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A reader writes…
By punch bowl | December 13, 2007
In regards to the controversy currently playing out in Illinois:
Mr. Kotecki’s removal was in response to allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of ICRF funds.
These allegations stemmed from several refusals to give Treasurer’s reports, shady financial recording, and a gross over reporting of funds (Upwards of $3,000).
After the over reporting was discovered, Mr. Kotecki made a cash deposit equal to the missing amount, and upon questioning by Mr. Binning refused to state the source of these funds and told him simply, it came from “individuals”.
Topics: CR gossip |
December 13th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Buying office supplies, coffee and sandwiches for volunteers hardly sounds like embezzlement. Ask Binning, that’s where “missing money” went.
On the other hand, what this does sound like is slander. And not by Kotecki but by Binning and Ryan Murphy.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
It’s a load of crap and Binning should face a lawsuit if this is demonstrated to be false.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Ryan,
I have investigated. There was no embezzlement. Perhaps you should spend more time looking at facts and less time slandering a hard-working republican. Grow up.
I agree Thomas. If I were Brett Kotecki, I would be considering a law suit for slander.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Okay, so let’s say Brett did over-report. And felt so bad because of it, he donated $2900 or so of his own money… sounds like a good enough reason to be removed from office, right?. I bet you could take a majority of State Chairs around the nation, see how much they’ve donated and it wouldn’t even come close to comparing.
It’s funny because all of this is coming about right after the “Drinking for Jesus” event surfaced and Kotecki received the blame for leaking that information even though he didn’t.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
I’m not going to apologize for my statements regarding this matter. I stand by Mr. Binning and the members of the ICRF that voted to remove Mr. Kotecki from office, that will not change.
A Treasurer is tasked with the responsibility of managing an organization’s finances, adhering to a budget approved by the organization, and furnishing reports to members. From everything the information at hand, it appears that Mr. Kotecki failed the organization in all three facets.
If there was indeed embezzlement on top of those three failures, there is no doubt in my mind that removal was justified.
I’ve seen first hand the damage that a runaway spender can do to an organization. When the current Executive Board in Texas took office we were faced with a debt totaling $4,500. That put a severe damper on any actions we could take, and still lingers in our minds any time an expenditure is considered.
I would hate to see the same thing happen to ICRF, or any other student organization. I have worked here in Texas for fiduciary reform within the TFCR and my own chapter. Mr. Binning appears to be doing the same with the IFCR.
The argument that other State Chairs do the same thing is not a justification. When it’s wrong, it’s wrong. If it’s against the rules, you must enforce the rules.
Personally, I see this as little more than another attack from Mr. Binning’s detractors in the ICRF. They seem to be obsessed with discrediting him, facilitating their own rise to power.
It’s shameful.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:00 am
And this is why Republicans will lose in 2008. Because we care more about filing lawsuits against each other and being sensitive to people who don’t do their jobs than we do about getting work done.