ALCH Becomes
Marland Children’s Home
Marland Children’s Home
By BEVERLY BRYANT
News Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Hearings to be Scheduled
Posted on the ALCH Facebook Cause Page on February 15th, 2011:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make no mistake friends, we are still here caring for 44 boys and girls. As many of you know, we were supposed to be closed by now as a result of our Boards’ vote on October 24th. They had planned to close this 82 year old Home forever on this past December the 31st and hold an auction for the property.
Thankfully, at the request of over 3,000 other Legionnaires, volunteers and donors; the Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma, Drew Edmondson, intervened in November and obtained a Restraining Order against the Board which has prevented them from “taking any action that would jeopardize the ability of the Children’s Home to continue to serve its mission of providing a home and care for needy children”. Additionally, the Attorney General has filed a petition with the court to remove the current board and appoint a receiver who will then appoint a new board of directors.
Currently, that Restraining Order is still in effect and many other parties have expressed great interest in “taking over” and taking up our cause. The office of the new Attorney General, Scott Pruitt, assures us with great confidence. Meanwhile, a scheduling conference has been set for March 3rd, for the Judge, the Attorney General, our counsel and counsel for the board. It is our hope that a hearing on the pending petitions will be scheduled at this time. We will do our best to keep you posted.
While this has certainly been a very difficult time for our children, their future and the future of this Home is looking brighter by the day. Most recently, Attorney General Scott Pruitt addressed the current board in a letter that stated, “The Children’s Home must continue all normal day to day operations.” Of course, to continue to provide the same stability for these 44 boys and girls we need your help to supply their food, clothing, warm beds, education, counseling, recreational therapy, love and care that all children deserve. As always, we ask that you please consider giving and please help us spread the word that we are still doing what we have done for 8 decades.
For more information on this crisis, please feel free to contact our office or visit our volunteers’ website at www.savethelegionkids.com.
-----------------------------------
Posted on the ALCH Facebook Cause Page on February 15th, 2011:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Make no mistake friends, we are still here caring for 44 boys and girls. As many of you know, we were supposed to be closed by now as a result of our Boards’ vote on October 24th. They had planned to close this 82 year old Home forever on this past December the 31st and hold an auction for the property.
Thankfully, at the request of over 3,000 other Legionnaires, volunteers and donors; the Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma, Drew Edmondson, intervened in November and obtained a Restraining Order against the Board which has prevented them from “taking any action that would jeopardize the ability of the Children’s Home to continue to serve its mission of providing a home and care for needy children”. Additionally, the Attorney General has filed a petition with the court to remove the current board and appoint a receiver who will then appoint a new board of directors.
Currently, that Restraining Order is still in effect and many other parties have expressed great interest in “taking over” and taking up our cause. The office of the new Attorney General, Scott Pruitt, assures us with great confidence. Meanwhile, a scheduling conference has been set for March 3rd, for the Judge, the Attorney General, our counsel and counsel for the board. It is our hope that a hearing on the pending petitions will be scheduled at this time. We will do our best to keep you posted.
While this has certainly been a very difficult time for our children, their future and the future of this Home is looking brighter by the day. Most recently, Attorney General Scott Pruitt addressed the current board in a letter that stated, “The Children’s Home must continue all normal day to day operations.” Of course, to continue to provide the same stability for these 44 boys and girls we need your help to supply their food, clothing, warm beds, education, counseling, recreational therapy, love and care that all children deserve. As always, we ask that you please consider giving and please help us spread the word that we are still doing what we have done for 8 decades.
For more information on this crisis, please feel free to contact our office or visit our volunteers’ website at www.savethelegionkids.com.
-----------------------------------
Below are links to some of the current stories about the ALCH in the news:
Daily Oklahoman
Tulsa World
News Channel 4
Quoting Bill Alexander from the Channel 4 interview:
"I want the American Legion to know that We have not forgotten what they've done here for 82 years. One decision does not erase the wonderful 82 years of service that they gave."
Friday, February 18, 2011
| Ponca City News Thursday, February 17, 2011 Children's Home Saved |
By BEVERLY BRYANT News Staff Writer The Board of Directors of the American Legion Children's Home has agreed to transfer control of the home to a new corporation under the direction of a new board of directors, the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office announced this morning. Assistant Attorney General Julie Bays received a letter from Jay Israel, the Oklahoma City attorney representing the board of the American Legion Children's Home. Local attorney John Raley, representing the "Save the Children's Home Angels" group, also received a copy of the letter and said it states the board is ready to transfer all the assets to a new corporation to be created for the purpose of operating the children's home. Bays and Raley are preparing a settlement agreement to be approved by a district judge. "We are hopeful that an agreement will be reached that will allow the American Legion Children's Home to remain open and continue its mission of serving children, which has been the goal of the Attorney General's Office throughout this process," Attorney General Scott Pruitt said today. Raley said a new corporation will be formed with a new board to accept the assets and the home will remain in full operation without interruption. "C.D. Northcutt, Sen. David Myers and I were always confident that when this case came to trial the Children's Home would win," Raley said. "Apparently the State Commander of the American Legion and his Adjutant finally arrived at the same conclusion." Raley said many people contributed to this victory. "The greatest share of credit should go to Assistant Attorney General Julie Bays who did a superb job of lawyering," Raley said. American Legion Children's Home Executive Director Bill Alexander was overjoyed by the news. "We're ecstatic that the board has sent a letter saying they are ready to transfer ownership of the assets to another nonprofit organization," he said. "That's what we asked for in October. There is still a lot of work to do, but I am confident we can get that hammered out in short order and continue doing what we have done for 83 years, and that is serving children." Alexander said "It is a great day to be a part of our children's home and our family of supporters of the Children's Home. "We thank all of the people of Ponca City who have helped us and everyone across the state and nation who have supported us through this trying period. We are just overjoyed today that we can share this good news with everybody," Alexander said. On Oct. 24, 2010, the home's board of directors voted to close the home effective Dec. 31. A temporary restraining order was signed Nov. 23 by Kay County District Judge D.W. Boyd which prevents the Board of Directors of the American Legion Children's Home, and individual directors Art Besa, David Kellerman and W.D. Wilson from: * Selling any assets currently held by the American Legion Children's Home Inc.; *Closing the American Legion Children's Home residence at 1300 Summers Place; *Requiring the Children's Home to remit to the Board of Directors any assets of the Children's Home, including, but not limited to, any funds held by the Children's Home as a charitable trust; *Dissolving the American Legion Children's Home, Inc.; *Wrongfully interfering with any of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services contracts; *Diverting any resources of funds for any activity or purpose other than necessary for the day-to-day operations of the Children's Home; *Taking any other action that would jeopardize the ability of the Children's Home to continue to serve its mission of "provid(ing) a home and care for needy children..." The petition requesting the temporary restraining order was filed Nov. 22 by Bays on behalf of then-Attorney General Drew Edmondson's office. Edmondson's office also filed a petition seeking the removal of the board of directors, invalidation of all decisions made during an allegedly illegal board meeting and the appointment of a receiver to manage the assets of the ALCH. Last week Pruitt issued a letter to the board's attorney reiterating the prohibitions included in the temporary restraining order and warning board members not to interfere with the daily operations of the home. A hearing date had been set for March 3 in Stillwater on a motion for a default judgment against the board of directors for the children's home and to make the Temporary Restraining Order permanent. |
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Hearings to be Scheduled
Make no mistake friends, we are still here caring for 44 boys and girls. As many of you know, we were supposed to be closed by now as a result of our Boards’ vote on October 24th. They had planned to close this 82 year old Home forever on this past December the 31st and hold an auction for the property.
Thankfully, at the request of over 3,000 other Legionnaires, volunteers and donors; the Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma, Drew Edmondson, intervened in November and obtained a Restraining Order against the Board which has prevented them from “taking any action that would jeopardize the ability of the Children’s Home to continue to serve its mission of providing a home and care for needy children”. Additionally, the Attorney General has filed a petition with the court to remove the current board and appoint a receiver who will then appoint a new board of directors.
Currently, that Restraining Order is still in effect and many other parties have expressed great interest in “taking over” and taking up our cause. The office of the new Attorney General, Scott Pruitt, assures us with great confidence. Meanwhile, a scheduling conference has been set for March 3rd, for the Judge, the Attorney General, our counsel and counsel for the board. It is our hope that a hearing on the pending petitions will be scheduled at this time. We will do our best to keep you posted.
While this has certainly been a very difficult time for our children, their future and the future of this Home is looking brighter by the day. Most recently, Attorney General Scott Pruitt addressed the current board in a letter that stated, “The Children’s Home must continue all normal day to day operations.” Of course, to continue to provide the same stability for these 44 boys and girls we need your help to supply their food, clothing, warm beds, education, counseling, recreational therapy, love and care that all children deserve. As always, we ask that you please consider giving and please help us spread the word that we are still doing what we have done for 8 decades.
For more information on this crisis, please feel free to contact our office or visit our volunteers’ website at http://www.savethelegionkids.com/
Thankfully, at the request of over 3,000 other Legionnaires, volunteers and donors; the Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma, Drew Edmondson, intervened in November and obtained a Restraining Order against the Board which has prevented them from “taking any action that would jeopardize the ability of the Children’s Home to continue to serve its mission of providing a home and care for needy children”. Additionally, the Attorney General has filed a petition with the court to remove the current board and appoint a receiver who will then appoint a new board of directors.
Currently, that Restraining Order is still in effect and many other parties have expressed great interest in “taking over” and taking up our cause. The office of the new Attorney General, Scott Pruitt, assures us with great confidence. Meanwhile, a scheduling conference has been set for March 3rd, for the Judge, the Attorney General, our counsel and counsel for the board. It is our hope that a hearing on the pending petitions will be scheduled at this time. We will do our best to keep you posted.
While this has certainly been a very difficult time for our children, their future and the future of this Home is looking brighter by the day. Most recently, Attorney General Scott Pruitt addressed the current board in a letter that stated, “The Children’s Home must continue all normal day to day operations.” Of course, to continue to provide the same stability for these 44 boys and girls we need your help to supply their food, clothing, warm beds, education, counseling, recreational therapy, love and care that all children deserve. As always, we ask that you please consider giving and please help us spread the word that we are still doing what we have done for 8 decades.
For more information on this crisis, please feel free to contact our office or visit our volunteers’ website at http://www.savethelegionkids.com/
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Save the Children's Home Angels
We are a group of Legionnaires, Volunteers, Donors and Alumni whose mission is dedicated to the children and legacy of the American Legion Children's Home.
The American Legion held it's annual Mid-Winter Conference this past weekend in Oklahoma City. The STCHA obtained a permit to peacefully demonstrate nearby. Our presence there was to encourage Oklahoma Legionnaires to ask for legitimate answers from their leadership.
I would like to say a huge thank you to those Legionnaires and Auxiliary members who stood up for our kids this weekend and asked the questions that needed to be posed to the members of the Oklahoma American Legion. Many of us are concerned about the well being of the children's home and of the motivation of those few who voted to close our home.
We do appreciate the media covering our peaceful demonstration.
Ponca City News
KFOR Channel 4
KOCO Channel 5 (pending web link)
KWTV Channel 9
Fox 25 (pending web link)
Thank You!
Please contact us if you would like to be on our mailing list:
or
Save the Children's Home Angels
2709 Avon Avenue
Ponca City, OK 74604
On Facebook? Join us:
Save the Children's Home Angels
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
 |
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Biltmore Hotel (I-40 & Meridian)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Many of our thousands of supporters have expressed interest in joining us for our next peaceful demonstration. We have had many community speaking events, fund raisers and public sign displays. This time we are traveling to Oklahoma City. Please join us:
Save the Children's Home Angels
We are a group of Legionnaires,
Volunteers, Donors, and Alumni
whose mission is dedicated to the children and legacy
of the American Legion Children's Home.
let us know that you will be standing with us to raise awareness.
Many of you have expressed interest and we will be contacting you
through direct email.
through direct email.
