It's Time for a Change! Click here to SIGN OUR PETITION demanding the resignation of the current NAC Board of Directors!

As many people are now aware, there have been significant recent changes at the Newport Aquatic Center (NAC). As a result, a large group of concerned parents and members gathered to discuss these changes, learn more about the ongoing financial and employee mismanagement issues that have been occurring at the NAC (many of which are part of the current internal lawsuit at the NAC) and determine the next steps. After hearing the facts, the community was outraged and determined that making sure other parents and members have the information.

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HISTORY OF NAC AND DISCOVERY OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, FRAUD, AND ILLEGAL OPERATIONS. There is a long, documented history of financial mismanagement, fraud, and illegal activities committed and/or allowed by the NAC leadership. These activities and the failure of the Board majority to fulfill their legal, ethical, and fiduciary responsibilities resulted in the filing of a lawsuit on December 1, 2017. 

​DECLARATION OF PAT ROLFES. On August 1, 2018, Pat Rolfes, Director of Jr. Rowing at NAC, was terminated by Billy Whitford, Executive Director, based on false allegations. Pat along with many parents, coaches, NAC founders, NAC athletes and members, and even several Board Members, believe that Pat was fired in retaliation for providing a sworn, truthful Declaration on behalf of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.  Over the past two years, Pat has consistently monitored Jr. Rowing Program funds and reported to the Board when money was missing, including restricted donations specifically for the Junior Rowing program. Read the Declarations of Pat Rolfes and Chrissie Emmel. Exhibit D of Chrissie's Declaration is particularly enlightening.

LAWSUIT DOCUMENTS FOR BOTH PLAINTIFFS AND DEFENDANTS. On December 1, 2017, two Board members (Bruce Ibbetson and Donna Warwick) filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court naming three NAC other members (Bill Grant, Jon Van Cleave, and Jim Netzer), Executive Director Billy Whitford, and others.  As committed and deeply concerned Board members, they felt they had exhausted all other options to right the serious situation resulting from long term mismanagement, misappropriation of funds and other breaches of fiduciary duties. Ibbetson and Warwick have made all publicly available lawsuit documents available for review.

PROPOSED SETTLEMENT. Jim Warmington, Sr., a Founder and long-time supporter of the NAC has proposed a generous contribution to the NAC that includes the dismissal of the pending litigation. While this settlement offer has been on the table for months, the Board majority has failed to accept the terms. Read the terms and ask yourself why won't the Board accept this offer?  It provides a financial contribution to the NAC, job security for the Executive Director, and the dismissal of a lawsuit all in exchange for the requirement that the NAC have in place financial control and accountability for all programs and services  (which it already should have). So that leaves the requirement that the current Board steps down. Board terms are required to be limited to three years yet 5 of the 6 Board members have served from 4 - 30 years. Why are they so afraid of giving up control?  What are they hiding?

SEND EMAILS TO THE NAC BOARD.. Express your concerns. Consider the following items:

• Express your support for Pat Rolfes and demand that he be reinstated with the added conditions that Pat report directly to the Board and his position be equal to Billy Whitford’s, thus allowing checks and balances, and accountability for all.
• Demand Junior Rowing financial transparency [e.g., post the financials on the NAC public website (as previously done), mirror the NAC books, operate a separate NAC Junior Rowing bank account].
• Ensure the Junior Rowing starting balance of $194K as of July 1, 2018 gets spent on Jr Rowing.
• Demand financial transparency for NAC General and all NAC Programs.
• Demand that the current Board resigns and that a new Board is elected and required to operate within the NAC Bylaws requiring term limits, elections, and a minimum of eight directors.

PROTEST NAC CORRUPTION & MISMANAGEMENT. Review actions you can take to protest the gross mismanagement of the NAC and to demand change.

CONTACT POLITICIANS ABOUT NAC CORRUPTION & MISMANAGEMENT.  Learn how to do this.

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