| Author | Message | ||
     Rde48 |
Anyone around here deal with Freedom of Info requests that could provide me with information? I have requested information from a small local non for profit and they have said flat out they will not provide me with any info. I am a member of the club and they recieve grant money from the state. I need to know if a FOI request is nessary and what other steps I could take to get information. I do not want to cause any problems for the club but the officers not communicate with me at all. I feel like somthbing is fishy. Thanks in advance for any insight into how things work. | ||
| Lastcyclone |
I believe FOI only applies to governmental, tax supported agencies. To get information from unwilling private parties, you may need a subpoena. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Yeah, I don't think FOI works for Not for Profits even if they are receiving grant money. I would check the by-laws of membership. Many non-profits/not for profits provide guidelines for members to receive internal documents. I know for many churches, members have the ability to request and receive financial documents and expenditures. | ||
| Rde48 |
The only thing in the bylaws about this is "Duties of the Treasurer: He/she shall at all times have books open for examination by the Board of Directors." I am not on the BOD because the BOD is made up of the current officers and the last 3 presidents which im sure is why this is so far out of control at this time. I have trying to understand how things work with the financials of the club but when they don't have regular meetings and no financial reports or minutes to look at. I just keep hitting the same brick wall. The meeting don't follow any rules of order and the current president said he has never even read the bylaws. Who has some power over these people? | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Not much of a Freedom of Information Act then. In Europe, ANY organisation, with the exception of govt intelligence depts, is obliged to disclose to you, on demand with proof of identity, such information as they hold about you. It's a human right. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I would seek out one of the BOD members and have them to request the information you seek on their behalf. What information are you looking for specifically? | ||
| Rde48 |
When I started requesting information I just wanted to see the 2 treasurer reports and minutes that were read at the meetings I attended and a list of club members in my area so I could make some contacts to try to get more people involved. After not receiving any responses to these emails and phone calls I asked for more of the financial information such as financial reports for the last 2 years. I am now to the point where I think we need to do a full audit of the club to see what is going on. My next request would be for full reconciliation with bank statements, listing of all club assets, grant paperwork, and the listing all members. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
In washington the FOI would be from the state the program that funded the grant, it would not be the inter workings of the group itself. Non Profits, and Unions are exempt from government FOI's Something to watch in the future no doubt. | ||
| Rde48 |
I have been in contact with the county who sponsors the clubs and receives the grant from the state to be distributed to the clubs. Their response to my concerns is below. In response to your concern about the club: I have never had an issue that the club hasn't responded to. We have no authority over the club with the exception of the trail grant monies and all procedures for the grant are followed. Another dead end...Who do I contact next? | ||
| Ratyson |
Being a member of this club, are you immune to any type of litigation that could come about if there are some shenanigans going on? If not, I would immediately withraw my membership in said club. It sounds really fishy to me that the club would not provide a member with this information. Other than that, I have nothing constructive to add as I don't know much about FOI stuff. (Message edited by ratyson on April 01, 2010) |
