Monday, January 25, 2010
Who is to blame for DERA/DERAH?
I have been ill these past two weeks and trying to caluculate what I can do to make DERA/DERAH do what it is suppose to do under the Society Act. It has gone beyond DERA's internal politics to its external causes. The external causes is that the DTES non-profit community has run from any responsibility it has for DERA hiding behind the inadequaties of the Society Act and the legal corruption which is pervasive in the DTES. Today I emailed Liz Evans and Mark Townsend (copy to the Vancouver Foundation) asking them to renew their memberships in DERA/DERAH. Both Liz and Mark are politicial creatures and it will be interesting to know how what they are going to do. Everyone that lives in the DTES is responsible for the governance for DERA/DERAH and for it to be transparent and living up to its contractural obligations to BC Housing and other funders which DERA has not been doing. And if any of you know Jim Green's email address, please forward it to me. He is also eligible to be a member of DERA/DERAH. Both Libby Davis and Jenny Kwan has used DERA as their stepping stone to their political careers. Years ago Jenny was asked to attend Board meetings of DERA and if she did there might have been a chance that DERA won't have deteriorated into the state it is in now. She refused because she is too busy being President Bush running from one photo op to another and never saying anything arriving late and leaving early. And I believe her husband is an executive at the Portland Hotel Society and it goes on and on ... What is happening at DERA is not only my problem it is also the problem of all the non-profits in the DTES who should be using moral suasion to make sure each of them are doing the right thing and not hiding behind lawyers and accountants.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Open Board Meeting today DERA
I was told that Kim is running around trying to find a lawyer to keep me from having acccess to documents of DERA. Good luck to him. I am in the right and I can't get a lawyer. So if there is a real life lawyer outthere that has no car, no wife, no kid, no dog and live in a studio rent free you may want to volunteer in this most important legistlation of this decade call me 778-329-1250. But somehow over the generations those who run non-profits have manged to create a third level of government which most of us are not aware of and all of us should run from.
I attended the "open board meeting" on Tuesday and it became a "closed incamera meeting" so that the observers/members were forced to leave. There was nothing in the meeting that warranted such exclusion. The biggest item was me: a motion was made so that I do not send any further emails to the directors. Although I sent agenda items for this meeting to the Board (see prior post) none of them appeared on the written agenda. And of course Julie was there demanding the meeting end prior to 7:30 as she had another appointment...
Just so those of you who are not familiar with incamera meetings, it doesn't mean that they are confidential, it only means that the negotiations are, and that (1) notice has to be given to the members prior to the meeting as to the reason for an incamera meeting and(2) that after the incamera meeting the conclusion has to be reported to the members.
Remember there is an open board meeting today at 6:30 at Solheim Place 251 Union Street (Georgia street viaduct between Main/Gore/Union) January 12 2010. These meeetings are becoming very interesting ... it is a reality show
I attended the "open board meeting" on Tuesday and it became a "closed incamera meeting" so that the observers/members were forced to leave. There was nothing in the meeting that warranted such exclusion. The biggest item was me: a motion was made so that I do not send any further emails to the directors. Although I sent agenda items for this meeting to the Board (see prior post) none of them appeared on the written agenda. And of course Julie was there demanding the meeting end prior to 7:30 as she had another appointment...
Just so those of you who are not familiar with incamera meetings, it doesn't mean that they are confidential, it only means that the negotiations are, and that (1) notice has to be given to the members prior to the meeting as to the reason for an incamera meeting and(2) that after the incamera meeting the conclusion has to be reported to the members.
Remember there is an open board meeting today at 6:30 at Solheim Place 251 Union Street (Georgia street viaduct between Main/Gore/Union) January 12 2010. These meeetings are becoming very interesting ... it is a reality show
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Motions for the Board January 12, 2010
The motions listed below (as well as other ones) have all been sent to the Board during my ten months as a director of DERA/DERAH and they have all been ignored. For those of you who feel that I have not followed protocols that apparently are the norm on how directors get things done in a non-profit I ask who authored those unwritten protocols.
How to do my job as a director was clarified to me by Phillip Landrie, a lawyer in Hastings North (604-257-3588), who told me that societies are micro City Halls. This was further confirmed by Suzanne Anton, City Councillor, who said that the City of Vancouver was a Society.
Unfortunately, most of the 26,000 societies we now have in British Columbia have morphed to anarchies each one doing what the hell they want without much regard to the rule of law or the purpose for the society. For example, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank does not have members only directors who all have professional careers outside of their "charity" work and defer to management on every single issue. And to think we the general public give them money trusting a woman who two years ago shut down the foodbank just before Christmas in the DTES without explanation: go and eat cake, said she.
Motions:
THAT the E/D be instructed to keep regular office hours and to record by the hour what he does. This is how lawyers and accountants bill their clients so why not Kim. His voice mail is always full and maybe he is overworked and deserves a raise. We as directors should know what he is doing.
THAT DERA open all day Wednesdays as it is suppose to be serving the people in the DTES. There is no reason for DERA to be closed on Wednesday.
THAT there be weekly meetings of DERA directors. DERAH is managing/owning property that is worth at least 60 million dollars (replacement value) and the directors meet only ten times a year for one hour at a time with the directors bitching that even that is encroaching on their personal time.
THAT a moratorium be put on any evictions of tenants and firings of employees for three months for each incident so that the possible evictees and those that are facing firings have a chance to present their case to the Board: this to avoid possible costly litigation for unjust terminations;
THAT unless the Board is notified of the reasons for DXXXs firing and they better be good beyond the vague "just cause" or the better one "she knows why" she is to be reinstated immediately.
THAT the Board respond to both AXXXs and HXXXs letters to it as why they had to leave the employee of DERA. And the Board allow those members that want to read the letters be allowed to do so.
THAT the Revocation of DERAH of its charitiable status in October 2009 be discussed in detail. It is inconceivable that this happened and Board or the E/D is covering it up.
THAT applications for memberships and directorships be actively solicited. DERA/DERAH do not have closed memberships or closed boards as this is not common knowledge for what reason I do not know;
THAT the Board advertise that all Board meetings are open to members and interested parties especially those interested in becoming future directors;
THAT the draft motion to pay legal costs be revisited in the light that a management employee previously told the Board two years ago that he was going to pay for the subject litigation;
THAT Kim's title be changed to "general manager" rather than executive director as the moniker executive director suggests that Kim is an elected director which he is not;
THAT a notice be sent to all tenants of the DERAH buildings reminding them to declare each month all the income of the occupants in his/her/their unit even if the occupants are not on the tenancy agreement so that fair rent is paid and to remind the tenant that any default falls on the tenant i.e. if the tenant plans to have a roommate for the next five years (or any other period past, present or future) then the tenant is responsible to pay 1/3 of the occupant's gross income as additional rent. DERA has not been enforcing this rental term as it thinks it is okay for some tenants and directors and staff who live in the buildings to pay less than ten percent of their incomes per unit. I have a friend who pays 80% of her disability income in old for profit building to rent as she isn't lucky enough to live in social housing. Her disposible income is $200 and a comparable person living in social housing would have $700 in disposable income. Disposable income is monies leftover after paying rent.
THAT a police report be ordered relating to the flooding incident on December 28 2009to help verify the circumstances surrounding the flooding and in particular to confirm that DERAH staff told the police that Dave had a violent mental history and as a result Dave was sent to the "funny farm" for assessment. I was told that one's medical condition was confidential so how was it that Tellier staff knew of it (Kim was there)and used such information to convince the police to take Dave away. After observation Dave was released to face Sabina, the Tellier housing manager, saying that he was not allowed back into his suite and that the his lock was changed. And if I do not understand what is going on then staff should explain what I do not understand. The only thing I am certain of is there had been a continuous malfunction of a fire alarm in Dave's suite and DERAH refused to fix it resulting in the sprinkler system eventually being tripped. It was not a malicious act.
THAT the auditor or the on-staff bookkeeper attend all Board meetings so that directors can ask questions of them like who was paid $5,000 to do a $500 web page when the executive director initially said the new web site would be done by a volunteer;
THAT a land search be done in the Land Titles Registry to clarify who in fact owns the DERAH buildings. If DERAH doesn't own the buildings why is it that it is listed on the tax assessment at City Hall and when I inquired from BC Housing to clarify who owned the buildings it refused to answer my email but then why should BC Housing reply to any questions. Why should BCH help me do my job;
THAT the directors who refuse to read my emails relating to Board business be asked to resign. Alex and Julie both have told me that they do not read my emails. And to think that Julie is a director of PIVOT, a legal entity who believes in the rule of law.
If there is anything in this blog that is either slanderous, libelous or untrue please contact me otherwise it stands as true.
Bulletin No. SYS-09-045 December 29, 2009
TRANSIT SHELTER PROGRAM
Transit Police and Coast Mountain Bus will team up to help the homeless and others who need access to shelter in extreme cold weather.
The target audience is the homeless and those most in need of shelter during the extreme cold weather.
Transit Police Constables who identify someone who needs shelter and transport to it will be able to request a bus/shuttle driver from Coast Mountain, who will provide free passage for the person to the nearest shelter location.
Transit Police will transport any persons that could potentially be disruptive on CMBC service.
It is our hope that this project will be a model of partnership for our agencies in assisting our most at risk citizens.
We very much appreciate your assistance with this project and look forward to making it a success for Coast Mountain Bus, the Transit Police and those in need.
Stan Sierpina
Vice President
Customer Service
How to do my job as a director was clarified to me by Phillip Landrie, a lawyer in Hastings North (604-257-3588), who told me that societies are micro City Halls. This was further confirmed by Suzanne Anton, City Councillor, who said that the City of Vancouver was a Society.
Unfortunately, most of the 26,000 societies we now have in British Columbia have morphed to anarchies each one doing what the hell they want without much regard to the rule of law or the purpose for the society. For example, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank does not have members only directors who all have professional careers outside of their "charity" work and defer to management on every single issue. And to think we the general public give them money trusting a woman who two years ago shut down the foodbank just before Christmas in the DTES without explanation: go and eat cake, said she.
Motions:
THAT the E/D be instructed to keep regular office hours and to record by the hour what he does. This is how lawyers and accountants bill their clients so why not Kim. His voice mail is always full and maybe he is overworked and deserves a raise. We as directors should know what he is doing.
THAT DERA open all day Wednesdays as it is suppose to be serving the people in the DTES. There is no reason for DERA to be closed on Wednesday.
THAT there be weekly meetings of DERA directors. DERAH is managing/owning property that is worth at least 60 million dollars (replacement value) and the directors meet only ten times a year for one hour at a time with the directors bitching that even that is encroaching on their personal time.
THAT a moratorium be put on any evictions of tenants and firings of employees for three months for each incident so that the possible evictees and those that are facing firings have a chance to present their case to the Board: this to avoid possible costly litigation for unjust terminations;
THAT unless the Board is notified of the reasons for DXXXs firing and they better be good beyond the vague "just cause" or the better one "she knows why" she is to be reinstated immediately.
THAT the Board respond to both AXXXs and HXXXs letters to it as why they had to leave the employee of DERA. And the Board allow those members that want to read the letters be allowed to do so.
THAT the Revocation of DERAH of its charitiable status in October 2009 be discussed in detail. It is inconceivable that this happened and Board or the E/D is covering it up.
THAT applications for memberships and directorships be actively solicited. DERA/DERAH do not have closed memberships or closed boards as this is not common knowledge for what reason I do not know;
THAT the Board advertise that all Board meetings are open to members and interested parties especially those interested in becoming future directors;
THAT the draft motion to pay legal costs be revisited in the light that a management employee previously told the Board two years ago that he was going to pay for the subject litigation;
THAT Kim's title be changed to "general manager" rather than executive director as the moniker executive director suggests that Kim is an elected director which he is not;
THAT a notice be sent to all tenants of the DERAH buildings reminding them to declare each month all the income of the occupants in his/her/their unit even if the occupants are not on the tenancy agreement so that fair rent is paid and to remind the tenant that any default falls on the tenant i.e. if the tenant plans to have a roommate for the next five years (or any other period past, present or future) then the tenant is responsible to pay 1/3 of the occupant's gross income as additional rent. DERA has not been enforcing this rental term as it thinks it is okay for some tenants and directors and staff who live in the buildings to pay less than ten percent of their incomes per unit. I have a friend who pays 80% of her disability income in old for profit building to rent as she isn't lucky enough to live in social housing. Her disposible income is $200 and a comparable person living in social housing would have $700 in disposable income. Disposable income is monies leftover after paying rent.
THAT a police report be ordered relating to the flooding incident on December 28 2009to help verify the circumstances surrounding the flooding and in particular to confirm that DERAH staff told the police that Dave had a violent mental history and as a result Dave was sent to the "funny farm" for assessment. I was told that one's medical condition was confidential so how was it that Tellier staff knew of it (Kim was there)and used such information to convince the police to take Dave away. After observation Dave was released to face Sabina, the Tellier housing manager, saying that he was not allowed back into his suite and that the his lock was changed. And if I do not understand what is going on then staff should explain what I do not understand. The only thing I am certain of is there had been a continuous malfunction of a fire alarm in Dave's suite and DERAH refused to fix it resulting in the sprinkler system eventually being tripped. It was not a malicious act.
THAT the auditor or the on-staff bookkeeper attend all Board meetings so that directors can ask questions of them like who was paid $5,000 to do a $500 web page when the executive director initially said the new web site would be done by a volunteer;
THAT a land search be done in the Land Titles Registry to clarify who in fact owns the DERAH buildings. If DERAH doesn't own the buildings why is it that it is listed on the tax assessment at City Hall and when I inquired from BC Housing to clarify who owned the buildings it refused to answer my email but then why should BC Housing reply to any questions. Why should BCH help me do my job;
THAT the directors who refuse to read my emails relating to Board business be asked to resign. Alex and Julie both have told me that they do not read my emails. And to think that Julie is a director of PIVOT, a legal entity who believes in the rule of law.
If there is anything in this blog that is either slanderous, libelous or untrue please contact me otherwise it stands as true.
Bulletin No. SYS-09-045 December 29, 2009
TRANSIT SHELTER PROGRAM
Transit Police and Coast Mountain Bus will team up to help the homeless and others who need access to shelter in extreme cold weather.
The target audience is the homeless and those most in need of shelter during the extreme cold weather.
Transit Police Constables who identify someone who needs shelter and transport to it will be able to request a bus/shuttle driver from Coast Mountain, who will provide free passage for the person to the nearest shelter location.
Transit Police will transport any persons that could potentially be disruptive on CMBC service.
It is our hope that this project will be a model of partnership for our agencies in assisting our most at risk citizens.
We very much appreciate your assistance with this project and look forward to making it a success for Coast Mountain Bus, the Transit Police and those in need.
Stan Sierpina
Vice President
Customer Service
Monday, January 4, 2010
Flood at Tellier December 28 2009
If anyone knows how I can get a hold of Dave, the tenant where the flood started, could you please get in touch with me. I have been hearing many things which are contradictory to commonsense about what happened and I must talk to Dave to clarify his side of the events. DERAH evicting Dave without notice and not even talking to Dave over the alledged malicious act only shows that DERAH abused its power by virtue of it being a landlord. There is a directors meeting on January 12 2010 and I am hoping to make a motion to the Board that no one gets evicted or fired until that person has had the occasion to approach the Board in person to present his/her version of the events. Although I have advised the Board of what I know of the event none of them includng staff have contacted me re the welfare of Dave. DERA is suppose to be protecting the rights of the underpriviledged and yet DERA arbitrarily makes major decisions about people's lives without even knowing the true facts. The lock to Dave's apartment was changed and Sabrina DERA's Housing Manager told Dave that he could not re-enter his apartment and for him to go to a shelter if he had no where else to go. All the shelters are full. And to think that I am a member of the Board of Directors. I am angry and ashamed. Audrey @ 778-329-1250; audreylaferriere@yahoo.ca; Audrey Laferriere c/o 75 - 12 East Hastings, Vancouver, BC V6A 1S2.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
My sabbatical is now over. This past week three things happened that I feel the members of DERA and the community at large should know about.
- I attended at a quickly called board meeting of DERA. We were told that it was closed to members. Only two items were on the agenda; one was payment of an account; and the other the status of the elevators in one of the buildings. Both of these were not in any way to my way of thinking confidential. From my readings around the Society Act the only thing that stands out that should be confidential is the negotiations around the hiring of an employee and the negotiations around contracts.
- On Thursday I attended a meeting with the VPD and BCH and we were told that the Assistance to Shelter Act (on the street known as the Kidnapping Act) is legislated only during extreme weather alerts (a few days a year): 2006-2007 39 nights and 2007-2008 28 nights And, most importantly, the policy of the VPD will be not to use force. The ASA states that the police may use force and VPD decided that means that the VPD has a policy not to use force.
- On Thursday afternoon I attended at the Law Library and the clerk directed me to a Report by the BC Law Institute - a 500 page document that has been in the process for years, to create a New Society Act. As I glanced over it I was disturbed over some of the sections. If any of you have had gone ballistic experiences with a non-profit or charity please let me know.
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