HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

TOCB Moderators

Pavilion Update

Two years have passed since we were assured by our parish council that the pavilion would be completed by September 2007. To date, we await completion of the pavilion in spite of assurances made that "the remaining funds to complete the project will be in hand and collected by the time the materials are delivered." How much has actually been spent on this project and how much more will be spent?

We are including the actual document issued by the parish council in 2007 for your review. If what is stated above and in the document is true, why are monies still being solicited for this project? It seems that this is one in a long line of pet projects of the proistameno of Prophet Elias only.

If this is in fact one of the many pet projects of the proistameno of Prophet Elias only, why doesn't our parish council president along with the other elected and/or hand picked parish council members, inform the proistameno of Prophet Elias only that there are far more pressing needs?

Click on the document and make your own conclusions.

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General Assembly

As the fall general assembly approaches, there are existing issues in our community that must be addressed. In addition to the election of the Board of Auditors, an issue avoided by recent past general assemblies yet required by the UPR, the following matters must be addressed openly and honestly:

• Finances: Through the first 11 months of this year (including the spring general assembly) we have not been afforded the courtesy of seeing a statement disclosing all community financial accounts. The community's request for full disclosure and transparency in all financial matters including the "special" accounts used in the remodel of Prophet Elias and the pavilion is long overdue. These "special" accounts require the same transparency even though our president has stated the monies are "donated." The community deserves an accounting of how the money was spent without needing to know who donated what.
• Personnel: Who is in charge? Is it the Operations Manager or the Proistameno of Prophet Elias only? The recent release of a non clergy staff member should have been the decision of the Operations Manager in conjunction with the Parish Council and not the Proistameno of Prophet Elias only. It is unthinkable that the Proistameno of Prophet Elias only would need to take time away from focusing on the spiritual matters of the community and waste it with matters that can easily be resolved by the Parish Council and the Operations Manager.
  
• Elections: How many candidates will the Proistameno of Prophet Elias only disqualify this year? His pattern has been to disqualify those who he believes do not agree with him and can't manipulate. His reasons for disqualifying are without merit and endless. He believes that as members of this community we are incapable of thinking and acting in the best interest of our church. Time will tell if he has realized his past mistakes.
  
• Old and New Business: Why were these items removed from the general assembly agenda? Bring them back and allow the voice of the people to be heard.
  

The general assembly is a time when the people have an opportunity to express their concerns and opinions. Hopefully the chair of the upcoming assembly will not follow the tactics of previous chairs (our president) by limiting or shutting down discussion. Let the voice of the people be heard.

Board of Auditors?

One year ago at the fall General Assembly, a request was made from the floor to appoint a Board of Auditors as Required by the Metropolis of Denver in the Administrative Guidelines for Parish Council Elections. (www.denver.goarch.org/protocols/2008-Protocols/protocol-08-24-enc-1.pdf) Our parish council president, who was also meeting chair, deferred action to the spring general assembly. This done despite the Administrative Guidelines which require action at the last general assembly preceding an election. Seated and silent was the proistameno of Prophet Elias only who failed to intercede and correct the misstep and follow the Administrative Guidelines of this Metropolis.

Be that as it may, the spring general assembly was held and again the issue was brought to the floor. After promising to discuss this important matter in the spring, our parish council president who was again meeting chair, delayed discussion to the fall general assembly. Our president/chair is either voluntarily misinformed or purposely avoiding the issue for reasons only known to him and the proistameno of Prophet Elias only.

The establishment of a Board of Auditors is required by the Metropolis in order for election results to be ratified. Since no Board of Auditors has been elected as required, how have the elections been ratified by the Metropolitan? Could it be that he is under the false impression that all requirements have been followed? If he is under this false impression, who is it that has deceived him? Questions that can only be answered by those providing the answers.

One full year later with still no action being taken, we believe our parish council and proistameno of Prophet Elias only will finally rectify this error. The text from the Metropolis of Denver regarding this matter reads as follows:

VI. Board of Auditors

1. The Board of Auditors shall consist of at least three parishioners none of whom are members of the Parish Council. The Board of Auditors shall be elected at the last Parish Assembly preceding an election from among those who have not served on the Parish Council for the year being audited and who are not candidates for election to the Parish Council. The Board of Auditors shall have the financial competency to properly execute its responsibilities. (2005 UPR Article 33, Section 1)

2. The Board of Auditors shall audit financial records of the prior year and prepare a report of such audit for presentation to the Parish Assembly. After review by the Parish Assembly, the Parish Council shall transmit copies of the final audit to the respective Hierarch and the Archdiocese. (2005 UPR Article 33, Section 2)

3. A vacancy on the Board of Auditors shall be filled by the Parish Council by electing a successor therefore from amongst the parishioners of the Parish in good standing for the unexpired portion of the term of such vacancy. (2005 UPR Article 33, Section 3)

4. The Board of Auditors is dissolved upon submission of their report to the Parish Council, and the acceptance of that report by the Parish Council.

We ask that those who preach the following of Guidelines and UPR's practice what they preach.