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Author Topic: AMSAT BB Censorship  (Read 1241 times)

K6LCS

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    • Clint's Stuff
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #90 on: November 21, 2020, 04:33:32 PM »

Wonder why WE4B won’t post the readily available PUBLIC documents that detail expenditures and board
actions?

If they proved his case, he would provide them.

But if they don’t prove his case ... then we get scores or rants.

Demand proof. Demand evidence. Challenge those who claim they’re the moral choice. AMSAT membership-at-large rejected him soundly - twice.

But - maybe those elections were rigged. Maybe the board changed ballots ...

Don’t be duped.
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Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS

WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #91 on: November 21, 2020, 04:52:44 PM »

Sigh... the AMSAT-NA Ambassador continues with his personal attacks which is a violation of the AMSAT-NA Ambassador Code of Conduct.

I have provided credible evidence which documents my claims. To date, not one legacy, incumbent AMSAT Board member has denied there was a conspiracy. In fact, the former President even admitted it in a communication to members. Even the AMSAT-NA Ambassador that is attacking people in this thread isn't denying this happened.

Come to think of it, if this AMSAT-NA Ambassador is the best that AMSAT-NA can do for public relations, it's another no brainer why the organization is suffering. Can anyone imagine if you were an outsider, looking in at the organization and saw how representatives of the organization attack people in public and even attack them via email and private messages would feel.

Once again, as I have stated so many times before, two current AMSAT-NA Board members have documented what has happened and is happening with AMSAT-NA on their blogs where they communicate to members:

http://amsat.wd9ewk.net

If someone doesn't want to believe what I'm saying, there are two elected officials of AMSAT-NA that have documented the malfeasances that have taken place. They have no reason to lie about it, nor do I.

When there is one person, and one person only that continually wants to deflect from the truth of credible sources it would lead someone to use critical thinking skills and ask why this person wants to deflect. Do they stand to have personal gain? Have they been made promises by someone that has done wrong and wants it to remain silent? Why does this one person want so badly to deflect from the truth?

As the old saying goes, "the truth is out there"... and I have given credible sources for the truth. I'm not attacking or deflecting. I'm simply telling people the truth and speaking-up when someone attempts to deflect from this truth.

The particular AMSAT-NA Ambassador and representative of AMSAT-NA that keeps wanting to deflect from the truth is only serving to further drag AMSAT-NA downward. It's amazing to me that none of the legacy, incumbent Board members are telling him to restrain himself. This just goes to show that this type of behavior is condoned and encouraged from the highest levels of AMSAT-NA. It really is sad.   
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K6LCS

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    • Clint's Stuff
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #92 on: November 21, 2020, 04:57:22 PM »

Documented evidence? He has none.

Case dismissed.
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Clint Bradford, K6LCS
AMSAT Ambassador, ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator
http://www.work-sat.com
909-999-SATS

WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #93 on: November 21, 2020, 05:04:15 PM »

Documented evidence? He has none.

This AMSAT-NA Ambassador but have some reading comprehension issues. That is sad. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Regardless, once again, is documented evidence from two current AMSAT-NA Board members:

http://amsat.wd9edk.net

https://w5nyv.blogspot.com/2020/

I don't know how many times I must document my claims. I guess I'll need to do so each time the AMSAT-NA Ambassador (representative) decides to deflect from the published truth. Not even legacy, incumbent Board members deny spending over $10K of members' money in conspiracy to silence other Board members. There's no minutes of this expenditure being approved because it happened without a Board meeting in direct violation of AMSAT-NA bylaws. This really isn't hard to understand. I keep providing links to credible, reputable sources. All one has to do is read the information and use basic reading comprehension skills.
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W4HIJ

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #94 on: November 21, 2020, 06:40:28 PM »

The "ambassador" doesn't want to read the WD9EDK blog because way back when it was WD9EDK that exposed him for the conman, charlatan and all around sad joke that he is.  Look at his behavior here, he's said he's leaving the thread at least twice and yet he's still here. I wish I could find the link to the website where they did the send up of this grifter. That's what got me "moderated" in the first place, having a laugh at that link and speaking the truth when I called him a "known conman and huckster". It's hilarious stuff. I'll give him this much, he is worth a very good laugh. He's not worth much else though as anyone reading this thread can see.
73,
Michael W4HIJ
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WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #95 on: November 21, 2020, 09:08:07 PM »

http://amsat.wd9edk.net

This link I typed should have been:

http://amsat.wd9ewk.net

I apologize for my fumble fingers  :o
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N9LCD

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #96 on: November 22, 2020, 01:18:16 PM »

Heck, I'm barely into ham radio much less satellites.

With all of the disgruntled members of AMSAT and all of the alleged misdeeds by management, somebody out there should be able to find a lawyer -- hopefully a ham -- to SUE AMSAT.

I would be interesting to see if the AMSAT gang could be charged with violation of the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report.

"BOOK 'EM, DENNO!) 
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WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #97 on: November 22, 2020, 02:09:40 PM »

I would be interesting to see if the AMSAT gang could be charged with violation of the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report.

They have reported but, by not acting in the best interests of their members and by violating the organization's bylaws and Washington DC corporate code, they could find themselves explaining to the IRS why they should maintain their tax-free status.
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N9LCD

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #98 on: November 22, 2020, 02:27:22 PM »

Code: [Select]
...by violating the organization's bylaws and Washington DC corporate code...
By violating the DC corporate code, they can get their charter or equivalent revoked.

In Illinois the Secretary of State's office routinely revokes "registration" for failure to file required annual reports, failure to maintain a registered agent, etc.

And, once an organization is legally "unincorporated" or dissolved, the directors become personally liable for the organizations actions and debts! 

BUT, it takes time!

N9LCD
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VE3WGO

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #99 on: November 22, 2020, 05:59:43 PM »

Well, in all fairness...

WE4B>> ... I have posted evidence ...

No. You post ridiculous conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated allegations. You point to non-official AMSAT-NA sites.
Post the AMSAT Budget involved. Show us the budgeted line item for legal expenses. Show us what it is. Give us FACTS.
Show us the proof of non-approved expenditures that were made without board approval that you whine about.
EVIDENCE! Make a case! Show documentation of all this wrongdoing and I'll jump ship faster than you can say, "malcontent."
Tweets ... blog posts ... eHam rants - are not evidence, no matter how many times you write them.

On the "AMSAT Leadership Explains 2018-2020 Legal Expenses" page, President Colman said that in the Spring of 2019 "...With the full knowledge and consent of the Board, the President sought legal counsel to advise him on proposed sanctions against Patrick Stoddard...."   

If the Board consented to this legal action and expense, where is that Board approval documented?  They must have met, and written minutes.   That is important, because the 2019 Budget, having been previously approved in the Board meeting of Nov 2, 2018, would have preceded the action taken by the president in Spring of 2019 to seek legal counsel, and the approved 2019 budget therefore could not have included such expenses.

But on the "Minutes of the AMSAT Board of Directors" web page in AMSAT.org website, there are just 2 Board meetings in 2019 with minutes published: 

June 18, 2019 Board of Directors Teleconference
2019 Board of Directors Meeting  (which took place on Oct 16-17)

Neither of those 2 board meeting minutes includes any mention of the board approving legal expenses, unless I missed it.  So, did the Board consent to legal expenses without it being documented?   uh-oh!    Now, the resulting legally-drafted Acceptable Use policy was approved by the Board in the June 18 meeting, and that is documented, but the expenses to get the draft are not.

Then, in Amsat's audited 2019 Financial Statement, the expenses are shown thus:

Expenses and Losses:

Unrealized loss on investments - - -
Loss on sale of investments    7 ,596
Total Losses                   7 ,596

Program Expenses:
Information and symposia    198,385
Satellite operations    81,182
Publications and software    102,524
Satellite development    113,014
Total Program Expenses    495,105

Supporting Services:
Management and general    73,959
Fundraising                  6,078
Total Supporting Services    80,037
Total Expenses and Losses    582,738

Again no mention of any legal expenses.  One would hardly call Legal expenses to be "general services", so where are they actually buried?

So what gives?  Is this enough to raise a few eyebrows?

I certainly think so.

malcontent.  there, I said it.

73, Ed
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WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #100 on: November 22, 2020, 06:22:39 PM »

Well, in all fairness...
Neither of those 2 board meeting minutes includes any mention of the board approving legal expenses, unless I missed it.  So, did the Board consent to legal expenses without it being documented?   uh-oh!    Now, the resulting legally-drafted Acceptable Use policy was approved by the Board in the June 18 meeting, and that is documented, but the expenses to get the draft are not.

BINGO! You, just backed-up my claim of a conspiracy. It was a conspiracy because the over $10K in legal fees was approved without a proper Board meeting. Since there was no Board meeting, there are no minutes.

By spending this money without a proper Board meeting, AMSAT-NA bylaws were violated. By violating bylaws of the organization, Washington DC corporate code was violated.

Let's not forget that this illegal expenditure of over $10K in legal fees was an attempt to keep the two newest Board members quiet and an attempt to oust them from their duly elected seats on the Board. Both of these Board members were not present at the meeting where it was decided to spend over $10K in members' money against them. This is a textbook case of conspiracy.

None of this can be disputed. It is documented fact. As I've said before, if the legacy, incumbent Board members would be willing to spend over $10K in members' money in a direct violation of bylaws and Washington DC corporate code in an attempt to silence two of their peers, what would they do to just a regular member or potential member that speaks out against them?

AMSAT-NA members need to stop being apathetic and need to stand-up to the bullies that use AMSAT-NA as their clubhouse. There's no need to fear these horrible, unethical people that will stop at nothing to maintain their clubhouse. Apathy has allowed the organization to enter a downward spiral and the organization is now burning-up like a failed satellite coming back down through the atmosphere.

Everything I have said is true and documented. Fact.
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AC2EU

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #101 on: November 22, 2020, 06:35:33 PM »

That is just some general categories. Of coarse, there are 'sub categories' and line items within those in the real ledger- or there SHOULD BE.
Seems to me 200K for symposiums seems a bit much. According to that, it cost more for symposiums than to run the satellites? wow. Do they serve caviar?
 What did they sell and lost $7500 on? To whom?
Publications and software $102K . Do they publish monthly? I've never seen an AMSAT publication, myself...

At best , it looks like poor financial management.

They should justify those expenses better than that, maybe not as a filing, but to the members upon request.
Have they refused to open the books?

WD9EWK

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    • WD9EWK/VA7EWK
Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #102 on: November 22, 2020, 07:02:20 PM »

Hi.

Thank you for reading through the AMSAT financial reports and minutes of Board meetings. AMSAT also posts copies of its IRS Form 990 tax returns. Those documents are available from the AMSAT web site at:

https://www.amsat.org/audit-and-other-financial-reports/

https://www.amsat.org/minutes-of-the-board-of-directors/

<snip>

Again no mention of any legal expenses.  One would hardly call Legal expenses to be "general services", so where are they actually buried?

So what gives?  Is this enough to raise a few eyebrows?

I certainly think so.

malcontent.  there, I said it.

73, Ed

In AMSAT's financial reports, the legal expenses are in the portion of the reports titled "Statement of Functional Expenses". The legal expenses are combined with accounting expenses. Legal expenses are listed separately in the IRS Form 990 tax returns, in the "Statement of Functional Expenses" for those returns. After reporting no legal expenses on the tax returns for 2015 through 2017, AMSAT listed $4,988.00 in legal expenses on the 2018 tax return. The 2019 tax return listed $23,656.00 in legal expenses. There have also been legal expenses paid by AMSAT in 2020.

The only time in the past few years the minutes of AMSAT Board meetings show legal expenses were authorized was at a meeting in November 2018, in Huntsville, Alabama:

https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2018-AMSAT-Board-of-Directors-Meeting-in-Huntsville-AL.pdf

The Board approved a motion to retain a firm to review AMSAT's draft EAR/ITAR policy, FD Associates, with a maximum outlay of $10,000.00. Yet AMSAT reported spending more than that during 2018 and 2019 on its tax returns. And the minutes mention nothing of the lawyer from the Massachusetts firm of Hurwit & Associates that AMSAT engaged on a few occasions since 2018.

73.
« Last Edit: November 22, 2020, 07:05:34 PM by WD9EWK »
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Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/ - Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #103 on: November 22, 2020, 08:00:24 PM »

I'm glad to see that so much factual information is being published here. It's important that this type of information regarding the misuse of power and money by those in leadership at AMSAT-NA be available to members and potential members. It's also important that people see how these incumbent, legacy Board members will use others in an attempt to deflect from the truth.

I try my best to document these types of shenanigans on my blog at http://we4bravo.com but the more places that this information can be published and shared with radio amateurs, the better for the whole community.

Thank you to everyone (for the most part) for allowing a civil discussion to take place.
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N5KO

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #104 on: November 24, 2020, 08:52:05 AM »

This thread has run its course and has been locked.
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