[Flags and Flowers; Nov 2009; Stock Photo by NS]Following are some photos and information from "Red Flags of Fraud" ["Fraud Awareness and Improving Internal Control For Not-for-Profit Organizations"] Presentation:
This meeting - which was (to the best of my knowledge) a collaborative effort on the part of UC Comptroller, Elliott Auerbach (This was reputedly his idea.); Deputy Comptroller, Robert Wenzel; the New York State Attorney Generals office; Assistant Attorney General in Charge, Vincent Bradley (Poughkeepsie Regional Office) and the Chamber of Commerce (Ward Todd, Chamber President, did the introduction) - was held at the Holiday Inn in Kingston on November 5th 2009. Other noted sponsors and helpers were Morgan Stanley Smith Barney - Robert Hirsh - and the persons depicted in the photos below.
["Who Commits Fraud"; From the Nov 2009 "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Photo (by NS) of the Presentation Given by Russell Gray, Senior Auditor, UC Office of the Comptroller]
[UC Comptroller, Elliott Auerbach at "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Nov 2009; Photo by NS]
[Russell Gray, Senior Auditor, UC Office of the Comptroller at the "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Nov 2009; Photo by NS]
[UC Executive Michael Hein at the "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Nov. 2009; Photo by NS]
[Vincent G. Bradley, Assistant Attorney General In Charge (Poughkeepsie Office); Bill Schechter (sp?); and UC Comptroller, Elliott Auerbach at the "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Nov. 2009; Photo by NS]
[Nicholas Garin, Esq., NY State Assistant Attorney General at the "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Nov 2009; Photo by NS]
[Shelley Zimbler, KAPA Commissioner and UC Executive Michael Hein at the "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Nov 2009; Photo by NS]According to my notes and handouts (available from the UC Comptrollers office and/or the Attorney Generals office) from this event, there are over 750 Not-for-Profits in Ulster County, NY.
If I understood this right, all charity fundraising boards (whether just starting out or undergoing administrative changes) must petition the court - be given a stamp of approval by the State Attorney Generals Office - be approved (requiring an official signature) by the court - "abide by the law" - and submit readily accessible annual reports.
If any board and/or charity organization raises funds in NY State without going through this process of approval and oversight - a fraud investigation is in order.
If a board and/or charity organization is convicted of fraud - the board (and/or charity) will be "put out of business" and ordered to "pay restitution" to those that donated funds.
The U.C. Comptrollers position involves making sure every dollar in the County of Ulster is being spent "wisely".
One should always ask (before donating funds or engaging in "business" enterprises) with a charity, board and/or not-for-profit (however the organization presents itself) for their Federal ID number --- which the organization should have readily accessible.
[Contact Elliot Auerbach Info; Photo (by NS) of a Projected Display at the "Red Flags of Fraud" Presentation; Nov 2009]--------------------------------------------------------
Stay tuned for photos and notes from the Public Hearing on the City of Kingston Mayors proposed 2010 Budget...
[Kingston City Hall; Photo by NS]Note: Some information on the above is already available on the Kingston Progressive blogspot and the Kingston News Blog. Please see the links in the sidebar >>>
Respectfully posted by,
NS
