Denver Comic Con Troubles
i_am_scifi
Posts: 784
It appears that the board of directors of Denver Comic Con is trying to force Charlie LaGreca, aka "Charlito," out. In doing so, they are leaving behind the convention's original message to try and grow the next generation of comic readers and creators via Comic Book Classroom classes and events. You can read Charlito's full account of the developments here. Here's an excerpt as well:
The Denver Comic Con achieved success in its inaugural year, 2012. In DCC’s second year, we brought in over 61,000 attendees and became the fifth largest comic convention in the U.S. It was a great accomplishment and, as founders, Frank and I knew that we could not have done it without the generosity, support, and hard work of the artists, publishers, vendors, fans, and community.This kind of stuff makes me incredibly sad.
However, the last eight months have been fraught with difficulty and tumult, and I am left questioning the ethics and values of the people that Frank and I brought on to the CBC Board of Directors. We were somewhat inexperienced and should have better selected a Board who was perhaps dedicated to the Comic Book Classroom mission and making sure that the focus and funds raised from the DCC convention indeed went to teaching kids.
That has not happened: Since the 2013 convention, it seems the teaching and literacy programs have been nonexistent; Frank Romero has resigned and I have been removed from control of the Board; there are allegedly up to $300,000 in revenues from the 2013 DCC alone, that remain unaccounted for, and some of which appear to be funneled towards high profile legal posturing.
Comments
I hope the extra attention and digging around by the community that has supported this con helps sorts things out, because this sounds terrible.
I hope this all works out in Charlie and Frank's favor.
Just a quick aside. On my last visit to a local elementary school, a teacher asked me where my interest in the arts began and I told him and his students about comics. The teacher then asked his students, how many of them read comics. Three quarters of the class raised their hands.
CBC could be a great tool for literacy. I pray this mess is straightened out and that DCC gets back on track.
The accountant in me is coming out: that graphic is bull crap. It is showing estimated revenues with zero expenses (you know like paying for guests, travel, renting a giant convention center, permits. etc.) and implying that all of the revenues generated just disappeared into greedy pockets. Pure 100% crap.
"Figures do not include additional earnings in VIP tickets, exhibitor booths, artist alley tables, autographs and photographs sold. . . [SNIP] . . . To be fair, this figure also does not include costs associated with producing a comic con."
(emphasis mine)
So I don't think they are suggesting that ALL of the revenues were squandered. I think they are saying they don't have the total picture of the revenues or costs. They are stating that there are also costs to be considered. But they are looking for transparency into what the numbers are. Of course the questions being raised are not the same as proof of wrongdoing, and it is fair to be skeptical. And I am sure they would love to get that data- revenues and costs- in front of accountants. But I think the questions they are raising are clearly questions. To ask 'where did the money go?' is not the same as saying 'we know exactly THIS much money got squandered. You know what I mean? What they are asking for is for an investigation to be made. So that the real numbers can be put in front of the people with the ability to analyze them.
"The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes forward and questions him."
No sense in making any judgments until that happens. Sad situation, whatever it is.
Actually, in this instance, it was the board sending out a letter to con participants and counter-parties first.
This petition and effort *is* the other coming and questioning.
So that facts can be examined and informed judgments made. And, of course, the best time for people- like those who would do business or attend the con- to judge is when they are as informed as possible. Hopefully the pressure on the board to account will result in informed decisions.
http://comicsbeat.com/con-wars-denver-comic-con-co-founder-la-greca-pens-open-letter-following-removal/
They offered no reasons and made it seem as if Charlie left of his own free will.
This recent turn of events isn't a new situation. It's in answer to events that are only now coming to light to the public. It's not the first shot across the bow. It's a response and an appeal to the public since the Board decided to ignore the situation since last year.
I was at the first show. I saw the growing pains from all sides and personnel. I even had to give my own advice in a situation.
Charlie and his supporters are doing what they need to in hopes of finally getting answers.
And it does look like the Board is going to respond again, according to the article.
It may have been in the fine print, but it was there. So, yes, I added emphasis. To something that was there.
Unfortunately (and I am trying not to be too cynical) most folks going to the con may not really care about the purpose of THIS con. We go to cons to go to cons and anything else that comes out of it is a bonus. So I hope the con-goers will ask questions about this.
I hope this works out for Charlito for what the purpose of the con was .
Comic Book Classroom (CBC) and its major funding program, Denver Comic Con and Literary Conference (DCC) remains true to its not-for-profit mission of children’s literacy.
Prior to the 2013 con, Charlie LaGreca, one of the six co-founders of CBC and DCC, (the other founders are Christina Angel, Illya Kowalchuk, Bruce MacIntosh, Frank Romero and Michael Newman) took a paid contract position with the organization.
As was discussed at length with Charlie, the bylaws of the non-profit necessitated that in order to draw a salary he would need to step down from the board—as he agreed. Another founder, Frank Romero, stepped down from the board for personal reasons in January 2014. The rest of the founders continue to work tirelessly towards the mission of children’s literacy—sometimes up to 80 (unpaid) hours per week in these months leading up to the con.
Charlie was paid $10,000, and was the only founding member who was paid. After the 2013 con, Charlie’s contract was not renewed. In the months following the convention, CBC and Charlie went to a number of mediation meetings. And therefore his nonparticipation has never been in question. We deeply regret that the matter has jumped from mediation to the court of public opinion.
Allegations of misuse of funds are wholly untrue. As an applicant for 501(c)3 status, CBC’s financial statements are a matter of public record; the 2012 990 form is on file with the IRS, and when the fiscal year 2013 records are completed they will be filed and will also be publicly available as a matter of course.
The organizational structure that is being built around one of the nation’s largest conventions is a result of its success and popularity. We’re expecting 75,000 attendees this year; we’re planning more than 300 hours of educational programming and have dozens of comic creators and celebrity guests. Since the 2013 con, CBC has invested in the development of more mature processes and policies and staff to ensure there’s a CBC that lives beyond any of its founders.
Every hour and every dollar spend by CBC goes towards securing the non-profit mission. There have been a number of developments on the classroom front since the 2013 convention:
• There is currently a CBC class in session at Sanchez Elementary in Lafayette, Colo.
• CBC is working with the City and County of Denver to integrate the curriculum to the Youth One Book One Denver Project, a program that involves approximately 2,500 kids.
• CBC is working with Platte Forum to teach high school students that are at-risk but showing promise the curriculum. They in turn will teach it to younger kids.
• CBC recently wrote a grant with The Conflict Center to execute programming at Sims-Fayola International Academy in the aim of authoring comic books to develop emotional intelligence and critical decision making as those relate to being an adolescent male.
• Additionally, CBC staff are currently planning dozens of hours and specific programs designed around children’s literacy at its largest annual program, Denver Comic Con.
As the curriculum and materials are rebranded to adhere to legal and education standards, classroom activities will see an uptick in the summer of 2014.
Additionally, it’s because of its fiscal responsibility that CBC is positioned for growth in 2014 and beyond. The future plans for the organization include multiple curricular sets being widely available to educators, a YouTube instructional channel, a scholarly conference to be held concurrent to DCC and eventually, its own physical classroom space.
CBC encourages anyone who believes its mission isn’t being tended to carefully enough to volunteer. As a non-profit, we’re only as good as the people who stand with us to provide children’s programming at the convention—including activities in the Kids’ Corral—and the teachers, educators and administrators that apply their many talents to the CBC curriculum.
Thank you for your continued support.
Prior to the 2013 con, Charlie LaGreca, one of the six co-founders of CBC and DCC, (the other founders are Christina Angel, Illya Kowalchuk, Bruce MacIntosh, Frank Romero and Michael Newman)
There were only two co-founders. Charlie and Frank. All the rest were hired. This smacks of other people trying really hard to get credit so they can share in the profits. Read news articles for the inaugural show: Charlie and Frank are always quoted as co-founders. No one else. Sounds like the Board got tired of not getting credit.
I also don't buy that just because someone gets paid, they have to step down. I know tons of theatre non-profits with multiple employees - some with very very high salaries. Again - sounds like someone(s) were getting jealous.
And that long list of future classes? That's nice - but doesn't answer the questions. Why isn't any of that info on the website? Sounds like they just drummed up some info for this letter.
Hogwash all around.
In other words, they are full of it.
It seems as though Charlito is not what people are talking about (except maybe here). It sucks that things went down the way that they did. It casts a big shadow on the business practices of the Board for DCC and CBC. I've been in a position when an organization doesn't renew your contract and is then mum about why. I don't know Charlito, but others here do and they are going to defend him (as they should). It appears as though most people responding on DCC's page are thinking that Charlito is just a disgruntled former employee. They don't understand that none of this would be here if it weren't for Frank and Charlito--and they don't seem to care either.
I think what most people are upset about is the fact that DCC exists (or is supposed to) as the major fundraising vehicle for Comic Book Classroom (CBC). They're upset at Charlito's claim that no funds from DCC '13 was used in the classroom. Here we are, 3/4 of a year has passed since DCC '13 and, according to DCC's response, only one (1!!!) class has been created. Sure, lots of things are in the works, but the reality is that only ONE class in almost an entire year has been created.
Maybe this is what happens in non-profit organizations with volunteers for staff like this--I don't know how, because CBC has been happening for a couple of years now--it takes time to create curricula, find schools/programs willing to participate and then program implementation. What needs to happen now is complete clarity (which, technically, is the law for non-profits anyway). I don't think this is going to stop most people from attending this year's con--heck, I still want to go to see the talent and to support the comic creators--but it will raise awareness and remind people why this con is supposed to be happening in the first place. It's just a bummer it had to get like this.
the 2013-14 academic year was the first year in which Colorado adopted Common Core standards for Math and English. Without knowing what the previous standards were in the state, this could be a significant game changer for how CBC is structured and there is a time factor as well as costs associated with developing curricula that aligns with the the Standard.
There is good news out of that though. Any development that is completed should be able to be utilized in any other state/territory which has adopted Common Core (all but Alaska, Minnesota, Nebraska, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the Northern Marianna Islands
So basically, at the point where DCC/ CBC started (2010, I think?) they could have started using common core standards in their planning if they wanted to. In fact, it could be argued that they were in the ideal position of creating curriculum with the core standards in hand, as opposed to being an older organization having to change lessons they had been using for years. (And, of course, when you are a teaching artist doing workshops you always have it easier than the full-time, capital-T Classroom Teachers that need to bring a whole school year up to core- when you are the guest doing a supplemental series of workshops, as I do, and ad I get the sense the CBC does, there is a lot less assessment/standards burden on your work).
So this year is implementation, and that is worth remembering, but it is not like the core was a curveball out of the blue.
The CBC does indicate that its curriculum was developed by teachers and that it is standards based. Perhaps, they focused on the state standards and didn't anticipate Colorado adopting Common Core when they did?
3rd Grade Common Core Math Problem
The answer is {c}, of course.
They also sent this, but it baffled me. I never knew you rounded down EVERYTIME now and came to reasonable answers in math:
All kidding aside, I'll refrain from taking this issue lightly. More responses are sure to unveil more of what's really been going on, and it looks pretty bad from here.