May 2, 2007
A letter was mailed to MECDA members from a "Concerned Committee." This is our response which will be sent to All Mecda Members who have given us their email addresses.

MECDA was formed as an organization to improve wages and conditions for Bellydancers. We have accomplished that - and we have moved on to become a needed communications organization to provide unity and service to all dance communities throughout the United States.

As to our finances: We have a direct connection between receipts and 1099's to all payments, which are made by check; we have no credit cards. There is no money missing from MECDA.

We did pay a penalty to the IRS for one year when Treasurers were changing offices, and our statement was late. This was years ago, and it was not a big issue: Once in 30 years is a great record.

We have about 20 individuals working in the Central Board and the Cairo Carnivale. For them to receive an average of $1,300 a year means about $100 a month. This may not even account for the gas money they spend to do their job.

Officer qualifications change according to what computer skills are available for them to do their jobs in the best and easiest manner.

If an individual on the Board does not perform competently, they are replaced.

We had a request to sub out our 'treasurer' position to an accountant. He would only enter our materials into "Quicken," no judgement of the appropriateness of the invoice, no response to members, no attendance at meetings. Data entry is only a small part of what the MECDA Treasurer does. He was not useful to us.

Obviously, all MECDA members are valued and treated equally. Each MECDA member pays a maximum of $50 to join - they receive $74.00 worth of publications (Chronicles, Happenings, Directory) in return, as well as discounts on events and products. We make up for the difference between this amount and your membership fee from revenue generated by the Cairo Carnivale.

The individuals who sent you that letter didn't even trust you to vote the way they want even after reading their distortions and lies.They expect you to send them your blank ballot with the required envelope to them - so they can vote instead of you!

The current MECDA Board has worked very hard to accomplish communications, events, and services for members across the country.

FYI:

MECDA'S CODE OF CONDUCT includes the following: "Personal information obtained in private will be respected as such. Members will not repeat gossip that could be detrimental to the welfare and happiness of others."

AND

Article IX of the MECDA Bylaws states: "Names, addresses, phone numbers and other pertinent information of and about MECDA members will be kept in confidence by the officers so entrusted for the sole reason of conducting MECDA affairs, and will not be released without permission of the specific member(s) involved."

It is unknown at this time who provided the confidential names and addresses of MECDA's membership, but this situation is currently under investigation. If the person(s) involved in releasing the confidential information are discovered, pertinent action will be taken.

Please contact all members in your chapters and all of your MECDA friends and encourage them to send in their OWN ballots!

Thank You,

The Current MECDA Board.