Miracle of Miracles!

[Tricia]

All--

OMG! I came home from some errands today and to what to my wondering eyes did appear? The LBHA Newsletter! And get this ... it was the November issue! I guess some loud bitching put me at the top of the mailing list, so someone in the GOBBODs reads these boards daily.

And it seems the Head Honcho Chairman of GOBBODIA is stuck filling his "Chairman's Message" with answers to the questions we pose on this forum. This time, whilst denying he's the day trader he is, he proudly announces the following:

Another one of my responsibilities is managing the LBHA investment portfolio which does not require daily maitenance, even though I [note the use of the singular] do take a look every trading day for performance results on individual portfolios that I manage. For those of you who have an interest, our avaliable funds are confined to mutual funds, money market funds, and certificates of deposit as prescribed in the LBHA investment policy. The bulk of our cash is invested in five individual mutual funds, one of which is earning 32.67 per cent at the time of this writing ...

In last month's Newsletter, an open invitation was extended to those interested parties desiring a copy of the LBHA financial statements. To date, no requests have been made; therefore, I am extending the offer by making it easier for those with an inquiring mind. You can email Joan Croy at [e-mail] ...

Three things immediately come up. First are the outrageous returns we are receiving on our investments; 32 percent in a very dangerous and downturned market shows someone is clearly and aggressively happy "playing" with our monies--money that many of us have worked hard to accumulate. If this isn't exactly day trading, then it is obviously invested in very unstable stocks ... one day earnings, the next day, disaster. Once again, Chairman Blake refuses to offer account numbers or locations of said investments. If he's not lying, he is obviously shading the truth.

And since when does the Chairman duties include managing the portfolios to begin with? Isn't that the Treasurer's job? What the heck is going on in that man's mind? Blake's brash statements only confirm the horror stories outlined in Kevin Connelly's letter of resignation; power has been taken away from the person who should be in charge to that what wants to be the Pervez Musharraf of the LBHA. If he hasn't declared a state of emergency, I don't know what else you can call it. We are but the Benazir Bhuttos of this association, under house arrest until fresh blood enters the world of GOBBODIA ...

And thirdly, he is not telling the truth about those people who have made an attempt to receive the financial statements--several members of this board have requested them and the way he says it, Blake appears to be the heroic and generous knight in shining armor. If I were he, I would consider placing this information on that nifty new website he's working on, for all to see.

This only flames my desire to seek a position on the board, if only to present a series of checks and balances. I will most likely run for one of those spots that open in 2009 and the Chairman will know the real meaning of stubborn ... because I am firstly a fiction writer, I can realise some very creative ways in which to be that brick wall.

Discuss amongst yourselves!
--t.

Chairchick, NACCers, MST, the Nuthouse.

[harpskiddie]

Emily:

I think perhaps I'll join that little organization of yours, if only to complain about late anythings, and of course to cast a vote for our favorite son, er daughter, er tomboy.

Gordie,
MC

[Tricia]

And it would be a great comfort to me that I have now accumulated four, perhaps six votes for my run for office! In addition to voting for yours truly, you'll get that spectacular Newsletter--but wait, there's more--AND the Research Review! All for less than 11 cents a day! A bargain!

And then you can gripe until the cows come home! Yay! Uhhh, and speaking of griping, someone is still waiting to advise the very thing he is an editorial advisor to ...

[BrokenSword]

Trish-

Although 'officially' neutral - the Nut House is behind you 100%, during this difficult campaign season.

To 'sweeten' the perks you can offer the undecided voters: Feel at liberty to distribute full one-year's FREE admissions to the House for each vote. An UNLIMITED number of visits is included.

And PLEASE - If you need additional financing for TV spots, posters, straw hats, bumper stickers and the like - simply ask Gordie. The VERY highest man on his pedestal - in the House.

M

[Montana Bab]

Trish,

Count me in (another vote) and I will officially join the "group".
Down with the "Old Boys"

Montana

[markland]

ricemclean said:

All--

OMG! I came home from some errands today and to what to my wondering eyes did appear? The LBHA Newsletter! And get this ... it was the November issue! I guess some loud bitching put me at the top of the mailing list, so someone in the GOBBODs reads these boards daily.

And it seems the Head Honcho Chairman of GOBBODIA is stuck filling his "Chairman's Message" with answers to the questions we pose on this forum. This time, whilst denying he's the day trader he is, he proudly announces the following:

Another one of my responsibilities is managing the LBHA investment portfolio which does not require daily maitenance, even though I [note the use of the singular] do take a look every trading day for performance results on individual portfolios that I manage. For those of you who have an interest, our avaliable funds are confined to mutual funds, money market funds, and certificates of deposit as prescribed in the LBHA investment policy. The bulk of our cash is invested in five individual mutual funds, one of which is earning 32.67 per cent at the time of this writing ...

In last month's Newsletter, an open invitation was extended to those interested parties desiring a copy of the LBHA financial statements. To date, no requests have been made; therefore, I am extending the offer by making it easier for those with an inquiring mind. You can email Joan Croy at [e-mail] ...

Three things immediately come up. First are the outrageous returns we are receiving on our investments; 32 percent in a very dangerous and downturned market shows someone is clearly and aggressively happy "playing" with our monies--money that many of us have worked hard to accumulate. If this isn't exactly day trading, then it is obviously invested in very unstable stocks ... one day earnings, the next day, disaster. Once again, Chairman Blake refuses to offer account numbers or locations of said investments. If he's not lying, he is obviously shading the truth.

And since when does the Chairman duties include managing the portfolios to begin with? Isn't that the Treasurer's job? What the heck is going on in that man's mind? Blake's brash statements only confirm the horror stories outlined in Kevin Connelly's letter of resignation; power has been taken away from the person who should be in charge to that what wants to be the Pervez Musharraf of the LBHA. If he hasn't declared a state of emergency, I don't know what else you can call it. We are but the Benazir Bhuttos of this association, under house arrest until fresh blood enters the world of GOBBODIA ...

And thirdly, he is not telling the truth about those people who have made an attempt to receive the financial statements--several members of this board have requested them and the way he says it, Blake appears to be the heroic and generous knight in shining armor. If I were he, I would consider placing this information on that nifty new website he's working on, for all to see.

This only flames my desire to seek a position on the board, if only to present a series of checks and balances. I will most likely run for one of those spots that open in 2009 and the Chairman will know the real meaning of stubborn ... because I am firstly a fiction writer, I can realise some very creative ways in which to be that brick wall.

Discuss amongst yourselves!
--t.

Chairchick, NACCers, MST, the Nuthouse.

Regarding the 32.57% return; it is likely Blake has invested some money into emerging market funds, likely some with a heavy exposure to the Chinese market as that market has been going nuts over the past 15 to 24 months. A prudent investor will have likely pulled some (about half) of the original investment out and placed it into a money market fund in anticipation of the inevitable correction/pull-back of the emerging market sector, at which time it may be wise to reinvest into that market. As well, a prudent investor will have moving stop-losses built into his portfolio. My readings of various mutual fund prospecti <sp?> lead me to believe that most have controls built-in to limit the number of trades in and out within a specified period of time to prevent gaming/day-trading which causes the fund higher expenses. Fred can more fully address this as he once was a Wall Street scumbag...errr, executive.

Trish, you have my vote also but I am going to write in either Elisabeth, Chuck Merkel, Fred or Hunk for one of the other vacancies. Note, my vote can be bought, albeit not cheaply.

Be good,

Billy

[Tricia]

I had the feeling some of these investments were going overseas, as well, Billy. At least in my limited experience, I've learned if you want to make money in a hurry, invest beyond the pond.

I have also emailed Joan Croy (with a CC to Blake) for a copy of the financial statement. In addition, I raised the question of if the investments are doing so well, then the Association should well be able to mail said reports in either the June or August Newsletters to all members, not just those with "inquiring minds." I can't imagine that'll break the bank and I think that should be the GOBBODs duty ...

--t.

[markland]

ricemclean said:

I had the feeling some of these investments were going overseas, as well, Billy. At least in my limited experience, I've learned if you want to make money in a hurry, invest beyond the pond.

I have also emailed Joan Croy (with a CC to Blake) for a copy of the financial statement. In addition, I raised the question of if the investments are doing so well, then the Association should well be able to mail said reports in either the June or August Newsletters to all members, not just those with "inquiring minds." I can't imagine that'll break the bank and I think that should be the GOBBODs duty ... --t.

The simplest and least expensive thing would be to place them on the web site that they are creating. In the mean-time while that is being prepared, I am sure Diane could be induced to post them

Billy

[Diane Merkel]

I don't have the official GOB financial statement, or I would be pleased to post it. I believe there were two produced for the annual meeting: one prepared by the then-Treasurer Kevin Connelly, which never saw the light of day, and another by the GOB.

Diagnosis of the Chair: paranoid narcissism. All of the signs are there.

[Scout]

I won't belong to any organization that would have me as a member. Trish, Joan Croy has no computer, her email goes to someone else who relays it to her through the mail or phone.

Diane, How much longer do Fred and I have to wait to get colored stars like the favorites? We've been yellow for so long!

[Diane Merkel]

Fred had blue stars, but he gave them up for power.

You're red now -- OK?

[BrokenSword]

OH! OH! OH! DIANE- ME NEXT! ME NEXT!!

Can I have one star in each color? Or even (dare I dream?) multi-colored ones!?

If you can't do that - its okay. It'll help me suffer and become a great artist, I guess.

M

[Scout]

You can swap your stars for power? How much power can I get for four red stars....Actually it was a running joke off the board.

[Montana Bab]

I like my little yellow stars......low profile......

[harpskiddie]

If you guys keep up this inane posting, you'll soon become Expert Shirtwearers or Medal Of Honor holders.

What's the next level?? Can I swap for Air Miles? Dishes? Fish and Chips?

Gordie,
MC
the power is already within you, my son. You need only to dream all this again to realize your true potential. Wait, let me make that a separate post...........................