From Buffalo Youth Hockey website:
Date: Monday, June 9, 2008
To: BYHA Members
From: BYHA Board of Directors
Over the past several months some members of the BYHA Board began to notice various financial irregularities within our Association. Because of the seriousness of these suspicions we wanted to make sure that we did not make any premature judgments or accusations. Financial statements were analyzed and interviews were conducted to determine whether or not the suspicions were accurate and supported by evidence and facts.
On June 2, 2008 we came to the conclusion that Bob Jernberg (Bantam A coach and BYHA Hockey Operations Committee Vice President) was directly involved in taking money from the BYHA using various methods. We met with Mr. Jernberg and he admitted to the conduct we had uncovered. As a result, we asked for and received Mr. Jernberg's unconditional resignation from all BYHA activities and responsibilities.
The Board has made a claim with our insurance company and a police report has been filed with the Buffalo Police Department. The investigation is far from over and a total amount of the loss has yet to be determined. This case has moved from an internal matter to a criminal investigation. We will continue to work closely with the insurance company, police, County Attorney's Office, and our bank's fraud division to ensure that our membership recovers as much money as possible. Rest assured, hockey will continue in Buffalo with little if any impact upon our members or our skaters. We are working tirelessly to ensure a successful 2008-2009 hockey season.
We understand that many of you will have questions about the details surrounding this case. Please understand that we must protect and respect the integrity of this investigation and everyone involved. Information contained in criminal investigations is protected by law and is not public data. Therefore, further details will not be disseminated to the public by the BYHA Board until the criminal case is concluded. If any member has information that they feel is relevant to this case please contact BYHA President Donnie Thompson or Vice President Steve Pearson. When this matter is concluded, we believe that the BYHA will be in a significantly stronger and healthier financial position.
Respectfully, BYHA Board of Directors
Donnie Thompson Bill Anderson
Steve Pearson Rick Mueller
Brenda McDonald Leslie O'Neill
Cheryl Zitur Scott Goodmanson
Mark Worner Bob Furneisen
Buffalo Bantam A coach resigns after theft charges
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
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mngopherfan
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:50 am
Re: Buffalo Bantam A coach resigns after theft charges
No suprise here, same thing happned in Mound Westonka with Bob J...its a shame.Hound wrote:From Buffalo Youth Hockey website:
Date: Monday, June 9, 2008
To: BYHA Members
From: BYHA Board of Directors
Over the past several months some members of the BYHA Board began to notice various financial irregularities within our Association. Because of the seriousness of these suspicions we wanted to make sure that we did not make any premature judgments or accusations. Financial statements were analyzed and interviews were conducted to determine whether or not the suspicions were accurate and supported by evidence and facts.
On June 2, 2008 we came to the conclusion that Bob Jernberg (Bantam A coach and BYHA Hockey Operations Committee Vice President) was directly involved in taking money from the BYHA using various methods. We met with Mr. Jernberg and he admitted to the conduct we had uncovered. As a result, we asked for and received Mr. Jernberg's unconditional resignation from all BYHA activities and responsibilities.
The Board has made a claim with our insurance company and a police report has been filed with the Buffalo Police Department. The investigation is far from over and a total amount of the loss has yet to be determined. This case has moved from an internal matter to a criminal investigation. We will continue to work closely with the insurance company, police, County Attorney's Office, and our bank's fraud division to ensure that our membership recovers as much money as possible. Rest assured, hockey will continue in Buffalo with little if any impact upon our members or our skaters. We are working tirelessly to ensure a successful 2008-2009 hockey season.
We understand that many of you will have questions about the details surrounding this case. Please understand that we must protect and respect the integrity of this investigation and everyone involved. Information contained in criminal investigations is protected by law and is not public data. Therefore, further details will not be disseminated to the public by the BYHA Board until the criminal case is concluded. If any member has information that they feel is relevant to this case please contact BYHA President Donnie Thompson or Vice President Steve Pearson. When this matter is concluded, we believe that the BYHA will be in a significantly stronger and healthier financial position.
Respectfully, BYHA Board of Directors
Donnie Thompson Bill Anderson
Steve Pearson Rick Mueller
Brenda McDonald Leslie O'Neill
Cheryl Zitur Scott Goodmanson
Mark Worner Bob Furneisen
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Silent But Deadly
- Posts: 483
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skatehardordie
- Posts: 120
- Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 3:09 pm
buffalo
how much money are we talking about?
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Silent But Deadly
- Posts: 483
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:49 pm
Re: buffalo
I've heard 5 digits....meaning more than $10,000!skatehardordie wrote:how much money are we talking about?
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Can't Never Tried
- Posts: 4345
- Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:55 pm
Re: buffalo
Wow ! Maybe these associations that got burned should make it known how this was done, so that no others get stung.Silent But Deadly wrote:I've heard 5 digits....meaning more than $10,000!skatehardordie wrote:how much money are we talking about?
It's a sad world when we even have to think about that kind of thing.
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TriedThat2
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:33 am
I believe in the long run there is more to this--just think of the BYHA loosing 1.5 gambling site and now only sharing on with another. This was all done to to poor record keeping and negligence by the board. They squirmmed to cover it up but in the end suspended from pull tabs for a period of time and the loss of . The board tried to do their best to not let the members know of the $90,000+++ loss due to legal fees and fines from the state. BYHA is on shaky ground with Gaming at present. Also heard this was being reconciled with the byha treasure and other stepped in. Coverage was offered I'm told a a meeting but according to what I heard they had no figre yet. I really shock me and other member that the throw out the theft/fraud charges when apparently they were give information by the person get blasted as what was to be recocilled, Three treasures in one year would point to major problems. Maybe it will be worked out in order nobody else has go get pulled thru this, If you are around Buffalo or in the know there there are the ruthless ones who's kids are bad players, etc who love to get even. I know--I;ve stood right next to them. Hell,the VP on the BYHA bioard pulled his kid to Minnesota Made last year-didn;t like the BYHA squirt Program, yes thing do become personal.
TriedThat,
Hockey associations are ripe for financial problems because 1) a lot of money flows through them, and 2) board members are volunteers with limited time (plus, they want to run a hockey program, not be a Big 6 auditing firm).
A hockey association with charitable gambling can have anywhere from $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 of revenue (ice dues, tournaments, fundraising, gambling receipts). Again, most of this is run by volunteers with minimum time to watch.
Our association had some irregularities with a non-parent employee many years ago that was paid to handle many of the 'money tasks' of running the association. When board members finally stepped in we found ourselves $100k in debt. I have heard the person now lives on a beach in Mexico in a place that was built while the person was working for our association. Many on our board wanted to take action, however the person was very good at how they skimmed and we knew we would spend a lot of money on attorneys, etc. only to find out the money had been spent...not worth the distractions as we felt we were better off moving on, developing a three year plan to make the association solvent and go forward.
A few things that boards need to do is place controls on the financial side to provide additional 'eyeballs' with oversight of what goes on with money. A few specific things we did:
- Gambling Manager cannot run the gambling finances and the association finances - with two checkbooks interacting, too much monkey business can happen...and it is very hard to track down the monkey business.
- Gambling Manager cannot sign checks, Association President signs gambling operation checks after reviewing expenses provided by Gambling Manager.
- Separate the roles of Treasurer and Bookkeeper - Bookkeeper handles receipts and paying bills; the Treasurer sets budgets, makes deposits, approves expenses, and signs the checks.
- Any Board member can get immediate access to the available Gambling operations financials or the association financials to review any expenses.
- President can be a check signer for the association, but only in emergency situations (Treasurer on vacation, etc.)
- Tournaments - have a tournament treasurer. Also have two people on site at shifts in charge of collecting and accounting for gate fees (think about it...a tournament with 24 teams, could have gate and concession fees in the $10-20k range flowing through in the first 24 hours...having one person overseeing this money - much of it cash - can open up an easy skimming situation)
- With association sponsored clinics, programs, trips, etc., always have checks made out to the association - not the individual running them.
The main thing is....have layers of 'eyeballs' and controls that can minimize any issues. Often boards want to trust and don't want to insult a Treasurer or other person that has financial access to association money and do not put controls in place. The controls should not be about trust, they should be about running the association properly and in a manner that membership would agree is the smartest way to oversee funds so that they go into the program, not into someone's pocket.
Hockey associations are ripe for financial problems because 1) a lot of money flows through them, and 2) board members are volunteers with limited time (plus, they want to run a hockey program, not be a Big 6 auditing firm).
A hockey association with charitable gambling can have anywhere from $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 of revenue (ice dues, tournaments, fundraising, gambling receipts). Again, most of this is run by volunteers with minimum time to watch.
Our association had some irregularities with a non-parent employee many years ago that was paid to handle many of the 'money tasks' of running the association. When board members finally stepped in we found ourselves $100k in debt. I have heard the person now lives on a beach in Mexico in a place that was built while the person was working for our association. Many on our board wanted to take action, however the person was very good at how they skimmed and we knew we would spend a lot of money on attorneys, etc. only to find out the money had been spent...not worth the distractions as we felt we were better off moving on, developing a three year plan to make the association solvent and go forward.
A few things that boards need to do is place controls on the financial side to provide additional 'eyeballs' with oversight of what goes on with money. A few specific things we did:
- Gambling Manager cannot run the gambling finances and the association finances - with two checkbooks interacting, too much monkey business can happen...and it is very hard to track down the monkey business.
- Gambling Manager cannot sign checks, Association President signs gambling operation checks after reviewing expenses provided by Gambling Manager.
- Separate the roles of Treasurer and Bookkeeper - Bookkeeper handles receipts and paying bills; the Treasurer sets budgets, makes deposits, approves expenses, and signs the checks.
- Any Board member can get immediate access to the available Gambling operations financials or the association financials to review any expenses.
- President can be a check signer for the association, but only in emergency situations (Treasurer on vacation, etc.)
- Tournaments - have a tournament treasurer. Also have two people on site at shifts in charge of collecting and accounting for gate fees (think about it...a tournament with 24 teams, could have gate and concession fees in the $10-20k range flowing through in the first 24 hours...having one person overseeing this money - much of it cash - can open up an easy skimming situation)
- With association sponsored clinics, programs, trips, etc., always have checks made out to the association - not the individual running them.
The main thing is....have layers of 'eyeballs' and controls that can minimize any issues. Often boards want to trust and don't want to insult a Treasurer or other person that has financial access to association money and do not put controls in place. The controls should not be about trust, they should be about running the association properly and in a manner that membership would agree is the smartest way to oversee funds so that they go into the program, not into someone's pocket.
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TriedThat2
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:33 am
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mngopherfan
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:50 am
I agree, but this should take away from the fact that this is a criminal act...i hope for everyone involved that he is prosecuted. It's a shame that people get burned for having trust in someone...TriedThat2 wrote:Prez,
Thanks for your insight, sounds like experience can be an expensive matter.
It does sound like, atleast in the Buffalo situation, many people can shoulder some responsibility for this mess.
I know there are board members worried about things showing up that will not fair in their best interest, again causing possible legal action needing to be taken and members removed. My hope is that when this is done and cleared that a lawyer is obtained for a suit against byha and individuals, This information comes to me from someone who will be offering their services down the road. Instead of digging into this mess-let's see how things work out
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Cornermukker
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 8:20 am
SWPrez wrote:TriedThat,
Hockey associations are ripe for financial problems because 1) a lot of money flows through them, and 2) board members are volunteers with limited time (plus, they want to run a hockey program, not be a Big 6 auditing firm).
A hockey association with charitable gambling can have anywhere from $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 of revenue (ice dues, tournaments, fundraising, gambling receipts). Again, most of this is run by volunteers with minimum time to watch.
Our association had some irregularities with a non-parent employee many years ago that was paid to handle many of the 'money tasks' of running the association. When board members finally stepped in we found ourselves $100k in debt. I have heard the person now lives on a beach in Mexico in a place that was built while the person was working for our association. Many on our board wanted to take action, however the person was very good at how they skimmed and we knew we would spend a lot of money on attorneys, etc. only to find out the money had been spent...not worth the distractions as we felt we were better off moving on, developing a three year plan to make the association solvent and go forward.
A few things that boards need to do is place controls on the financial side to provide additional 'eyeballs' with oversight of what goes on with money. A few specific things we did:
- Gambling Manager cannot run the gambling finances and the association finances - with two checkbooks interacting, too much monkey business can happen...and it is very hard to track down the monkey business.
- Gambling Manager cannot sign checks, Association President signs gambling operation checks after reviewing expenses provided by Gambling Manager.
- Separate the roles of Treasurer and Bookkeeper - Bookkeeper handles receipts and paying bills; the Treasurer sets budgets, makes deposits, approves expenses, and signs the checks.
- Any Board member can get immediate access to the available Gambling operations financials or the association financials to review any expenses.
- President can be a check signer for the association, but only in emergency situations (Treasurer on vacation, etc.)
- Tournaments - have a tournament treasurer. Also have two people on site at shifts in charge of collecting and accounting for gate fees (think about it...a tournament with 24 teams, could have gate and concession fees in the $10-20k range flowing through in the first 24 hours...having one person overseeing this money - much of it cash - can open up an easy skimming situation)
- With association sponsored clinics, programs, trips, etc., always have checks made out to the association - not the individual running them.
The main thing is....have layers of 'eyeballs' and controls that can minimize any issues. Often boards want to trust and don't want to insult a Treasurer or other person that has financial access to association money and do not put controls in place. The controls should not be about trust, they should be about running the association properly and in a manner that membership would agree is the smartest way to oversee funds so that they go into the program, not into someone's pocket.
2-4 million in revenue coming in.. Holy crap... here in outstate mn it is more like 2-3 hundred thousand total revenue.
Keep in mind, the gambling revenues make up the bulk of that number. These are revenues...not net donations. Much of that money gets paid out in prizes, employees, and of course TAXES (seems like for every dollar we get to keep for our hockey program, the state gets two dollars!). At the end of the day, the net proceeds may only be in the $75-200k range off of those gambling revenues.
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wildfan2195
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:39 pm
I keep wondering why someone would be so heartless as to take hard-earned money from these hockey communities. As part of the Buffalo organization, I am even more dumbfounded.
P.S. A couple years back, a number of teams were supposedly registered in 2 or 3 tournaments. We paid, and Jernberg was supposed to handle the official registration. we called to confirm our spot in the tournaments, and found that we were not registered in any of them. Funny.... Jernberg suddenly comes up with this money, and were not registered in any of the tournaments we paid for....
P.S. A couple years back, a number of teams were supposedly registered in 2 or 3 tournaments. We paid, and Jernberg was supposed to handle the official registration. we called to confirm our spot in the tournaments, and found that we were not registered in any of them. Funny.... Jernberg suddenly comes up with this money, and were not registered in any of the tournaments we paid for....
BPYHA had this happen almost two years ago by the Asst. Gambling Manager (all gambling for BPYHA is handled by an outside private firm).
This person was caught during the normal monthly audits and eventually all the details were gleaned by going through almost 9 months of games. Losses were over $100k easy.
This was done by an individual from an outside company (who worked there for YEARS), who knew how to get around the internal monthly audits, the quarterly audits and the yearly audit by the state. Pure chance it was caught at that time....or the losses could have been even more.
She was convicted and a restitution program put in place as well as jail time, etc; Of course, the State of Minnesota gets first crack at everything due to the non-paid taxes involved. Association will see little, if anything, after the State get theirs.
http://www.wheremostneeded.org/2007/01/ ... youth.html
This person was caught during the normal monthly audits and eventually all the details were gleaned by going through almost 9 months of games. Losses were over $100k easy.
This was done by an individual from an outside company (who worked there for YEARS), who knew how to get around the internal monthly audits, the quarterly audits and the yearly audit by the state. Pure chance it was caught at that time....or the losses could have been even more.
She was convicted and a restitution program put in place as well as jail time, etc; Of course, the State of Minnesota gets first crack at everything due to the non-paid taxes involved. Association will see little, if anything, after the State get theirs.
http://www.wheremostneeded.org/2007/01/ ... youth.html
Lots of intersting things in Buffalo over the past 11 years I know of--Culver Fundraiser (where did everthing go, ) There largest problem is that parents do not py their bills and that even goes back years. I beieve when things come together the will be some stong concerns for BYHA and the current Gambling license, etc. As BYHA said--let the system now work-it might not work right however in their best interest based on some infor from board peole both past and present--lot's of talk iif I listen close.
can somebody tell me why us as members were so much kept in the dark with the gaming problems in BYHA. Obviously the board has people in charge of necessary funtions and duties but no board members took any blame. this is the pattern over years hiding and trying to cover problems. Negligence on the admin board since early 2000's has caused severe problems. In spite of this our kids still will be ok. Why we have to hire such high priced people to work out here in clinics is a main concern which I hope gets addressed very soon also. What's wrong with our coaches? Just thoughts as a parent
I think it would be interesting to understand what Bob J was accused of in Mound and to understand his track record to date????? He was well received in Buffalo initially but eventually fell out of favor and lost interest in Hockey while at the rink...his antics amused some (including me) and angered others. While there is no excuse for stealing from little kids I truly believe that Bob J is not the only one involved in what is becoming a truly amazing story. I have heard the totals nearing 50k and also wonder how none of our board members knew anything.
The bottom line is that all of the current board members minus those who uncovered this scheme should be let go and the current HOC should be disbanded. Maybe BYHA needs a fresh start and fresh faces to take it next level and beyond the piracy others claim has happened for several years. Doing the right thing is mostly what needs to happen and the constant struggle for power and control has to repleced by a genuine concern for the kids....all of them...
Under the past Presidents regime Buffalo Hockey was supposedly mismanaged and lacked any process or accountabilty...or did it? One could argue that BYHA was very organized...organized to take advantage of its members and very organized in it's efforts to table anything financially controversial.
The end game of all this now is purely speculative. I am sure Bob J and friends will respond to these accusations ferociously...stay tuned as the rumors fly...
The bottom line is that all of the current board members minus those who uncovered this scheme should be let go and the current HOC should be disbanded. Maybe BYHA needs a fresh start and fresh faces to take it next level and beyond the piracy others claim has happened for several years. Doing the right thing is mostly what needs to happen and the constant struggle for power and control has to repleced by a genuine concern for the kids....all of them...
Under the past Presidents regime Buffalo Hockey was supposedly mismanaged and lacked any process or accountabilty...or did it? One could argue that BYHA was very organized...organized to take advantage of its members and very organized in it's efforts to table anything financially controversial.
The end game of all this now is purely speculative. I am sure Bob J and friends will respond to these accusations ferociously...stay tuned as the rumors fly...
"Be a teammate first"
I agree with H"famer that things will look different, Heard from in the know people that this cound have been setled seems to be personal issues they are trying to prove things to cover up their inept way the board is run.Wait to see if this even makes it ti court; There are getting to be so many :"no it alls"it is pure sickening. My prediction is the finances get straightened out. Gambling becomes another huge issue
Some of the other so called bloggers would not be shocked to see.
NEnjoy the short time you have with Pull tabsow that state gaming is aware of other impropieties by some moron Feel for you Buffalo
Some of the other so called bloggers would not be shocked to see.
NEnjoy the short time you have with Pull tabsow that state gaming is aware of other impropieties by some moron Feel for you Buffalo
Maybe this either stops or we continue with unsure information, HO'Famer
You seem to be right in the "know" out here. From friends on the board it is hard you'd have any information seeing your tack record of non-payment of icetime bills over the years. Being on the hs boosters makes me wonder why you did not pay for the dinners ordered there also. History proves you try to make others look worse than yourself and that is what blogging is all abot.
You seem to be right in the "know" out here. From friends on the board it is hard you'd have any information seeing your tack record of non-payment of icetime bills over the years. Being on the hs boosters makes me wonder why you did not pay for the dinners ordered there also. History proves you try to make others look worse than yourself and that is what blogging is all abot.
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Silent But Deadly
- Posts: 483
- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:49 pm
houndtwo,houndtwo wrote:Maybe this either stops or we continue with unsure information, HO'Famer
You seem to be right in the "know" out here. History proves you try to make others look worse than yourself and that is what blogging is all abot.
Stop talking to yourself and learn to spell. This attack on HOFam'r seems totally unnecessary. You've added nothing to this discussion and your anonymous shots are getting real old!