StarTribune Response:

OMGAA RESPONSE:

TO: OMGAA Membership

From:  OMGAA Board of Directors

By now, you may have seen the article published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Friday March 7, 2008 with a headline that reads "As the kids play, the cash quietly slips away".  The article refers to recent problems facing the Burnsville Athletic Club because of the alleged embezzlement by a "trusted commissioner" who is charged with stealing over $43,000 in funds from parents.  The article says "From the Mendota Heights mother who stole money from the Sibley High School graduation party fund to the treasurer who stole from the Osseo-Maple Grove Athletic Association, internal thefts have victimized Minnesota athletic associations and booster clubs, often to the dismay of entire communities." 

These types of issues do occur in youth sport organizations, and it is important that they be brought to light.  However, the incident involving the Osseo Maple Grove Athletic Association took place in 1985 and 1986.  By omitting this important fact, the author may have inadvertently implied that this was a recent event.  The article she referenced as source material, was originally published on June 3, 1987 and included the steps taken by the then Board of Directors to prevent future incidents.  Since that time, various OMGAA Boards have at times written, re-written and published Financial Procedures Policies that improve and outline those controls.

In 2001 OMGAA adopted and published its latest Financial Procedures policy and began mandatory background checks for all directors under its newly adopted Background Check Policy.  In 2005 OMGAA adopted and published its Conflict of Interest Policy which strictly forbids the association for doing business with companies that are directly or partially owned by a sitting Director or Coordinator.  These policies and all OMGAA policies are available for review on our web site.  In addition, annual audits have been conducted by an outside accounting firm to ensure the implemented controls are effective.  Several other oversight practices have been implemented to ensure that the funds OMGAA collects are properly used for the benefit of our members.

OMGAA has been a careful steward of the funds paid by parents to permit their children to participate in baseball and softball.  In addition, OMGAA's status as a 501(c) (3) charity gives our organization the opportunity to raise funds for the OMGAA Scholarship Program and for the Special Olympics adapted softball program.  The Scholarship program provides two academic scholarships to graduating high school seniors to further their education.  In 2007, our Special Olympics program allowed 70 athletes the chance to play organized softball for little or a reduced fee.  OMGAA is proud to announce that it will be the host of the Minnesota Special Olympics State Softball Tournament in August 2008.  Some OMGAA traveling teams also raise funds to permit them to attend national tournaments.  These efforts compliment our primary role to offer youth living in the Osseo and Maple Grove High School boundaries the opportunity to play organized baseball and softball.

Beginning in 1991, Tom Goltz served as OMGAA's Treasurer with a great deal of professionalism and dedication.  We take this opportunity to emphasize that Tom has served for three presidents as a trusted and valued adviser and to reassure the OMGAA membership his involvement with OMGAA began well after the unfortunate events of 1985-86.  Tom's great skill, care and concern for OMGAA has contributed our organization's position as one of the most respected community based youth athletic associations in Minnesota.  After 17 years of dedicated, honorable service, Tom retired from OMGAA in January 2008.   Ward Wallner was appointed by the board to the position of Treasurer and continues to provide the strong leadership and high degree of confidence that we have in the financial control of OMGAA funds.

In an e-mail to OMGAA President Mike Parenteau, posted at 6:58 pm Friday, March 07, 2008, the author of the Star Tribune Article, Joy Powell offered this:

If you have any questions about the OMGAA financial controls, or any other matter, please feel free to contact the OMGAA President, Mike Parenteau via e-mail at the OMGAA Website http://www.omgaa.org/ or by attending our monthly board meetings held the 3^rd Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm at the Maple Grove Community Center. 

OMGAA Board of Directors