(Editor’s Note: Chris Miller, who served as president of Las Vegas Gay Athletics, Arts & Activities (LVGA3) has stepped down due to his concerns regarding the actions of Secretary/Treasurer Brent Lovett. Below is Miller’s letter to the LVGA3 board of directors and members concerning his resignation, reprinted with permission.)

To: Board of Directors and Members, LVGA3
From: Chris Miller, President
Date: February 22, 2010
Subject: Resignation

Almost 2 years ago, I was introduced to a new concept for the Las Vegas LGBT Community. I immediately new the possibilities of what this type of organization could do for our community, so I jumped right in.

In early 2009, as disorganization roiled LVGA3, I stepped up to take charge. With the help of Larry O’Halloran, we got people to come out for softball. Larry took charge and has taken that cold October afternoon with just him, Terry Hernandez and myself and turned it in to a NAGAAA sanctioned league. Arts and Activities have yet to achieve these kinds of results, but I continue to hope that the leadership of these 2 committees makes that happen.

I love and believe in the possibilities of this organization, but there have been serious ethical and financial issues concerning our Secretary / Treasurer, Brent Lovett, in addition to grossly inadequate job performance that can never be tolerated in a non-profit organization. When I questioned the issues and acts of or Brent, I was asked to wait for him to return from a business trip to fully answer his actions. In December, I brought SEVERAL issues to the Executive Board. I felt that our Treasurer and Secretary, Brent Lovett, was not adequately doing his job and making inappropriate (and possibly legally suspect) decisions with LVGA3 funds.

This was part of the letter I wrote to the Executive Board asking them to remove Brent from office:

My reasons for Brent’s removal from the offices of Secretary and Treasurer are:
1. Inadequate job performance as both Secretary and Treasurer, positions he has held since the beginning of 2009.
2. Inappropriate use of LVGA3 money
3. Lack of communication to Board of Directors
4. Inability to complete assigned tasks

1. Treasurer Issues.

a. Failure to maintain report accurate information to LVGA3 Board No Treasurer Reports presented to the LVGA3 Board for the following Meetings: February 19, 2009; March 17, 2009; April 7, 2009; May 6, 2009; June 2, 2009; July 7, 2009; August 4, 2009; September 1, 2009; October 20, 2009; November 10, 2009

b. Treasurer Report of December 8, 2009, highly inadequate. There was no supporting documentation of expenditures (receipts, etc) as asked for in my email of November 30, 2009

c. Misappropriation of LVGA3 funds. On November 23, 2009, Brent paid his personal water bill (Las Vegas Water District) of $104.09. It was brought to his attention by me in an email of November 30, 2009. It was not paid back in to the Account until December 4, 2009. 7 days from time of initial payment and 4 days from notification. It took until December 13, 2009, for Brent to send an email with explanation of this issue (20 days from day of ‘mistake’, 13 days from my asking questions in an email and 9 days from the return of the money.

d. Page 13 of the By-Laws state that… “All disbursements from the Corporate Treasury will be required to be in the form of a draft check, such draft check shall require two (2) or four (4) signatures.” On 11/23/09, Brent went to Wells Fargo and completed a “Withdrawal Slip” for re-imbursement to himself for approved items and for re-imbursement to himself for non-approved items.

e. During the course of November 5, 2009 and December 1, 2009, SEVERAL items were paid out of the LVGA3 Main account not following proper banking procedures and not approved by the LVGA3 Board of Directors

2. Secretary Issues

a. It is the duty of the Secretary to take minutes of all meetings and to present those for approval at subsequent meetings. To my knowledge, there are no “approved” minutes for the following meetings: February 19, 2009; March 17, 2009; April 7, 2009; May 6, 2009; June 2, 2009; July 7, 2009; August 4, 2009; September 1, 2009

b. Meeting notes of November 10, 2009 were inadequate: Incorrect attendance information; No recording of Motions / Seconds / Votes

c. Communication. On several occasions, there have been requests for emails to be sent out to the membership with no response. Both Thomas and I have asked for the information to have the ability to complete these requests (access to send out emails), none has been provided. I believe our inability to have emailed this information possibly resulted in a low turnout for both our Christmas Dinner Fundraiser that Thomas set up for us, our Charlie’s Fundraiser of December 22, 2009, and the start of Basketball. On 2 occasions, once in a Board Meeting and once by email, there have been requests to provide information for passwords, etc in case of an issue with Brent, and nothing has been sent.

3 and 4. Lack of communication and inability to perform tasks.

a. Failure to communicate with LVGA3 Board and Board President concerning items such as… Ski / Snow Weekend; Café Press Account; Registering LVGA3 for an online contest; Entering in to an online accounting service with a monthly fee

b. At Board meeting of November 10, 2009, we had our Annual Vote of Corp Officers. At that time Brent volunteered and was designated to correct these names, positions and mailing address with the Secretary of State’s Office. As of this morning, this has not been completed.

c. On December 13, 2009, I emailed Brent about sending out an email concerning our December 17, 2009, Christmas Fundraiser. I asked for an email to go out that day (Sunday), again on Wednesday and last one on Thursday (the morning of the event). I received no response to this email.

d. On December 29, 2009, I sent an email asking for calendar items to be corrected concerning this weekend’s Dog Social and Comedy Fundraiser. As of this morning, I have not received an email response to this message and it has not been completed.

e. December 26, 2009, I sent an email concerning the Ski / Snow weekend that we knew nothing about until the email was sent earlier that day. On December 29, 2009, with no response, I sent another email asking for the same answers. In the response I finally received later that day, I was told that Brent did not have to communicate to the full Board (or basically anyone) about this type of event. And, since he was funding everything, why am I questioning any of this.

f. Also on December 29, 2009, Dennis Dunn sent an email to Brent asking information on the upcoming Ski / Snow weekend. I spoke with Dennis this morning, there has yet to be a response.

I believe that it is apparent that Brent Lovett’s ability to carry out the duties of both Secretary and Treasurer has been inadequate. I, therefore, ask for him to be removed as Treasurer and Secretary from the Board of LVGA3.

I bring up all of these issues because I feel that people need to understand my frustration. The Board, in December, felt I was too harsh on Brent and I needed to back off. Someone used the terms, “Slap him on the hand and tell him to behave.” They were ok to live with his inability to properly do his job. I received NO SUPPORT from any of my fellow board members about his actions and my wanting his removal. All I received was a promise for him to do better.

Since that meeting, there have been more items that have occurred.

I have sent 3 emails to Brent asking for him to follow-up with Mike Franklin about missing 3 consecutive meetings (per the by-laws, this means removal from the board). January 13, 2010; January 19, 2010; January 28, 1010. I have yet to receive a response.

At our last meeting, January 12, 2010, I handed Brent a check for $273 and $35 cash to be deposited in the LVGA3 main account. As of today, February 22, 2010, it has not been deposited.

I received an email from Brent on January 13, 2010 about my follow-up to items from our December meeting. He informed me that he had no receipts for the following:
1. 11.5.09 Office Depot. Purchase (paper and ink?) of 111.48
2. 11.23.09 Secretary of State (remove T Hernandez from the list of officers). This was part of the $886.40 CASH that was withdrawn by Brent on a withdrawal slip instead of a check with a second signature or Board approval. We were told it was for items purchased by Brent and the need for reimbursement.
3. 11.26.09 Wal-Mart. Purchase of a hard drive for LVGA3 records (that we still have not physically confirmed) for $81.93

I feel that Brent is not being respectful of my position as President nor is he being respectful of all of you. Because of past and current meetings and conversations, there is NO SUPPORT from the Executive Board to address these issues with him.

As the President of LVGA3, I am the one that is held liable in the matter of items not properly followed, records not maintained, etc. Because I did not have the support of Aaron Schave, Thomas Bogle or Strutt Hurley to remove Brent in December and because I am continually asked by Aaron, Thomas and some others on committees not to “rock the boat” I no longer feel comfortable leading this organization. Therefore, effective today, Feb 22, 2010, I am tendering my resignation.

As per the by-laws, Aaron Schave, LVGA3 Vice President is now Aaron Schave, LVGA3 President.

I wish you, Aaron, and the ENTIRE organization the best of luck.

Chris Miller
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