Okay, maybe that's a little too dramatic. I'll just say that when I visited with Susie I was quite surprised to find that she had a notebook which was partially filled with just about everything we've ever discussed in terms of WeezleWings Ferret Sanctuary. One night she pulled out her folder(s) and notebook(s) which contained everything she'd ever discussed with Michelle regarding WWFS. We started making a list of all the ways Michelle had failed in her position as CFO, and here it is.
(Keep in mind this was a notepad document that was typed up at some ridiculous hour of the night. While Susie's notes were extensive they weren't necessarily well organized. Papers went into her folders as her notes were made. I can't put this list into a more concise format without putting a lot more work into it, and frankly it makes me ill.)
Disclaimer: All monetary amounts, unless listed to the penny, are approximations.
Items received by Michelle on behalf of WWFS's personal use. Never received at WWFS:
Items Michelle claimed she had on hand and was ready to get to WWFS, but which were never delivered:
Items Michelle claimed WWFS had paid for, but which were never received by WWFS or their intended recipients:
Items Michelle collected on behalf of WWFS which she claimed she would deliver to WWFS:
Business FUBARed by Michelle:
Donations received by Michelle for WWFS fundraisers but never used in auctions
Sponsor items donated:
Things owed to WWFS:
Items which were taken from WWFS to be sold in fundraisers, or which were borrowed by Michelle with the understanding that they'd be returned to WWFS:
Donations reportedly made to WWFS but which have never been received at the sanctuary. List is NOT complete:
*Listed again below. Do not count as additional amounts in the total.
Promises and other claims made by Michelle:
WWFS WANTS RETURNED:
Items which Michelle claimed were donated to WWFS but which never arrived:
Items which Michelle said were sent to others at WWFS, or on which she paid the postage, but which were never received at their intended destination:
In October of 2011 Michelle hit all the WWFS contacts, Facebook people, mailing lists, etc., for furndraiser donations. Items collected were to be auctioned in 4 separate fundraisers. None of these items have ever been used in fundraisers, nor have they come back to WWFS.
She also collected recipes for a planned WWFS cookbook. She hit many groups, including the WWFS Facebook Fan Page subscribers, Yahoo Groups & other boards. These need to be sent back to WWFS.
She was directly responsible for messing up the WWFS bank account, and two layaways.
She is the direct reason that ferrets needing meds, implants, and surgeries cannot get them.
Any donations she received since her resignation from WWFS are still in her possession unless otherwise stated.
No financial reports were ever shown to WWFS, despite repeated requests for same.
Donations dwindled to nothing starting in October 2011. Michelle claimed she had these items sent to her home for Susie's "convenience", despite being instructed to NOT have any WWFS items sent to her home.
Whereas Susie's mail used to consist of Ferret item catalogs, pet care catalogs, donations, etc., now the only things she regularly receives are unpaid bills and junk mail.
One sponsor usually donates the following and it is likely that this is what was delivered to Michelle's house after she changed the the address to her own:
Michelle told Susie that there would be a PayPal credit card coming to her. Never arrived.
This list is by no means complete. Because Michelle NEVER provided any financial reports to Susie it's impossible to know how much she collected and spent on behalf of WWFS. It's only possible to work with the information that Susie was able to glean from discussions with Michelle and reports from countless individuals who paid money to Michelle's PayPal yet never received any goods or acknowledgment of donations.
EDIT:
***** Susie contacted the donor of the 14 implants. On 3/23/2012 he verified that they had been sent to Michelle's address at the end of 2011.
******* Rose German let me know that she'd verified with the USPS that the baskets had gotten lost while in their possession.
(Keep in mind this was a notepad document that was typed up at some ridiculous hour of the night. While Susie's notes were extensive they weren't necessarily well organized. Papers went into her folders as her notes were made. I can't put this list into a more concise format without putting a lot more work into it, and frankly it makes me ill.)
Disclaimer: All monetary amounts, unless listed to the penny, are approximations.
Items received by Michelle on behalf of WWFS's personal use. Never received at WWFS:
- Sketch of Karmah by K.M.
- Original "Chain Saw Massacre" ferret print by Shannon Moore
- Stand-alone beds by Karen
- Hill's measuring cups
- Food Scoops
Items Michelle claimed she had on hand and was ready to get to WWFS, but which were never delivered:
- 25 Tied fleece blankets by Stephanie Bowtie which were donated to WWFS for Christmas
- 130 (approximately) infant-sized Christmas Stockings which were donated specifically to be cross-stitched for WWFS ferrets and family OR cross-stitched and sold for fundraising
- Cross-stitched bag with Weezle Wings logo and Susie's Name
- Special cross-stitched blankets personalized for WWFS ferrets
- Crocheted blankets for all WWFS ferrets
- Wubby blankets with stuffed animal heads for all WWFS ferrets
- 40# bag Zupreem
- 2 cases of Mazuri less 4 bags (the only ferret-related package received since 9/2011)
- 2 large bags of Marshall ferret food. Donated by Marshall.
- 1 box of 14 G metal sterile implant needles (200)
- Donation of 2 moist Ultimate 8 in 1 Advanced Nutrition food
- approx. $256 ceramic food bowls and a hammock from ferret.com which were donated by a generous person whose name was never shared with Susie
- Pill shooter (for administering pills to ferrets who won't take them otherwise)
- Pill splitter
- Otoscope $30
- Space Pod bedding
- At least 6 ferret care packages. Value unknown.
- Picture of Gris Gris angel
- Nobbly Wobbly ball
- Box of meds from online source valued at $300
- 2 sets of meds claimed as "lost" deliveries by Michelle. The first was replaced by the sender and the money was supposedly returned to Michelle's PayPal or credit card. Total value (two shipments of $232.85 and the credited $232.85) $698.55
- 2 boxes of 25 G 5/8" needle & 1cc syringe sets
- special syringe caps and bottle adaptors
Items Michelle claimed WWFS had paid for, but which were never received by WWFS or their intended recipients:
- Check to RM - $30
- Check for supplies paid to Dr. Kimbrough's office. Since this has not been paid they have added monthy service charges, more than doubling the amount originally owed.
- Allergen block - 100 tubes valued at $168.00 (WWFS wants either the items or the money back)
- Repeated promises of papier mache' animals after release of A Ferret Tale
- Large cross-stitch of Ferr'ouquea on specially ordered pink Aida cloth.
- Large cross-stitched WWFS logo (banner-sized)
- Cross-stitch kit auctioned in WWFS fundraising auction, won by WWFS family member but never sent out.
- Signed Ferret Movie DVD, "To Susie and the Fursnakes" paid for by donors.
Items Michelle collected on behalf of WWFS which she claimed she would deliver to WWFS:
- Large box of toys by Donna Clashman
- Cuddle cup by Donna Clashman
- Cuddle cup by Rose German
Business FUBARed by Michelle:
- 14 full-size implants, including 2 donated by Angela Neiswenter which she had won in an auction.*****
- 2 sets of 25 implants with 10 additional full-size implants.
- 3 boxes sterile gloves
- Betadine solution
Donations received by Michelle for WWFS fundraisers but never used in auctions
- Kim Corelli necklaces
- Zupreem, Mazuri, and Marshall promotional items
- Ferret Depot gift card, $50 - donated by Steve
- Complete playpen set donated by Steve
- Complete playpen set donated by Marshall
Sponsor items donated:
- Large box of Zupreem "I heart my Fuzzy" silicone bracelets, 5 T-shirts, and picture frame magnets
- 2 Mazuri insulated tumblers
- Crusher Hoblet T-shirt
Things owed to WWFS:
- Business cards & $48.05 for their purchase. (Susie says her cards only cost $15 so she can't imagine what extra services Michelle had done on her own cards).
- All WWFS writing implements
- 120ml bottle Prednisolone which Michelle claimed was in the mail back to Susie. Never received.
- 3 15ml amoxidrops - unmixed. Also claimed was in the mail. Never received at WWFS.
- Sterile Normal Saline for wound care. No amounts given.
- Donor gave Michelle money for one of the dancing ferret Christmas decorations. Never delivered dancing ferret to WWFS. Approx. $20 + tax.
- Order from Ferret Depot that Michelle had delivered to her own home and told Susie she would bring.
- 2 large bags of Marshall Food
- Ferret Depot order $38.67 - never arrived
- Ferret Depot order $190 - included:
- 10 bags of moist food
- Turtle Tunnel
- Critter Travel Home
- #1206 ferret tunnel and hammock
- Fuzzy beds - 4 large, 4 medium
- Nature's Miracle cage wipes - 6 cans
- Nature's Miracle Stain & Odor remover
- 16 oz FerreTone - 3
- 8 oz FerreTone - 4
- Monogrammed playpen tote bag
Items which were taken from WWFS to be sold in fundraisers, or which were borrowed by Michelle with the understanding that they'd be returned to WWFS:
- 50 Kitchen Weasel posters
- Box of 25 mailing tubes
- stack of WWFS coloring books with crayon sets
- Assorted "I love my ferret" jewelry
- 5 T-shirts to be sent to Brenda Taylor for embellishment. Brenda has not received these.
Donations reportedly made to WWFS but which have never been received at the sanctuary. List is NOT complete:
- $30.00 for Poindexter and Astrid by Facebook WWFS supporter
- Additional package from Laura Marsh for Mandrake - never received
- 2 baskets for Horla & Divia containing toys, bedding, etc., donated by Woldridge Antiques. Never received at WWFS and very generously replaced by Rose German with smaller sets. *******
- $100 from Theresa Bartoletta via PayPal to Michelle for purchase of moist food for senior ferrets. *
- $50 gift card for Pixie from her Ferret Giving Tree sponsor, Jean Hurley-Gardner. Michelle used this to purchase clearance supplies from Ferret Depot. Package never received. *
*Listed again below. Do not count as additional amounts in the total.
Promises and other claims made by Michelle:
- Would deliver several picture frames
- Would see to the repair of a large load of ferret bedding
- 5 hammocks for Freestyle Frames, and hardware to repair them
- 2 ferret beds to be repaired
- assorted toys, hammocks, beds, and sleepsacks to be repaired
- sweaters for SnarlieMan, Nermie, & SnoodleBug - paid for by WWFS
- Dressing kits
- Injectible B-12
- Blanket for Ferr'ouquea
- Claimed to have sent out Christmas cards on behalf of WWFs. Susie received no acknowledgement of these cards. Expenditure was NOT approved by WWFS. Want to be reimbursed for the cost of the cards and the postage. (To date only one person has stepped forward and said she might have received one of these cards.)
- Would repair a canvas Ferret tote bag for Susie. Never returned.
- Promised to make a "Rainbow Bridge" cross-stitch with the names of the WWFS ferrets who had passed.
WWFS WANTS RETURNED:
- box of hardware saved from worn hammocks
- fabric which was donated to WWFS
- Squeakers which were harvested from damaged toys
- 48 eggs awaiting crocheting
- Locking casters and shelf clips from Midwest
- 2 large rolling bins for storage of litter and food (and replacement caster) OR the $60 which was spent on the rolling bins and replacement caster
- All WWFS letterhead and envelopes
- 3 Ferret calendars at $9.60, not sure if this was a total for the three
- $61.43 which came out of WWFS funds but which was an unnecessary expense because multiple people were contributing items for the Giving Tree ferrets which WWFS was sponsoring. It was an unapproved expense.
- 4 sets of "nail art" at $9.95 per set. Supposed to be for fundraisers. Unapproved purchase. WWFS wants the money for this.
- Case (24 ct) of Marshall Ferret Shampoo with baking soda for WWFS fundraising.
- 3 sock monkeys for ferrets
- Devil and Angel ferret figurines - Michelle gushed about these repeatedly. Never received at WWFS.
- 2 Hannah's large gift baskets. Michelle had these sent to her own home. One basket was to be sent to one of the WWFS sponsored GT ferret pairs. Never received by either WWFS or GT shelter. Still in her possession in early January.
- Michelle pushed and pushed for the WWFS money to pay some of the utility bills at the Sanctuary. When Susie finally and reluctantly agreed to let her do so Michelle said the bills were paid, but Susie started getting disconnect notices. When asked for confirmation codes Michelle repeatedly avoided that part of the conversation, saying she had more important things to do.
- Michelle called Susie with a list of items she claimed were her family's gift to Susie for Christmas. She later presented the invoice for these items to Jill Walker as proof of a WWFS approved purchase. It most definitely WAS NOT approved. She NEVER showed Susie any invoices for purchases she made.
- Collection of signed Shannon Moore prints which were to be used in fundraisers. Possibly 10 or more. Value unknown. One print was to be sent to an auction winner, but was never received. It is likely that this is still in Michelle's possession since she has a history of not mailing items.
- Over $900 collected in the last fundraiser. Any items that Michelle had in her possession were not sent. Donors had to email Michelle for info on high bidders so they could get their donations in the mail. (I know this for a fact since I had to contact her at least twice for this.)
- 2012 Ferrets USA magazine.
- 2 copper bracelets with WWFS and Ferr'ouquea's picture on them for fundraising.
- Snuggie with ferret picture on it.
- Order for sterile plastic tweezers. 1 case. Claimed to have ordered. Never received.
- Laminated cage cards for ferrets. Never received.
- Binders for each ferret with dividers. Never received.
- Michelle accepted a $50.41 card for phone time, with the promise of returning the favor when the WWFS phone time expired. She then charged $100.82 for additional phone time, but that was an unapproved expense. She admitted to doing this. The total here is $151.23 and WWFS wants the money returned.
- Admitted to ordering Ferret Depot items using funds donated by Theresa Bartolatta ($100.00), and a gift certificate ($50.00) then paid an additional $38.67 using WWFS funds. Package never received by WWFS. WWFS wants the merchandise or the money returned.
- Postage $11.95 for Kitchen Weasels
- Additional $18 for shipping on Kitchen Weasels to Ireland. A donor claimed to have paid for this postage, so Michelle needs to repay it to WWFS.
Items which Michelle claimed were donated to WWFS but which never arrived:
- water bottles
Items which Michelle said were sent to others at WWFS, or on which she paid the postage, but which were never received at their intended destination:
- Kitchen Weasel posters which were signed by the model & then sent back to WWFS for distribution. Approximately 20 posters and postage for them.
In October of 2011 Michelle hit all the WWFS contacts, Facebook people, mailing lists, etc., for furndraiser donations. Items collected were to be auctioned in 4 separate fundraisers. None of these items have ever been used in fundraisers, nor have they come back to WWFS.
She also collected recipes for a planned WWFS cookbook. She hit many groups, including the WWFS Facebook Fan Page subscribers, Yahoo Groups & other boards. These need to be sent back to WWFS.
She was directly responsible for messing up the WWFS bank account, and two layaways.
She is the direct reason that ferrets needing meds, implants, and surgeries cannot get them.
Any donations she received since her resignation from WWFS are still in her possession unless otherwise stated.
No financial reports were ever shown to WWFS, despite repeated requests for same.
Donations dwindled to nothing starting in October 2011. Michelle claimed she had these items sent to her home for Susie's "convenience", despite being instructed to NOT have any WWFS items sent to her home.
Whereas Susie's mail used to consist of Ferret item catalogs, pet care catalogs, donations, etc., now the only things she regularly receives are unpaid bills and junk mail.
One sponsor usually donates the following and it is likely that this is what was delivered to Michelle's house after she changed the the address to her own:
- 80 lb Ultimate
- 3 PB Yogies
- 4 Ferretbites RC Flavored bits
- 4 Banana Raisin Bits
- 4 Bags soft advanced nutrition moist food
- 4 Vitasol
- 2 35 ct Nature's Miracle cage wipes
- 1 Ferret Sheen
- 1 Dry Shampoo
- 6 20 Lb ultimates
- 3 Ultra
Michelle told Susie that there would be a PayPal credit card coming to her. Never arrived.
This list is by no means complete. Because Michelle NEVER provided any financial reports to Susie it's impossible to know how much she collected and spent on behalf of WWFS. It's only possible to work with the information that Susie was able to glean from discussions with Michelle and reports from countless individuals who paid money to Michelle's PayPal yet never received any goods or acknowledgment of donations.
EDIT:
***** Susie contacted the donor of the 14 implants. On 3/23/2012 he verified that they had been sent to Michelle's address at the end of 2011.
******* Rose German let me know that she'd verified with the USPS that the baskets had gotten lost while in their possession.
