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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2007)
APRIL 20.2007 jUStjOUt,13 1^— FRIDAY KEEP PORTLAND QUI June NIGHT SWIMWEAR 16th The board says checks and balances are in place to keep Pride Northwest not only queer, but in the black. and balances in place to prevent any one member There was also a conflict, as reported by the from acting independently from the board. “Here Bugle, about a car that Ryan requested from the in Portland, I don’t have that kind of responsibili dealership. According to John Saksa, general ty, and there are procedures in place that prevent it manager of Findlay Saab, the Bugle reported that from happening,” he said. Ryan “requested a car to run Pride errands, and it According to Night Beat, a budget distributed at was our pleasure to assist in that manner." Saksa a May 28, 2003, Pride meeting revealed that said Ryan was provided with a Subaru Outback. $11,468 in expenses—centered around parties, However, Ryan never reported to the board that shuttle buses and street cleanup—were unbudgeted. Saab had provided him a vehicle. As entertainment and marketing chairman, Finally, regardless of whether Ryan’s actions Ryan also exceeded the budget by $12,842 in DJ were proper, Schafer criticized that they looked fees, hotel accommodations and other talent improper at least once—when Ryan signed a $700 expenses, according to that report. Though the check to Sasha’s, the nightclub he managed, for board had only approved $12,500 for talent, Night Pride-related expenses. Beat reported that Ryan spent $17,581. As published in the Night Beat article, in the days leading up to Pride, Ryan wrote checks Ryan made in his president’s report: “None of us treasurer—did not contain two signatures, as was have spent [our] time to 1) hurt LVAPl or the required on all checks except those written by the organization, 2) hurt the festival or its’ [sic] repu In his treasurer’s report, Dalebout tation, or 3) performed any act that was either announced that of those checks, $16,584 exceeded intentionally or negligently meant to harm this the money in the organization’s account. organization’s purpose. And, anyone who says that activity by insisting he had agreements with the "Portland needs to take what Josh Ryan, aka Sasha Scarlett, did to Las Vegas Pride very seriously." —Kelly McFarlane-Smith 503.227.1212 ^ Testing for Gay, Bisexual, and Trans Guys Free Thursdays 5 6:30 I’M (drop in) Rapid HIV Testing (same da' results) Oral Testing (two week results) Hepatitis A/B ' a< (inations differently is wrong.” J701 E Fourth Phtn • Vancouver. WA • M0-J97 8098 for tnfo With the help of James Healea, Ryan’s succes sor as Las Vegas Pride president, the organization I can make your home buying or refinancing process drafted a plan to pay back or negotiate down debt, increase sponsorship arid raise money to make up very easy. Please call me to inquire about programs available to you. for the deficit. The following years, according to Keys, brought more modest, regional entertain ment and tighter reins on expenditures. “Ultimately we came out financially more stable than we were in the past," Keys told Just ()ut. “We CHERYL BELL brought in a board that was knowledgeable with busi First Pacific Mortgage ness practices and started running the nonprofit (503) 670-9515 organization more from a business-type perspective.” recipients of the checks that they wouldn’t deposit the money until after the weekend event was over. Healea turned the 2003 books over to the Las enough evidence found to file charges against Dalebout accused Ryan of signing at least one Ryan. Ryan denies violating arty byhws or making contract “without knowledge and consent of the decisions without the consent of the board. $4,090 in advertising spots. SR. MORTGAGE BROKER phone cherylb@istpac.com • vyww.istpac.com Vegas district attorney’s office, and there was not In the Night Beat article, Schafer wrote that board.” The contract was with KLUC radio for CAB • RADIO hands, without a whisper of doubt about integrity.” The Bugle printed the following statement Bugle, “Pride, at What Cost?,” Ryan responded to » going to be successful,” Schafer wrote. “It needs clean although for legitimate expenses, according to the In a May 23, 2003, article that appeared in the Your #1 choice 24/7/365 "A nonprofit organization needs credibility if it is totaling approximately $22,000. Those checks— treasurer. under [■ 4men V “That was thoroughly investigated, and those H FIRST PACIFIC tí) ra MORTGAGE --------- ------------- T charges were found to be baseless,” Ryan said. In the editorial, Schafer accused Ryan of sever Within three months, Ryan left Vegas and head al other counts of poor business practices, includ ed for Reno. He says because of his past, not despite ing shorting Night Beat approximately $1,000 for it, he deserves to contribute to Portland Pride. A ads placed with the publication, and granting “A great tragedy comes when mistakes do happen contracts to straight-owned businesses without or things do not turn out the way that people want, offering them to gay businesses first. that there’s too much emphasis on not letting people I Night Beat accused Ryan of nxikie errors such as have a second chance,” said Ryan. “Good people I overestimating the projected income by $41,000. make mistakes sometimes, and I don’t think we I This income, it reported, is received through spon should be kept from contributing in the future. One I sorship, admission ticket sales, vendor hxith sales, of the things I offer this board is having lived through I beverage sales and parade entries. that and learning from the mistakes." mj petrom. west duncan I The newspaper also accused Ryan of misleading McFarlane-Smith, who co-authored the Bugle’s I an event sponsor, Findlay Saab. An unsigned 2003 article about the incidents following Pride, I contract, which Night Beat reports was distributed offered this warning: “Portland needs to take what I at a May 20 board meeting, referenced benefits to Josh Ryan, aka Sasha Scarlett, did to Las Vegas I the auto dealer including “access to over 10,000 Pride very seriously. In the end, our Pride started I attendees for distribution of literature." The 2003 the 2004 event with a $40,000 debt. It was not easy I attendance, which was touted as the highest in trying to regain the confidence of our community I Pride history, only hit 6,013. when supporting Pride." © I cäuseit causeit.org 1503.493.73321 business development services for minorities
