National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Leadership

West Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) October 12, 2004

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Leadership Council Member Launches Investigation Concerning Approval of Funds Designated to Buy Winter Party in South Beach from Evicted, Scandal-Ridden South Florida Foundation, known in a 2004 Miami Herald and New York Times article for Embracing Open Illegal Drug at Winter Party. Task Force refuses to Release Anything About Working With Authorities as Mentioned in the Pride Dance on a NYC Pier Which Foreman Credits Himself For Producing.

In Press Release Foreman and Director of Development for The Task Force Fail to Mention Anything About the Documented Drug Abuse at South Beach, Florida Winter Party.

Only the Executive Committee Approved this Purchase Clearly a Financial Move and Straying from Official Mission as Stated at http://www.guidestar.org, a very reputable site for Donors to Examine Financial Statements of hundreds of thousands of Gay and Straight Non-Profit Organizns and Contains a Donor Bill of Rights Followed By Charities Including The Ford Foundation and Other Well Maintained Charities

NGLTF executive director Matt Foreman, appoints cronies from former position as Executive Director of Empire State Pride Agenda and ESPA Foundation to Co-Chairman and Secretary of the NGLTF Foundation and NGLTF, Inc. Executive Committee of Board of Directors. This Would Give Foreman Power to Break Ties of Executive Committee. He Chose New Board Members who are Loyal to Him Instead of Independent Members as Many Board Development Groups Strongly Suggest. Also approves Grants to Organizations Where Serious Conflicts Exist.

In further ethical breaches, Foreman with approval of senior management dismisses excellent Director of Donor Relations Steve Ramirez to bring Dance Director of Foreman's signature Heritage of Pride dance in NYC and hires former communications aide who worked for him at last job as NGLTF Press Secretary when there was no established need for such action. Also, the headquarters are really based in NYC or the Executive Director and senior management except the Deputy Executive Director a lobbyist by training and Director of Development and Senior Director of the LA Office.

Although Director of Development Charlees Robbins, CFRE claimed that no one was using the misleading 30th Anniversary tape in 2004 Deputy Exec. Director Rea Carey, admitted to presenting it in late-June 2004 to one of the largest foundations The Gill Foundation. Surprisingly, Foreman bashed the RNC Convention in New York City with no mention that for many years when he was Executive Director of Empire State Pride Agenda he supported Republican Governor George Pataki's campaign with ESPA funds while even most mainstream LGBT groups would not support a Republican administration. Foreman failed to fully disclose his contact in his press statement which just adds to the loss of credibility.

The examination by myself and in conjunction with preliminary examination by nationally respected American Institute of Philanthropy was first triggered by questions about the C4 or a private non-exempt lobbying foundation as against US Supreme Court direction NGLTF Foundation and NGLTF, Inc. have no clear distinctions as per the federal law that both entities be separate most obviously by the public website, to letterhead, 30th Anniversary DVD shown by Deputy Executive Director Rea Carey that is very deceptive as it inserts that NGLTF, Inc not Foundation is the charitable organization by direct inference. The two entities share to some members surprise, the same Board of Directors and Executive Committee.

It was widely reported in mainstream media prior to the purchase and in 2004, that there is illegal drug abuse present at this 4,000 plus event and that The Task Force purchased it from a scandal-ridden bankrupt South Florida Foundation. Please see attached 2004 excerpts from Miami Herald and New York Times.

NGLTF, run by Matthew Foreman, Esq., Executive Director and Rea Carey, Deputy Executive Director mentioned nothing in their press statements that they wanted a drug-free Winter Party so as a concerned Task Force member this release will be also sent to DEA HIDTA and Miami-Dade Police Department as drug abuse is in direct conflict with the mission of NGLTF.

NGLTF’s political reputation has been solid in DC but as Rea Carey surely can tell you that most of politics is perception having been a lobbyist and strategist for many years. After hosting the Winter Party the political clout of NGLTF lobbyists will go from being a powerful advocacy group to being a cocktail party joke so quickly it can be clocked with an egg timer.

The twenty-five member Board of Directors (there are three full board meetings per year) did not hold a special meeting for a purchase that will assume the sellers’ debts and is not being disclosed due to litigation filed by the former Executive Director of the South Florida charity which would then be able upon successful litigation to recover funds as provided by court documents.

By not polling a random members and providing discussion by all 25 Board of Directors this action should have resulted in a formal censure of the Executive Director and a bylaw passed to force all major purchases to be widely discussed prior to purchase, for checks and balances

Executive Director Matthew Foreman, Esq. who has such noted opinions about Ronald Reagan and other hot topic buttons did not once mention in the approved press release that they have decided to enforce a substance free Winter Party.

Social change sometimes involves personal action and in the spirit of social change this release will be sent to all federal, state and county law enforcement officials with a request for drug sensitive dogs as they have in the airport at all entrances to the Winter Party. While I have no opinion on the Winter Party, I mind spending $6000.00 of personal donations to fund the purchase of something that will cause damage to the reputation of the NGLTF.

Jason S. Lowen, is a disabled public relations executive of two of the top five largest public relations agencies in the world and Founding Chairman and Interim CEO who receives no salary as the company receives no revenue.

Additionally and for “full disclosure” Jason S. Lowen was officially offered an officer title for the Board of Governors while at dinner at The Barclay Hotel in New York City which was stalled and dismissed but wanted to disclose this to mention that the statement are based on both written documents and source information which may be produced for background material.

Disclaimer: While all information is due to extensive research and enforced by articles included by the New York Times and The Miami Herald, all information while fact checked is only as good as the public documents released by the non-profit NGLTF Foundation in the public domain. While not officially sanctioned, this release is necessary to keep with the intended mission of The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and is intended to remind Executives of their responsibility first to the members who fund the mission of social change. The press release may be reprinted in part or whole by reporters. The articles attached receive consent by newspapers for reprinting.

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