TRUE FRIENDS OF FORT KNOX

We write you on behalf of a great many members of the The Friends of Fort Knox who are distressed at what has happened to their beloved organization. Although the Friends enacted by-laws years ago which required that members were “invited to attend all Executive Committee meetings,

Belfast Citizen Opinions
September 21, 2005

Open letter to the members fo the Friends of Fort Knox
Facts on the Fort
by John Hyk

Fort Knox is regional and statewide treasure. Members of the Friends fo Fort Knox and the community at large understandabley are concerned by the change in leadership in the Friends organization and what it means for our mission-to preserve and enhance Fort Knox.

As director of the Friends, we want our membership and the public, to the basic facts of this situation.

Regrettably, we cannont speak freely and frankly, because the Friends are being threatened by former Executive Director Leon Syemour with a lawsuit and Human Rights Commission complaint.

The board cannot discuss the specific issues leading to Mr. Seymour’s departure. We can set forth our own circumstances, however, and point out some of the questions concerning Mr. Seymour’s performance that have come up since Aug. 8, when the board voted to ask him to resign his position.

First, we want to acknowledge that Mr. Seymour contributed a great deal to the fort as executive director and that his departure from the post was not prompted by any single incident. It was the culmination of a difficult process that took place over a period of more than six months, during which time there were several opportunities for a different outcome. In the end, however, a majority believed the differences between the Board and Mr. Seymour weere irreconcilable.

Second Mr. Seymour joined us from Massachusetts six years ago to maintain and extend the considerable momentum already achieved by the Friends of Fort Knox.

The early Friends conceived and executed the save-the-fort campaign that restored the roof and preserved the fort itself and later began the effort to renovate the old Torpedo shed and turn it into the marvelous Visitor & Education Center of today.

Some of us now on the board were involved then, and we gave freely of our time and labor because we love the fort and we honor its place in our community.

Moreover, we are people experienced in our towns, our region, our state and in the private sector. WE have headed nonprofit corporations, held elective office, owned buinesses, chaired school and planning boards, served national associations, and volunteered more hours to more causes than we can recall. We are careful, not capricious, and we do not take serious action without serious comtemplation. Ask around. Are the people who signed this article the sort who willfully act against the best interests of their community?

Third, the Friends do not own Fort Knox, its Board of Directors does not and its executive director most certainly does not.

Rather, the state of Maine owns the fort and administers it through the Buureau of Parks and Lands fo the Department of Conservation. The Friends provide certain services to the visiting public, including gate staff, a gift shop, interpretive services and special events. Maintaining the partnership is critical to the Friends of Fort Knox and good for our visitors. Importantly, the position of executive director requires far more than fund raising ability.

So why did we ask Mr. Seymour for his resignation? As noted, we cannot outline everything nor would we wish to. The following is suggestive, however, of some the things that together constituted differences that could not be resolved.

In May, Mr. Seymour applied for and received, in the Friends’ name and on its account, a debit card from Camden National Bank. This is a routine tansaction: what fault could be found in it? Disagreement with Mr. Seymour has arisen due to the fact that the board has the primary fiduciary responsibiltiy for the organization, but the board did not authorize the card and onoe of its members know that it existed. The board had placed a $500 cap on single expenditures that could be made by the executive director. Expenditures over that amount require approval and/or the signature of a board member. In fact, Mr. Seymour used the card, without the requiste authority, for a transaction that exceeded $2,700 may have been for an entirely reasonable purchase, but it should not have been made without authorization. Mr. Seymour knew that the cap was in effect and chose to ignore it. He could have reported the purchase later, but chose not to.

In July, the Fort hosted a Paranormal/Psychic Faire that attracted many more than the usual number of vistors. At $5 for adults and $2 for children, compared to the normal $3 and $1 fees, the faire was a financial success. But the Friends have a formal agreement with the state that, during regular hours, additional fees many not be charged, regardless of whether a special event is scheduled. This beach of our agreement with the state could have placed the public/private partnerhip in jeopardy. Mr. Seymour knew better, or should have.

In both 2003 and 2004 (the only back years for which we have records), Mr. Seymour failed to register with the state on time to comply with Maine’s Charitable Soliciations Act and the Friends were charged late fees. For a total period of six months during 2003, 2002, and 2005, the Friends could not legally raise any money, yet the board was not informed of this nor the necessity of paying late fees.

Maine’s Secretary of State requires nonprofit organizations to file annual reports; failure to do so results in automatic fines and , in some cases, in suspension oas a nonprofit in good standing with the Secretary’s Office. During the week following Mr. Seymour’s resignation, the Friends’ office learned that the organization was labeled “not in good standing’ by the Secretary of State. A search of the files revealed that we also had earned this dubious distinction in 1999, 2002 and 2003. The Board on no occasion was informed, either of the designation or of the fines. If the reader thinks this is just bureaucratic nitpicking, put yourself in the chair of a grant-making organization we had asked for support. Would you write a check to a group “not in good standing?

It was recently reported that base salary for the Fort Knox Ex.Director position was $45,000 with benifits the amount came to $58,000.

The official reports from Fort Knox according to a letter in the BDN this past weekend said that the highest amount of donations were recieved in 1998 and that they have been steadily getting less and less each year. I believe the amount donated since the Friends took over is around $1.5 million. I will have confirm this later on but most of the money was accounted for with repair work to the Fort.

In addition, there has been rumors about the Fort being short on funds. The Board of Directors report that there is more than sufficent funds for operations into the following year.

Will

Mike,
I meant to tell you that people(non-reenactors) on both sides of conflict have been following the Fort Knox situation as guest readers. I have heard positive things from both sides of the camp for allowing the information to get out. Generally folks have been content with balances. I took this as a compliment as it is extremely difficult to remain neutral with such an strong issue that tends to divid folks one way or the other.
Both the Friends and True Friends appreciate the ability to get information out to people. Thank you!

Will