March 2004

What's an ASPA Chapter President to Do?

You are the president of an ASPA Chapter. To your surprise and chagrin, you learn that the chapter’s treasurer has been indicted for stealing more than $900,000 from the agency where he is employed. The treasurer has been a loyal and dedicated member of the chapter and to the best of your knowledge has not misused or stolen any of the chapter’s funds...but you are not entirely sure. The treasurer has the chapter’s funds in a local bank account with sole signatory authority. You cannot gain access to the bank account because a criminal investigation is underway and the account is frozen.

What should you do about the situation? Should you wring your hands in distress and wait it out hoping that somehow the chapter’s funds can be secured, report the situation to ASPA’s president and ask for guidance, charge the treasurer with violating ASPA’s Code of Ethics and ask the National Council to expel the treasurer from ASPA, resign your position as chapter president to demonstrate your failure to oversee the chapter’s finances? Seek advice and counsel from ASPA’s officers?

Currently, ASPA has no formal vehicle or process for a chapter president, officer or member at large to seek ethical advice or guidance.

–story based on a real case