A Friends of Glenbow (FOG) meeting is being held this evening (March 1) that may be of interest.

The meeting being held at 6:30 pm at Glenbow School will include a conversation on how the non-profit board should proceed after an allegation of misappropriation of funds occurred and whether checks and balances were indeed 'checked.'

FOG is the fundraising arm of Glenbow School which goes to support programming and extracurricular activities above and beyond what the Rocky View School Division does.

Sandi Hennig, who used to sit on the executive of Friends of Glenbow, believes her signature was forged on a series of cheques. Hennig is hoping the accused will be held accountable for using her signature inappropriately but was told because she is not personally out cash that the case lies with the fundraising committee. "I still don't understand because you cannot sign people's names to something and just because there's no money lost it doesn't mean it's okay."

Hennig is wondering how this happened stating the board has quite a strict policy in place. "Ultimately this about the kid's money and it not being handled properly. Friends of Glenbow has operating procedures stating this is how you handle money, this is how you do this, there are job descriptions for every executive position, this is what you are responsible for, this is how you do it. There were people in the past that took it very seriously to avoid not following because it is regulated by the government. That is why checks and balances were put in place because of people not knowing how important it is that you always have two people counting money, there are two signatures on every cheque and a person would never write a cheque to themselves and sign it. There are always these checks and balances and these are clearly written in documentation and operating procedures that is given when you get elected at the AGM."

Cochrane RCMP Constable Kary Moore says they did look into the initial complaint of misappropriation but they have since closed the case stating the claim is unsubstantiated at this time.

Angela Spanier, Director of Communications with Rocky View Schools, says fundraising societies are not governed by the school division nor do they have any authority in cases such as these. "Societies are not under the responsibility or authority of Rocky View Schools. They are guided by the Societies Act, not the School Act. The matter is really in the hands of the RCMP and the Friends of Glenbow School Education Society. If the allegations are found to be true by the RCMP, I would add that RVS is disappointed that monies designated for educational programming for Glenbow students have been misappropriated."

This evening (March 1), FOG will decide whether they proceed with an internal investigation into the matter on their own to ensure parents and fundraising dollars are indeed going to their rightful place. "There are very clear questions and points that need to be raised...'How is it going to be investigated?' It should be a third party, and because it is a charity organization it is regulated by government legislation they have requirements to follow and it wasn't being done."