WSRC Director Monica vendors don’t have to pay - smoking gun email to Gipson

Discussion in 'Trapshooting Forum - Americantrapshooter.com' started by merlo, Feb 27, 2021.

  1. merlo

    merlo Mega Poster Forum Reporter

    Remember Monica? Those were the fun MOU days.

    She was Director of the WSRC?

    Didn't she tell Lynn Gipson that the vendors would not have to pay if the WSRC was closed? That was a while back.

    So why did the vendors have to pay last year? Did Lynn Gipson tell the vendors about Monica's promise?


    thumbnail_VENDORS RENT1.jpg


    If I was a vendor, I would want a copy of the above email sent from Monica to Lynn Gipson.

    I wonder what vendors received a copy of the email.

    I report. You decide.
    merlo out
     
    Roger Coveleskie likes this.
  2. BRAD DYSINGER

    BRAD DYSINGER The Philosophist Founding Member Member Trapshooting Hall of Fame Member State Hall of Fame

    So Merlo, the State of Illinois LIED. Why would anyone be surprised (Brad M). I've been telling anyone who would listen that these people can't be believed or trusted for 20 years, long before Sparta was even in the picture.

    So we have lies by the government person in charge, we have lies by Bradford about the HOF building during this same time period, we have lies about the numbers of shooters attending the shoot, don't you think it would be quicker to tell us when any of these people told the truth?

    I don't for the life of me understand why anyone, Vendor, Shooter, Gun Club (Missouri, the Cardinal Center) would trust Gibson or the EC to do business with them. This bunch makes the Democrats and Pelosi, Schumer and Bidden look honest, Oh I left out the Ho , sorry.

    When your leaders move to the most anti gun and historically corrupt state in the union what else would you expect. So if you are a Trap Shooting vendor bend over and say thank you, or Just Tell the ATA to go to Hell and call the Cardinal Center and ask them about Vending. They have a full schedule this year, and last year for that matter.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 28, 2021
  3. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    You know this brings up that same old story hear a lot on here about how the Ata should close up shop and no one trusts they people who run the Ata. Though no one here has ever been able to get enough people together to actually change anything. With such strong growth on the forum, this should be an easy task. I think those here with such strong opinions and views on how things should run should form there own organization and take all the membership away. I would join.
     
  4. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    Hi Brad

    I know you are clueless about ATA history. You said no one has been able to get enough people together to do anything.

    But you didn’t acknowledge that when the corrupt thugs moved the org to Illinois, Ohio built a better place before the the gun hate state threw a registered target.

    And you are talking to us on a forum that seems to exist because of the crime and corruption that surrounds you. I hear it was a group project.

    And did you know the smoking gun above is published on that forum?

    Did you know a group got together with the Attorney General from Illinois to stop the illegal gun giveaway by the EC members?

    I don’t work for the Gun Hate State. You do.

    Illinois ripped off the vendors and you are blaming it on everyone else.

    You are a creep that belongs in Illinois. You and your creepy friends are why so many have put in so much work to keep you guys there. It has been a group project.

    The vendors will always get a better deal at the Cardinal Center.
     
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  5. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    Did they??
    I did not blame the vendors.
     
  6. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    Brad M

    Please don’t go away! Someone needs to be here to defend this fraud. Stick around. Tell us how it was ok for Illinois to shut down the joint and still stick it to the vendors. And remind us who you work for. Illinois right?
     
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  7. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    I wouldn’t go away. I love all the conspiracy theories here!
     
  8. Ken Cerney

    Ken Cerney HOF Muscoda Gun Club Past Wisconsin Director Founding Member HOF Muscoda Gun Club

    They still owe me money from 1972 tax return. I kn ow I will never see it so I even stopped bugging them years ago.
     
    Brad M likes this.
  9. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    There ya have it.

    Brad M thinks the above letter is just a theory. Of course it wasn’t written to Lynn Gipson. And of course it didn’t come from the Director of the WSRC. And his employer didn’t commit fraud according to that letter. And the vendors weren’t charged for buildings they couldn’t use.

    Brad M from Illinois says it is just a theory. The vendors weren’t ripped off! Just a theory.
     
  10. Just Joe

    Just Joe Administrator Staff Member

    Brad M

    Do you have reason to believe the letter written above is false? Please tell the forum what evidence you have. It looks like a foia request.


    just joe
     
  11. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    I can’t speak to the validity of this as I have no knowledge of it. One would think this would of been brought up when this whole discussion of not paying a lease started as if it was a FOIA request Merlo would of had this for sometime and as much as everyone here hates Illinois would of give it to all the vendors as soon as he first heard about it. I personally would like to know why this is being brought up now? If this information is out there it should of been given to every vendor and this whole conversation would not be happening. This is official right? Someone failed to do there due diligence to every vendor after filling a FOIA it may seem to appear.
     
  12. Roger Coveleskie

    Roger Coveleskie State HOF Founding Member Member State Hall of Fame

    Brad, Please tell me how we members can change the ATA. We have no vote in running the organization. Roger C.
     
  13. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    I believe it says director of Stragetic planning and marketing. Not director of the facility.
     
  14. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    Well Roger,
    You get the huddled masses here to vote for delegates that will vote the way they want them too. You do that for each delegate position and within a few years the people you elected are in control. I would of thought all of the forum members and disgruntled ata members would of done that by now.
     
  15. Just Joe

    Just Joe Administrator Staff Member

    Brad M

    Obviously it is a foia request. So you agree it is real. Now you are implying it is a forum member’s fault the letter given to Gipson was not delivered to vendors.

    Be clear....by law the members here are not required to give out the results of any foia requests.


    There is no “legal due diligence” required by the forum members. If you disagree you can file a lawsuit and ask for a discovery of all foia requests filed by members. I doubt that will go far.

    Blaming this possible act of fraud on a forum member is over the top. You might want to reconsider.

    It looks to me like the letter was addressed to the Executive Director of the ATA.


    I am admin. I am not giving my opinions. I want the facts. I think some vendors might agree. joe

     
  16. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    So you are saying that whoever filed this FOIA, would not want to help the vendors out in this situation? I never said “legal” due diligence. Why would you not want to help the people who support this industry, regardless of location? I don’t know that’s it’s real, it looks real, I have never filed a FOIA request, I don’t know what one looks like. Also, how do we know it was not given to the vendors?
     
  17. Just Joe

    Just Joe Administrator Staff Member

    I will try to be even more clear with you. Our members have no obligation to share any knowledge from foia requests. And nowhere in this discussion are delegates accused of knowing about possible fraud. The Executive Director of the ATA, Monica, and her employer are the only parties mentioned.

    The OP asked if this letter was given to vendors.


    I would like that answer. joe
     
  18. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the clarification that information in this FOIA was not shard to the vendors by the person who requested the FOIA to your knowledge. Is there a vendor who is a forum member or someone who knows a vendor who can shed some light on this request? Also, are you saying the Merlo is a delegate?
     
  19. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    I have two questions:

    1. What is Monica Brackman's telephone number?

    2. What is Bill Taft's telephone number?
     
  20. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    The Memo was sent to Bill Taft, known professionally as William W. Taft, Senior Public Service Administrator with IDNR. A courtesy copy was also sent to Lynn Gipson. Is there proof that Lynn Gipson received his courtesy copy?

    Merlo, where and when and from whom did you receive your copy of the memo?
     
  21. Just Joe

    Just Joe Administrator Staff Member

    Brad M

    Please pay attention. I do not care who asked for the foia. It isn’t important. Go to another thread and ask. The only relevant question is whether this information was given to vendors. Any distractions from that question will be removed.


    We do not expose the identities of users. Don’t ask for it. You may get banned.

     
    Brad M likes this.
  22. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    To whom to the vendors remit payment?
     
  23. butterly

    butterly Mega Poster

    Phantom

    It appears LG asked for information but he could have been asking for himself. He is a vendor. Conflict?
     
  24. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    I don't read it that way. Look at the date lines. She sent at 4:21. He forwarded at 4:26 to a redacted address. Who redacted the address? Why?

    Merlo, why is the forwarding address redacted?
     
  25. BRAD DYSINGER

    BRAD DYSINGER The Philosophist Founding Member Member Trapshooting Hall of Fame Member State Hall of Fame

    I had a assistant states' attorney from Lake, County Indiana hunting with me this weekend. I alerted him to this thread and filled him in on what Sparta, the ATA, and Illinois did to the Vendor's last year and this year. He said that he was going to look into it when he got home but right off the batt he thought fraud, wire fraud, possible rico act and a couple of other choice possibilities that I'll keep to myself. By the was he IS an ATA member for many years.

    E-mail is interstate and would be a federal crime as well as a state crime. He also said that if Gibson had this info and didn't share it it could be considered conspiracy since he is also a vendor, and the ED of the ATA. A conflict of Interest at the minimoon were his words. He hasn't heard anything about Pull 2012, YET. I'll save that for him later, that is unless he starts reading about it on this web site first.
     
  26. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    Brad,

    Who did Beretta stroke their vendor checks to?
     
    Brad M likes this.
  27. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    C'mon, guys! Are the vendors in contract with the State of Illinois or not? I betcha Brad M knows the answer.
     
    Brad M likes this.
  28. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    "To whom to the vendors remit payment?"

    I apologize for the typographical error.

    TO WHOM DO THE VENDORS REMIT PAYMENT?
     
  29. User 1

    User 1 Forum Leader Founding Member Forum Leader

    Read this again ...... very slow ..... "If the facility does not or is not open during the lease period the vendors are not required to pay their rent."

    Interesting use of ..... "during the lease period" .....

    One could conclude that the use of just the word "during", could be "does not or is not open" for the 'entire' "lease period", NOT just 'portions' of the "lease period" .....

    Like ..... "during" the football game, only players and refs are allowed on the field ......

    Or ..... "during" the movie, you are required to be quiet .....

    Or ..... "during" a war, gas is rationed .....

    Or ..... "during" the grand, you must pre-squad ..... and so on .....

    Adding words like 'sometime' changes that ...... 'sometime' "during" the grand we will have lunch .....

    "during" the ol'JoJo presidency, there are much bigger things to worry about .....
     
    butterly likes this.
  30. HistoryBuff

    HistoryBuff US Navy Retired US Navy Retired Founding Member Forum Leader Official Historian Member State Hall of Fame

    Phantom,

    I looked at an old lease. Here's is the payment provision.


    " . . . payment to the STATE OF ILLINOIS, acting by and through the Department of Natural Resources (the Department) with an address of One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Illinois 62702, Attn: World Shooting and Recreational Complex Project Manager."

    "Payment shall be made by check or money order payable to “ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.”


    I assume vendors still send their lease payment to the Springfield office.
     
  31. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    History Buff,

    Much obliged! You know where I'm going with my questions.

    Best regards,

    The Phantom
     
  32. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    The memo upon which Merlo built his "smoking gun" case was sent out by Monica Brackman on December 11, 2015. The memo was sent to Bill Taft of IDNR and cc'd to Lynn Gipson, ATA.

    Much of the leadership structure of IDNR has changed in the last six years. Hiring policies, job descriptions, salaries have been reworked. Operational policies have changed, too. The newly instituted "BID_BUY" system is the way IDNR Procurement now administers contracts with vendors. It is probable that the policies from 2015 have been superceded. In point, what was practiced in 2015 is undoubtedly not practiced in 2021.

    In 2015, was Lynn Gipson on the IDNR approved vendor list? Did he receive the memo as a standard IDNR policy distribution? Is it possible that all of the other vendors on the approved vendor list also received a courtesy copy of the memo. Has the IDNR since rewritten the 2015 policy with new guidelines for potential closures?

    Is it true that upon the annual announcement of bidding for vendor space, that the IDNR sends to EACH and EVERY potential bidder a standardized bid package that, by law, outlines all of the policies that dictate the procedures and policies that will assure equity in selection?

    I have asked a number of germane questions in this thread. History Buff, alone, came forward with a documented answer. His answer, though, as he well knows, is the only one that matters.

    The following quotation is from an article by Travis Lott of The COUNTY JOURNAL, Percy, Illinois. The County Journal is a newspaper that serves Sparta, Illinois and the surrounding area. Please note the date of the article. The last two sentences are particularly informative.

    [​IMG]

    Travis Lott

    Thu, Feb 04, 2021
    The bidding process for vendors at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta is not going well.
    The vendors who occupy the buildings along the traplines at the complex have been in the news a lot in the past year, as they remain bitterly divided with the state of Illinois over issues with the lease contracts.
    In July, vendors were informed that even though they were unable to use their buildings at the complex after the state forbade the Grand American Trapshooting Championships from taking place in Sparta due to the ongoing pandemic, there would be no rent relief for them.
    Just a few months later, at the end of November, the vendors were informed that they would have to place bids to retain their lease contracts.
    This outraged the vendors, many of whom spent thousands of dollars of their own money to renovate the interiors of the buildings and had occupied them since the complex opened in 2006.
    The vendors’ outcry became even louder when they saw the bidding documents, which they said were long and overly complicated.
    In the past month, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ office of procurement has been opening bids.
    So far, 18 of the bids received have been opened, but the state approved only four. All of the bids came from companies that were previously vendors at the complex.
     
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  33. Just Joe

    Just Joe Administrator Staff Member

    From admin....

    The OP asked a question that still hasn’t been answered. Did Lynn Gipson share the information in the email? Was he required to do that? Every vendor had the same lease.

    As admin I do not get involved as just joe but the only smoking gun is so far in the hands of Illinois.

    My question: Is the ATA fighting for the vendors? Why not?! Why didn’t the ATA threaten to leave?

    Please keep comments on the original post?

     
  34. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    Hah!! Why would the ATA threaten to leave if the vendors didn’t get their money back? The Executive Director has a year round business on campus. Tell me that isn’t a conflict! The ED doesn’t have any leverage and most delegates only care about a parking spot.
     
    wpt likes this.
  35. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    There is no "smoking gun." This is just another snipe hunt. From time in memoriam, the vendors have been IN CONTRACT with the STATE of ILLINOIS, not the ATA. Gipson is a vendor who works for the ATA. So what? Sue him! Cut off his head and stick it on a Pike.

    Policies change from day to day. Blame it on the Bossa Nova. Who was the governor of Illinois in 2015?

    This is a bona fide "nuthin' burger."
     
  36. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    The Illinois rep said in a memo to the ATA rep that the vendors did not have to pay if the joint was shut down. It is in the memo. That is a smoking gun!!!

    It was shut down! The vendors lost their money!

    Snipe hunt my ass!!! I hear Dawson lost $6000.00. Darn expensive Snipes.

    According to the lease and Monica’s note to Gipson the vendors got hustled. Fraud on the part of Illinois!
     
    wpt likes this.
  37. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    The memo was from 2015. Memos get shitcanned as fast as they get printed. Brackman, the author of the memo is history, gone. Her memos and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee at the 7-11.

    Who told you Dawson dropped the 6? Who? Name names. We've got nothing to hide around here.

    Dawson sues Illinois. Let me know how much of his money he gets back.

    Monica's memo was to a fellow employee at IDNR. How many "heads-up" courtesy copies did Monica send? How many?

    Shit happens...life goes on. Illinois is a communist, gun hating shit hole. They all knew that in advance. You pays yo' money, you takes yo' chances. Lie down with dogs, get fleas.
     
  38. butterly

    butterly Mega Poster

    The SCTP left the first time they were abandoned by Illinois. The ATA could have done the same thing.

    SCTP = Kids first.

    Illinois won’t have another shot at the SCTP for a decade. Ten years at the CC now.

    The ATA and Gipson will make excuses and continue to cover for their silly Illinois move. Over and over again. Another Groundhog Day.
     
    wpt likes this.
  39. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    No they don’t.

    Attempting to erase emails on a state computer will get you arrested. Even in Illinois. Where did you get that?

    Regardless of who gets fired the lease is still there. Monica was there last year not that it matters. She pointed to the clause that said the vendors wouldn’t have to pay.

    Fraud by the State of Illinois.
     
  40. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    Were closure stipulations included in the bid documents? YES OR NO
     
  41. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    Why can’t you follow the thread? It was a lease. It was not bid buy. All the leases had the same terms. Monica was referring to the lease clause that said the vendors did not have to pay.

    How old are you?
     
  42. The Phantom

    The Phantom Village Idiot Village Idiot Forum Leader

    Well, bless your heart.

    Oh, by the way, who told you Dawson dropped 6 grand? Who told you? Do you understand the question? Who told you Dawson dropped 6 grand? Will Dawson back you up?

    You don't even know who Brackman sent the memo to. You don't even know the purpose of a memo.

    Show me, if you can, the State of Illinois legal document which outlines the relief provided in the event of a closure.

    You're in over your head. Take care, it's a jungle out there.
     
  43. Smithy

    Smithy Mega Poster Founding Member

    I wish Mr. Dawson could back me up. I would enjoy one more conversation. He was a great man and did a lot for trapshooting in Ohio. And he was was married to an equally great wife.

    You can call Pat McCarthy at the shop. He might want to chat with you. Anyone that walks in the shop can get the same information.

    To specifically answer the question —- “will Dawson back you up.” I won’t be talking to him for a while.
     
  44. Brad M

    Brad M Well-Known Member

    I briefly read the contract as there available for anyone to read online, that there is something in there that the vendors do not have to pay if there is not a grand.
     
  45. steelheader

    steelheader New Member

    Dear Phantom ~ Smithy has it right ! and there is no recourse. I am one of the vendors
     
  46. Roger Coveleskie

    Roger Coveleskie State HOF Founding Member Member State Hall of Fame

    Phantom, The vendors paid for their own interior needs. They also were able to remove their property from the buildings.I think they had a dead line to do so otherwise their property became property of the state. Roger C.
     
  47. Black Magic

    Black Magic Active Member Member State Hall of Fame

    Why isn’t the ATA standing up to Illinois about this abuse? Is it because Executive Director Lynn Gipson has a business on campus?

    Is that a conflict?
     
    wpt likes this.
  48. wpt

    wpt Forum Leader Founding Member Forum Leader

    It seems to be obvious the only ones who would know anything for sure would be the Vendors that had paid in advance for 2020, what the out come was once all was said and done as well as those interested in getting a spot for shoots held at the facility in the future ... If there is no input from a Vendor who is or was involved its is purely speculation which would be meaningless at best ... Illinois has always had their own way of doing business but good, bad, or otherwise they get away with it ... I wish all of the vendors the best of Luck and fair warning to be careful when dealing with the Devil ... WPT ... (YAC) ...
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2021