>>4) If someone has a suspicion that money collected in the name of
>>charity has been used for other purposes, what should the procedure be
>>to get this investigated?
>
>Contact the Charity Commissioners, who will perform a preliminary
>survey before placing the matter in the hands of the police or the
>Attorney General (depending on whether criminal fraud is suspected)
>if so advised
>

That's interesting, because at the very last Wolf convention I attended, I
pulled Brian Cooney aside at a gathering just as the con was starting. We went
out on an open walkway to talk, and I told him I was concerned that no
statements or books had been forthcoming on charity contributions, despite
promises made to that extent.

He then stated to me, quite openly, that of the first two or three such B5
related conventions, very little of the money got to charity, unless the check
was specifically written out to the charity by the con-goer. (During the
Vorcon gathering, I heard from many folks in email that they were not allowed
to make out their checks to the charity in question, they had to make it out to
Wolf or it wouldn't be taken.) He said it went to pay actors fees and other
expenses.

Which, for me, was when the alarm bells began going off, leading to my decision
not to get involved with any further Wolf conventions. I also heard from some
folks who had been involved with the cons who said that the books were either
badly kept or not kept at all, though I have no way of personally confirming
that.

That's the extent of my knowledge on the situation, so perhaps someone over
there can contact these Charity Commissioners to get a clearer picture in case
anything changed or if those statements, as presented to me, were not correct.
Obvioulsy I cannot personally state them as fact, I can only pass on what was
stated to me.

jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com
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