PETER PENDER HAD HIS POCKETS PICKED … while not in search of pickled peppers!

This has been an ongoing issue with the Educational Foundation and the ACBL, the two bodies responsible for the protection of two separate endowments from Peter Pender around 1990 when he died of aids.  The following facts should allow you to track the use (wrongful in many ways) of a total of $77,500 (a total of two separate donations to be used to honor his name and perpetuate his memory which was his primary intention).

Donation #1.   Peter donated $27,500 for the purpose of establishing the Peter Pender Junior Trials Trophy.  The event was to be held every two years and at the conclusion of the event, eight trophies (six for the players and one each for the coach and captain) were to be produced, engraved and presented to the recipients.   I learned six months ago (though the money was handed over in 1990) that only one — or at best two — were followed through, ending in 1994.  THAT IS CALLED SLOTH, MISMANAGEMENT and NOT MINDING THE STORE.  FEEL FREE TO CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT   How dare the money managers not honor their responsibilities to these upcoming, avid juniors and Peter’s desires???   Explain that!

I immediately contacted Jay Baum, CEO, who took care of them up until five years ago — but I have no idea if the responsibility to these youngsters has been made current.   I have not heard the term PETER PENDER JUNIOR TRIALS TROPHY in years — except on my blog sites.  HAVE YOU?????   Also, with all that unused money, should most of it not been compounded from 1994 to 2010 where it sat in an account adjudged, I am guessing, about $28,000.   Where was all the accrued interest?

Donation #2. The above was only a smidgeon of the problem.   The disrespected generosity of Peter’s second donation — $50,000 — was much more disgusting and the ACBL/EF (who keep passing the buck) I feel are jointly responsible.

Allow me to give you the background;  My late husband Norman Kay and I were close friends of Peter back in Philadelphia until he moved to California and eventually opened a resort, of which he was very proud.   Bobby was not only a friend and teammate of Peter but had intimate discussions about his impending death and Peter was very up front that he wanted to be remembered by the bridge world.   I might add that he was not only a brilliant player but a wonderfully ethical competitor and popular figure in the bridge world.  The ACBL/EF were bound to honor the wishes of this unique gentleman.

One of the possibilities came to fruition in 1992 (two years after his death — and why they waited so long I haven’t any clue) with the hiring of Fred Gitelman (later to become BBO Genius) to develop a vugraph program for the showing of the major team event on a huge screen which was changed from the Vugraph to THE PENDERGRAPH.  The vugraph had been in existence, it seems forever, as I remember watching Norman’s team on it in Bal Harbour in the mid sixties.   However, the Pendergraph (thanks to Fred and Co.) became a very refined program and Peter finally got his way — having his name perpetuated — until about the year 2000 (could be 2001).   No one can seem to pinpoint it.

Soon as I caught wind of this, I was referred to Dr. Gene Kales,  Secretary of the EF (now replaced by Linda Mamula).  He was very helpful but all he could do was provide me with minutes of the EF (which apparently was the recipient — transferred by the ACBL to avoid tax consequences).   However, someone should have immediately been appointed to monitor the expenditure of the money., i.e., minding the shop, and seen to it that the vugraph was recognized as THE PENDERGRAPH as Peter had intended (as a lasting memory).

However, at the turn of the century we surmise, The Pendergraph was cast aside and what was recognized as The Pendergraph became known as BBO (Bridge Base on Line) — the most phenomenal bridge invention ever as it allows people all over the world to watch major matches at their computers and to play and practice on line.   THAT IS IMMATERIAL.   When the change took over, all monies from Peter’s donation should have stopped SIMULTANEOUSLY and the ACBL HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO FULFILL PETER’S WISHES IN SOME OTHER GRAND MANNER.   WHEN THE PENDERGRAPH CEASED,  THE MONEY FLOW SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AS WELL.

However, I almost blew a gasket when I saw EF expenditures from 10/07/04 to 10/27/05 (five years after the disappearance of the Pendergraph) in the amount of $11,410.70.   Had Peter signed up to play their sugar daddy?   Don’t think so.  That money should be returned to the pot (plus accrued interest until the present day) and add it to the estimated $10,716.58 we are told shows on the books as of 12/31/09.

Since Jay took care of the Junior issue, he could not help about the EF and dropped from the scene.

My next step was to contact Peter Rank (not only a VERY CLOSE friend and partner of Peter Pender) but presently attorney for the ACBL.   We had also talked on the phone and he explained to me that the ACBL and EF are totally separate entities, neither responsible for the actions of the others.  SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE.  SOMEONE MUST ASSUME THE BLAME FOR MISPENDING MONEY THEY WERE NOT ENTITLED TO (AFTER THE PENDERGRAPH FOLDED).

Take a gander at these figures and dates:

One of my latest correspondences to Peter Rank (whom I think will eventually be handling this entire matter as ACBL attorney) was when I asked the question:   CAN YOU TELL ME WHO MAKES THE  DECISION AND APPROVES THE EXPENDITURES?”   I think it is high time this gets straightened out!   I received the following response:

“Judy

I think that the main issue is that records (and memory) of things so far past are not very good.  In addition, government agencies (like IRS and state bar associations) only require records to go back (usually) seven years.   It is clear that the Foundation had and has the responsibility over the donated funds, but my guess is that they relied on the ACBL to designate their use.

Peter”

When I asked who was responsible for the decision to outlay the money, I got Peter’s reply:

” ….  As you, I have spent many hours researching the matter and have determined that there is nothing that can be done by the League or is legally required to be done by the League.   I have provided my

attorney-client report to the proper entity within the League.”

Enough of this B.S. — Let’s find out who was authorizing these expenditures and return the money to its rightful owner — the PETER PENDER ESTATE.   Either it should go back to Peter’s residuary estate or IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISH SOME MAJOR EVENT NAMED AFTER PETER, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR, and add the misspent monies to the total which now are shown in the account. IT IS TIME FOR THIS SHAMEFUL SHAM TO STOP.   LET’S FIND THE CULPRIT/S AND REPLACE THE MONEY TO THE RIGHTFUL ACCOUNT — THE DONATED FUNDS OF PETER PENDER TO PERPETUATE HIS NAME, ALBEIT A BIT LATE!

The mishandling of Peter’s endowments is a disgrace!  No wonder no one wants to talk about it!