People, Opinions & Politics
More than $12,000 in bonuses handed out to Pride Board Chair & Staff in December
In the last 24 hours, I’ve had a one hour meeting with former San Diego Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte, and an almost two hour meeting with the three remaining members of Pride’s Board of Directors; Chairman Dr. Philip Princetta, Treasurer Mike Karim and Secretary Carl Worrell. As it relates to this current Pride controversy, I can tell you it’s truly about “People, Opinions & Politics”…and one very divisive organization.
Jeri Dilno (photo courtesy of San Diego Women's History Museum)
I also had a good conversation with Jeri Dilno. She and I are the oldest San Diego Pride organizers and past board members (1975 and 1974 respectively.) Both of us agree that San Diego Pride has “lost its way.” The once thriving and respected non-profit organization has completely lost the confidence and support of the entire GLBT community.
These are very hard economic times, especially for non-profits, yet this past July, Pride raised both festival ticket prices and booth rentals. The organization also purchased an almost $1 million office building. And, within a one-week span in December, Pride issued more than $12,000 in gifts and bonuses to both staff and its board chair. In my opinion, and with all due respect to the Pride board chair and staff, this was NOT the year to be giving out any gifts or cash bonuses whatsoever.
In my meeting with Pride’s three remaining board members, I advised them to step down and put in place an interim Board of Directors made up of community members as well as some past Pride board members. I told Dr. Princetta that he should return the $5,000 “gift” he was given by the board. Not only do I believe that Pride needs a complete internal reorganization and a new Board of Directors put in place, but it requires a permanent Community Advisory Council instituted by the new board. I also informed them that the abrupt firing of deHarte was ill advised, given he brought up the Whistle Blower act.
Ron deHarte
Until my meeting with the remaining Pride board members, I was unaware that deHarte himself also received a $5,000 bonus almost the same week that Board Chair Princetta accepted his $5,000 gift. On top of that, almost every San Diego Pride staff member also received a cash bonus. The three board members informed me that since deHarte has been Pride’s executive director, he has received more than $20,000 in bonuses.
To recap, in the past 24 hours, the Pride board has fired its executive director (deHarte,) two Pride staff members have resigned (Development Director Ken St. Pierre and Production Assistant Jeffrey Redondo) and the five-member Board of Directors has been reduced to three (two board members recently resigned.) San Diego Pride’s Board of Directors can have 12 members.
As probably the only GLBT community member to have had face-to-face meetings with both the former executive director and remaining three board members of Pride within the last 24 hours, I can say that there are a flurry of accusations coming from both directions and a lot of finger pointing from all parties involved.
Pride Board Chair Philip Princetta
I believe that Pride’s Board Chair, Dr. Princetta, the father of two children, is going through some hard times and, thus, accepted the $5,000 gift. I also believe he now feels it was a huge mistake and I hope he will return the money as I have advised him to do.
In the next few days, Ms. Dilno and I, along with more than a dozen past Pride board members, will meet to try and put San Diego Pride back together and restore community support for the organization.
A community Town Hall Meeting to discuss this Pride controversy has been set for Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 6PM in the San Diego LGBT Community Center’s auditorium – the entire community is invited to attend.
As I mentioned earlier, Jeri Dilno (Pride Class of 1975) and I (Pride Class of 1974) agree that San Diego Pride has “lost its way.” It is up to you, the community, to raise your voices and help put our city’s Pride organization back on the right track.
Thank you.
The plot thickens…
…am I correct that this is a 501(c)(3) organization? If so, why are the Board members getting paid regardless?
Nicole is right in that the board of Pride has no credibility. They have seriously breached their fiduciary responsibilities by their recent actions. If Dr. Princetta has fallen on hard times, that is one thing but it is not the obligation or even right of a non-profit to provide him aid. That being said, to begrudge the hardworking staff small bonuses at the end of the year seems a bit harsh. Each of these people work tirelessly to produce the single largest civic parade in San Diego. Giving a bonus to a staff member who deserves it is one thing but a VOLUNTEER board member enriching himself is utterly disgusting. And NO I am not affiliated with Pride other than someone who has written a small check each year.
Great Reporting Nicole!!! Thank you for bringing this abuse into the limelight and offering up a possible solution forward. I will see you at the Town Hall Meeting.
Frank Lechner
I want to thank Nicole for caring and reporting on this story. The The Pride Board needs to resign there is no question. The three person is also a violation of the bylaws which require a four person board. Just another disregard of the laws of the organization. In regard to additional areas covered it is quite common for staff bonuses to be included in the budget for a non profit and provided to staff if goals are achieved. This is not an unuasal practice in the least. The purchase of the building was a prudent move for the organization as it has been paying rent for years and the purchase will provide sustainability and a permanent home for the organization. San Diego Pride is thriving and growing and will continue to do so once the Board resigns and the staff can get back to work. In regard to a new Board we should have a mix of old and new come on to usher in a new era of governance for the organization.
ok the staff member have it in their contracts to receive the bonuses for their work preformences. the board member are not to receive any money for their job preformences. in fact the board awardes the bonuses to the contract employees at San Diego Pride. Dr. Princetta is not under contract with san diego pride. so the money that was awarded to him in fact violated the bylaws of the board.