Let’s Fix the Governance Issues at Quba Center
Quba Center is a great asset to the community and has achieved great accomplishments over the last few years. However, it can be even more successful if we fix the Board’s Governance issues!
Allah (SWT) says: “And there should be a group amongst you who invite towards good, order for acknowledged virtues, forbid from sin and these it is that are the successful ones” (Ale Imran: 104)
What are the Issues?
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Conflict of Interest In Board
Major conflict of interest exists with Board/Employee; One person is Vice Chairman of Board and holds 3 other Employee Positions at the same time (Imam, Quran Program Director, Executive Director)
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Biased Non-Diverse Board Members with No Term Limits
Many original founders have left the board; 4 Board Members have resigned in last 5 years; Two co-founders remain who have appointed “friendlies” as replacements
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By-laws are Not Followed
Important terms in bylaws ignored such as:
3 years term
Minimum number of board members must be 5
Recurring board meetings with quorum and documentation of minutes and decisions
Having a secretary and treasurer throughout
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Community Input / Transparency
Since Quba Center does not have members, the ‘Board’ feels they can make decisions as they wish. Multiple remediation / feedback meetings requested by community members have been rejected or deflected by discussing irrelevant topics.
Community Proposed Actions:
Remove Conflict of Interest
Make Quba Stronger by hiring another employee for Imam, Quran Program Director, or Executive Director (no budget is not an answer; financials and proposed services should be reviewed by independent party to determine budget/prioritization; community’s help should be solicited for salary, if deficit.)
2. Make Board Functional & Diverse with Term Limits
Make Board composition from diverse ethnic backgrounds (many names have been suggested). Recurring more frequent board meetings with quorum and documented minutes / decisions. Abide by bylaws terms of 3 years by selection/nomination/election.
3. Financial Audit of 2023
Due to absence of Treasurer from mid-2022 to end of 2023, no Board approved budget for 2023, conduct an independent audit for 2023 transactions.
4. Dissolve ‘Quba Tours’ Entity
New revenue stream business and legal entity was created without Board approval. This should be dissolved until proper board decision is obtained looking at new business model and risks.
What have we done so far to remediate?
Documents:
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Jan 2023 to Oct 2023
Multiple efforts to raise within board by then existing board members; delay tactics, bait & switch tactics, blackmail and extortion was used against board members raising issues.
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Dec 2023 to Jan 2024: Board members raising issues resigned in protest and to rest the blackmail and extortion tactics
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Nov 2023:
Team of 10+, formed with the help of then existing board members raising issues.
Nominated 3 representatives who met with Chairman/V. Chairman of Board.
Agreed on terms (1. resignation of board member, 2. Hiring of Imam, 3. Making board members to seven and adding diversity to board.
While board member in question submitted resignation, other two terms were ignored and blatantly rejected citing insincere reasonings.
3 Nominated Representatives quit due to lack of willingness by Chairman / V. Chairman to fix issues
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Dec 2023:
Few more key community members added to Remediation team making numbers approx 20.
One new Remediation team representative designated
Representative shared issue in Updated Community Letter (attached) and requested meeting with board members / Ex-boar memrers aising issues and remediation team
Chairman refused to meet with board members / Ex-board members raising issues; forced group to meet with their own agenda of 2023 accomplishments; changed meeting location few hours before the scheduled meeting in order to limit attendance and exposure
Meeting resulted in Chairman / V. Chairman defending issues citing short sighted reasoning of 2023 accomplishments and personal attacks to discredit board members / ex-board members raising issues
Remediation Team representative requested again to meet with board members / ex-board members raising issues but was ignored and rejected.
Remediation Team representative resigned citing insincerity by Chairman / V. Chairman to fix the issues.
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Jan 2024 Onwards
Matter is open for community actio
Many members from the Remediatio Team are directly and passively asking for change and fix of the governance issues
What can Community do to Help?
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If you agree with above issues and you wish to see change, sign the petition, even if you wish to be anonymous.
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Ask about above raised issues and recommended actions. Do not let personal attacks and character assassinations become a distraction from the real issues
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Being a community member who donates $ / time, pays for programs / services, attend programs / services gives you the RIGHT to demand a well governed organization and your donations being spent in a transparent way with documented decisions from the Board