Official Update Regarding Riley Robinson

[Willow al'Meana]

Thank you for the update and all your hard work Hammar.

 

[Mychael Ritoryn]

I didn't know about this - what an extremely unfortunate series of events!

Thank you to Hammar and to all leadership for dealing with this firmly and expertly - your work is greatly appreciated!

 

[Niere al'Aman]

This was an event that caused much anger and sadness for the situations and people involved.
And was responded to, as was said before, quickly with careful thought, determination and sensitivity.
The potential was there for an implosion and dissolution of the community, and that did not happen.

Bravo to our leadership, to Hammar, and to all the membership for pulling together.

Thank you for all of your work (and I am sure, knowing the legal system and the agencies involved, it has taken a good amount of time), and for this update.
It is greatly appreciated.

 

[Theolyn Maryash]

Thank you for the update, and all the hard work!

 

[Isarma Maracanda]

Thank you, Hammar, Mother and the Board. The update is appreciated :bow

 

[Mejjad Martnandi]

Yes, thank you. The update is appreciated.

 

[Ealandrelle Melyma]

Thank you for this update, and for all the hard work which has been put into resolving this issue. Like Alora, I joined not long after all this happened - indeed one of the first things I remember about the site was "The Tower Still Stands" fundraiser.

:grouphug

 

[Kassina Tendar]

Thanks for the update! It's good to know where we stand. Thank you to everyone for all their hard work on this difficult issue and thanks to Hammer for the update and everything you do for Tar Valon!

 

[Lyara Tieran]

Thank you so much for your updates.

I'm extremely glad to know that it is being dealt with as needed.

 

[Marivea al'Corriyi]

Update appreciated. :grouphug to the Board and Hammar for the effort and work put into handling this.

 

[Ilissa al'Nari]

Thank you for the update.

 

[Taelinn Dolivras]

Thank you for the update, and for everything being done behind the scenes by Hammar and the Board, however difficult it may be :grouphug

 

[Stephen Lightheart]

Reading this, I can't help but feel really bad for Riley. Talk about a mistake that's biting him in the butt. I'm so proud of this community and its leadership, though!

 

[Khisanth al'Danya]

Thank you very much for the update and all of the work that is going into this!

 

[Loira Al'Ramoidra]

[...] investigation soon showed that tens of thousands of dollars had been misappropriated into accounts owned by or controlled by Riley[...]

Holy... I never realized it was that much money Thanks for the update.

 

[Alyria Ess]

There is good bit of reason to be proud of us as a community after these events

 

[Deoan Kakarot]

Thank you for the update.

Reading this, I can't help but feel really bad for Riley. Talk about a mistake that's biting him in the butt. I'm so proud of this community and its leadership, though!

Stealing tens of thousands of dollars over the course of several years is not a "mistake". It is an intentional criminal betrayal, and I'm extremely pleased that the authorities are investigating this so that he does not continue to do this to other organizations he's "helping".

 

[Jeryn Lekar]

Reading this, I can't help but feel really bad for Riley. Talk about a mistake that's biting him in the butt.

Because it is such a big mistake to use other people's money for your own benefit.

Oh and thank you for the update.

 

[Kitan Tataru]

You know that I love you, Stephan,.mentee mine. You're showing a LOT of compassion here - more than I'd ever be able to muster in this situation. That's an incredibly admirable personality trait.

But I have to disagree with you TV is not a money machine. There's no way that I can personally see that Riley could have done this as as one-time thing. If it were a one-time thing, I might be able to call this a mistake. Might. But I highly, highly doubt it was a one-time event.

(take this with a grain of salt, though, because I know nothing about accounting and I'm absolutely horrible at math - I still count on my fingers)

The important thing is that this did not break the Tower. Through selfless generosity and against ALL odds, Fall Ball in New York still happened, and we very very quickly raised enough money to keep the Tower standing.

An event like this would have broken most organizations of our size. We were seriously hurt, just not financially but emotionally, by this incredibly grave breach of trust. Riley was one of our oldest members, and one of the most trusted. EVERYONE, from the Amyrlin, to the Board, to our entire membership, was utterly shocked.

But instead of responding with anger, we responded with grief and action - and as we comforted each other, we began to heal. We're seeking justice through the appropriate venues, as is our duty, so that Riley hopefully cannot victimize anyone else. We need to remember the important things - we comforted each other instead of turning on anyone, and because of that, the Tower stands.

As Hammar said:

The discussion there revealed a Tower membership that was wounded but caring, thoughtful, deliberate, patient, and decent. I am still amazed the Internet didn't collapse from the paradox of aggrieved forum posters discussing a controversy with supportive language and no flames.

:grouphug

 

[Maresa Lyonne]

Thank you for expressing what I was feeling about that "mistake" comment in a better way than I would have, Deoan. :P