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From: michaeldguss on 11 Sep 2007 15:40
Public records are a good thing. A look at the UOAA's 990 reveals that
the UOAA isn't meeting its obligations to members, and places funding
travel junkets for a few officers ahead of actual programs for
ostomates.

In 2006, the UOAA raised $250,000. It saved $124,000. It spent 87,000
on staff and $5,300 on postage. It spent $0 on actual programs for
ostomates. And it spent $31,457 on something listed as "travel,
meeting expenditures, and website expenses." Hosting a website the
size of the UOAA's probably costs around $6,000 per year. Since there
were no actual meetings of the organization that year, the meeting
expenditures line is deceiving. So, I estimate that the organization
spent $25,000 on travel for officers and the Board of Directors.

Further inspection of the records, reveal that some reimbursement for
travel expenses to directors or their families was over $1,000.
However, the UOAA failed to list that on their form. However, in the
form that the box that the IRS provides to disclose that
reimbursement, the UOAA claims that no directors were reimbursed any
amount for their travel.

The UOAA says it is an organization to support ostomates nationwide.
When affiliated support groups ask for $500 to help with a local
conference, we are told that the UOAA doesn't have enough money. Yet
it has the money to fund $25,000 worth of travel for individual
directors in a year that there was no conference, and was no program
supported by the UOAA.

When people complain about the cost of the conference, we are told, as
one anonymous director told me, "I wish we could make it dirt cheap,
and still have the amenities that everyone else wants." I doubt anyone
cares about amenities. The reality is that the directors of the UOAA
are spending as much as they can to enjoy the experience of being
directors, and not actually thinking about upholding the mission of
the organization. As another director has stated openly on a blog, "I
spend too much on travel, but I don't care, it's other people's
money."

That statement is indicative of an attitude that is a big problem. I
hope that affiliated support groups will withhold renewal, that
industry supporters will withhold their contributions, and that
individual donations to the organization will cease until the
following ethical reforms are adopted:

1. The elimination of reimbursement for travel expenditures.
2. The creation of a $1,000 stipend to offset directors travel costs.
3. A commitment to spend at least as much on regional conferences as
on individual travel for members of the Board of Directors.
4. Retroactive public disclosure of exactly what the travel was, and
who received reimbursement for travel in 2006 and 2007.

Ethics are an important matter. Public disclosure ensures
accountability and prevents wasteful spending. The UOAA's method of
behind-the-scenes operation is prone to waste and abuse. It causes me
much pain to write this. I wish people would stand for what they say
they believe instead of themselves. I wish that the UOAA was a true
support organization instead of a travel racket. But self-interest is
a uniquely human phenomenon.

If you would like to check the UOAA's tax return for yourself (it is a
public record), go to guidestar.

(This particular post may be copied and reproduced at will by anyone.
I reserve no rights to this post).

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