At the AGM held - virtually - on 30th December 2020 the Directors made unsubstantiated allegations of a plot by many anonymous persons to harm SHRMF.
This unparticularised plot is given as their justification for instigating legal proceedings.
The following is a verbatim transcript of parts of the meeting:
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – given by Bill McGawley OBE
Regrettably during the year a small cohort of agitators, allegedly on a bad faith mission to cause harm to the charity, emerged.
This has materialized as systematic and sustained harassment not only of the board as a whole, but also against individual trustees. That involves unwarranted filing of numerous allegations of poor process, dishonesty, lack of privacy and fraud.
Much of the attack involves nitpicking burdensome claims that are admin rich, that appears to be an attempt to bury the charity with legal language and admin overload.
Collectively, we've received well over 200 nasty emails and letters to date, ignoring intimidating threats of legal and regulatory consequences. This is even continued over the Christmas holiday period too.
Good faith volunteer trustees have been reported to their professional institutions and various regulators for malpractice or worse, and recently a private prosecution of the whole board of trustees was initiated.
In the board's view, this whole process is an OTT attempt to cause damage to the charity.
We're now clear about the means the method and the opportunity being embraced by this unrepresentative group we’ve also a pretty good idea as to their motive and who they are.
It should be no surprise therefore that as a consequence of this unnecessary apparent persecution, the board having taken advice, have regrettably been forced to take legal action.
The substantial cost of this necessity although mitigated by several unsolicited donations from concerned other members who wish to remain anonymous, will have a consequential impact on next year's fiducial (sic) outcome.
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FINANCIAL REPORT – given by John Beecroft
Regarding expenditure, the most significant and unplanned cost has been legal fees.
These have been incurred in relation to an ongoing action between the foundation and a member.
We received anonymous restricted donations in the financial year of 2020 of 20,000 pounds and this is towards the legal costs that have been incurred as at the end of June of 65,500 pounds.
Further costs have continued to be incurred in this respect since the year-end. I’m pleased to say the foundation has received further restricted donations, covering a substantial part of this additional cost.
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