By now everyone is aware that a large sum of money is missing from the treasury of the Gloucester City Little League. There is an ongoing audit. Until it is completed the exact figure will remain a secret.
The amount being thrown about by those in the know is somewhere between $35,000 and $50,000. I was also told the $25,000 given to the League last year by the Camden County Freeholder board to enhance the facilities is not included in the monies stolen. The County is managing that money
In February 2007, I wrote an article on the theft of $8,000 from the Gloucester City Firemen\’s Softball Marathon. That was the second time that a fireman in charge of the funds from that event was caught stealing. It happened once before in the 80\’s. Over $10,000 was taken at that time. The monies raised are used to support the Crozier-Chester Burn Center in Upland, Pennsylvania.
How can this continually happen in Gloucester City. Wouldn\’t you think that after seeing what happened to the Firemen that other organizations would learn from their mistake?
All that is needed is a requirement that at least two signatures are needed to withdraw monies from the treasury. At the monthly meeting the treasurer gives a detail report on what was spent over the past 30 days and how much remains in the bank account. The report is recorded in the minutes. On a quarterly basis the officers of the organization do an audit of the banking account to make sure the figures balance. Fifty thousand dollars, if indeed this is the amount that is missing, is not \”chump change\”.
As we learned from last year\’s episode with the firemen it will be sometime before the actual fact about how much was stolen is released. Once the audit is completed charges will be filed and then the Camden County Prosecutor\’s Office does an investigation.
In the meantime we need to be fair and not prejudge the individual (s) in charge of the League\’s treasury. Being human we naturally assume that the person is guilty before an indictment is handed down. But under our judicial system those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Last week a spokesman for the League said the missing funds will not result in the cancellation of the 2008 Little League season. This is good news.
However I do believe that some people will be reluctant to donate to the league this year because of the pilferage. Likewise I believe others will not be as generous when they pass a coin drop for the same reason.
Hopefully I am wrong.
There is no requirement for private organizations to release a treasury report to the public. But it certainly would help their cause if they were more open on how much money is raised each year from the coin drops and door to door solicitations.
After all it is the public\’s money that has been stolen. We donated it to be used for the kids playing baseball. And we deserve to be kept informed.
As a friend of mind said, \”Openness makes things like this nearly impossible.\”
Related: Bill\’s Point of View
Related: Bob Kephart
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