Money can be a big temptation

Dear editor: After an audit by an outside company the Downtown Penticton Association last year handed its accounting files over to the RCMP for investigation.

Many of you will remember the $300,000 that went missing in the Penticton Minor Hockey Association a few years ago. These funds were never recovered as the person is deceased. And earlier this year the former referee-in-chief was sentenced for fraudulently depositing other referees’ paycheques into his own account.

The PIB is another case where money is an issue. On the surface the fight is over the handling of shares. With the increasing business interests of the PIB those shares are worth a lot of money.

Societies and volunteer organizations need to be aware of potential problems in their organization.

Most members believe that if an audit is conducted once a year that is all that is required. Not so. The audit only certifies that this amount of money came in and invoices show this amount of money went out and this amount of money remains on the books.

It doesn’t verify companies or take into account that dummy companies can be set up to siphon off funds for an indefinite period of time. This can go on for years before these people are caught.

It is the responsibility of the membership to examine the annual financial records and ensure these payouts are legitimate.

At the annual general meetings members should always be wary when the treasurer says the books are available if you wish to see them but as they are audited annually so there shouldn’t be a problem.

This is not to say that the treasurers of societies are dishonest. Most of them do a job that no one else wants. But money is a constant temptation to some and could be a reason to seek the position. So be aware. On an unrelated noted, good news for Penticton renters. I attended a recent open house at Jimmy Pattison’s School of Excellence. Radec, a local builder, wants to build and sell a combination of 23 duplex and fourplex units.

The company is looking at the student market and will build and rent 80 to 100 micro-suites that will be available to everyone.

The micro-suites will be furnished; total 350 square feet with built-in features. It is long overdue that Penticton builders take part in the micro-suite expansion which is taking place elsewhere in the country. Elvena Slump

Penticton