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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Kimmell was exonerated?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Let me see if I got this straight....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. Questions abound regarding Chamber solvency and
financial reporting.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. The Chamber board orders a financial
review.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. The Chamber staff arranges a member/public
meeting to unveil the results of the review.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>4. At this member meeting, the results of the
review are not released, since the review has not been completed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>5. The Chamber president says no audit is needed
because the review has not revealed any problems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Does anyone else find that situation bizarre?
Does anyone else think it sounds much like declaring the defendant innocent
while the jury is still deliberating? Or maybe like giving the student an
"A" while that student is still finishing up the final?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To me it sounds like a cover-up by an organization
that has no interest in an audit, straightening out its finances, or rebuilding
its reputation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is not the kind of organization that I want to
receive my tax dollars, as funneled through the city, county, school district
and university.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BL</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=dmcourtn@moscow.com href="mailto:dmcourtn@moscow.com">Dale
Courtney</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=dkglasebrook@turbonet.com
href="mailto:dkglasebrook@turbonet.com">Dave Glasebrook</A> ; <A
title=abkulbe@hotmail.com
href="mailto:abkulbe@hotmail.com">abkulbe@hotmail.com</A> ; <A
title=jack@moscowUSA.com href="mailto:jack@moscowUSA.com">Jack Van
Deventer</A> ; <A title=donnmo@lewiston.com
href="mailto:donnmo@lewiston.com">Donn Morse</A> ; <A
title=r.contender@juno.com
href="mailto:r.contender@juno.com">r.contender@juno.com</A> ; <A
title=nsadean@nsa.edu href="mailto:nsadean@nsa.edu">Roy Atwood</A> ; <A
title=ceo@michaelsenterprises.com
href="mailto:ceo@michaelsenterprises.com">Wes</A> ; <A
title=gdickison@moscow.com href="mailto:gdickison@moscow.com">Greg
Dickison</A> ; <A title=mikech@fsr.com href="mailto:mikech@fsr.com">Mike
Hall</A> ; <A title=jcarnahan@turbonet.com
href="mailto:jcarnahan@turbonet.com">John Carnahan</A> ; <A
title=myersmtp@turbonet.com href="mailto:myersmtp@turbonet.com">Joe Myers</A>
; <A title=keithd@moscow.com href="mailto:keithd@moscow.com">Keith Deimler</A>
; <A title=dougwils@moscow.com href="mailto:dougwils@moscow.com">Doug
Wilson</A> ; <A title=heirloom@moscow.com
href="mailto:heirloom@moscow.com">Doug Farris</A> ; <A
title=dmcourtn@moscow.com href="mailto:dmcourtn@moscow.com">Dale Courtney</A>
; <A title=jmoss@zealkn.net href="mailto:jmoss@zealkn.net">John Moss</A> ; <A
title=scottwmcd@hotmail.com
href="mailto:scottwmcd@hotmail.com">scottwmcd@hotmail.com</A> ; <A
title=thumper@mail.wsu.edu
href="mailto:thumper@mail.wsu.edu">thumper@mail.wsu.edu</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, October 15, 2004 4:42
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Chamber president:
No audit needed </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<H2><FONT size=3>Kimmell exonerated...
<HR>
</FONT></H2>
<H2>Chamber president: No audit needed </H2><BR>
<ADDRESS>Alexis Bacharach</ADDRESS><BR>An ongoing review of chamber finances
has identified no evidence of financial mismanagement, Moscow Chamber of
Commerce President Janice McMillan said.
<P>The review was supposed to be released Thursday to chamber members and
other interested members of the public, but McMillan said accountants from
Hayden, Ross & Co. still are compiling information.
<P>She confirmed there are concerns about the organization's finances, noting
a $20,000 shortfall in accounts receivable. Chamber board members anticipate
that deficit will be zeroed out within the month, McMillan said.
<P>"We have about $20,000 worth of travel money that is still out there," she
added. "If you don't understand the budget then yes, it looks like we have a
problem."
<P>The chamber's financial statements showed a number of irregularities over
the past year, including a $74,000 deficit in retained earnings - money that
accumulates over the course of a business' operations.
<P>McMillan said board members questioned the accuracy of the chamber's
financial information and hired accountants from Hayden, Ross & Co. in
Moscow to perform a financial review.
<P>"If there appeared to be a problem over the course of the review, we agreed
an audit would be performed," McMillan said. "So far, we've found nothing that
suggests a full audit is necessary. We decided to start with a review because
they are less expensive."
<P>Accountants reviewed the chamber's finances from 2001 through the current
budget month and are preparing comments to accompany the review.
<P>Chamber officials expect the review will be complete sometime next week.
<P>"We had hoped to have our review ready for tonight, but the school
district's audit took priority over ours," McMillan explained on Thursday to a
group of interested chamber and community members. "We will post our audit
review for comment as soon as it is completed."
<P>Officials gave a presentation on the chamber's role and mission instead of
discussing the financial issues, which Executive Director Paul Kimmell noted
was the main reason people attended Thursday's meeting.
<P>"I know there is concern about the finances which is why many of you are
here tonight," Kimmell said. "We understand your concerns. We take our
finances very seriously and are constantly looking for ways to streamline this
organization."
<P>Kimmell said the chamber is taking a number of steps to improve checks and
balances with the organization's financial dealings. Board members have agreed
that should funds be available, accountants will be hired to perform annual
financial reviews. The board also is in the process of appointing a separate
board for the chamber's foundation.
<P>Questions have been raised in recent months as to whether chamber board
members also should serve as foundation board members.
<P>The chamber and the foundation are governed by the same board.
<P>McMillan said the dual role might be viewed as a conflict of interest when
money and other compensatory items are exchanged between the foundation and
the chamber.
<P>According to foundation and chamber financial statements, more than $8,000
has moved between the organizations to pay property management expenses for
the chamber's Commerce Center.
<P>McMillan said the appointment of a second board would make everybody's job
less confusing.
<P>"Back in 2002, during the purchase of the building, Avista agreed to sell
at lower than market value with some trade-offs. The foundation really can't
provide those services, but, thinking with their chamber board hats, they
committed the chamber to that," McMillan explained. "Perhaps, because they
made that commitment, if you had a separate board someone might have said
'wait a minute, can we really do this?' We are a big enough organization to
have two boards. It's just a good way to separate the two, perhaps when we are
looking at issues it will be one more opportunity to stop and think."
<P>McMillan said she is satisfied with the steps the board has taken to ensure
the chamber is financially solvent.
<P>"You have to understand there are ebbs and flows in chamber finances," she
said. "We provided our auditors with all the financial information, and we
will share the results of the review as soon we have them."
<P>
<P>Alexis Bacharach can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by e-mail
at abacharach@dnews.com. </P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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