MARCH 2024 - LVSSA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The LVSSA Board of Directors and our LVSSA Members wish Lou and his Family ALL THE BEST and A SPEEDY RECOVERY!   

-Flower Arrangement by Jan Adams (Rod)

Good morning LVSSA Members,

The LVSSA Flag Day Event is TODAY, Wednesday, June 14th at Lorenzi Park starting at 7 am on Field 1 for the guys and Field 4 for the ladies.   

BP will start at 7 am for batting practice and sign-ups.   

For batting practice, Field 1 will be used for players wanting to play in the Men’s Division and Field 4 will be used for the ladies and later players wanting to play in the Co-Ed Division.    Field 4 will use the softballs appropriate for co-ed play – the ladies will use the ladies’ softballs and the men will use the men’s softballs.   Both fields will be used as appropriate based on the number of teams in each Division during tournament play.

At 8:00 am we will recognize Flag Day and make announcements.  Games will commence as soon as teams are made.   Please come by 7:30 am if you can.

Games will be 5 innings long, with the 5th inning being the open inning.   We will try to complete a double elimination for both Divisions, as we have the fields until 4:00 pm.

Lunch, consisting of Schlotsky’s deli subs, chips and snacks, and “Lou’s” desserts will be served at approximately 11:00 am.  

We encourage all members to bring beverages to hydrate, but some water is available.  

Please remember to bring a chair and sunscreen and wear your red, white, and blue!  

- Scott

May 3, 2023

LVSSA members,

I would like a moment of your time to share updated information about the Association regarding pending legal action requested by LVSSA with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Financial Crimes Bureau. 

The District Attorney for Clark County has arrested Jim Whipple, charging him with theft between $25,000.00 and $100,000.00.

The LVSSA Board of Directors hired a CPA firm to do a forensic accounting of our Nevada State Bank accounts and corresponding Visa credit card in October of 2021. Larry Bertsch, of Larry L. Bertsch, CPA & Associates, questioned checks totaling $109,401.89 written between Nov 2019 and June 2021. We have no records pertaining to these checks. Jim Whipple was the treasurer during this time, holding the credit card and check books.

February 26, 2021, Nevada State Bank, where our account has been for many years; had records showing a bank balance of $132,981.85. The balance as of June 17th, 2021 was $81,060.61. During this time Robert ‘Bear’ Beyer was president of the association; Jim Whipple was Treasurer. President Beyer maintained the LVSSA had no business to transact and thus held only 2 board meetings from January to May 31st 2021 on which date he resigned by email at 6:02pm. The board had not legally voted upon agenda actions for expenditures that would have reduced the bank balance by $51,921.24. 

June 17, 2021, Jim Whipple removed $81,060.61 from NSB; the Association’s entire balance.

• Jim Whipple set up a competing Las Vegas Senior Softball Association with Gene Sullenger as President, William ‘Bill’ Patton as Director, himself as      Treasurer and Adrian Sanchez (an outsider hired non LVSSA member) as      Business Manager
• Whipple  filed documents with the NV Secretary of State on June 3, 2021 naming as officers: Bill Patton as President, Gene Sullenger as Director and himself  Treasurer. June 17th 2021 he filed again naming Gene Sullenger President, Bill Patton Director and himself as Treasurer, as legally      elected BOD members. They held meetings and constructed minutes to try to substantiate such actions. We challenged those filings and reported them  as fraudulent with the SOS
• He shut down our LVSSA.com website and directed all inquiries to a newly      created LVSSA.org where he controlled access
• Laurie Buchman, VP, went to the bank to request financial reports; filed a police report with the LVMPD financial crimes bureau and sought legal      representation
• Kimbo Tenorio began research on potential court actions, accounting auditing and  other avenues to recapture our monies

July 1, 2021, a general meeting was called by: VP Laurie Buchman, Men’s Under 65 Rep Turk Allen, Ladies Rep Renn Hjellum-Lim and Secretary Tania Allen. The meeting, held at the Sun City Recreation Building and attended by over 100 members, was to give members an update on the status of the Association, get input on how best to proceed to fund insurance, legal representation, retain permits in our name and carry on the business of the association.

In reviewing bank records, our account was used to pay $7892.04 on an American Express credit card, $4879.29 on a Barclay card and Amazon Store card. The LVSSA did not have an American Express, Barclay or Amazon Store card. Reviewing the LVSSA NSB Visa credit card shows $7080.25 of provable personal charges. There are bar and restaurant charges of $2871.75 from November 2019 through June 2021. $608.86 was charged for groceries and Uber Eats. The amount taken from NSB by Jim Whipple accompanied by Bill Patton was $81,060.61. The amount returned to our attorney July 6th, 2021, was $79,304.74. This shows $1755.87 missing in the days between.

• On June 3, 2021, Jim Whipple: called the city permit office telling them the LVSSA had no president (a city requirement for processing) and therefore they should cancel our Lorenzi permits
• He told our insurance company we would not be renewing coverage that was due in July 2021 (remember, no insurance, no permit)
• Under his purview as CEO and Treasurer in 2020, taxes were paid late and a fine assessed. Notices of delinquency were mailed were not reported to the      Board. Penalties continued growing until $3296.77 had accrued. Board      action was to pay in the 2nd half of 2021, when we became aware of it 

June 25th, 2021 a Demand Letter was sent to Jim Whipple, Adrian Sanchez, Robert Beyer, Bill Patton and Gene Sullenger by our retained legal council, asking for the return of and access to: LVSSA.com, LVSSA.org, access to the LVSSA Facebook page, the checkbook, records, accounting software (QuickBooks), the LVSSA purchased laptop used at tournaments, generator, 3 boxes of Hall of Fame records, the database of tournament teams used for Bullhead, bank records, receipts and credit card records, the release of the administrative hold he placed on our Secretary of State entity. Of all this, the only thing returned to the LVSSA was a nonfunctioning generator in January of 2023 by Dale Clem.

The LVSSA BOD took action against Whipple, Sullenger, Patton and Beyer in expelling them for life for their participation in actions defrauding the Association.

I have tried to give a clear, concise account of what has led to the DA’s actions.

I have been on the board since January 2020 and am honored to serve the LVSSA.

Renn Hjellum-Lim, President

From LVSSA Longtime Member and SSUSA Director Mike Hula:

I appreciate the response from the group very much, and that I have more than enough help. 

For those that responded thank you and for everyone please remember that at least three times as many people will be needed come the Worlds in September. Again thanks to all LVSSA members and the Board for working with me and SSUSA. 

- Mike Hula

From LVSSA President-elect Renn Hjellum-Lim,

We want to congratulate and honor our members who have reached milestones participating at the Huntsman Senior Games:

Over 27 Years of Competing:

Russ Curtis

Many Years of Competing:

Bobby Rink, Russ Gwynne, Dale Alcorn, Bob "Train" Lane, George Fernandes, all have double digit years at Huntsman. 

15 years of Competing

Jean Vaughan

Sue Silcott

Wayne “Smurf” Callahan

20 years of Competing

Etchica Segler

Pat Lawlis

Patricia 'Zimmy' Zimmerman

Star Golia

Trish Etheridge

We also want to acknowledge the admirable essay our own Laurie Buchman contributed to the Huntsman 2022 Program Magazine. The article addresses the 50 year anniversary of Title IX and how it has changed and even made possible the Women's sports we enjoy today.

Well done Ladies and Gentleman, keep up the good work!

Renn Hjellum-Lim

I AM VERY SORRY I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND JOE UPPERMAN'S REMEMBRANCE SERVICE.   I HAD A NASTY FALL AT HOME AND SUFFERED SOME DIBILTATING INJURIES THAT PREVENTED ME FROM BEING THERE.   I I ALWAYS ADMIRED JOE, I THOUGHT HE'D LIVE FOREVER. HIS PASSING CAME AS A GREAT SHOCK TO ME.   HE COMPETED AT A HIGH LEVEL REGARDLESS OF HIS AGE, OFTEN IN A LOWER AGE GROUP AND STILL EXCELLED!   HE DIDN'T TALK MUCH BUT I HAD ONE MEMORABLE CONVERSATION WITH HIM ABOUT WHERE YOU COULD FIND THE BEST "CHEESEBURGERS" IN VEGAS!   KUDOS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HELPED CREATE THIS "REMEMBERANCE" OF JOE AND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED DESPITE THE INCLEMENT WEATHER.   GOD BLESS JOE AND ALL OF YOU!   TAKE CARE AND STAY HAPPY AND HEALTHY! 

My message to our LVSSA members.......

I, and all the other LVSSA Board of Directors thank all of you for joining us on Flag Day Weekend. Because of you, Flag Day Weekend was a huge success. 

Friday's turnout was exceptional, as there were four softball teams playing. We said the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a round robin scrimmage.  After softball, everyone enjoyed eating chicken and Albertson's sandwiches.

Saturday's games drew a lot of players, both men and women. We started the day by having the Color Guards from Rancho High School present the colors of our flag. There were three teams playing on field one while the women exercised their fielding drills followed by a very competitive game on field four.

After softball there was lots of food served. There was Jan's Pulled Pork. Lou was there firing up his grill, serving Ribs, Burgers, Hot Dogs, Chicken , Italian Sausage and London Broil.

Our Flag Day celebration wasn't only about playing softball and eating. We also celebrated the life of our softball sister, teammate, and dear friend, Annie who we tragically lost in April. In Annie's honor, we conducted L and L's Bake Sale, with all the proceeds going to Annie's family. There were so many homemade baked items that were sold. Because of you, our generous members, we raised over $1,300.00 for Annie's family through the Bake Sale and donations.

Thanks to all who put Flag Day together. Thanks to all for being there. Thanks for being united.

We'll let you know when our next LVSSA event will be.

Sincerely,

MLK

Publicity

October 7, 2024

Members,

This morning in court, DA Jake Merback dropped the charges against Jim Whipple. He felt he could not prove the charges to a jury. He has received statements from Jim Whipple, Robert ‘Bear’ Beyer, Bill Patton, and Gene Sullenger. They claim all of Jim Whipple’s expenditures were approved. Years of very sloppy bookkeeping made the case harder to prove.

Our LVSSA operating budget for a year is a little over $20,000.00. Most of that pays for liability insurance and our annual meeting/banquet. February 26, 2021, our Nevada State Bank accounts held $132,981.85. The balance June 17, 2021 was $81,060.61. This was the day Jim Whipple and Bill Patton emptied our LVSSA accounts. $51,921.24 was paid out of our account in 3 and one half months. Neither insurance nor a banquet, were paid for.

In October, 2021, the board hired a CPA firm to do a forensic accounting of our Nevada State Bank accounts and the corresponding Visa credit card. The CPA questioned checks totaling $109,401.89 written between November 2019 and June 2021. Our bank account was used to pay $7892.04 on an American Express credit card. Our account was also used to pay $4879.29 on a Barclay card and Amazon Store card. The LVSSA had a Visa card. Reviewing our LVSSA NSB Visa card showed $7080.25 of personal charges. There are also bar and restaurant charges of $2871.75 from November 2019 through June 2021. $608.86 was charged for groceries and Uber Eats.

I remind you; Jim Whipple, Bear Beyer, Bill Patton, and Gene Sullenger wrote statements claiming all Jim Whipple’s expenditures were approved. And furthermore, Jim Whipple was allowed to use personal credit cards and be reimbursed. This is not shown in any board meeting minutes from November 2019 through June 2021. In the first half of 2021, two board meetings were held; February 1 and April 20. The only expenditure approved was for tax preparation.

Our board insurance investigated and found our treasurer, Jim Whipple, had defrauded the LVSSA. They issued a check for $20,400.00 earlier this year.

Since July of 2021, we have worked hard to right our course and look forward. Your LVSSA board requires all expenditures are approved ahead of any spending. And checks are now required to have two signatures.

No LVSSA funds were used in this case. We presented our evidence to the Financial Crimes Department of the Las Vegas Metro Police. They investigated and gave the case to the District Attorney’s office. It was the DA’s office who filed the charges against Jim Whipple. I am deeply disappointed in the DA’s office.

All my best,

Renn Hjellum-Lim

President, LVSSA