UNDER THE BUS NIGHT!
Jul 22nd, 2011 | Category: Editorials
Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely…… Lord Acton
Is There Still Room Under The Bus?
The Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers monthly dinner meeting for June featured FTBOA president Fred Brei as the key speaker. In the three weeks since that meeting, Fred has had his “top down” not much has been stated by Fred, but it has rained almost every day!
Much apprehension preceded the meeting regarding the electricity that would charge the “question and answer” portion of the meeting. It was more bizarre than most would expect with the previous Saturday announcement of Richard “Dick” Hancock ’s impending resignation.
I was approached at my table by Fred Brei where he just blurted a question, “Is Mike still alive?” I asked, “What?” and the question was repeated. I then asked, “Mike who?” to which Fred replied, “Mike, that bookkeeping guy!” It then dawned upon me that he was referring to former FTBOA Chief Financial Officer, Michael Gilliam, who retired due to poor health and pressure from the principals at FTBOA. I said that I have not seen him in quite awhile (six months) and as far as I know, he was still alive. Fred departed and during his speech threw Gilliam under the bus by making remarks about his being “only a bookkeeper, marginal at best” which brought gasps from some of those in attendance. He then said, “Mr. Gilliam did not know the meaning of CFO”. Obviously Fred did not know of all the closed door meetings that Mr. Gilliam had with Mr. Hancock during his tenure as FTBOA Chief Financial Officer. You also have to wonder why it took so long for the FTBOA board and CEO to realize that Mr. Gilliam was as inept as Brei implies.
Can you imagine what he would have said had the man not been alive? The people at my table were astounded by Mr. Brei’s actions both before and during his diatribe.
Mr. Brei fluctuated between praising Mr. Hancock and saying he had poor management skills. Furthermore, he spoke of the people in Tallahassee having no clue about purses and how racing worked in Florida. If that is the case, we have to wonder whether Mr. Hancock did his job or not about educating legislators on what the FTBOA is all about.
Mr. Brei exhibited new exuberance only when he managed to tout his own accomplishments as a breeder and owner, or to tell us how awed he is each time he sits down with all of the millionaires that are on the FTBOA board of directors. (I wonder if he has their autographs.) He basically implied to all present that if you are not a millionaire, you don’t belong on the board of directors.
Once again the small breeder – owner was reminded that they really don’t count with the FTBOA hierarchy and they should just pay their dues and fees and get out of the way, because Fred and the boys know what is best for them. What is most amazing is the FTBOA board has some very good business people on it, but where are their voices? I recall new board member, Roy Lerman, standing at the microphone and telling everyone that he would get some answers. That was in December and we are here in July…..did you get the answers, Roy? What were they? It is bad enough that the economy is horrible, but does gasoline have to be poured on it as well? At the same time, why does Florida racing have to be made to look like total fools to the states that now surpass Florida in the horse racing world?
I’m not sure if that was a question addressed to me or, merely rhetorical. However I will try to answer for myself only.
I’m not sure whether an unsigned editorial doesn’t repaet the past apparent shortcomings of the FTBOA. That issue aside, it does raise valid questions. Again, speaking for myself, and only for myself as a board member, I think it is apparent that there has been some progress, maybe less than the editorial writer would have liked, and perhaps less than I would like to see, in making the FTBOA more open and responsive to the concerns of the membership.
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, we have a new Chief Financial Officer(CFO). I can say from observation that I feel the members will benefit immediately and concretely from that most important change. It does no good to sling poisoned arrows at the past.. We are in ,what appears to me to be, competent financial hands.
Secondly, and perhaps only slightly less in importance, is the prospect of new, and necessarily reinvigorated leadership. All organizations always benefit from new ideas. New ideas can originate from many sources.Virtually all significant organizations need, periodically, new faces and direction. This is not meant to cast aspersions on the previous leadership under Dick Hancock. He has served this organization well for many years. But the mere use of the term “many years” gives a clue to the need for change..
I think these two factors, at the very least, should give the writer, as well as the general membership, reason for optimism in the future.
If, after a period of due consideration, you still find the board and its paid staff to be wanting, or lack direction or you just think other people would do a better job, then, and only then, should you exercise your right, and more significantly, your duty, to make wholesale changes to more a accurately reflect to the desires of the majority of the membership of the FTBOA.
I will endeavor to be receptive to all of the voices of the membership. I remain available to discuss any of these points, or any other issues, with any concerned member.
Dear fellow breeders and owners,
After reading Fred Brie’s letter considering “transparency” within the FTBOA, I had to sit back and reflect on the past few years within our organization. I find it sad and also appauling that this “transparency” that Fred speaks about only came about after many members shelled out money out of their own pockets to hire an attorney to FORCE the FTBOA to turn over documents so that we could investigate the “wrongdoings” within our organization ourselves. We were fought every step of the way. Now, Mr. Brie finally has to admit that the money missing from our organization is much more than the $10,000 to $12,000 originally suspected. Really, Fred?! Are we supposed to be surprised? Mr. Brie really believes that a few members were just “fishing” for problems and he doesn’t realize that the reason that we never gave up our quest was because we knew there was proof of misappropriations. It looks like FINALLY the State Attorney’s office and hopefully the IRS will step in. We need to request that they speak to many of our members about what has been found over the past few years of diggings so we can get to the bottom of this once and for all. I hope that not one more penny of this organization’s money will be given in any form of benefits or compensation of any kind to any past or present employee who is found to have had any knowledge of these “wrongdoings.” How can management have not known after all of these years what was going on with this organization’s money? It is inexcusable. At least I can agree with one thing Mr. Brie said; I concur that we pursue criminal charges against all involved.
Steve Lombardi
Fox Point Farm