Lincoln Arts asked for audits
Grassroots group gathers 199 signatures
Almost 200 arts supporters are asking the nonprofit Lincoln Arts to undergo independent annual financial and management audits. On July 2, a petition with 199 signatures was received at the Lincoln organization that, according to its by-laws, “support and promote arts and culture in the Lincoln area.” The petition was created “from a grassroots group who had concerns” about the organization, according to Terry Dorsey, a Lincoln resident and Dorsey Capitol Management president. Dorsey mailed the petition via UPS. Concerns by the petition-signers include why two boards have resigned within the last four years and discrepancies on attendance and proceeds from Lincoln Arts’ main fundraiser, Feats of Clay. The requested audits are for fiscal years 2009 and 2010. As of press time, Dorsey had not received a response from Lincoln Arts. When the News Messenger asked Lincoln Arts’ Executive Director Claudia Renati on Friday what the organization’s response is to the petition, Renati gave President June Reeves the phone. At first, Reeves responded that there were only 160 signatures and not 199 signatures. When asked what she would tell the petition-signers, whatever the number, Reeves said, “On the advice of our attorney, we’re under no obligations to respond except to those who are members. There were three that we responded to. There are only three who are in good standing. Mike Daley, a signer, was assistant curator for Feats of Clay the last two years. “Concerns I have is that a nonprofit organization, a 501-C organization, being a tax-exempt organization, should have its books open,” Daley said Monday. “As a nonprofit organization, they have a fiduciary responsibility to their contributors, whether they be members of Lincoln Arts or nonmembers. The accounting should be made public to them.” “It’s a fiduciary responsibility of the executive director to justify where that money goes,” Daley added. “As for any nonprofit, a full accounting to the general public who is supporting that organization should be done. It’s appalling that the board hasn’t asked.” Daley said he is a current Lincoln Arts member and has received no phone call from Lincoln Arts staff about the petition. But Renati said Tuesday that Daley is not a member. And she “won’t accept his membership because he signed the petition.” Daley’s membership in Lincoln Arts expires Jan 1, 2011, according to his membership card. Bobbie Pilliard, who resigned from the Lincoln Arts board as acting secretary this past February, signed the petition because she “would like a procedural and financial audit so the general public can see how Lincoln Arts is operating.” In her resignation letter, Pilliard wrote, “It appears that at the present time and at the present rate of cash burn, (Lincoln Arts and Cultural Foundation) is in a downward spiral toward insolvency. This is particularly disturbing because LACF’s reserve money was derived from the sale of it’s former gallery location and headquarters. Who answer the questions when the money is gone? I am very concerned about the fiduciary responsibility that a Board of Directors has to the membership of, and contributors to, a non-profit organization.” Pilliard said the money “mostly went for salaries.” Another petition signer is Jane Lares, who said she belonged to Lincoln Arts for seven years and quit in 2007. “I worked very hard as a volunteer but I didn’t think it was appreciated,” Lares said. “Too many things were going on with the board and the Renati family members. I love Feats of Clay. The whole reason for this petition has to do with how things are not running smoothly there.” Lares hopes that Lincoln Arts will go along with the audits. “We need this Lincoln Arts in our community. It’s too bad; I’m an artist and I would call artists to be in a gallery show and they’d say we won’t go there because we aren’t getting paid on time,” Lares said. “I’m concerned for the community and the Lincoln Arts members. I felt very strongly about signing the petition because any nonprofit needs to say why won’t they give us an audit, why they won’t open their books. I don’t want to hurt Feats of Clay in any way but every nonprofit needs to be accountable.” Agreeing with the need for accountability is Mayor Tom Cosgrove, who joined the Lincoln Arts board on March 2. He said in the March 4 News Messenger that his being on the board would hopefully “give folks confidence that it’s (Lincoln Arts) a good organization. “I think any organization that depends on the public for funding should be completely open and able to share all the financial information with the public,” Cosgrove said Tuesday. “I expressed my opinion to the Lincoln Arts board. My position is to share the information.” Cosgrove said the Lincoln Arts board will talk about the petition at its next meeting in August. “The community has to have confidence in nonprofits if nonprofits want those community resources,” Cosgrove said. “The public wants to know that funds are being used appropriately.”
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"Agreeing with the need for accountability is Mayor Tom Cosgrove, who joined the Lincoln Arts board on March 2. He said in the March 4 News Messenger that his being on the board would hopefully “give folks confidence that it’s (Lincoln Arts) a good organization."
“I think any organization that depends on the public for funding should be completely open and able to share all the financial information with the public,” Cosgrove said Tuesday. “I expressed my opinion to the Lincoln Arts board. My position is to share the information.”
Cosgrove said "The community has to have confidence in nonprofits if nonprofits want those community resources,” Cosgrove said. “The public wants to know that funds are being used appropriately.”
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Have I stepped into the twilight zone?
I could have sworn Cosgrove was referring to the City of Lincoln!
I hope he doesn't speak as well for Lincoln Arts as he speaks for the City.
I think we did step into the twilight zone!!
I believe he is talking about the City of Lincoln and we need to be audit, its only a matter of time that the truth will come out. As for the Lincoln Arts, I can't believe we were paying the Lincoln Arts director and others to work in that office. I thought it was volunteering.
You may view Lincoln Arts Tax Return for free at Guidestar.org - although this does not provide audited statements or account detail it does allow you to say the wages of the directors and how much was spent on advertising, etc.
Is this information after City of Lincoln could no longer afford the salaries of the Arts Director and stop funding them, if so the info is based on now. So why look it up.
First off Lincoln Arts has agreed to open its books for any members that want to view them. Second, the Lincoln Arts books have and are viewed, gone over and approved by the board at every board meeting. The board makes all the decisions, not Claudia Renaldi. Claudia Renaldi does receive a salary (who wouldn't for the hours she puts in) but does not receive any benefits, health or retirement. The petition is asking to look at the books for the years Paul Apfel was president of the board and had approved all accounting during those months on top of a cpa viewing them once a year. Third, this is a vendetta by Kathy Dorsey, her friends and Carol Feineman(the writer of the article and many more slamming Lincoln Arts) who are in the arts business to take over Feats of Clay. That is just my opinion but it is hard to see it any other way. These people seem to want to go to any length to get Feats of Clay and put Lincoln Arts out of business. What a coincidence they are all in the same business and it would great for them to get Feats. Think about it!! Fourth, as with all businesses these days times are tough. It is hard to keep the profits up but Lincoln Arts is no where near the ending point. Please, please don't believe everything you read and hear.
Unlike previous commentators I will give my name: Jean Cross, resident and business owner in Lincoln. I am both a friend of Kathy Dorsey and a partner with her at The Place Gallery so I assume the comment by katmakes5 refers to me. In response, I have been a supporter and volunteer of Feats of Clay on my own and with my husband, Dan Cross of Gladding McBean for 17 years.
I don't know where katmakes5 has gotten her information. Neither myself nor anyone else that I know of has any interest in taking over Feats of Clay for any reason. I have never slammed Lincoln Arts and have done all that I can do to promote Feats of Clay. My concern with Lincoln Arts is that it has not been able to continue to work within the funds that it has raised. This has made the necessity of withdrawing funds from the sale of the Beerman house. I do not want Lincoln Arts to close down, but I feel that unless the methods of operation aren't reevaluated, the funds in savings will be depleted and Lincoln Arts will be severely limited in it's operation or closed.
If anyone is not completely clear about my position or intentions, please contact me through the paper.
This is in response to kamakes5. I don't normally respond to blogs but whoever you are, you are either just a vicious liar, grossly misinformed or both. Number one, if you are going to accuse people of something then you should have the integrity to use your real name. You are misinformed and repeating unfounded rumors and perpetuating outright lies. My name is Dan Cross and you are insinuating that my wife is trying to take over Feats of Clay since she is Kathy Dorsey's partner. That accusation is not true and you have no evidence since it is a lie. Te other thing that any thinking person would realize is that the Gladding, McBean facility is essential for the success of the event. The management of Gladding, McBean only allows the facility to be used because it is for a non-profit organization promoting art and culture in our community. I am the Sales Manger at Gladding, McBean and I can gurantee you that there have been absolutely no discussions with anyone about doing anything with the event. So stop this vicious attack on my family that is untrue and very hurtful. My family has dedicated hundreds of hours and many dollars to Lincoln Arts over the years.