ATTN: Everyone, concerning Riley and his position as CFO

[Bryher al'Venna]

To be honest, I'm not shocked. I've learned not to put anything past anyone. Even people we think are our dear friends. I'm sorry for those of you who are hurting.

I'm angry. I don't have much, but I still donate what I can to the Tower, and to have it taken is just ridiculous. I wish I could feel as optimistic as some, but I just don't have it right now.

 

[Ashlyn Sindal]

I've been turning this over and over in my mind since I first saw this thread, and I keep waiting to be angry, but I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm just too sad to be angry. Maybe I'll get to angry later. It just all seems so pointless, you know? I don't know Riley well at all, but I saw him around enough to know how much a part of this community he was and how many friends he had here, and I just keep thinking if he were really in such dire financial straights, if he'd just asked for help, the Tower would have been there for him. I just keep thinking it didn't have to happen this way.

Many thanks to the execs/board for your swift and professional handling of the situation, for your transparency, and for this space to process. And many thanks to Mother and Caerwyn Gaidin for your generosity in the face of the community's need. You guys rock.

For Ismene Sedai and anyone else feeling like they "should have known," please don't blame yourselves. It's not a failing to love your friends and trust that they're being honest with you. :grouphug

 

[Tree]

Ismene is 100% correct. There are plenty of other places to lighten the mood and share in our communal silliness. Please visit the Faire Grounds where the Outreach Activities Team has done such an amazing job with Shaoman and blow off some of the steam and revel in the strength that is the tower.

 

[Hammar O'Justice]

NT

 

[Ajailyn Morrivinna]

At first my reaction was immediately how can I help the site out, get us so that we can afford things past fall ball (as that part was handled). But as I read more and more (and I did read every single post, something I usually skim over when it is a long series of replies), the more angry I felt.

You know, I've been through some serious hardships, I asked for help at the site and through friendships have found the help needed. I have given to my sisters when they were in need in return as well.

This year I was so excited to have been able to actually GIVE to the site itself with our summer fundraiser, I had the income and could give more than just $5, or $20. I gave, I gave generously. I am also on the outreach team that headed up our summer fund raiser.

Honestly I trust in my board members and our CO's to put in a new checks and balance system to make sure this does not happen again. But honestly my initial desire to help is seriously stunted by my anger. As I am posting this with out "cooling" off I am sure my desire to help the site will return, and as part of the out reach activities team if members still call for fund raising and the board and CO's agree I will be fully on board to getting a fund raiser going for the site.

I am angry though. Really at my contribution to the site being stolen from me and my community. It steals from me twice, first as a member of the site, and then as someone who gave money to support the site.

I talk about our community here so often to people who know me, I talk about how it is so much more than just a fan club of a book series. I talk about how much it is an actual community, of people who give, who are servants of all. Those who have read WoT get that statement, truly get it so understand my passion when I take pride in being part of us.

I do want to thank Mother and our Board and CO's for being transparent, I also get needing to not discuss it as it is a legal issue that may (in my opinon should) go to court for prosecution, but I do hope to hear about the decision to either file a police report or not or to pursue legal action, even if we are not informed of how or over what exactly, soon.

 

[Hammar O'Justice]

I do want to thank Mother and our Board and CO's for being transparent, I also get needing to not discuss it as it is a legal issue that may (in my opinon should) go to court for prosecution, but I do hope to hear about the decision to either file a police report or not or to pursue legal action, even if we are not informed of how or over what exactly, soon.

If and when such action is either taken or is ruled out, the Board will communicate its reasoning (either directly or, more likely, I will make an official post) unless for some reason circumstances dictate silence on the topic. I want to make clear that we discussed this very topic (communication of decisions) last night in the Board meeting. The community can rest assured that the Board's strong preference is toward explanation and disclosure where appropriate. It would take compelling circumstances to keep the Board silent in such a situation.

 

[Hilwa Katir]

This Site is part of my family..even when I am not posting up a storm, you are all in thoughts and heart...this includes all the people I do not know so well as well as the people that I know well.. we shall overcome this.. I have calmed down..this does not mean that I am any happier about the situation but I can take a step back and say that all families have problems and this is definitely a tough time for us right now, but we will get out of this stronger and much more unified.

 

[Kitan Tataru]

Keisha, Eli, Brandon, and I are meeting tomorrow in RL to talk about this and hug and cry and heal...I think that'll be a good idea for us personally, and I wanted to mention it to everyone in case other people with local Tower folk find the idea helpful.

 

[Asandra al'Terra]

Ismene - what the others before me have said. <3

 

[Miridyth Al'Landerin]

Wow. I just saw the post and read through the thread and ten pages later am still in shock. I liked the administrations posts and understand them and support them in their decisions and am amazed as how quickly that they have responded once the situation was fully realized.

I have known Riley both in real life and on the site. I would like to continue thinking of him as a good person who just happened to make a really horrible decision. I remember a secretary that my dad had who was his "accountant." She got into financial straights and started borrowing in small bits and paying it back, then larger amounts and paying partial, then larger and not able to pay back until it snowballed. He had to fire her. She wasn't a "bad" person, but a person who made truly bad decisions that led to a crime.

When I first read the threads, I was "well if he pays it back...why not let him back?" However, after reading the scope of what may have happened and, has been said, we have banned people for less "crimes" against the community, then with a saddened heart I can only agree that he needs a total ban.

The only thing I would love to see from this is not an apology letter, nor even an accounting of what went wrong, because I think that the directors will have that information. What I personally would love to see is more transparency of accounts. I would love to see a bi-annual report of money taken in and where it is spent. As a non-profit organization, we...as donors...should be able to know where our money is going. I personally think this will rebuild the trust to where people will feel comfortable donating money. This is not an "odd request" as many non-profit and not-for-profit companies have their financial records readily available for members. The rest of my "thoughts" will be sent to Mother.

 

[Hilwa Katir]

I was speaking to someone from the Site and was wondering if the board would consider two people for this position.

1 as the CFO who actually writes the checks and 1 who is the treasurer/shaytaan who makes the budget, is subordinate to the CFO, presents said budget to the board
once the okay is given, and then and only then can the CFO write the check with a minimum of Two signatures required to write said check.
Just throwing it out there..I do have some ideas of who I would like to take both positions..but ..well..I do like to organize things..

 

[Pylar al'Stnap]

I'm sure Serenla Sedai will come up with a great plan that works for us.

I think the two signature thing can get iffy with us being a cross-country organization, with two people very rarely being in the same area to put signatures on checks.

 

[Martele d'Acre]

I'm sure Serenla Sedai will come up with a great plan that works for us.

I think the two signature thing can get iffy with us being a cross-country organization, with two people very rarely being in the same area to put signatures on checks.

No doubt but two signatures are very viable. Actually I imagine most of this was done electronically not physically.

 

[Martele d'Acre]

I feel awful, and like a bit of a failure as an Aes Sedai. I knew that he was in a tight financial situation - I should have known, I should have done something, I should have been more active on the site. Honestly, I feel like the Riley that I thought I knew has died. This information doesn't square with the man I thought I knew: dependable, thrifty, kind, a committed Christian, compassionate. What kind of a bond did we really have if I am completely blindsided by this? Was our whole friendship simply in my imagination?

I'm heartbroken.
There's nothing more I can say.

Miridyth, this is not your fault and you, in your heart know this. I did not know he was in a tight situation. However, had he come to me I would have at least helped. I, as many others, have done this with many brothers and sisters never expecting the repayment they promise. We as old folks know the kids won't repay us. We only hope they will help us later when we're old and unable to help ourselves. Riley wasn't young though and should have asked. He was a proud man though and I know how it feels to go through bad times. It is embarresing.

I noticed that as I was composing this reply, this thread has filled up with some spammy/silly comments.

Please. Have some respect.
The Tower has so many places for silliness and spam. It's what we're built on in many ways.
I know we all handle grief and stress in different ways - some with humor, some not, and it may be an attempt by some to "lighten the mood."

Some may know that Ismene and I have had differences of opinion. However I am in complete and total support of her statement. For those of you who want to be silly: take it somewhere else!!

What I personally would love to see is more transparency of accounts. I would love to see a bi-annual report of money taken in and where it is spent. As a non-profit organization, we...as donors...should be able to know where our money is going. I personally think this will rebuild the trust to where people will feel comfortable donating money. This is not an "odd request" as many non-profit and not-for-profit companies have their financial records readily available for members.

Actually I am not so sure this is not a requirement. However, whether is is or not, it is why I quit donating to TV.NET years ago. There was no accounting.

It's not cheap to produce an annual statement though. We must weigh cost versus benefit. I can help but not produce. If a CPA will step up to the plate I will provide them my services on IT or analysis, or even just basic bookkeeping. I am proficient with QuickBooks in that I use it to enter my business transactions and provide reports to my CPA at the end of the year. The other systems are not really different; they have to go by GAAP.

EDIT:

Yes, sadly I was not Riley's Aes Sedai...It was Ismene and another. But I liked your comments Marty.

Sorry, I got the AS incorrect at top. But I think everyone knows who I meant and I apologize.

 

[Caerwyn Jolan]

I decided to update my sig (since i didnt have one) the excellent quote-sig that someone here made. Whoever that was, thank you!

 

[Myralin al'Ser]

It was Stephen. Thanks, Stephen, by the way.

 

[Eva Wartooth]

Sometimes good people do bad things.
This is extremely unfortunate, and very saddening.

 

[Estalia Walburga]

I'm sure this community will pull through this situation. My thoughts go out to all who are in shock, pain or grief and to all those who are working through all the painful decisions.

 

[Illuvin Ring]

I met him at the Anni, and I'm sad that it came to this. He was nice. =/

Edit: I wish he had said something.

 

[Raevyn Tsornin]

Martele - your first quote should be attributed to Ismene also. She and I were his AS