Posts Tagged ‘Friends of the Weeping Ivy’

Spies for The Mo’Kelly Report are reporting that the Chief Financial Officer for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Eric Salstrand was “escorted” out of the building, by order of present Supreme Basileus Carolyn House Stewart who was at headquarters today.

The length of the “suspension” has been set at seven days, but likely is a precautionary legal measure which will precede outright termination, and criminal charges.

This would be the first official shoe to drop.  Eric Salstrand better start singing like a canary…or he’s going to jail, no exaggeration.

The restoration of AKA is officially underway.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Today…It’s Mo’Kelly’s turn.  This is for my detractors and them only.  You know who you are and more importantly…so do I.

For more than a year, Mo’Kelly (Morris W. O’Kelly) has been subjected to all sorts of threats, insults, ridicule and indefensible behavior, in an effort to express one’s “objection” to my ongoing coverage of the issues confronting Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  In some respects, it was just fine.  I knew the job was dangerous when I took it.  As they say, I signed up for this and signed my name to it.

That said…

For the most part, I remained silent in the face of the ridiculous behavior.  In fact, the majority of the most vulgar, hateful emails came from the members themselves of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (and yes many others containing the same level of vitriol did not).  If I were to publish even a third of the notes, the world would be wondering if the organization would be even worth saving.  It would be hard to argue the value of AKA if such emails were in any way representative of its “college-educated” membership.  Granted, it would be unfair to characterize the outlandish remarks as peculiar to any particular group, but just know the overwhelming majority came from members of your illustrious sorority.  Maybe the goal was to have Mo’Kelly sink to a level unworthy of public respect, have him respond in a manner equally derogatory.

You failed.

Let the record show, Mo’Kelly did not disrespect not one person in return publicly or privately regardless of the hate shown me.

Not once.

There were emails from family members of AKAs who took issue with The Mo’Kelly Report for having the “audacity” to offer a public opinion about a “private” matter.  There were nasty comments and emails from members of other Black Greek-Letter organizations who felt the need to chastise me and my efforts to shine a light on this incredible level of financial malfeasance in “someone else’s” organization.  If the goal was to have Mo’Kelly respond in kind…

You failed.

Outside of my customary cynicism and sarcasm, for the most part, I remained silent.

Today…it’s my turn (to respond).

There were AKA impersonators who even put in their two cents in “defense” of Barbara McKinzie in an attempt to discredit me and my work.

You failed.

That’s not even including the calls and letters to my employer in an attempt to have me fired, despite full-well knowing the truth of the matter; the truth that Barbara McKinzie is/was robbing your beloved organization to the point of bankruptcy.

You failed.  Be glad you did, you at least still have a sorority and you’re welcome.

This is not even about the disrespect some have shown their own sorority sisters, the original 8 plaintiffs. That’s a completely different discussion for a different day.  Mo’Kelly can not and will not speak to the supposed “sisterhood” many of you had shown them.  They can adequately speak for themselves and on their own behalf.

But for the most part…on these personal matters regarding Mo’Kelly specifically, I remained silent and showed tremendous restraint.  Today though, it’s my turn to respond.

During these many months I said nothing about the overt movement to keep my older sister (an AKA) from becoming basileus of her chapter here in Southern California, specifically because “I,” “Mo’Kelly” was her brother.  Don’t think “Mo’Kelly” didn’t know about that and don’t think Mo’Kelly forgot about it either.  The next time “her brother” should come to one of “that chapter’s” events, just know that Mo’Kelly knows and will not forget.

But your apology is accepted.  Thanking you in advance.

I largely said nothing about the nastiness shown my mother, sister, great aunt and Ivy Beyond the Wall maternal grandmother (ALL AKAs) on The Ivy Vine listserv.  I never directly addressed the multiple discussions of these issues in supposed “connection” to my family when none of the aforementioned had ANY involvement whatsoever with ANYTHING published here in The Mo’Kelly Report.

No family member has EVER, under ANY circumstances participated in any information posted on any website or blog regarding AKA…EVER.  Nonetheless, some out there thought that the best way to get Mo’Kelly to “stop” was to “start in” on my family members.

You failed.

But be of good cheer, your apology is accepted.  Thanking you in advance.

Those specific individuals involved in that foolishness on The Ivy Vine, you shall remain nameless.  But be clear, Mo’Kelly does know your name(s).  Be sure to post this too on The Ivy Vine, with a big thank you note at the bottom of your aforementioned apology.  Mo’Kelly has earned both.

“Class” is not something you wear or emblematic of an organization you join, it’s found in the outward expression of one’s heart in the face of adversity.

Barbara McKinzie was paid somewhere close to 2 million dollars for an unpaid position by members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.  FACT.  If there is anyone or anything in which one’s anger should have been directed, it’s to an address in Olympia Fields, Illinois.  If you like, Mo’Kelly will gladly forward it to your attention.

You know who you are.  Mo’Kelly accepts your collective apology too.  Thanking you in advance.

I said nothing about the blatant disregard and disrespect shown to me by other California AKAs at the local Frat Games, and yes, you shall remain nameless.  And yes, I do know your names.  Every single one of your insults and derogatory remarks made its way back to Mo’Kelly.  I said nothing in return to you or about you.  Your apology too is accepted.  You (in time) will have your sorority back and you’re also welcome.

Heretofore Mo’Kelly’s detractors have had their say.  Today it’s my turn to have mine.

Right is right…wrong is wrong.  Read the audit report and come back and tell Mo’Kelly the difference between “right” and “wrong.”  Listen to the interview with former employee Kenitra Shackelford and then tell Mo’Kelly who is in the wrong; who is hurting your beloved sorority.  Listen to the interview with Ms. Carol Ray and then come tell Mo’Kelly he needs to “mind his own business.”

There’s no fame, fortune or future gain in devoting more than a year to uncovering the financial malfeasance of a single African-American sorority of marginal news notoriety.  99% of the rest of the world does not care if AKA survives to see 2011 or the issues impacting the end result.

To my detractors, “you’re welcome.”  Be sure to think of Mo’Kelly the next time you send your dues check to nationals.  Your apology is accepted.  Thanking you in advance.

If Mo’Kelly were simply interested in “making a name for himself,” he would have gone the celebrity gossip route and accordingly named his blog, “Mediatakeout.com” or “Bossip.com” or “Hotghettomess.com”

This is The Mo’Kelly Report!

It is not to be confused with any such foolishness.  Do not EVER get it twisted.  Mo’Kelly BREAKS stories, Mo’Kelly covers NEWS and Mo’Kelly tells the TRUTH, be it Alpha Kappa Alpha, AME Church or T.D. Jakes/Juanita Bynum/Eddie Long.

And I’m gon’ keep on tellin’ it.

Your collective apologies are accepted.

Now runteldat.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Once again, The Mo’Kelly Report was already way out in front of the story.  You can read about it after the fact in the news…or you can read about it in The Mo’Kelly Report.

Just sayin’…

Full story HERE

In fact, the Chicago Sun-Times did a SECOND story, outlining some of the more outrageous expenses.

Second story HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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For those outside of Chicago, the Stroger name is probably an

Todd Stroger

unfamiliar name.  For those inside the Windy City…his/their (John and son Todd are  often one degree of separation from major corruption.

Coincidence?

From the Chicago Sun-Times in 2003 (Reprint of story HERE.)

Until September, Stroger had one of his top 8th Ward precinct captains, Bill Granberry, as Forest Preserves maintenance director for $90,000 a year. The Sun-Times reported that the district kept a fleet of five special outhouses that came out just once a year for Stroger’s annual picnic — at a time when other commissioners were clamoring for cleaner outhouses. Granberry resigned. Stroger said he never knew about the outhouse arrangement.

To replace Granberry, Stroger chose a member of his ward organization, LeRoy Taylor, controversial with some co-workers because he was promoted to regional superintendent when longer-serving workers were laid off. Taylor, a retired deputy commissioner for the Chicago Water Department, has donated $2,145 to Stroger, the 8th Ward organization and Stroger’s son’s campaigns since 2001. Taylor also was given a coveted Forest Preserve home in Beverly.

Bylina said he and Stroger talked about Taylor replacing Granberry. Bylina insisted the appointment be on an “acting” basis until Taylor demonstrates he can handle the position.

“I think he’s got the experience, the exposure, the knowledge of the preserves,” Bylina said. Whether he gets the permanent job remains to be seen, he said.

“Oh, he’ll get the permanent position,” one mid-level Forest Preserve official said. “Stroger won’t let that go to anyone but an 8th-Warder.”

In 2001, another top 8th-Warder, Mezell Williams, resigned as the Forest Preserves’ $99,000-a-year chief financial officer on the eve of a hearing where he was to explain how the district amassed a nearly $20 million deficit. The district raided land acquisition and maintenance funds for day-to-day operations. Stroger said the district had little choice because tax caps limited its ability to raise taxes or float bonds.

In a step many board members praised, Stroger replaced Williams with Barbara McKinzie, an accountant with a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University.

(Another story had it this way…)

Readers…this is called, “connecting the dots.”

Carla Oglesby

Well, it seems now another Stroger “associate/employee” is in serious trouble.  Recently ANOTHER Stroger aide, Carla Oglesby…Stroger’s deputy chief of staff was ARRESTED and charged with stealing more than $300,000 from taxpayers in a scheme to award sham contracts, including some to firms she owned but for which she did no work.

Carla Oglesby, 41, Stroger’s deputy chief of staff, was ordered held on $250,000 bail Tuesday after she was charged with three felonies: theft of government property and money laundering, both of over $100,000, and official misconduct. She faces up to 30 years in prison in connection with the allegations, some of which were first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times in March.

Full story HERE.

__________

Subsequent to the original allegations against McKinzie, Cook County

Liz Gorman

Commissioner Liz Gorman alerted the aforementioned Stroger that an investigation and audit should be conducted, relative to McKinzie’s previous employment.

A former sorority staffer on Tuesday said she was fired after alerting the Illinois attorney general’s office to alleged financial abuses at the group’s Chicago headquarters. “In light of these allegations, I am very concerned of the possible misuse of funds during her tenure as chief financial officer at the Forest Preserve District,” Ms. Gorman stated yesterday in a letter to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

Ms. McKinzie was the district’s Chief Financial Officer from 2001-2004 and also has served in financial management positions at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Neighborhood Housing Services Inc. and the Chicago Housing Authority.

When she was County Board President, Bobbie Steele, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, signed a $12,000 consultant contract with Ms. McKinzie to help draft a budget and provide other financial advice. That budget never materialized.

Story HERE.

The latest is that Oglesby also has the unmitigated gall to file for unemployment after being fired/arrested for laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars to her OWN company.

Story HERE.

Let’s bring it all together now.  Oglesby, besides paying her own dummy companies (not registered with the state) also is accused of not doing any work for the $24,995 contracts she awarded “herself.”  Sound familiar?

Stroger accepted her resignation today as deputy chief of staff. She had been the spokeswoman for Stroger’s failed Democratic primary re-election campaign. Stroger put her on the county payroll after his loss.

Prosecutors say an investigation into more than a dozen no-bid contracts awarded by Oglesby found that little or no legitimate work was performed by any of the companies, including two controlled by her. (Click HERE for details of the charges.)

The loss to the county from the contracts exceeds $300,000, prosecutors said during the bond hearing for Oglesby, 41, who is charged with theft of government property, money laundering and official misconduct. (Get details of the allegations against Oglesby here)

One of Oglesby’s companies, CGC Communications, was awarded a $24,975 contract to inform county residents of federal grant money available to those affected by heavy flooding in 2008.

The contract was paid up-front, and CGC later tried to justify the contract by claiming credit for outreach efforts spearheaded by a member of Stroger’s press office.

In a second contract highlighted by prosecutors, a county official expressed concern to Oglesby and “Public Official C” — identified as a Stroger media representative — about a contract he was asked to authorize.

The county official agreed to sign after Public Official C pressured him, and the money was traced to Arrei, a company controlled by Oglesby, prosecutors said.

In all, Oglesby awarded or approved payments for more than a dozen no-bid contracts. In at least two instances, contractors returned checks to the county because they hadn’t performed any work, prosecutors said.

Story HERE.

Stroger, McKinzie, fraud, arrests and/or investigations over contracts to cronies for work never done.

Coincidence?

Fraud usually never is…

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Spies for The Mo’Kelly Report have been working overtime this week.  It seems that Barbara McKinzie, almost simultaneous to the forensic audit of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority retained ANOTHER legal team, to personally represent her and “protect” her image.

(Whatever is left of it.)

Carol Ray

In another Mo’Kelly Report exclusive, McKinzie’s “new” legal team sent a threatening letter to Carol Ray, one of the original 8 plaintiffs, warning her (among other things) of the following:

We trust that you will not partake or initiate any conduct that would tend to damage the
reputation or shed a false light unto Ms. McKinzie. Nonetheless, be advised that the publication
or distribution of any untrue or even misleading statements regarding Ms. McKinzie, whether or
not derived from the aforementioned documents, would necessitate the need to take legal action.

Consider this letter notice that should Ms. McKinzie hear or become aware of any misleading and/or tortious statements that are derived from you, Ms. McKinzie and our firm will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action.”

And no…Mr. Mo’Kelly has never received any such communication…EVER.

Just sayin’.

I guess that means that EVERYTHING Mo’Kelly’s said about Barbara A. McKinzie is neither “misleading” nor “tortious.” In other words, EVERYTHING Mo’Kelly’s posted here is factual and actual.

But Mo’Kelly digresses…

To the best of Mo’Kelly’s knowledge, there has been no further threatening letters since to Ms. Ray. Just know, this legal team is likely being funded with her previous “salary” from the sorority. Hey, McKinzie has alleged all along she was an “employee” of the organization, so know that AKA’s money is still footing the bill.

Check out the letter HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Let Mo’Kelly topline the information for you:

Checks written to Barbara A. McKinzie during her “unpaid” tenure as Supreme Basileus for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority:

2006

18 Checks

$16,293.00

_________

2007

38 Checks

$241,935

_________

2008

30 Checks

$423,565

_________

2009

25 Checks

$590,523

_________

2010

9 Checks

$55,027

_________

TOTAL:

120 checks

$1,327,343

Note: These totals only reflect checks written directly to McKinzie and do not reflect amounts paid out in personal legal fees or other “expenses” inappropriately paid by the sorority. Meaning, McKinzie pocketed 1.3 million with untold other amounts spent at McKinzie’s behest for “personal” reasons.

In addition, this amount only reflects monies deducted from the General Fund and does not include the Boule Fund accounts and others which BAM’s administration continue to withhold from review by Julia Purnell’s agents.

In terms of “recorded expenses”…BAM was “reimbursed” to the tune of approximately $89,000. (Page 9)

Also detailed is the discrepancy between the money “paid” to McKinzie and the amounts filed with the IRS. BIG discrepancies. As you know, the IRS has already been made aware. (Page 8)

But wait…there’s more and it gets worse…much worse.

Presently there are 59 checks in EXCESS of $10,000 which CAN’T BE ACCOUNTED FOR AT ALL! (Page 8).

(Update 10.23.10 – An inside source has confirmed that 80 checks of varying amounts have now “reappeared” and are being examined accordingly.  In other words, more bad news coming.)

It gets worse and worse and worse. Alpha Kappa Alpha was robbed completely blind, and to what extent may never be fully known.

Click HERE for complete document.

Game…Set and Match.  Mr. Mo’Kelly Wins.

Barbara A. McKinzie…yo’ a$$ is going to jail.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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In The Mo’Kelly Report we’ve had extensive discussions on the role and reality of Black Greek Letter Organizations.  From Zeta Phi Beta, to Alpha Kappa Alpha sororities to even Phi Beta Sigma and  Omega Psi Phi fraternities have all served as entry points into the discussion.

In other words, The Mo’Kelly Report hasn’t played any favorites.

Today is Sigma Gama Rho sorority’s turn. Four members of  the San Jose State University chapter of the sorority have been arrested and the national body is being sued for hazing.

(Mind you, this is NOT the same case as the 6 Rutgers members who were arrested earlier this year.  This is ANOTHER case in which members have been jailed and the body sued.  Hence the GANGSTA nickname.  Sigma Gangsta Rho…you’ve earned the moniker.  Refresher HERE.)

However, Howard contends, that the group’s pledge process was far from sisterly. According to her complaint, she and fellow pledges were punched, slapped, kicked, slammed into walls, struck with a wooden spoon and a cane, and had books and coins thrown at them during a series of 16 nighttime initiation sessions. Howard recalled one evening when a sorority sister told her to close her eyes. She was then struck on the buttocks with what she later learned was a kitchen pot. The pledges were also frequently struck with a wooden paddle, Howard said, blows that left her with welts on her buttocks.

Howard reported that pledges were repeatedly warned not to talk with friends and family about the initiation process, since “snitches get stitches.” They were also told that if they failed to participate in certain pledge activities, they would be “jumped out,” a gang term for a beating conducted by all members of the group.

Howard’s complaint names as defendants San Jose State University, Sigma Gamma Rho, and various sorority members, including a quartet of women who, court records show, pleaded no contest earlier this year to misdemeanor hazing charges. The defendants–Princess Odom; Monique Hughes; Joslyn Beard; and Nicole Remble–were each sentenced to 90 days in jail, directed to serve two years of court probation, and barred from involvement with any sorority.

FULL STORY HERE.

And can Mo’Kelly say it again…”TOLD YOU SO!”  Let’s quote Mo’Kelly…

The argument can be made that as we collectively move further and further away from the principles of brotherhood and sisterhood and closer to big business, these are the inevitabilities.  The deficiencies in our brotherhood and sisterhood quotients have borne themselves out from the top down.

On the undergraduate level you hear more and more how it becomes harder for the lay person to distinguish the fraternities from the gangs, for often times the behavior is just that, indistinguishable. Having nothing to do with our “hand signs,” the stepshow altercations between organizations have increasingly become the rule, not the exception.

Maybe the caliber of membership has decreased relative to the sheer numbers of African-Americans in college, which have also dropped.  Maybe the talent pool is just too shallow or maybe…just maybe, our organizations have become too shallow in and of themselves.

-  Mo’Kelly 7.15.09

Mo’Kelly 7.15.09

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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So the closet and the skeletons in it will be open for former Supreme Basileus Julia Brogdon Purnell on August 26 and for some days following it.  Forensic accountants will have FULL access to the AKA books and records going back to 2006.

That means check registers, tax records, you name it.  Depending on what’s “missing” and the revealed skeletons given what is “found” will decide how long the investigation will continue beyond the beginning of next week.  To read the court order, follow the link HERE.

Another great victory for attorney Ruth Major and the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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