U.S. Senators, Re: Shriners & Non Profit Transparency

Thank you all for your comments!

I thought that Maria's response was not a "form letter" as it acknowledged my 20 months of research, described her new appointment on the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) and provided her comments about how non profit groups must qualify for their exemption, which is part of her committee job.

What stands out is her "in depth response" is this:

"I will review the information you have provided and keep it in mind as the Finance Committee continues its work on these issues."

This means that someone on her staff will read as much of this investigation as they can (yawn) and when the subjects of non profit hospitals or the suggested revisions to the IRS 990's are brought to committee, she will have access to this specific Newsvine.com information.

Additionally, there are readers who make sure that federal and state officials, including the Senate Finance Committee's counsel, receive each installment as it is published and documentation as it is made available.

This is why whistleblowers are so important as they come up with information on their own and take the initiative to share it on their own. These guys send documents and information all over the place!

The question that needs to be asked is:

"Why have the Shriners, for decades, retaliated against, punished, thrown out and sued those who question their finances? And why, last September, did they name me as a secondary party of information in a defamation suit? Was it an effort to get around Florida's reporter shield laws?

As a Watchdog Journalist, it is my obligation and responsibility to make sure that my articles are as accurate as possible. This process has involved countless "off the record" confirmations with IRS guys, state charity directors, non profit experts and, yes, even Shriners.

If it were possible, I'd publish Shriners' comments and reactions but the best case scenario is that emails remain unanswered and calls unreturned.

Most recently, a Fri, 17 Aug 2007 email sent to PR Director Alicia Aargiz-Lyons remains unanswered.

It asked:

"Is there a statement from corporate about the Tennessee parade crash? Thank you,
Sandy Frost"

I found it curious that the Shriners never apologized or acknowledged this crash that sent eight to the hospital. Neither did Chattanooga Police investigators nor PR officers return any of my calls nor answer crash questions. Nor were any charges made. The whole event seemed to be swept under the rug and hushed up, though some state charity authorities were interested in some aspects of this case.

Phone messages left for Shriner's corporate attorney, Ted Corsones, remain unanswered. He was asked to confirm that he'd advised the officers of the Omar Temple to remove the officers of the Dorchester Shrine Club and replace them with their own handpicked guys. I had planned to ask him if he knew why the Temple allegedly violated their exempt organization purpose (to raise money to support the children's hospitals) by rushing to raise over $70,000 in two years to pay off the club's mortgage? After the temple's take over two years ago, they will own the club's pristine 75 acre site that includes a recreational lake after the mortgage is paid off. Did I mention that a local attorney, who sits on the DSC Board of Advisors as the Club's attorney, is also developing land around the club?

Worst case scenario? I've been threatened, hung up on, lied to and yelled at by Shriner temple and club officers.

Anyway, thanks again for your comments,

Sandy