September 12, 2001
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TO: RE: |
International Wushu Federation Current Status of USAWKF and Its Board of Directors |
As you are aware, since November of 1999, there has been a struggle for leadership and control of the United States of America Wushu-Kungfu Federation (USAWKF). A group led by Jeff Bolt, Nick Gracenin and Pat Rice, with the collusion and encouragement of others both in the United States and China, attemped to illegally hijack USAWKF.
This group brought suit in Maryland courts for an injunction to prevent USAWKF President Anthony Goh from fulfilling his duties and responsibilities as President. Their request for an injunction was heard on Thursday, August 2, 2001. That request for an injunction was denied and Anthony Goh continues serving as President.
In their efforts to take control of USAWKF, the group led by Bolt, Gracenin and Rice committed numerous, serious and continuous violations of the USAWKF Bylaws and the USAWKF Code of Ethics and Behavior (both of which they themselves helped to write and for which they all voted). There have also been numerous, serious and continuous violations of Maryland corporate law governing associations.
In addition, they do not meet three important requirements for being memebers of the Board of Directors for USAWKF.
1) They are not members of USAWKF. Bolt, Gracenin and Rice received certified notices that their memberships in USAWKF had expired. All three chose not to renew their memberships
2) They are not active in Board matters of USAWKF. Through they received due and appropriate notice, Bolt, Gracenin and Rice did not attend the Board's annual meetings in 2000 and 2001, nor have they participated in any USAWKF activities.
3) They have not acted ethically and in the best interests of USAWKF. Bolt, Gracenin and Rice (along with others) set up their own federation in another city with its own office, board of directors, bylaws, national event and team trials. In doing so, they used the USAWKF name and logo thereby potentially damaging the name and reputation of USAWKF and causing confusion among athletes and the general public both at home and abroad.
The USAWKF Legal Counsel notified Bolt, Gracenin and Rice of their violations of the Bylaws, Code of Ethics and Maryland corporate law governing associations. They have at every turn ignored the advice of the Legal Counsel.
Because of their violations of USAWKF Bylaws, the USAWKF Code of Ethics and Behavior and Maryland corporate law governing associations, and by the many actions they have taken since November of 1999 that have caused or may have caused harm to USAWKF, Bolt, Gracenin and Rice have acted contrary to their responsibiliities to USAWKF and against its best interests. These repeated ethical and legal violations are considered constructive resignation from the USAWKF Board of Directors.
So that it is clear and that there is no mistake for anyone at any level, the USAWKF has a legally constituted Board of Directors, chosen in accordance with the USAWKF Articles of Incorporation, the USAWKF Bylaws and Maryland corporate law governing associations. They have been certified to be members-in-good standing of USAWKF and all have vowed to serve USAWKF to their best abilities according to the ethical and legal standards expected of them. In alphabetical order, the current, legal members of the USAWKF Board of Directors are as follows.
Anthony GohIn addition to these members of the Board of Directors, David Fiegelson continues to be Legal Counsel to USAWKF and Carl Hyden continues to be Secretary General.
Yi Jiao Hong
Malee Khow
Randy Li
Shawn Liu
C.P. Ong
Hong Chao Zhang
If you have any questions or require any further clarification, you may reach Anthony Goh or me through USAWKF headquarters.
Sincerely,
Carl T. Hyden
Secretary General