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Dourque Award Winners:
Ms. Mary Remer the President and Norma Shepherd the Treasurer of the BTCA
are co-winners of the 1st award. They have earned this aware for
the complete financial destruction of the "Bull Terrier Club of America". Read
below for more information:
BULL TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA, INC. TM
Founded 1897
December 4, 2009
Dear B.T.C.A. Member,
I am writing to inform you of some profoundly distressing news that legal
counsel and the authorities in Rhode Island have advised can now be
presented to you, On December 4, 2009 Norma Shepherd, Treasurer of the
B.T.C.A., was arrested in Lincoln, RI for embezzlement. The Board and I are
gravely concerned about this alleged criminal behavior, betrayal of trust,
and its impact on the BTCA.
There were five accounts in the name of the B.T.C.A. at the Bank of America
in North Smithfield, RI. Ms. Shepherd was sole signatory on four of the
accounts and co-signee on one other. It appears that all accounts have been
totally depleted for personal use, including the General Fund, rescue
accounts, the Doble Fund and the Irene Mann Memorial Fund. Once our records
are recovered, a full forensic account audit will be done to determine the
full extent of the loss. This may be done by the Attorney General's Office
in Rhode Island or may be an effort that the club must undertake. A search
for a suitable CPA is underway in the event we need to conduct this audit
ourselves. In an effort to fully disclose to you what information we have at
present, it appears that the serious discrepancies in our bank account have
been occurring since January 2008, and possibly before that. It will take a
forensic audit to determine the total sum taken with any accuracy, but an
initial review of only bank statements indicates inappropriate withdrawals
of over $100,000. The Board of the Bull Terrier Club of America has and will
continue to be in contact with the appropriate authorities in Rhode Island
and will work closely with them for full prosecution and hopefully recovery
of some club assets. We have retained legal counsel to guide us in these
efforts and the AKC has been informed. With limited access to financial
records and insurance policies, we regret to inform you that it appears no
current bond of the treasurer is in place.
The Board has relieved Ms. Shepherd of signatory access to the accounts, and
on December 4, 2009, voted unanimously to terminate her position as
Treasurer of the B.T.C.A. under the corporate statutes of the State of
Tennessee where the club is incorporated. Dale Schuur and I have been added
to all accounts to serve as B.T.C.A. signatories on an interim basis. Dale
will serve as interim Treasurer.
There are a number of things that we need to address. First of all, because
we do not have an accounting for paid dues for 2009, we will use the 2009
membership for 2010. If you have not yet paid for 2010, please send your
dues to Dale Schuur. If you have paid, we thank you. If you have updates to
your contact information, please send them to Naomi Waynee, Executive
Secretary at nwaynec@q.com
As a first priority, the B.T.C.A. will conduct a search for a new Treasurer
under the guidelines provided for in the Constitution. We will put enhanced
financial management controls in place. We will review our outstanding
financial obligations and will pay them as soon as possible. Next, we will
be embarking on a major fund raising campaign. Claudia Sharp has been
appointed by the Board to chair these efforts. You will hear more about this
in the near future. Finally, the Board has determined that the B.T.C.A.
expenses required for publishing BARKS, the hosting of Silverwood weekend
(judges' expenses, trophies, etc.) and rescue efforts will take priority in
the expense of club funds.
Events will continue to un-fold, and the Board and I will do our best to
keep you informed. In the meantime, the first way that you can help is to
reflect on what contribution you can make to help us restore our club funds
to meet the needs of club activities. As mentioned, we will be presenting
information regarding the fund raising campaign in the near future.
It is truly an unfortunate time for the B.T.C.A., but, because we are
resilient like our bullies, we will get through this. This is a wonderful
club, made up of wonderful people. I am confident that all of us, working
together, will weather this storm and continue our stewardship of our
beloved breed and club.
President
Ms. Mary Remer
811 Newtown Rd.
Villanova, PA 19085
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