Genealogical Society Treasurer Indicted for Theft

A 67-year-old woman has been indicted for bilking the non-profit she volunteered at out of thousands of dollars, according to Licking County (Ohio) Prosecutor Ken Oswalt.

From Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 10, Karen L. Ray, last known address 561 Hudson Ave., Newark, Ohio, allegedly stole about $4,300 from the Licking County Genealogical Society, the indictment and Oswalt state. She is charged with fifth-degree felony theft.

Ray was a volunteer treasurer for the ancestry identification organization, the prosecutor said.

You can read more at: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090327/UPDATES01/90327018.

Comments

[Lois Rose]

when it comes to money and volunteer treasures there should always be two people involved with the money. People are humans and it appears we can't be trusted. This money belongs to the society and the society should have had two at all times balancing the account.

[John K.]

And that's exactly why audits are conducted. The society bylaws should required such an audit.

[Barbara Hug]

If your society cannot afford an audit by a CPA or auditing firm, consider doing an in-house audit where a team of members audits the books. It's not ideal, but at least someone else is looking at the books.

[StClair]

The Licking County Genealogical Society put in place for a check and balance and that is how the theft was partially found. During the Audit the committee also found errors and the two worked together to confirm the theft and charge the treasurer. The two took place at approx the sametime.

[Larry Grinnell]

I feel their pain. In 1997, the Grinnell Family Association's treasury was plundered by a former president to the tune of about $12,000. It only came to light when I kept getting past due notices from our printer for many thousands of dollars for books that had been printed and distributed. Even worse (for me) was that this printer was also used by my employer through my department, so I had potential conflict of interest issues. The only way we found out about this was because a former president was still on the bank signature card, so we were able to get a complete accounting for the last two years, and it was abundantly clear that as each check or checks went in, there was a withdrawal of a similar amount within days. Fortunately, several well-heeled members kicked in enough money to pay the bills, after which we regenerated our membership roster, sent out dues notices, and got back on our feet. We had this individual prosecuted, but she lived in Seattle, while most of the GFA's leadership was on the east coast. She was found guilty, and ordered to pay back at a very nominal rate per month. She stopped paying after two or three months, at which point we got our attorney to contact the court in Seattle, who put out a warrant and notice to appear in court, which she completely ignored. They finally had to come and get her and let her cool off in jail for a small period of time until she was bailed out. She cried to the judge that she had cancer, that the GFA was lying about all this, we were persecuting her, etc. The judge had none of it and ordered resumption of payments. We went around this way once or twice more when the board decided to drop the whole matter, as there was no possible way to keep her paying continuously. I don't know if her attorney privately advised her to take this course of action figuring we would just get tired, the authorities would get tired, and our own attorney who was doing this pro bono was spending far too much time on this. My reward for all of this? I got to be president for the next eight years!

[Sandra C. Tye]

A competent audit conducted every year would solve this problem, endemic amount not-for-profit associations of various kinds. It should certainly be done each time there is a change in treasurers..