Nueces De La Parra: Founder's daughter says financial records will be sent to national office

Suspended local chapter of GI Forum reinstated

Founder's daughter says financial records will be sent to national office

By Anthony Martinez Beven Caller-Times
July 30, 2006

After a nearly two-week suspension the founding chapter of the American GI Forum was restored late Saturday.

Both national leaders and relatives of Dr. Hector P. Garcia were pleased with the outcome, which came at the end of the organization's national convention in Kansas.

Garcia founded the American GI Forum in Corpus Christi in 1948 after he saw many Hispanic veterans in the area being denied educational, medical and housing benefits guaranteed to them under the American GI Bill of Rights.

"For the good and the welfare of this organization, we have entered into an agreement with the state of Texas leadership and the suspension has been lifted," said Tony Morales, national commander for the American GI Forum and chairman of the organization's board.

JK: WATT is the agreement?

The local chapter, which has more than 100 members, was suspended July 14 after financial records were not turned over to the national office for tax purposes.

Requested documents include information about $50,000 paid to the chapter after a 1999 lawsuit filed by Dr. Xico Garcia, Dr. Hector P. Garcia's brother.

Cecilia Garcia Akers, Dr. Hector P. Garcia's daughter and a lifetime member of the founding chapter, said the financial documentation will be handed over to complete an IRS audit.

JK: This information must be published, documented and made public.

Akers recently said the national office did not follow the constitution of the American GI Forum in suspending the chapter.

"They were supposed to give them notice that they were going to be suspended, then they were supposed to give them a hearing where the chapter could have representation, and they did not do any of those things," Akers said.

JK: WATT Sections in the AGIF Constitution mandate a hearing before a suspension? If violations are committed the violations must cease until a hearing to determine the discrepancies. The seriousness and of electing an expelled member or a sanctioned ineligible ex member coupled with the act of defiance not to follow the AGIF Constitution was the usurping factor demanding the Effective Abatement of the founder's chapter. Everybody knows they cannot disband the Hector P Garcia Founding Chapter of the GI Forum, even myself. But the influence of Dr. Hector was being abused in a way unbecoming to the MAN DR Hector. This was about money and money created the problems. Period.

She said late Saturday that the national organization's legal counsel agreed procedure had not been followed.

Akers said the fighting between the national office and the local chapter had to stop for the organization to continue its mission.

"The family is not going to let my father's name go through the mud anymore," she said. "The American GI Forum is a beautiful organization, and we just need to get it back on track nationally and locally."

JK: Juan Garcia could donate "JUAN HALF" of his "war chest" to the Foundation (on which he sits as Board member) while personally managing the expenditures / projects / financials in a transparent operation. This act of good faith would single handedly restore the Doctor's name, restore the Landmark Building, produce a reaction of engagement in South Texas, and bring enormous masses of HD #32 Democrats to vote for him. He would blow a Sea Man completely out of the water. Pardon the pun?

Morales agreed, saying, "We see nothing but good things happening for us across the board."

Former local chapter commander Ram Chavez, who was expelled from the American GI Forum after allegations of misconduct and refusal to turn over the financial documents, said he was glad to see the founding chapter had been restored. Chavez also led the organization at the state level.

"It's a wonderful way to bring a closing of the 10th anniversary of Dr. Garcia," Chavez said. The community celebrated the 10th anniversary of Dr. Hector P. Garcia's death Wednesday.