing political candidates are considered political advertising and will be forwarded to the advertising department.
Deadline for letters is 10 a.m. Monday to be published in the following Wednesday's publication. |
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