FINANCIAL SHORTFALL THREATENS CSCVC LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

A major part of the California State Commanders Veterans Council (CSCVC) mission is to promote an annual agenda and over the years it has been employing the Sacramento lobbying organization Pete Conaty & Associates as its advocate.

And for a number of years a wealthy benefactor has been donating most of the funds needed to meet Conaty’s $6,000 annual retainer requirement. That individual has now passed on and the payments are no longer being made. For a significant period of time the dues and donation totals have not met current needs.

The outcome of this issue will have a significant impact on CAL-MOAA’s legislative efforts in California.

Pete Conaty is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel with a sterling reputation in the state’s capital and has been working right along pro bono as his own contribution to the mission. However, he needs and must be provided additional monies to provide personnel and material resources required to get the job done. It is unfair to ask Conaty to carry almost the entire load himself.

The last CSCVC payment to Conaty was in October 2007 when $2,000 was provided with a promise to pay more later.

CAL-MOAA has been paying its dues faithfully and in addition has been giving more than its fair share to support the legislative agenda, usually around $1,000 to $1,500.

Apparently many of the Council’s affiliated organizations cannot or will not pay a fair share for the support of the lobbyist, threatening the entire legislative program. Many feel that if Conaty & Associates stops representing the Council the program will collapse and probably the organization with it. The California military coalition is considered much too valuable to let something like that happen.

In advance of the meeting the CAL-MOAA EXCOM asked that a very strong message be sent to the organizations demanding that each make an appropriate contribution to the Conaty retainer. On that basis, COL Warren Enos, right at the outset of the meeting, stated the CAL-MOAA position and told the members that the Council would immediately pay its $100 2008 dues and provide a check for $1,000 to help meet the legislative financial need. And all organizations were expected to take the same action, essentially “fish or cut bait.”

Immediately the treasurer, Charles A. Waters, offered this statement: “It is January and once again I must ask you to please submit your $100 per year dues. We have now twenty-five listed member organizations (19 are shown on the website) and that equals $2,500 in annual dues. Our main concern is that we also have Pete Conaty as our representative on veterans’ affairs in our state capital that we owe $6,000 to per year. Because of the lack of funds we now owe him $2,800. The other incidentals usually paid to the secretary as well as the once a year award trophy do not cost us over $200-300 per year. When you pay your dues, try to send an additional $100 or $200 or more so we can pay Mr. Conaty.”

He continued, stating “We could raise our dues $250 per year and that would bring $6,250 per year. That would cover Mr. Conaty–it’s your call. I have tried to get donations but everyone has a tight budget. We have $478.49 in our account after our last two thousand dollar payment to Mr. Conaty. Let’s discuss this issue and resolve it now.”

It should be noted that Mr. Waters serves in the treasurer role, sometimes at considerable personal expense for materials and other requirements, with no reimbursement whatsoever.

Well there was some discussion but no resolution of the issue. There was no specific action taken. No commitments were made by anyone. The treasurer’s appeal fell on deaf ears.

Later when the New Business item came up on the agenda, COL Enos told the group that an item should be placed on the next meeting’s agenda, namely that a discussion take place about raising the dues to $300. That was accepted and there will be a discussion at the group’s next meeting on April 12, 2008 in Fresno; the item will appear on the agenda.

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