A director of the foundation that supports the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis was caught stealing funds, the not-for-profit
says.
Club president Miles D. Schroeder, a local dentist, informed members of the theft in a letter dated Jan. 25.
The letter does not name the director nor does it specify how much was taken. When reached by phone, Schroeder declined to
divulge further details.
Foundation president Gerald Lamkin, a former president of Ivy Tech Community College, referred questions to Schroeder.
The foundation is not pursuing legal charges against the accused director, according to the letter.
“The foundation has represented to us that it is currently conducting an audit and obtaining restitution from the individual
who misappropriated the funds,” Schroeder wrote to members.
The foundation issued an additional statement Tuesday afternoon via e-mail: "When the Columbia Club Foundation recently
became aware of a theft of funds by one individual at the Foundation, we took immediate action and began a thorough investigation
which is still underway. The majority of the stolen funds have been recovered and the Foundation is currently working to recover
the remaining funds. In addition, the Foundation is strengthening its policies and procedures to ensure this does not happen
again."
The foundation has struggled financially in recent years. In 2008, the most current year in which a Form 990 financial statement
is available, it reported a loss of $51,583 on revenue of $31,022. The foundation reported assets of $580,531.
The foundation was founded in 1983, shortly after the Columbia Club building on Monument Circle was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. Its mission is “to restore, preserve and protect the exterior facade of the historic clubhouse
by encouraging contributions and through the development of an adequate endowment,” according to its website.
It remains a separate entity from the club and maintains its own management, governance and finances.
“No club employees, officers or directors were involved, implicit or implicated in the theft in any regard,”
Schroeder said in the letter. “Further, no club funds were mishandled, misappropriated or misused at any time.”
Still, the club’s board of directors takes the theft by “this individual” very seriously and will provide
members an update once more information becomes available, he said.
The Columbia Club, a private social and business-networking club, is led by James Rentschler, who became general manager
in 2009. At the time of his arrival, it had just 1,600 members, 24 percent fewer than in 2007, and about half its peak count
in the late 1990s.
The Columbia Club was originally organized in 1889 by Col. Eli Lilly to support Gen. Benjamin Harrison’s presidential
campaign.
on Facebook & Twitter
Back to Top
IBJ Conversations
33 Comments
Add Comment
I am surprised to see another Brizzi moral shortcut go un-noted--i.e.--in the past few months Brizzi refused to comment or discuss a story that broke on his watch with local Channels 6/l3 etc---which quoted him as saying he had been "retained" exclusively by a competing news channel. (Disappointing because this particular Channel to date has been ethically and journalistically sound.)
Does not anyone else see a conflict when a tax-paid ex-prosecutor sells his taxpayer-paid past information for dough? But that's par for the course for this coarse and exploitive prosecutor who grandstanded "walking the perp" for media without any regard for the "innocent until proven guilty" concept he was sworn to support.
Ask one of the older members to share details about the time in the 1990's when two young Club valets over-estimated their driving abilities with one going up and one down in the old AFNB parking garage on Penn and crashed two members' cars head on! The chief valet at the time told me of being summoned to tell the waiting vehicle owner 'due to unforeseen circumstances there will be a delay in getting your car'. The owner staying overnight probably learned the next day unless he heard the crash which was described as horrific as it echoed around the concrete structure. The Club quickly got nice rentals arranged and accepted full responsibility regardless of what the 'get out of jail pass' they use as a parking claim check says.
My personal Club valet experience was when they accepted my luxury car on the night preceding the Brickyard 400 and the next morning it was found in the garage with glass everywhere and broken window, pry marks around the door, my cell phone and prescription sunglasses missing.
On Monday I reported it to the General Manager at the time, just to make sure he knew and expecting the Club's insurance would cover my $500 deductible on $1900 auto damage and he said a quick "NO". Months later I learned from another member that he had been reimbursed for his deductible in a subsequent car break-in so it can be who you are or who they 'think' you are and how tough you are willing to get with them.
Lesson learned: in future visits till I resigned I never let them valet the car and parked it on Penn at no cost then got up early to feed the meter when required. Why pay the stiff fee plus tip and run the risk of them having a 'night on the town' or tip off one of their buddies that a hot car is in the lot?
I hope you are compensated for your losses in the end. Our police and military members should be treated with the extra respect and courtesy as all members should but it is a hard lesson for the club to comprehend.
(The Club has been careening out of control since the late 90's and the challenging economy only exacerbates the problems along following a decade of abominable management, wholesale firings of the most talented staffers for suggesting best-practices from the club/hospitality industries, and a failure to learn any lessons from the unfortunate demise of the Indpls. Athletic Club. Given the state of many private clubs, the CC's years with an aging membership are numbered ---it is too easy for younger people to take hard-earned dollars that would go to dues and initiations fees and spend them in the hottest restaurants, fitness centers, bars, and social experiences---Indy has many to choose from, not like the days when you said 'Club, King Cole, Hyatt, and St. Elmos' and had covered almost all the fine options in downtown!
Thus the future is challenging for amateurs and sadly it is probably just a matter of time till that outstanding property will have to be sold and converted to hotel and condo space with perhaps a room for the few loyal remaining club members to reminisce.
One of the governance issues is clearly shown by the way in which the announcement of the theft was handled: the Club---not the Foundation from where the funds were stolen-- sent a misguided letter to the members which was predictably forwarded to the press (this reveals the lack of cooperation, trust, and the power struggle between the two which prevents necessary growth). It WAS indicative of their first rule of management "Cover Your A--" which the Club board practiced to perfection. It also indicates the second rule of the CCF ---"Let someone else give the bad news and head to the tropics"! If the Foundation board pulled the same stunt on the Club as they have had numerous opportunities to do, the police might have to be called in to break up the skirmish at 121 Monument Circle! Time to come together.
This current top leadership and the thief have done immeasurable damage to the proud reputation of a once-revered Club that has had such a positive effect in the life of the members, development of Indianapolis, & the state. I just hope any remaining visionary and honest members will step up and re-take control of their 122 year old club and restore the luster of the glory days that began in February 1889! Good luck.
The date of the incident was 1/15/2011
At approximately 1630 on 15 January my girlfriend and I pulled up to the front doors of the Columbia Club on Monument Circle where we were staying for the night. I was approached by 3 members of the Valet staff and noticed immediately that they were "Excited" that my car would be spending the night in there hands. I asked that it be parked on the Circle for the duration of the evening so that I would have easy access in case we decided to go somewhere outside of walking distance.
At approximately 1730 we came down from our room and went to dinner at Weber Grill. Upon returning at 2100 I noticed that my vehicle had been moved and I approached the valet and asked why it was moved and he offered no explanation. I express my displeasure because I had specifically told them not to move the vehicle for fear of "Joy riding."
At or around 0400 Sunday morning I awoke and sensed that something was not right. I went downstairs and asked the valet to find my car and bring it out of the garage because I needed to get medicine out of the center console. He paused and said that "It would be a few minutes because they would have to find it." This obviously did not make me happy and after nearly 20 minutes of waiting my car came up to the valet at operating temperature (as noted by a bullydog GT tuner that was subsequently stolen). As I tested this morning at 10 degrees outside temperature with the coolant temperature at 51 degrees it took approximately 9 miles to reach a normal operating temperature of roughly 170 Degrees as noted by the digital thermostat located in the vehicle (at highway speed). The same test was done last night at 12 degrees sitting at Idle and it took approximately 22 minutes to arrive at normal operating temperature. Long story short, at less than 1/4 mile from the garage to the front of the club it is impossible to reach that temperature.
When I reached in my center console @ 0400 I did not notice anything was missing and I told the valet again to leave my vehicle parked on the Circle because it had already been swept and the was no reason for it to be moved. In the course of conversation with the valet he explained to me the value of my car, stating that he was a repo man and he "Popped" these cars all the time and that he has an STI that would "Smoke" my 350Z. He also pointed out his new Dodge Ram parked in valet with a condescending attitude. I smiled and told him not to move my car again and went back up to my room.
At approximately 1000 on Sunday I went down to the valet desk to request my vehicle noticing that it had again been moved. The three gentleman at the desk laughed and said they were taking bets on when I would be down and they would have to "Find it" again.
When my car finally showed up I noticed nearly 1/4 of a tank of fuel missing and just assumed that my thoughts of the previous nights shenanigans were true and chose to walk away.
Upon my return to Bloomington at 1500 I went to switch through my head unit to my ipod and found that there was no Ipod. I checked to see if my engine tuner was there and it too had been removed. I immediately called security @ the club and made report.
As a 4 year veteran of law enforcement (Police Officer) and a current employee of the Department of Defense both military and civilian I can obviously see the writing on the wall here.
I noticed a White Iphone 3GS 16 gig, the same phone as stolen from me on craigslist this morning posted yesterday.
The Columbia Club concluded in their "Internal investigation," that there was no evidence to support (Other than the security tapes that were destroyed) that my car had been taken for an all night joy ride and looted.
Their insurance company said in a statement of denial, " The parking ticket clearly states the Columbia Club assumes no liability for theft or damage to your vehicle. There is no evidence to support your claim there were personal items left in your vechicle that were stolen during your stay at the Columbia Club."
$2000.00 in damages later (not to mention the value of items stolen) my vehicle runs properly again.
This is how good, due paying members are being treated. I wonder how patrons that booked their room on orbitz are treated in this "Members only club." What a joke.
"I live according to God's word - I don't judge others like you just did...shame on you!!!"
You never judge anyone????
Your post just did!!!
This is a state where Governor Mitch Daniels and then Prosecutor Carl Brizzi feel they are above the law and do not need to return stolen money donations.
This is a state where you can participate in the largest insider trading pump in US history and watch only the whistleblower have his securities license investigated while the culprits pocket millions and millions while they point the finger at an innocent insurance adjuster who had the bad fortune to work for the CEO's Dad.
This is a state where the same county prosecutor can trade on inside information, lie on his divorce filings regarding assets and nothing happens to him. And at hte same time score a no-money down triple net lease on a piece of crap in Elkhart just in time for the state of Indiana to ink a 10 year lease--and pay for repairs needed to put the state office there in the first place!
Shall I go on?
If you want to make a difference vote NO for Mitch Daniels. Vote NO for candidates who do not disclose ALL their brokerage and financial records. Picket Tim Morrison and demand he account for failing to arrest Tim Durham and his loser mooch friends.
Unless, of course, you want to send a signal that white collar crime does pay--cuz in Indianapolis, it sure does.
I think your comments are correct! The Board of Directors of the Columbia Club and management try very hard, but are not perfect. The CC is operating better than in past years. To bring respect back, all members of the foundation should tender their resignations and start with a clean slate...
As a member -- and, I might add reluctantly as I don't think it particularly important, as one of the people you mention as being "made fun of by the GM" I can only say that I have been entirely unaware of such things and have been treated very well by the GM -- and, of course, the staff.
It should also be noted that things often appear to be "swept under the rug" so that they don't appear in public, as is now the case with this incident. Any member who frequents the club with any regularity is fully aware of concerns that should be addressed by the Board. The Club in many ways is like a family. Families generally don't air their dirty laundry in public. Frankly, it is no one else's business.
The Foundation IS separate, both legally and operationally. The board and the Foundation do necessarily work together on some items such as the on-going renovations. The board must approve things that the Foundation proposes that affect the Club's operation. But the Board does not oversee the Foundation's books.
The Club is not perfect. No organization is. Some things do need to be ironed out as society is changing -- in many ways for the better, in some ways not. I'd rather have the Club than meeting friends in a generic restaurant where the staff changes every week.
Darrell L. White, Vice President
Albert W. Zimmerman, Second Vice President
Michael Burgett, Treasurer
Cynthia J. Barker
Greg Bires
Jeff Brougher
Joseph F. Ferrara
Clifford D. Frost
John C. Green
Louis S. Hensley, Jr.
Michael C. Lady
Robert B. McConnell
Jack V. Moriarty
Stephen M. Nash
William B. Powers
Henry C. Ryder
Terry Young
current management alike of complaints about our GM making sexiest and racist comments and making fun of gay people that are members and employees. I have seen and witnessed this first hand. There have been
employees and managers that have been asked to leave in the recent past because they brought these problems to the board about the GM and it was all swept under the rug. The board has been covering up for the GM
there for far to long now. Yes the club should be a Cheers style enviroment but its not. The board also DOES oversee the Foundation. It is not run completely seperate. The members of The Foundation do make choices but almost everything goes through and is approved by the clubs
board. There are many things that arent seen there and goes on behind closed doors. If you still think he does nothing wrong get ahold of past employees and managers that have quit and see what all their stories have in common. By the way, My name is Mr. Richardson and Im the former Director of Security for the club, that left along with others because of many of the reasons I have stated below that can be backed up with written proof and documentation from employees, management, and members.
I hope it does not turn into a hotel, but I don't see anyway for it to come back.
1. The Foundation is separately run and has nothing to do with the Club's Board of Directors, other than furthering the Club's interests. As it happens, however, the theft was discovered by a member of the Club's board of directors and immediate action was taken.
2. Social clubs are, in general, losing membership for those under 40. The same can be said for volunteer organizations. Many articles have been written about the 20-40 year old group delaying their taking an active part in civic life for a variety of reasons. The Columbia Club, however, has actually gained quite a bit in this age range primarily due to the appeal of its location, fitness center, connections, and, frankly, the fun that it can provide in a neat building. In many ways it is like a Cheers. There is a great feeling after a long day at work to walk into a building and know that you will run into friends or, at the very least, have a nice conversation with one of the staff who knows you very well. It's called humanity.
3. The current GM is, frankly, perfect. He is likable, always in the building, and seems to be genuinely concerned about the members. As he has no oversight over the Foundation (which, again, is SEPARATE from the running of the Club itself), he was not in a position to discover the theft.
4. I admit that I am also concerned about some of the "opening up" of the club in terms of making the rooms available to the general public and so forth. My hope is that the board and its committees will address this soon.
5. The Columbia Club was NEVER a secret society. It is true that, until the last 25 years, it was largely a Republican club. Of course, the GOP was quite a bit different then than it is now.
6. The club is a fun place to meet your friends, have a drink, and have a great lunch or dinner. Members of the club come from ALL backgrounds and professions. Detectives, bankers, firefighters, Realtors, black, white, straight, gay, etc. Are there unpleasant members? Of course -- just as there are unpleasant people at your office. But the majority of people just want to escape the day-to-day routine and do so with other people. In short, most of us are nice people who would enjoy having the guy at the Blue & White stop in as a guest and, if he liked it, become a member.
There is no leadership either in the club or foundation and that is the problem. Doctor Schroeder and Gerry Lampkin have tried their best to sweep this and many other things under the rug.
It is well known that the club is no longer a private club in any manner. Anyone off the street can walk in and be served or get a hotel room.
The board no longer takes the advice of the screening committee in reference to new members and often allows new members in that don't meet our standards.
I only wish the past presidents and lifelong influencial club members would take back control of the club and recreate what we once had. If not done soon we will certainly go away like many private clubs before us.