AAI attorney named interim administrator

Adrian Adams of the law firm Adams Kessler accepted the responsibility of serving as interim administrator for the Art Alliance of Idyllwild on Tuesday, April 14. By majority motion, the former board voted to dissolve in special meetings held on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, with resignations effective Wednesday, April 15. Adams had served as counsel for the former AAI board and was designated by the former board as first choice to supervise the transition to a new board.

Adams said the former board now has no access to AAI bank accounts, assets, computers, documents or websites. “I have changed all passwords, retrieved the computer, thumb-drives and changed the locks on the storage shed,” he said. “The former board is now completely severed.”

As interim administrator, a function he will fulfill pro-bono (unpaid), Adams is in the process of creating a mechanism for holding a direct election of a new board by the AAI membership. AAI is a membership organization but has never before held a direct election by the membership.

By email to the membership, Adams issued a call for nominations to fill 11 vacant board seats. According to the email, “All existing members in good standing [current in their membership fees] are now eligible to serve on the board. Accordingly, nominations are now open and will remain open through 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26.” Procedures for self-nomination are outlined in the email to members.

Adams noted in the email that his law firm would oversee the election. “We will retain a neutral third party to act as the inspector of elections and secret balloting will be used.”

Adams explained that self-nomination eliminates the additional step of having to confirm that the nominee is willing to serve. If nominating another, Adams said the nominating party must provide full contact information for the nominee so his firm can contact the nominee. Said Adams of his responsibility, “My goal is to keep the election on track and to calm all this down [recent publicized conflicts]. I look forward to getting a new board in place at the earliest opportunity and putting the controversy behind everyone. The Art Alliance is too valuable to Idyllwild to have it mired in controversy, whether real or imagined.”

Although Adams seeks to calm, at least one resignation letter from a former board member, posted on the AAI website, appears designed to stoke existing fire. Lesly Martin, former spokesperson and voice of AAI, the only contact available to local media, concluded her resignation letter in this way: “Just like in the ‘Book of Revelations,’ the beast walks among you. Do not be sucked in by false gods. Select your new leaders based on the goodness of their actions and the real intent within their hearts. Are they in it for the good of the organization or for the good of themselves? … Choose wisely.”

Because there is now no board to oversee events, Adams said a number of scheduled events have been canceled — events scheduled for April 25, May 3 and May 16 (check AAI website for specifics — www.artinidyllwild.org). Adams also noted that since his law firm has not been involved in the day-to-day operation of the alliance, its ability to answer questions is limited. He directed members to review information currently posted on the website and to hold questions for the new board.

Questions regarding financial documents available to members, a key issue raised by some members and volunteers, must therefore await seating of a new board. Adams noted that the new board could review policies, procedures and financial records to determine validity of criticism directed toward the former board and what, if any, changes need to be made.

AAI founder Chris Trout said both she and co-founder Grace Songolo were distressed over how this controversy has become public and polarizing. “Financial transparency was always part of how we operated,” she said. “Everything was shared with everybody. This could have been handled differently.”

With regard to the board dissolution, upcoming election and a fresh start for the Art Alliance, Trout said, “They [the membership] have an opportunity to do this. The membership is strong, talented and committed. The mission of the organization is to support the tourist economy of Idyllwild and to bring people to the Hill to experience our art and our artists. It took us six years to become one of the top 100 arts towns in the country. Let’s act as if we are.”

Trout cited the advice Pete Capparelli gave her when she first came to Idyllwild 18 years ago, advice that she followed before becoming involved in the community’s public life: “Soak up Idyllwild for a year and find what it is all about. Learn the demographics. You need to know Idyllwild.”

Gary Kuscher, although listed as vice president on the AAI website, said he had not been actively involved in recent board decisions on advice of doctors. “I’m hoping for a new board that is willing to work hard and continue our direction of creating public art and making Idyllwild known as an arts destination,” he said. “I have every confidence in the general membership.”

In interview, Adams did recommend the new board review and consider revising current AAI bylaws, particularly with regard to board terms. He noted that rotating terms does keep a board fresh. For example, two terms of two years, with one year off before being eligible to serve again. He observed that current bylaws are in compliance with state law with regard to board terms.