Sunday, December 30, 2012

Celebrate Beach Blast Tomorrow 4-10, But Do Ask Questions About St. Augustine Beach Civic Association in the New Year



Great Wednesday night concerts with local restaurant fare for sale-- good fun during warm weather months. BUT there appears to be a culture of secrecy. There is little or no transparency as to income and spending, including contributions. Form 990 and experience reveal that the same SABCA directors elected and re-elected every single year. Very autocratic governance. SABCA arbitrarily refused to renew the memberships of at least two longtime SABCA members who are concerned about financial accountability and government issues. SABCA allegedly abused its political clout to elect and defeat several City of St. Augustine Beach City Commission candidates (including electing to SAB Commission two longtime SABCA board members, Andrea Samuels and S. Gary Snodgrass). SABCA allegedly abused its political clout to defeat reform St. Johns County Commission Chairman Ken Bryan, who stood in its way and prevented further questionable contributions of tens of thousands of bed tax dollars without transparency. Careful scrutiny is urgently needed in the New Year. Scrutiny is required by SABCA members, funders, regulators and news media. SABCA should no longer be run as a dictatorship, e.g., by one married political couple & their friends & political and commercial allies. Board members should rotate. There must be full financial disclosure of all expenditures. SABCA membership must be open to all -- rejection of members is unAmerican and unfair.

Source:  http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/st-augustine-beach-civic-association/146742/

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