Mateel Grapples With Financial Woes

The Mateel Community Center held its Annual Membership Meeting on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving

The financial emergency the Mateel faces continues. However, the Board has found a co- sponsor for Summer Arts and Music Festival and believes that, of all the Mateel’s annual events, the Summer Arts Fair holds the most meaning for the community. Reggae on the River does not yet have a co-sponsor, but the Board says Reggae will only be a three-day event if it is held.

How Much Is the Debt:

The Mateel’s deficit is currently around $700,000 while its assets are worth about $850,000. Sysco Foods has filed a claim to collect $30,000 owed to it from Reggae on the River. If other creditors were to do the same, the Mateel would have to file for bankruptcy. In his President’s Report, Garth Epling expressed the Board’s determination to resolve the debts because otherwise “many people’s life’s work will have been wasted.”

Sonia Bauer has run the numbers and says that the loan on a 30 year period at 4% interest would cost about $3,000 a month but would contain the costs. She urged the Board to take this step before bankruptcy is required and added “besides, who needs these people pissing and moaning about not getting paid” after a man addressed the board to say he is still owed money for his crew leadership at Reggae on the River.

How the Debt Was Won:

According to Justin Crellin in an email to this reporter, during the period the $700,000 deficit accrued, nearly $300,000 was directly spent on infrastructure costs at the hall and French’s camp.

Crellin outlined that the hall received a new roof and had it’s stucco reapplied. The indoor stage had to be replaced. Upgrades at the hall included building the outdoor stage and its amphitheater. In addition, there was the installation of an emergency power source.

The Mateel also purchased equipment needed for off-site venues such as tents, domes, and traffic safety equipment. The goal was to save money by not renting these items.

And at French’s Camp, Reggae on the River’s venue, the Mateel replaced the septic leach field and brought a lot of infrastructure up to County code at the County’s request. This includes the stage, its ramp, its viewing stands, the kitchen, and the beer barn. Shade structures had to be designed and built. And the Mateel opted to construct a rain catchment pond to offset some of its water needs for Reggae on the River. 

The deficit, outlined in the President’s Report, is $139,000 in old loans, $469,000 to Reggae on the River vendors, and $82,000 for taxes and salaries for the remainder of the year. Plus, $10,000 is needed to file the 990 tax report from the charitable trust audit. Because Reggae is such a large event, the Mateel has annual receipts over $2,000,000 a year and has to meet new requirements. Though Epling points out, the Mateel’s revenue has only been 10-15% of that budget.

The Mateel Brings Money into the Community:

The President of the Board noted that though the Mateel keeps only a small percentage of the money it processes, the Reggae budget doesn’t leave the community. The event puts $1,500,000 into the local economy and has, until now, raised the revenue to employ several local individuals while also providing a community center and all of its events and programs.

Possibilities:

Toward resolution of the financial crisis, the Board voted to have Amie McClellan submit a grant to pay for a consultant to help them with a business plan. There is a crowd-sourced campaign underway and a lifetime membership campaign will begin soon. 

And in the ‘wheel coming back around’ category: Boardmember Pleasure Strange reports that Sacco the woodcarver, whose large sculptures can be seen many places around the area, called to ask about getting his hands on some redwood to create some art for the cause. The very next day a PG&E contract crew came to remove the dead redwood next to the Mateel’s office. Strange reports he is making several size pieces from the tree, and that his art has a following and will once again raise funds for the Mateel.

During public comment at the end of the evening, the Board heard several of the members say there are trust issues, and that they cannot put their money into the Mateel until there is a clear sense of what went wrong in its previous spending and clear policy changes to prevent a future board from making the same mistakes.

However, one man did urge the Board, once that policy work is complete, to move forward energetically with a campaign to secure $5,000 and $10,000 donations. He felt some people in the community are still earning considerable incomes and said he would appeal to his friends and neighbors to preserve what the community has built in the Mateel. He stated publicly that when the policy work ensuring transparency and fiduciary restraint is done, he would pledge $10,000 to be paid if the Board secured a dozen more similar pledges.

The Hall as Shelter:

In the meantime, the Board did approve making the hall available to the Extreme Weather Shelter for homeless residents on nights the weather might lead to deaths. The only church in the area that has agreed to welcome the poor on these nights is the Baptist Church in Redway. Coordinators of the Extreme Weather Shelter report that all the other churches have said their congregations do not support such efforts. The only exception is the Presbyterian Church, but it has not yet recovered from the fire earlier this year.

Board Seats

Nominations were held for the Board seats. The Mateel Community Center is governed by a nine-member board of directors. Every year three seats come open for election. This year, the seats filled by Cynthia Martells, Dusty Houston, and Charlotte Silverstein are open. Martells and Houston intend to serve again if elected. Charlotte said she has been honored to serve, but her health demands she step away. In addition to Martells and Houston, nine nominations were made. Four of those nominees were present, Bruce Champee, Jameson Hutson, Andrea Pergens, and Shiloh Baker.

The nominee’s statements will be mailed to the current membership on December 5th and will be due back by January 5th. All the nominees will be on KMUD at 7 p.m. on December 13th and can be asked questions by callers.

Earlier Chapters:

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

82 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Canadian💩
Guest
Canadian💩
6 years ago

Its over! Lets rip this band aid off as fast as we can! R.I.P
Do,t make it worse and peel it slow, jank it!
Do it Garth!

Koastdog
Guest
Koastdog
6 years ago
Reply to  Canadian💩

You could always go back to Canada..
I want my community center… And I choose to help… How do you help

the russians did it
Guest
the russians did it
6 years ago
Reply to  Koastdog

its over , lets face it you vagrant
pull the plug Garth!

Mark Davis
Guest
Mark Davis
6 years ago
Reply to  Koastdog

I will help too when the production failures are no longer steering the ship. Seems to me by this article, that they are still voicing to the public and making decisions.

Rude Awakining After all that talk about the money being stolen by peoples
Guest
Rude Awakining After all that talk about the money being stolen by peoples
6 years ago

Really Pissing And Moaning .It is against the law to not pay payroll and employees taxes a. Sonia Bauer should take her self elsewhere .Her comments are exactly the problem .When the Mateel gave up on the local non profit food vendors and charged them exorbitant booth fees the community gave up on the mateel . What goes around comes around .Mortgage the building and it will only extend your death a little longer …..Justin and crew thought they were big music promoters .

sounds shady
Guest
sounds shady
6 years ago

thats some fraudulent shyte you report , let me make some calls.
sounds like a higher authority needs to look into this. is the mattel up on osha requirements ?
tell me more about what you know

Fuck the mateel
Guest
Fuck the mateel
6 years ago
Reply to  sounds shady

They can’t be in compliance with osha law with the leadership they have had. I’d like to know?

Liberal hypocrisy
Guest
Liberal hypocrisy
6 years ago

Every time I went to a concert at the mateel, I’ll admit it was not that often. The staff that ran the facility during the event we’re a bunch a rude arrogant dope heads, and it seems to be the same group of knuckleheads ran the Blues by the bay into the ground as well

Mark Davis
Guest
Mark Davis
6 years ago

Let’s not forget Justin is still on record blaming the public for not buying tickets..Why is Justin speaking for the board I thought he was the old G.M who has since resigned and left the board to scoop up this dog shit pile of a mess. Grow some balls Mateel and fire him if he’s still trying to work the magic..it’s just not working.

Kelley
Guest
Kelley
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark Davis

I should have been more clear. Justin gave that rundown in an email before he stepped down. It hasn’t been included in RHBB pieces until now. It’s relevant to the debt and how it built up, so I included it in the summary.

Fidlin the ganjo
Guest
Fidlin the ganjo
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark Davis

Justins needs to stop the blame game pointing the finger.
All these years and no plan b ?
None of the funds invested?
Typical so hum dilemma. No one ever thought the weed money would stop flowing in. The gravy train has officially stopped. A good point to reflect. I cant stand any of you hoity toitie pretendos.
Shut it down. Make way for the ganja.
Once your out I am in. Growing mass buds and making clones. After a thorough sanitizing. Pack up and dont make complete fools of yourselves. Leave with some dignity.

Seamus
Guest
Seamus
6 years ago

Something I remember from a high school class in economics is to never borrow long term money to pay short term debt. If you need to do that, you have already lost.

Mark Davis
Guest
Mark Davis
6 years ago
Reply to  Seamus

Ditto

Doh!
Guest
Doh!
6 years ago

They screwed themselves years ago, the minute they copped the VIP pass attitude. I wish them all well, the Mateel is great.

Saddest possible outcome
Guest
Saddest possible outcome
6 years ago

No. Too old . Too tired. They missed the part about saving for a rainy day. I’m not going to cough up 5k or 10k (!!!!!) to resuscitate the Mateel. That is outlandish. Someone badly blew it. And old folks like Bruce champie bless their hearts are NOT the solution. The solution is goodbye. The overwhelming duplicitous back-stabbing & shit-talking from within this collective has blown my mind. You don’t know who or what to believe . And folks can talk big money but if it’s all red ink in the end u got nothing . Obviously no one in this entire community is qualified to serve on this “big money” board. Seriously who the fuck authorized purchases so far in excess of cash on hand or a conservative budget forecast?? Who did that? Who does that? Are u fucking high? Or just not savvy. I think the latter. We were back on solid footing after getting absolutely assfucked by the no-confidence posse at the production house down the street . We were in the black. We had our event back. What the actual fuck happened? No. I will not donate time or money. Fool me once it’s your fault. Fool me twice yea… No.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
6 years ago

The President of the Board noted that though the Mateel keeps only a small percentage of the money it processes, the Reggae budget doesn’t leave the community. The event puts $1,500,000 into the local economy and has, until now, raised the revenue to employ several local individuals while also providing a community center and all of its events and programs.

Do you mean annually or total since the beginning? Please provide the documents that substantiate that claim.

Can you provide the documents that ROTR “raised the revenue to employ several local individuals”. It was my understanding that ROTR was a fundraiser for the MCC, and not for private individuals?

let me remind you what is required, by law, to be included in the MCC “Articles of Incorporation”, here is a sample:

This corporation is a nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation and is not organized for private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for charitable purposes.

The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to the purposes in Article 4 hereof and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person.

Upon the dissolution or winding up of this corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational and/or religious purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).

Veterans Friend
Guest
Veterans Friend
6 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

You are mistaken. Some of us do care. The MATEEL is an exclusive little club for those who see themselves as elite. I find this to be a well earned comeuppance.

Samwell haight
Guest
Samwell haight
6 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

Crellin deffinately benefited over the years.

Frank dux
Guest
Frank dux
6 years ago
Reply to  Samwell haight

Saw his name in the paper. Same spelling anyways. This person Owns multiple properties, and owes lots of taxes. Can’t generate that kind of income on a modest salary. Where did it all come from? Maybe he married into it. I dunno.

Serious ridiculousness
Guest
Serious ridiculousness
6 years ago

Someone on the Mateel Board said on Kmud news last night that “ for 3 years in a row , no one at the Mateel was aware that they had to file for their non-profit status with the State “
Ahhhh yes…..3 years ago……that’s when all of the Mateel Board and staff’s FINANCIAL FUCKERY” started.
No oversight whatsoever! Everyone’s feedback fell on deaf ears. They kept rolling over their “financial fuckery” for 3 YEARS! And NOW they’re asking the whole community that they abandoned to come to their rescue.
Too much, too little, too late. I am sooo sad 😢 that it looks like now, we will lose our Mateel center and the building and property because of this jaw dropping mismanagement.

G. Thomas
Guest
G. Thomas
6 years ago
Reply to  Kelley Lincoln

Regardless of what you printed it’s lack of control of Crellin production spending for the last three years has led to this. Did you print that a former member of the board went on record on the meeting saying she basically stole money from a mateel grant program because she didn’t trust the mateels money handling? Who hired her and who did she answer too? Crellin…trust issues. This kind of behavior permeates the entire organization under his leadership. You want bullshit and political style verbal backpedling keep on interviewing him on how this happened. You are how many interviews and statements by him into this and still no clear answer. Seems prettt clear to me.
The members of the board who are fiscally solvent in life and mind have always been outnumbered and out voted by Crellin his board pics and cronies. Fire him already. No support from me or my family/friends till he and his cronies are gone and forgotten.

Really
Guest
Really
6 years ago
Reply to  Kelley Lincoln

Yet years ago we did

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
6 years ago
Reply to  Kelley Lincoln

Kelley, that is total denial. One of the questions on the state financial statement (RRF-1) that the MCC submits annually asks if they conducted an audit and in January 2016, the state AG’s office sent them a letter stating they needed to comply with and submit the required audit for 2014. Even giving them the benefit of doubt, they knew for almost two years and did nothing until November 2017. What happened between January 2016 and November 2017, they had already been sent 4 letters from the AG?

If the MCC Board is paying in-house employees and private financial professionals to maintain and operate their tax exempt, public benefit and charitable 501c3 organization, how come NO ONE knew about this required audit?

Ask the MCC for a copy of their 2014 & 2015 RRF-1 annual financial reporting form! There is no copies for the public to view or download on the State AG’s RCT webpage, because they were incomplete, they needed to submit the required audit for those two years!

Kelley
Guest
Kelley
6 years ago
Reply to  Ed Voice

I don’t know when exactly the Mateel learned of the need for the audits, but they take time to complete. As of right now, 2014, is complete and submitted. 2015 is complete. I can’t remember if they have the filing fee or not. That was the sticking point, though. 2016 is underway. 2017 will be next.

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
6 years ago
Reply to  Kelley

So Kelley, if the 2014 audit was “complete and submitted”, then how come as of 2:47 pm today:

Brent Sorenson
Staff Services Analyst, Delinquency
DOJ – Office of the Attorney General
Registry of Charitable Trusts
(916) 210-6400 Ext. 6 Phone
(916) 444 – 3651 Fax

has not received a copy of the MCC 2014 audit?

How would the public know if the MCC sent it? How come the public cannot see a copy?

As Brent Sorenson stated in his email today: “Once we receive it, it will be made public”.

So how can you say it was “complete and submitted”?

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
6 years ago
Reply to  Kelley

I don’t know when exactly the Mateel learned of the need for the audits

I do, they are well documented and public record! Here are all four letters sent to the MCC between January 2016 to September 2017 by the State AG’s Registry of Charitable Trusts:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=16pvMyunoEpbnK9zY5tlDGMej0B2XrcII

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1qq4OlQcPfdUFFOTm5OX1RhbTQ

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1qq4OlQcPfdSUJnc1ktNWRGLUk

https://drive.google.com/open?id=13bLChVKxMlgd6fvhp6H7KXgy8i4Bs3sq

Do you ever do research on your reporting or statements?

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
6 years ago
Reply to  Kelley

“2015 is complete. I can’t remember if they have the filing fee or not. That was the sticking point, though. 2016 is underway. 2017 will be next”

At the Nov 21st MCC Board & Annual Membership meeting (according to KMUD’s recording) the 2015 audit was not complete, just started and they needed $10k to complete it. And the deadline for their 2016 990 tax return and RRF-1 was Nov 15, 2017 and that was only valid if they could provide an approved time extension from the IRS. My question, did the MCC gross over $2 Million in 2016? If they did, then they would also need to complete and submit another required audit for 2016.

From the AG’s letter to the MCC dated Nov 9, 2017:

*NOTE: The RRF-1 and 990 for the year ending 12/31/16 was due on 05/15/17, unless you have an IRS extension. If you have received an extension with the IRS we will honor their extension and the new due date to file with the IRS becomes the new due date to file with our office as well. The IRS extension is until 11/15/2017. If we do not receive the 2016 filing by the time, the organization will remain delinquent.

Well guess what, as of today, they are still delinquent…

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
6 years ago

“…nearly $300,000 was directly spent on infrastructure costs at the hall and French’s camp.” You can build a lot of building for 300k, new. How big is the hall? A new, nice house can be built at $100/ sq.ft. …. and this was just fixing an existing building. Grift, or you guys spend money like you’re the government.

LabeledaNazi
Guest
LabeledaNazi
6 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Mateel needs to turn over a new leaf…FAST! In a cloud of weed smoke someone without any economic direction or sence Of adapt and change dug themselves a hole they can’t get out of. Blam the public for lack of ticket sales?!?! Really? How about throw music venues that actually sell tickets. [edit] is dead. The last time I looked there is not to many jay preaching Jamaicans around here. Cater to people with money, not dirtbag imposters. A three day outlaw country venue would kill it here in humboldt but I’m sure no one sees farther than there own dillusional world of what sells and what dosent. Hard rock? Fuk… even a Jhon Denver cover band would sell more tickets then your average [edit] show latley

tired of all this
Guest
tired of all this
6 years ago
Reply to  LabeledaNazi

😁

koastdog
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  LabeledaNazi

no one showed up for lumberstruck…country music sounds like a win until you do it..show production is a gamble period

Really
Guest
Really
6 years ago
Reply to  koastdog

Center Arts Wanted To Rent The Hall At One Time …..but we know justin nixed it didn’t want professional competition

Bob especial
Guest
Bob especial
6 years ago
Reply to  Really

I’m sure that once he is gone completely they’d love to have you… it’s not competition at all just good business between neighbors.
Who knows if there will be a Mateel left at that time..hard business, total gamble, and limited niche type customer base. I do like John Denver though.

Jim
Guest
Jim
6 years ago

Sonia has calculated using 4% interest which is actually about $3,300 per month, just for the loan payments. In reality, the rate would more than likely be 5% to 6% which ups the monthly to about $4,000 or slightly more. On top of this is mortgage insurance (probably), property taxes, liability insurance, etc. which would add another few thousand. Also, at a value of $850,000, no loan will made by any financial institution of greater than 80%, which means a maximum loan of $680,000 if they are lucky enough to find a lender. Without a serious show of a stable income/cash flow to service it, this option, in my opinion, is a real Hail Mary.

Also, I noticed that after 20 days, their crowd funding has raised all of $1,200. Not a good omen.

Kim Sallaway
Guest
Kim Sallaway
6 years ago

I remember when the hall was paid off, and we burned the note. It was a very good ceremony.

G. Thomas
Guest
G. Thomas
6 years ago
Reply to  Kim Sallaway

Here here!

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
6 years ago
Reply to  Kim Sallaway

What year was that Kim? And is that Kathryn (Manspeaker) Labato on the right?

Yeah I'm mad...
Guest
Yeah I'm mad...
6 years ago

No. Too old . Too tired. They missed the part about saving for a rainy day. I’m not going to cough up 5k or 10k (!!!!!) to resuscitate the Mateel. That is outlandish. Someone badly blew it. And old folks like Bruce champie bless their hearts are NOT the solution. The solution is goodbye. The overwhelming duplicitous back-stabbing & [edit]-talking from within this collective has blown my mind. You don’t know who or what to believe . And folks can talk big money but if it’s all red ink in the end u got nothing . Obviously no one in this entire community is qualified to serve on this “big money” board. Seriously who the [edit] authorized purchases so far in excess of cash on hand or a conservative budget forecast?? Who did that? Who does that? Are u [edit] high? Or just not savvy. I think the latter. We were back on solid footing after getting absolutely [edit] [edit] by the no-confidence posse at the production house down the street . We were in the black. We had our event back. What the actual [edit] happened? No. I will not donate time or money. Fool me once it’s your fault. Fool me twice yea… No.

Kym Kemp
Admin
6 years ago

The editor wants to point out that she is not responsible for the person editing themselves….

tired of all this
Guest
tired of all this
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

😁💖

Anon Forrest
Guest
Anon Forrest
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

(Thanks)

tired of all this
Guest
tired of all this
6 years ago

Going a million dollars in debt to raise money for the community seems odd at best….

Whole Mateel!
Guest
Whole Mateel!
6 years ago

2 things are NEEDED:
– Transparency: More disclosures from the Board and Staff about expenses and decisions.
– Money: There is SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS COMMUNITY!! Plenty to pay off that debt many times over, and still have donors who are not hurting.

People members need to make 2 choices:
– Do we want the Mateel to continue (all the things they have brought ad sponsored in this community)?
– How can we become more self-aware of the RICHES we still have, monetarily? (And how much ‘RICHER’ is the community with a thriving Arts organization like the Mateel?).

DON’T BUY INTO THE BS MINDSET THAT ‘BECAUSE THE PRICE OF POT IS FALLING THAT WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO SUPPORT THE MATEEL AND KMUD’. That is a weak, self-serving mindset. RISE ABOVE! We can do this!!

Whole Mateel!
Guest
Whole Mateel!
6 years ago
Reply to  Whole Mateel!

Typo – Should read: ‘….brought AND sponsored….’

Jim
Guest
Jim
6 years ago
Reply to  Whole Mateel!

Didn’t KMUD fall dramatically short in their just ended fundraiser? They were trying for $95K and raised maybe $50K, at least that was what I was told.

Whole Mateel!
Guest
Whole Mateel!
6 years ago
Reply to  Jim

Yes Jim. Likely for the same BS reason and rationalization:
‘I am only making $900 per lb for my 250lbs. So I can’t afford to donate!’ That’s a bunch of crap!
Even if it’s only 25 lbs, you can still afford $50 to donate to each KMUD and the Mateel. (Compare that to your coffee expenses or the phone data bill you pay each month! Etc.).

LabeledaNazi
Guest
LabeledaNazi
6 years ago
Reply to  Whole Mateel!

In a sence…I agree. What if this community saved the mateel with money donations? Everyone on that board needs to fired and replaced. Bring in a real accountant, a business savy president,and a event scheduler that knows what’s hip and what sells. The arts fair is great….but move on and branch out and put the Fukng joint down for a moment and step into the real world of a business owned corporation. It’s cut throat,so start cutting some throats!

It's a Farce
Guest
It's a Farce
6 years ago

Really?! One statement stands out to me, as a working man…” really, who needs these people pissing and moaning about not getting paid”. So people who did work 6 months ago on the promise that they would get paid are now “pissing and moaning” and an annoyance?! THAT right there is the attitude that sent me away from working Mateel events about 20 years ago. It got special and it got weird. Good luck! Also the dropping of $300,000 into infrastructure when we all knew this community weed economy was dropping out = not very smart at all.

Fire guys need to be paid
Guest
Fire guys need to be paid
6 years ago
Reply to  It's a Farce

Ask if the ems teams were paid? My local team wasnt. Many Volunteer fire teams came together in the last hour on a promise to pay at pennies on the dollar (supposedly less than minimum wage) so the Mateel could secure permits to do their Reggae event. The promised pay was to help them secure basic essentials, gear, updated safety equipment, and supplies. I’m sure there are other groups as well. Med teams, Poop pumpers ect..have any of them been paid? Future permits are most likely dependent on participation of all these groups. Who is being paid back who is first in line, and why?
Didnt the same fire teams rush off to help south of here in the Ukiah and Santa Rosa fire storms underequipped and not yet paid? My local team did.
They badly needed those updrades. Why were there new teams this year? Problems of payment in the past? Not sure but I wonder.
Seems to me that Neighbors should pay Neighbors first, and screw the big corps, bankruptcy or not..Does the MCC put our community first. If not, it should.
Fire teams put the mateel first. That love and respect should be returned in kind. Who are the real hero’s here? And who really deserves support in this world of limited resources?
I can live without concerts and community centers, I don’t want to live in a neighborhood, or drive down a highway without local Emergency services and help.

tired of all this
Guest
tired of all this
6 years ago

Bless you & thank you for you heroic service to all of us💖

koastdog
Guest
6 years ago

if you re-listen to garth statements from beginning of meeting you will hear that there is no money… doors will close and staff has been let go…justin screwed us and now we (community) must figure a strategy out…or lose the center..scew the concerts we need a community center for our kids…lets raise money then you can have yours..

koastdog
Guest
6 years ago

if you re-listen to garth statements from beginning of meeting you will hear that there is no money… doors will close and staff has been let go…justin screwed us and now we (community) must figure a strategy out…or lose the center..screw the concerts we need a community center for our kids…lets raise money then you can have yours..

Ex CDFer
Guest
Ex CDFer
6 years ago

Well the bottom line is if they don’t pay the VOLUNTEER Fire departments that saved their ass and made it possible for them to get their event permits signed off on by the State Fire Marshals office they won’t get a permit approved again by the State fire marshals office I will guarantee that….. Additionally they have pretty much burned the bridge with just about every fire department in Humboldt and Mendocino county that would be willing to help them. Trust me it is a very close knit circle in the Volunteer Fire world…

Kelley
Guest
Kelley
6 years ago

Farce, it’s important to understand the woman who said that was speaking to the Board. She is not on the Board. She was being somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

Really
Guest
Really
6 years ago
Reply to  It's a Farce

Same Idiots that caused the blow up of reggae and thought they could do a better job .

Seamus
Guest
Seamus
6 years ago
Reply to  It's a Farce

Same here that statement has done more damage than she can imagine.

spankie
Guest
spankie
6 years ago

“…One thing about corporations that gets overlooked is that they’re total parasites. They open up a store and all the money spent there is taken out of the locality, sucking the community dry. In the past the store owners were local, so the money recirculated. Now it’s transmitted back to headquarters. Local communities are less and less capable of defending themselves. I see a permanent imposition of bank-corporate control as municipal governments go deeper and deeper into debt to maintain what little government services they can. Being as poor as I am, there’s no way to defend myself from these processes. Just waiting for the other shoe to drop on me.”

I think this comment is relevant for all communities, Look at the “local” coop market that is corporate
run from another state and follows a model just like whole foods. Pay workers less and hand over the
control to the corporate “overlords” not the locals who think the market is for them.

Free rent on a hill near you
Guest
Free rent on a hill near you
6 years ago

Several folks down there are working hard trying to reinstate the meal…wtf?
Fix your financial issues first pay your debts, then live out your altruistic life fantasys I mean day to day junkie party. Oops I said it. Redway is way cleaner now. But sadly not clean enough. Its Possible a forensic accounting is needed, and decent business plan is in order. That is the only clear way out.

koastdog
Guest
6 years ago

please done ever bring back the meal…town is much cleaner and the addict scene at rusk is gone ….one good thing from this all

Family Values First
Guest
Family Values First
6 years ago
Reply to  koastdog

Agreed. What a mess that was. Thanks alot Meal for endangering all of our children for so many years. There’s a better way to feed those in actual need than a junkie free for all ran by dirty crazy people.
I have noticed a much lighter scene and less crazies patrolling redway at lunchtime on weekdays. Thank you to whomever pulled the plug on that you are helping clean this place up..
We do need a community center for our kids. I like that. Keep the great ideas coming and throw out the trash already.

Taurus Ballzhof
Guest
Taurus Ballzhof
6 years ago

When broke, borrow more… That’s the SoHum way! Look at SHCHD… how they are still open is beyond me!

I feel like the MCC is worth having but that someone may have made off with considerable funds and now everyone else is left to make it up… Transparency is abscent but my impression is that borrowing is a bad idea…

Good luck, you need it.

Taurus Ballzhoff
Guest
Taurus Ballzhoff
6 years ago

AND: The ones “pissing and moaning” here, are the Board members…

Next time, don’t steal so much, and you may be able to pay your bills!

PULEEEZ
Guest
PULEEEZ
6 years ago

At this point in time , giving $5000, $10,000 or even ONE DOLLAR to the current Mateel Board/Staff , would be the equivalent of taking all of that money and sending it down a huge F#cking rat hole never to be seen again or accounted for.
ALL of the Mateel staff and Board members of the past few years are FULL of excuses regarding this financial crisis.
They all need to take a good hard look in the mirror, then turn around and face the community and apologize for running our Community Center into the ground. And then they all need to resign. An independent PROFESSIONAL team needs to come in and check the books and honestly report back to our community and then make a plan of action to try and salvage this.

Just a Thought
Guest
Just a Thought
6 years ago

Close it, Sell it, Move on. It will not be missed. Life will go on.

Fire guys need to be paid
Guest
Fire guys need to be paid
6 years ago
Reply to  Just a Thought

Sell it, pay off debts both local and corporate. Then reinvest what remains in a new facility with minimal well trained staff to serve and further the community centers purpose. Build conservative and to suit. Or Utilize the park and other resources locally to continue your “culture events”
And survive with just an office and community garden type property. Or donate what remains to local charity’s or organizations and walk away. Either way become debt free first.

For F sakes
Guest
For F sakes
6 years ago

And for Fuck sake, DO NOT try and resurrect the Mateel meal. It just became a magnet for junkies, thieves and violence, and No One at the Mateel tried to keep that element out. They welcomed it.

Family Values First
Guest
Family Values First
6 years ago
Reply to  For F sakes

Well those who were trying to do real work there have for years been outnumbered by those who needed all that filthy mess to find purpose. Check the next comment.

Pesticle
Guest
Pesticle
6 years ago

Joe warned of this! But the phony bunch mobbed him out. He wasnt putting up with their shit. Calling them out to their face.
They knew they had to get him out to spend the way they did.
Hiw about,shedding some,light into this shit operation with an audit!
Millions have been embezzled over the last three decades.

Fidlin the ganjo
Guest
Fidlin the ganjo
6 years ago

Its over.

tired of all this
Guest
tired of all this
6 years ago

How has the tiny little entity called BEGINNINGS managed to stay afloat?
By being a true community center? By REQUIRING members to actually participate? By having a realistic set of goals for itself?
By not thinking they are the next BILL GRAHAM PRESENTS?

Cabin in the woods
Guest
Cabin in the woods
6 years ago

Maybe Super Diamond can do a show. They have a better chance of drawing a crowd than ‘Collie Buddz.’
I heard he shaved off his dreads because people kept thinking he was in KORN.
I can see how that would get annoying.

wants to know
Guest
wants to know
6 years ago

What I don’t get is how the Board of the MCC was unaware of the impending crisis. Any board I’ve ever been on is apprised of the current financials at least once a month. It seems like the news took everyone except the Director by surprise.

Priorities skewed accountability missing
Guest
Priorities skewed accountability missing
6 years ago
Reply to  wants to know

Prob all little high on dabs lol .
Seriously apparantly no one in our entire community is qualified to serve. The solid thinkers who were long at the core of the Mateel success are tapped out, done their duty, deceased, or just too damn old now for the endless volunteering long meetings and legal obligations that come with serving on a board of this magnitude and responsibility .. i think a few folks say yes they will serve on MCC BOD because they wanted the all-access pass for reggae and free tshirts ! haha.

empty promises
Guest
empty promises
6 years ago
Reply to  wants to know

Anyone remember last year’s Sizzla controversy? And how the Mateel promised to donate to a non-profit that supports queers in JA? Another empty promise by the Mateel to appease the media and local queer communities. I’m guessing that donation never happened and probably isn’t included in the reported debt. Is this how we build community? Why is it responsible to say you will make a donation like that if you are so deep in the hole already? Of course there are trust issues.

D.T
Guest
D.T
6 years ago

Make the Mateel great again.

Redwood County Mama
Guest
Redwood County Mama
6 years ago

The infrastructure on the Arthur’s property was paid for by the Mateel. Yet if there is no more ROR that investment is lost and whomever promotes venues in that area will benefit. Reggae Rising is rising again. Tommy Dimmick still owns more than 1,000 acres surrounding the current concert venue. Land ownership is changing all around the Arthur’s French’s Camp property. Development is happening all over Cooks Valley. Just take walk through Low Gap Creek watershed across the river from the Cooks Valley Ranch. Roads and culverts are being put in on TPZ land by Van Meter. Hundreds of pallets of forest mulch has been bagged and sold to local garden outlets for the past 2 years on land adjacent to TD’s Dimmick Forest Products mill site at Cook’s Valley. The Mateel not only lost financially from the former lawsuit in which a major effort was made to not only steal the permit, but the Mateel Community Center as well. Remember the threats made by PB and TD? While Peoples was suing Garth and Bob as MCC BODs, Justin and other staff stepped up and worked around the clock without pay putting on more events than ever to save the Mateel. Meanwhile Dimmick Ranch enters bankruptcy and presto now there are new partners from SF to assist Bowman on putting on events in Cooks Valley all without an EIR and many of the other expenses required by Humboldt County Planning Department for MCC’s ROR. When the Arthur’s permit for ROR was handed off to little T. Dimmick for RR, the political influence of the Dimmick family became all too apparent. Now without so much as a hearing land is being rezoned and developed during the rewriting of the land use plan. Big $= Big influence=Big corruption. And it is happening here and now! Attacking those who care about our common unity, our community and have worked above and beyond to make this a great community, is not the answer!!!!

ultraknock
Guest
ultraknock
6 years ago

no TD energy here. Just thanks and praise for this Valley and the folks who helped and continue to carry the Reggae torch. There are positive forces trying to keep the vibe high here. Big respect to Justin & all ROR crew’s efforts and intentions – this shit ain’t easy – give the finger pointing a rest, build strength and find a reason to celebrate again.

Lost in the lost coast
Guest
Lost in the lost coast
6 years ago

Krustn and the Till of the Hun blew up reggae …….Bowman is in Mendocino county

Redwood County Mama
Guest
Redwood County Mama
6 years ago

Really??? The event has been in both Counties most of the years because Cook’s Valley is on the County line. Bowman just sold Grandfather Tree in HumCo and the family still owns the Patriot station. Cooks Valley Ranch has been located in both counties in the past, but now is solely in Mendo, unless the County lines are adjusted again. The same energy which seized the venue from MCC before is at again, only with more $’s invested than ever before!!!

Lost at last
Guest
Lost at last
6 years ago

Uhh..cooks valley is in mendo…County line is on the county line..two different ranches. Yes people are buying and developing, but it’s not the same people as before..you are out to lunch. Yes the builders are promoters, and contrary to your statements we have tried time and time again to work with “krustin” and have been continuously denied. The king wanted to protect his castle. He is still trying to steer the ship.
The sooner the mateel listens to the folks telling them to 1. cut all ties with justin completely and immediately,do not wait 2. re evaluate all programs you are spending on, 3. hire real accounting. 4. make a real business plan. 5. go dark if you have too. 6. and lay someone off already. the sooner there is some slight glimmer of hope of survival of the MCC to be there in redway so the high scool can rent it out or my neighbors have a wedding there, or someone rent the commercial kitchen, or a conference can have a home, or the kids can have somewhere to play.
You don’t agree but that’s because you are obviously uncomfortably close to him, but not close enough to see the reality of the situation he, Jennings and the other big spenders created against the best interest of the Center. Keep on blowing his ego folks and he will keep on not giving you the answers you need. Work with your neighbors not push them away.
Just because someone spends countless hours polishing a turd, their turd, for free, doesn’t mean they deserve our thanks or admiration. He completely profited $$$ from his time and access while in control.
We Shouldn’t thank them for that. Especially when they destroyed the hopes hard work and dreams of so many before them. It was we the community and neighbors around them who handed them a working model debt free with huge reserves in the bank for this very “rainy day”. He’s got shit all over his hands and you too if you can’t see it..

Ed Voice
Guest
Ed Voice
6 years ago

Something the MCC Board doesn’t talk about in public; is the fact ROTR 2017 was the last year of their 5 year Conditional Use Permit and Waste Water Discharge Permit. So to have ROTR 2018 and beyond, they would need to obtain and get approval on a new round of permits from the Planning Department, Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors and North Coast Water Quality Control Board, which also includes public comments. And this permit process is not cheap. So how come the MCC Board doesn’t want to talk about it?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1qq4OlQcPfdYllsakdTaVlpTkE