Tullahoma Center Never Registered With State
by Russel Mobley
June 14, 2010
The Tullahoma Fine Arts Center never registered with the Tennessee Department of State's Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming.
MiddleTennesseeArts.com had been led to believe that the Center had merely failed to renew its registration.
TFAC Executive Director Lucy Hollis said that it was "something that slipped up on me."
However, a check with the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming on Monday, June 14, revealed that Hollis had never bothered to register the center with the division as a charitable organization. Yet TFAC has continued to solicit money over the years for various events, such as prize money for the recent Tullahoma Fine Arts and Crafts Festival and the Duck River Regatta, during which children raced toy ducks. Both events were held in May.
According to a story published in The Sunday News on June 6, winners of the Regatta received a $100 educational savings account from The Tri-County Community Bank of Tullahoma, a $50 educational savings account from Traders Bank of Tullahoma and a $50 educational savings account from American City Bank in Tullahoma.
The Department of State is investigating the matter.
According to the State's website "civil penalties up to $5,000 may be imposed for each and any violation" of the solicitation regulation.
A call to Robert T. Carter, a lawyer representing Hollis and TFAC, seeking comment on this story was not returned.
TFAC Executive Seeks Legal Help To Block Access To Public Documents
A failed request to view public documents at the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center, caused TFAC Director Lucy Hollis to accuse MiddleTennesseeArts.com editor Russel Mobley of engaging "in a series of actions which falls under the definition of stalking and harassment."
A letter from Tullahoma attorney Robert T. Carter gives notice that Russel Mobley is " not to enter the premises of the Fine Arts Center or to contact Ms. Hollis or any of the employees. If you comply with this no further action will be undertaken. If you do not, or cannot, we will be forced to obtain warrants against you for trespass, stalking and harassment."
On May 18, MTA requested to view the Center's 990 Form, a tax document for non-profits. Hollis refused to provide the document and inform MTA how the form could be accessed online. Each 990 form has "Open to Public Inspection," on it. Since that time, MTA has obtained the Center's recent 990 Forms. MTA has also requested access to the Center's application for tax exemptions and related documents. TFAC has so far failed to respond. A call to the Center's attorney on Monday (June 14) was not returned.
Tullahoma Fine Arts Center Attorney's Letter PDF
TFAC Executive Director Mum About New Board Members
The exact number of members presently serving on the TFAC Board of Directors and their names are a mystery. Hollis refuses to name the members, discuss the number serving, terms, or anything else about the board's makeup. She would only say that she is president and that Felicia Parks had been added to the board. She did not provide access to the center's bylaws, which dictates the structure, selection process and terms of the board.
Hollis also refused to allow the center's most recent 990 tax form to be viewed.
All non-profits file the form each year with the Internal Revenue Service as one of the requirements to retain tax exemption. The forms state on the first page that the document is “Open to public inspection.”
MiddleTennesseeArts.com obtained a copy of the center's 2008 990 form from www. foundationcenter.org.
The form, which covers the center's fiscal year, July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, has five board members listed. They are Hollis, president; Sidney Condra, vice president; Brenda Arnold, treasurer; Ann Ford, secretary, and Maude Womble, board member.
Condra died earlier this year. Ford resigned her board position on July 1, 2009. Hollis said that Parks would not replace Condra as vice-president. She would not reveal who is or will be serving in that capacity, because telling the “public at this time, would offend people.”
Hollis said she would provide a press release when she felt “it is no longer disrespectful” of Condra's memory.
TFAC did not hold its annual membership dinner/meeting in 2009. The next membership meeting is scheduled for November 2010, according to Hollis.
