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$15,000 Loan Debate

Winslow Trustee Says WSF Chair Is Wrong

By Kerri Reeder

IFGE received a loan of $ 15,000.00 from Winslow Street Fund in October, an action which WSF proclaimed would never happen in their fund raising pleas to the community. The money was transferred without a note being signed or a repayment schedule being established.

I have protested this move to IFGE's Board, the Trustees, and the response I have received is Abby Saypen's , "Loan Was Proper" in the TG Forum on 12/1/97 with a blistering attack on myself and Judy Osborne who first brought this to the communities attention in her, Art of Politics, column on TG Forum. I must respond with the facts that Abby left out of her piece, " Loan was Proper.

If the loan was proper, why all the fuss? All I've asked for since the beginning, Oct. 16th and in all communications since has been to provide the Trustees and IFGE with a "Letter of Loan". Not much, if you went to a bank or other lending institution, there would be paperwork.

I have tried very hard to communicate, on Oct. 16th and at least weekly, that IFGE and WSF must do the right thing by the contributors and supporters of both organizations. It was only after none of the principals would respond that I approached the community. It was IFGE and WSF that did not communicate and when Abby did it was with accusations and worse.

The facts are:

Abby and I talked on Oct. 16th and I was assured that paperwork would be done. On Oct. 25th we met in Provincetown and again I was assured paperwork would be done. On Oct. 26th Laura Caldwell assured me that paperwork would be done. And after no response I wrote to IFGE's Board of Directors, on Nov. 13, 1997, asking them to become involved. With no response, I went to the community and asked for a response. I allowed reasonable time to respond before taking that action. In each action, Abby Saypen and Linda Buten were sent Email copies. Still to this day I have had no response from Linda Buten and Abby, other than Abby's scathing and incorrect statements in TG Forum which was not a responsible act since she could at least have copied me, as I did her.

Abby states in her piece," What Kerri has done is to attempt to destroy the reputation of Winslow Street, IFGE, Laura Caldwell and Myself".

I have not attacked IFGE or WSF, I have only demanded that this Loan be documented correctly. How is this an attack? It's just good business and proper procedure. It is my fiduciary responsibility to the contributors to WSF that we keep our word about how these funds are used. As one of the originators of the WSF, why would I attack the Fund, or IFGE for that matter, 10 years of working for and with them?

I have asked the Board of Directors to dismiss three of the Trustees, with thanks for their hard work, and replace them with three or four unconnected, yet very viable community individuals to shepherd the Winslow Street Endowment. To place individuals into Trusteeship that is not beholding or responsible for the financial activities of IFGE.

Abby states that an instrument was drawn and there was no time limit set for the signing of this document. As a Trustee I ask why I haven't seen this document. I ask why, if the funds were transferred, that there would be any delay in signing the document.

I believe it is in the interest of all contributors and the community to see that the WSF Trustees uphold their responsibilities, that all parties resolve this matter in a business like and civil manner. Rather than hide behind very subjective statements, come out and open this transaction to the scrutiny it deserves. The longer it is hidden the worse it gets for everyone. WSF Trustees and IFGE must for their own sake open the doors, speak with simple truth, and the community will respond with acceptance and isn't that what we are all about, acceptance.

Sincerely,

Kerri Reeder Trustee, Winslow Street Endowment Fund

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