Website Shutdown and Restoration Saturday, January 16th at 9am.

[Shawn]

This isn’t just a company card. This the sole card for a reef club. Why is it in one persons possession. It’s not like it’s an expense card for a persons travel expenses. This card can’t be used that frequently it needs to be taken with where you go somewhere. This is our sole means of payment from what I understand, why is it not with the treasurer. Again it’s not just a corporate expense card where you can “accidentally use it”. Even if it was an accident it would be a terminable offense.

At the time, @mrmrburke , I was the treasurer. Holding the card was my obligation under the bylaws and constitution of the ARC. Please see below to see screenshots with times of this issue. And, if Jin (the author of the email you're referring to, and president of 2020) was so concerned, why did he wait until he was being called out for his wrongdoing to "blow the whistle" on mine?

Since you're a supporting member, you'll be able to find the original post where I alerted the board here. https://atlantareefclub.org/boards/index.php?threads/i-screwed-up.1176040/

I've been online since this began yesterday morning. Not even to defend myself, but to show evidence. I let it speak for itself. Where has Jin been?

Here is a screen shot of the wells fargo account when the transaction took place. View attachment 35844

Here's the screen shot of when I reimbursed the club. I'll let the evidence speak for itself.
View attachment 35845

 

[matticus1181]

I work for apple, and I can tell you if I bought personal equipment totalling 650 dollars on accident or not on their company card I would be terminated no questions asked. I might not even have 2 days to pay it back and apoligize. This shit would not fly at a major successful corporations.

Again, please read posts. Multiple people have already posted examples of major successful corporations allowing mistakes to happen. I'm sorry that your company is so draconian.

 

[popsbjd]

When is the next election? I hope we have lots of people offering themselves up for posts next time.

As I said before, not sure what help I can be during this time, but any BOD can feel free to reach out to me and I'll do my best to help.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[Shawn]

When is the next election? I hope we have lots of people offering themselves up for posts next time.

As I said before, not sure what help I can be during this time, but any BOD can feel free to reach out to me and I'll do my best to help.

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

The next club officer elections will be in November. Nominations will begin October 1st.

Sadly that's one of the club's biggest issues. We only see a lot of folks with input in how to be better when drama happens but they don't seem to care about the day to day, much less helping run it. I appreciate your offer of support @popsbjd . After we're able to edit the website we're going to form a "citizen oversight committee" to make sure these issues don't happen again.

Those that know me and have been paying attention to what I've been doing for the club (not what I SAY I've been doing, but what I've actually DONE) know this is just Jin attempting to attack me and sow division. That's his final play. He's got nothing left. He hid behind an email of anonymity and hasn't shown up here on the forums. I think that speaks quite clearly.

 

[mrmrburke]

Again, please read posts. Multiple people have already posted examples of major successful corporations allowing mistakes to happen. I'm sorry that your company is so draconian.

It’s draconian to make sure people are honest and the ways of the 60s-80s abusing
Company cards is ruled out??? Youre absurd...

 

[mrmrburke]

Defending abuse is just as bad as abusing...other companies allow it is a shit excuse

 

[matticus1181]

It’s draconian to make sure people are honest and the ways of the 60s-80s abusing
Company cards is ruled out??? Youre absurd...

Ok...

 

[popsbjd]

The bylaws allow for members to object to any BOD member. If @Shawn actions are a disqualifier for you, use the proper procedures. Just posting here does you no good. I imagine the "hand delivered" part could be waived at this point for expediency and since we aren't having any in person meetings.


"Section 6

Any member in good standing wishing to have a BoD member removed from office for
failure to diligently preform the duties assigned shall adhere to the following
procedures:

1. Said member shall present to the board of directors a written request to remove a member of the BoD. This request shall include all pertinent information to substantially warrant removal of the BoD member. The removal request shall be hand delivered to the BoD at a regularly scheduled BoD meeting or the presiding officer at any monthly meeting. Upon receipt of the request, the BoD shall review, discuss and make a determination to accept or deny the request within 7 calendar days. Should the written request to remove be approved by the BoD, an electronic poll shall be posted on the club designated forum currently located at www.atlantareefclub.org. This poll shall clearly state the name of the individual submitting the request along with the substantiating information warranting the removal. Said poll shall run for 7 consecutive days and require a 2/3 majority of voting members casting a vote in favor of removal at which time the BoD member in question will vacate all offices held.
2. If the above request is denied by the BoD the submitting member may choose to seek a Petition of Removal containing the original signatures of a minimum of 10% of current members in good standing. Once the minimum number of signatures has been acquired, this petition shall be hand delivered to the BoD at a regularly scheduled BoD meeting at which time, the BoD will initiate a recall election proceeding as stated in 3 below.

3. Within 7 calendar days of receipt of a properly executed Petition of Recall, the board of directors shall verify that all signatures are members in good standing and post an electronic poll on the club designated forum currently located at www.atlantareefclub.org. This poll shall clearly state the name of the individual submitting the petition along with the substantiating information warranting the recall. Said poll shall run for 7 consecutive days and require a 2/3 majority of voting members casting a vote in favor of removal at which time the BoD member in question will vacate all offices held."

 

[trizzino]

This isn’t just a company card. This the sole card for a reef club. Why is it in one persons possession. It’s not like it’s an expense card for a persons travel expenses. This card can’t be used that frequently it needs to be taken with where you go somewhere. This is our sole means of payment from what I understand, why is it not with the treasurer. Again it’s not just a corporate expense card where you can “accidentally use it”. Even if it was an accident it would be a terminable offense.

Shawn was not the President at that time. He was the treasurer so his having the card wasn't out of the ordinary. Mistakes happen, he removed the card and it never happened again. This is a reef club, not a fortune 500 company, no one takes salary to serve, and few even step up to serve. It is a thankless job that even the most excited lose the desire to serve. Even Jin said it in the email and he was very enthusiastic about serving in the beginning.

The website spend happened in 2017 before this BOD was in charge so it is irrelevant to the Trident mishap and should no way be tied to Shawn nor the current BOD. The important thing is to get the site control back to ARC and that's the task at hand and ultimately the goal of this for the incoming BOD. We have opened transparency to the supporting members to avoid the he said/she said business that has occurred in the past and happening right now. You all can view the BOD threads and the BOD Zoom calls as supporting members. I like your passion you have and our goal is to have more people like you serve on the BOD, sadly, no one has run opposed in elections for as long as I can remember.

 

[Adam]

Defending abuse is just as bad as abusing...other companies allow it is a shit excuse

The is a big difference between using the card on personal purchases and not disclosing it and a one off error that was owned up to immediately. The former is abuse, the latter is a simple mistake.

 

[jmcdona6]

I work for apple, and I can tell you if I bought personal equipment totalling 650 dollars on accident or not on their company card I would be terminated no questions asked. I might not even have 2 days to pay it back and apoligize. This shit would not fly at a major successful corporations.

I have worked for Lockheed Martin (Fortune 100), several smaller companies ($1-3B), and the United States Army. I have seen this happen at all of them and never had it be a big deal under the circumstances here. It has always been looked at like this. Could a reasonable person make the same mistake? Yes. What are the benefits/motives for doing this maliciously? Well, it was self-reported so obviously they didn't think they could keep the money. They could have been having "Cash Flow" issues and used it as an advance until payday on Friday...I guess an option here even with Shawn's alibi. But wouldn't it have been easier and just as accessible to use his own credit card if he just needed to be floated the money until payday? Yep, doesn't make sense as a malicious act. Hell, it would have benefited him to do so...large purchase...a lot of reward points. It's not unreasonable or malicious so fix it and move on.

And the major difference here, they are volunteers. They aren't getting paid. Shawn and current BoD's haven't broken any by-laws that I am aware of. The whole thing is petty. It's a dang hobby club. Take dues, provide benefits, gift back what you don't need/spend. If you don't like how efficiently your money is being spent, vote with your ballot or your wallet next chance available. Keep on reefing. It shouldn't be this hard...

 

[mrmrburke]

Asking the BOD defending the mistake to vote out the person who made the mistake is a joke.
Probably why no good standing member steps up to ask for a vote through the proper channels

 

[chuck]

Sean if your gonna throw people out there like that let me start by saying this. When I did approach Jin last may about issues. Jin brought that up about what had happened he also said you Andrew and justin didn't think it was appropriate to take legal action. Im alittle concerned now that you are president your tring to make things right. When you didn't want to before. Jin probably did several things wrong. Ok all good but now that you are president are you lying to us arc guys to make yourself look good. Not looking good for you Shawn. This arc is not gonna last long unless you do the right thing here for the members not yourself

 

[jcook54]

As someone who was on the BoD at the time this transaction was made, I didn't really give it much thought. I have two cards (personal & business) and my accountant has yelled at me in the past about using one or the other by mistake. I suppose what Shawn did was "inexcusable" but there really wasn't an excuse offered beyond "I screwed up" As a BoD member I agreed that he did, in fact, screw up. I chose to use my position, my experience and my own judgement to make a decision and I stand by it. I applied my very powers of deduction and came to the conclusion that it was a simple error.

 

[hiimsean]

I think people forget this is a 100% VOLUNTEER position. People have regular jobs and families they also have to attend to. There are some people in this club who are never happy. I’ve been a member for 14 years now and we always struggle to find people willing to take on the BoD position because it is like a job and takes a lot of time and dedication. I helped out during one of the expos finding vendors and trying to get donations. It’s a lot of work that I didn’t have time to do but still did it and if I have time in the future I’d be willing to serve the club again. So unless you’re willing to donate your time to the club like board members have, sit back down.

 

[mrmrburke]

Like the US Army has never misused money like I said because it’s been allowed at fortune 100 companies doesn’t make it right. A lot of current fortune 100 companies would not allow this today. And just because it was allowed doesn’t mean it should. It used to be legal to murder for the appropriate disagreement but that shit wouldn’t fly today....

 

[popsbjd]

Asking the BOD defending the mistake to vote out the person who made the mistake is a joke.
Probably why no good standing member steps up to ask for a vote through the proper channels

I don't think you actually read the bylaws I posted.

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[jcook54]

Sean if your gonna throw people out there like that let me start by saying this. When I did approach Jin last may about issues. Jin brought that up about what had happened he also said you Andrew and justin didn't think it was appropriate to take legal action. Im alittle concerned now that you are president your tring to make things right. When you didn't want to before. Jin probably did several things wrong. Ok all good but now that you are president are you lying to us arc guys to make yourself look good. Not looking good for you Shawn. This arc is not gonna last long unless you do the right thing here for the members not yourself

There's a big difference between making something right and bringing civil lawsuits against former BoD members. The previous website was an expensive fiasco but there was nothing illegal about it. The elected BoD made a series of bad decisions and nearly killed ARC. That's it as far as I'm concerned and I would encourage anyone who want to talk about the website fiasco further to start a new thread where we can do just that. This particular thread has been jumping and bouncing all over the place.

 

[mrmrburke]

I said it during the last jin drama that I would step up to volunteer to support this community in anyway I can. I would be more than happy to offer my time to support this community.

 

[matticus1181]

Bringing this back to the original point, which is ensuring a stable website platform...

Withholding the credentials is childish, I literally don't care what his reason is. There's an entire community he's hurting. It's the same thing as a kid saying, "I hit little jimmy cause he took my truck". The first offense doesn't justify the second.