Baltimore, MD - The Board Chairman and Acting CEO of The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) are under fire for what a number of member organizations call a lack of accountability, fiscal irresponsibility and a failure to significantly engage SCDAA (dues paying members) in overall direction of the organization. They are also under fire for excessive spending, along with their continued coverup a $20,000 payment to the American Sickle Cell Disease Association by Novartis that was never accounted for, along with over $100,000 of unaccounted Federal, Novartis and private donations.
Line In The Sand
Line In The Sand
Part 4 of a updated 10 part series
It appears that a line has been drawn in the sand, with the Chairman and Acting CEO acting with a "bunker" strategy, knowing full well that Federal investigators will be coming shortly to review SCDAA books for misappropriated Novartis, private and federal funds.
The Chairman and Acting CEO are refusing to admit to the fraud, misappropriation , and mismanagement, says a highly placed source.
"They believe they have the support of the board. "You would think the Chairman of SCDAA would know better, why do black folks always need to leave with a bracelet on," said the source.
Another source said, "The bottom line is there is lots of waste, gross mismanagement at SCDAA.
For example, said one source, "A new laptop computer was ordered and walked out ofthe office , and older laptop walked out of the office and not a sole was held accountable."
No Confidence
One former member organization leader said, "this is one of the reasons why we don't pay dues and are not active members, the board needs to start asking questions regarding the misappropriation of those funds from Novartis and Federal funds, they have a fiduciary responsibility to do it, and keep the membership informed, before the Feds come in.
Reliable sources indicate the organization had close to 100 dues paying member organizations in the past, but has between 30-40 dues paying members now.
Federal Application Fraud
One of our sources told Black Rip Off Report that Chairman Duane Bruce and Acting CEO Elizabeth Simpson willfully and fraudulently applied for Federal support for SCDAA using inflated membership figures. The source went on to say, "they even applied for a grant from Community Health Charities with inflated membership numbers, there is fraud going on throughout the organization." More about this later.
Memos, Memos and more Memos
Reliable sources have provided the Black Rip Off Report with confidential memos from SCDAA member organizations and interested parties expressing deep concern and no confidence in Chairman, Acting CEO and various board members (see attached letter).
In response to concerns expressed regarding his capacity, lack of leadership, failed national conference, and calls for him and others to resign, Atty Duane Bruce, in what some have called a "incoherent email" sent the email to the SCDAA Board which said:
"I will be crafting a short letter of repudiation to the letter for distribution to the member organizations shortly." Atty Bruce went on to say: "My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter but instead will address the spurious nature of the attack and call for the SCDAA family to remain focused on our common mission."
Lack of Leadership
Black Rip Off Report: Hmmm... Check out the Chairman's words. "My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter."
Great leadership Mr. Chairman!
Now we understand why your leadership is being questioned. Misappropriation of over $100,000+ in Novartis and Federal funds is serious business, and it must be addressed. If the board won't the Feds will!
No Confidence
The line is the sand has been drawn by the Chairman of the Board and his board of Directors. It appears that the in-fighting between the member organizations and leadership of the national board will continue.
From all indications the membership of this membership organization has little or no confidence in the leadership of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.
Now the question is at what time will the board begin to ask the serious questions of the Chairman and the Acting CEO, which the membership has been asking for some time?
Board Complicity or Board Action?
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America board of directors knows of the serious charges and has failed to retain an independent forensic auditor to investigate the charges made as far back as September and October of 2009. Reports are the membership raised concerns at the national conference regarding financial accountability.
Clearly there needs to be an independent auditor’s investigation to find out who else were complicit in the malfeasance. The lack of oversight and sound financial management at the Sickle Cell organization is troubling. As a public charity, maintaining strong internal controls and keeping pace with changes in regulatory compliance is a big part of the work of any board, chairman or CEO/COO.
The Chairman and Acting CEO are refusing to admit to the fraud, misappropriation , and mismanagement, says a highly placed source.
"They believe they have the support of the board. "You would think the Chairman of SCDAA would know better, why do black folks always need to leave with a bracelet on," said the source.
Another source said, "The bottom line is there is lots of waste, gross mismanagement at SCDAA.
For example, said one source, "A new laptop computer was ordered and walked out of
No Confidence
One former member organization leader said, "this is one of the reasons why we don't pay dues and are not active members, the board needs to start asking questions regarding the misappropriation of those funds from Novartis and Federal funds, they have a fiduciary responsibility to do it, and keep the membership informed, before the Feds come in.
Reliable sources indicate the organization had close to 100 dues paying member organizations in the past, but has between 30-40 dues paying members now.
Federal Application Fraud
One of our sources told Black Rip Off Report that Chairman Duane Bruce and Acting CEO Elizabeth Simpson willfully and fraudulently applied for Federal support for SCDAA using inflated membership figures. The source went on to say, "they even applied for a grant from Community Health Charities with inflated membership numbers, there is fraud going on throughout the organization." More about this later.
Memos, Memos and more Memos
Reliable sources have provided the Black Rip Off Report with confidential memos from SCDAA member organizations and interested parties expressing deep concern and no confidence in Chairman, Acting CEO and various board members (see attached letter).
In response to concerns expressed regarding his capacity, lack of leadership, failed national conference, and calls for him and others to resign, Atty Duane Bruce, in what some have called a "incoherent email" sent the email to the SCDAA Board which said:
"I will be crafting a short letter of repudiation to the letter for distribution to the member organizations shortly." Atty Bruce went on to say: "My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter but instead will address the spurious nature of the attack and call for the SCDAA family to remain focused on our common mission."
Lack of Leadership
Black Rip Off Report: Hmmm... Check out the Chairman's words. "My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter."
Great leadership Mr. Chairman!
Now we understand why your leadership is being questioned. Misappropriation of over $100,000+ in Novartis and Federal funds is serious business, and it must be addressed. If the board won't the Feds will!
No Confidence
The line is the sand has been drawn by the Chairman of the Board and his board of Directors. It appears that the in-fighting between the member organizations and leadership of the national board will continue.
From all indications the membership of this membership organization has little or no confidence in the leadership of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.
Now the question is at what time will the board begin to ask the serious questions of the Chairman and the Acting CEO, which the membership has been asking for some time?
Board Complicity or Board Action?
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America board of directors knows of the serious charges and has failed to retain an independent forensic auditor to investigate the charges made as far back as September and October of 2009. Reports are the membership raised concerns at the national conference regarding financial accountability.
Clearly there needs to be an independent auditor’s investigation to find out who else were complicit in the malfeasance. The lack of oversight and sound financial management at the Sickle Cell organization is troubling. As a public charity, maintaining strong internal controls and keeping pace with changes in regulatory compliance is a big part of the work of any board, chairman or CEO/COO.
The Board should use this discourse as an opportunity to strengthen the organizations accountability by bringing in independent, external experts to assist in conducting a comprehensive review of financial controls and protocols.
The Black Rip Off Report hopes the board will take the recommended action above, or they will be considered just as complicit as the Chairman and CEO in the cover-up.
More on the board of directors, who they are, who they are not, in our next installment.
Meanwhile, read this email from the SCDAA chairman to the Board of Directors back on October 28, 2009. Check out the tone of his email, and his arrogance towards anyone that would question his authority and leadership.
Meanwhile, read this email from the SCDAA chairman to the Board of Directors back on October 28, 2009. Check out the tone of his email, and his arrogance towards anyone that would question his authority and leadership.
Email to SCDAA Board of Directors from Duane Bruce, Atty at Law
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From: Bruce, Duane N (HHS/OGC) [mailto:Duane.Bruce@HHS.GOV]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:22 PM
To: shirley.miller@childrens.com; rpeterson@utdallas.edu; lhollins@thehollinsgroup.com; David.Braxton@SunTrust.com; bnnwabu@statestreet.com; ljordan@mhs.net; Lbenja2725@aol.com; maryb@scdfc.org; richard-burnett@att.net; SUCHAPPY@AOL.COM; dorsettkatie@yahoo .com; JFowle01@jpshealth.org; xtopherhollins@aol..com; Ohene-Frempong@email.chop.edu; JPatterson@mhhc.org; jpattersonnaacp@gmail.com; cybernma@yahoo .com; LeRoi404@aol.com; Gary.smart @ynhh.org; ssmith@ober.com; SpignerMD@aol.com; dtaylor@marclife.com; dstaylor1@bellsouth.net; whitleyk@email.chop.edu; E Simpson
Cc: Francis Aofolaju; N Thomas; Lawrence Manning; Jeff Motley; Elizabeth Simpson
Subject: Anonymous Letter
As many of you are aware, an anonymous letter (attached) was distributed by U.S. Mail earlier this week to the members of the board of directors, member organizations, and the “SCDAA Family” (The exact list of recipients is unknown.) This letter casts unfounded and spurious allegations against myself, Elizabeth Simpson, Shirley Miller and Rosie Peterson. I take personal offense to this cowardly attack against the leadership of this organization. Not only did the attacker lack the courage of his or her convections to either identify themselves or to approach either the SCDAA leadership or the SCDAA Executive Leadership Council directly with their concerns, but, in addition, the poorly written, shotgun attack against the named individuals and their hard work would be humorous if it were not so distressing. To demean the hard work of myself, Ms. Simpson, Ms. Miller, and Ms. Peterson seeking to elevate the reputation of SCDAA to a place of national prominence and to denigrate our most recent conference as “one of the worst conferences in SCDAA’s history” is irrational, unfounded and unforgivable. Furthermore, to make such an attack without any suggestion of an alternative leadership strategy (as ridiculous as the attack may be) reveals the attack for what it is – an immature, short-sighted attempt to destroy SCDAA and derail its mission.
I ask that the letter not be further redistributed – hence my addition of the watermark to the attached letter. I ask that anyone having any information regarding either the identity of the author of this letter or anyone who can confirm whether anyone OTHER THAN a member organization or board member received this letter please notify me immediately.
I will be crafting a short letter of repudiation to the letter for distribution to the member organizations shortly.. My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter but instead will address the spurious nature of the attack and call for the SCDAA family to remain focused on our common mission. Our mission and our work must continue in spite of and above the noise.
Duane N. Bruce
Chair, SCDAA
Duane N. Bruce, J.D., LL.M.
Black Rip Off Report - More later...
From: Bruce, Duane N (HHS/OGC) [mailto:Duane.Bruce@HHS.GOV]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:22 PM
To: shirley.miller@childrens.com; rpeterson@utdallas.edu; lhollins@thehollinsgroup.com; David.Braxton@SunTrust.com; bnnwabu@statestreet.com; ljordan@mhs.net; Lbenja2725@aol.com; maryb@scdfc.org; richard-burnett@att.net; SUCHAPPY@AOL.COM; dorsettkatie@
Cc: Francis Aofolaju; N Thomas; Lawrence Manning; Jeff Motley; Elizabeth Simpson
Subject: Anonymous Letter
As many of you are aware, an anonymous letter (attached) was distributed by U.S. Mail earlier this week to the members of the board of directors, member organizations, and the “SCDAA Family” (The exact list of recipients is unknown.) This letter casts unfounded and spurious allegations against myself, Elizabeth Simpson, Shirley Miller and Rosie Peterson. I take personal offense to this cowardly attack against the leadership of this organization. Not only did the attacker lack the courage of his or her convections to either identify themselves or to approach either the SCDAA leadership or the SCDAA Executive Leadership Council directly with their concerns, but, in addition, the poorly written, shotgun attack against the named individuals and their hard work would be humorous if it were not so distressing. To demean the hard work of myself, Ms. Simpson, Ms. Miller, and Ms. Peterson seeking to elevate the reputation of SCDAA to a place of national prominence and to denigrate our most recent conference as “one of the worst conferences in SCDAA’s history” is irrational, unfounded and unforgivable. Furthermore, to make such an attack without any suggestion of an alternative leadership strategy (as ridiculous as the attack may be) reveals the attack for what it is – an immature, short-sighted attempt to destroy SCDAA and derail its mission.
I ask that the letter not be further redistributed – hence my addition of the watermark to the attached letter. I ask that anyone having any information regarding either the identity of the author of this letter or anyone who can confirm whether anyone OTHER THAN a member organization or board member received this letter please notify me immediately.
I will be crafting a short letter of repudiation to the letter for distribution to the member organizations shortly.. My letter will not address the “merits” of the letter but instead will address the spurious nature of the attack and call for the SCDAA family to remain focused on our common mission. Our mission and our work must continue in spite of and above the noise.
Duane N. Bruce
Chair, SCDAA
Duane N. Bruce, J.D., LL.M.
Black Rip Off Report - More later...
Read more on the Sickle Cell Association crisis below:
