A reader nudged me with several observations about Friends of Hawaii Robotics, a nonprofit group awarded $2.8 million in federal stimulus funds by Gov. Lingle to promote robotics education.
How is a start-up nonprofit like this one, which according to state records was registered on August 1, 2008, selected to receive such a large grant without going through the bureaucratic rituals required of others.
For example, according the the online business registration records of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Friends of Hawaii Robotics “is not in good standing.”
This generally means that the group has not filed reports required by the state.
In addition, Friends of Hawaii Robotics does not appear to have registered as a charitable organization with the Attorney General’s Office or filed the required annual report, as the group does not appear in the AG’s database of registered organizations.
Here’s what I got this morning when searching the AG’s database:
![[text]](http://ilind.net/images_2010/ag-robotics.jpg)
The AG has pursued other nonprofits that failed to register or filed late.
But at the same time, the state is completing its transfer of $2,805,200 to Friends of Hawaii Robotics, according to a document filed with the State Procurement Office.
This is not to imply that there is anything wrong with the organization or its activities, which have gotten a lot of good public attention.
But shouldn’t we expect a group receiving such a large grant of public funds to follow the same rules and meet the same standards as other nonprofits?
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Clerical oversights. DCCA filing made today (only a couple of days later than 9/30 deadline); other will be cured shortly.
Let’s see … how do you spell “due diligence” ?
Being the cynical semi-ex-journalist that I am, I thought I’d look to see whether the agent for the robotics group, Alan Hayashi, ever contributed to the governor’s campaign.
However, while the Campaign Spending Commission’s Website shows four pages of Lingle’s filings, none of the half-dozen or so contribution reports list a single record of a contributor. I’ve never seen that before. And while they only go back to the 2006-2008 filing period, her disclosure for that shows at least $13,000 in contributions but gives no names.
Meanwhile, the filings for her 2006 opponent, Randal Iwase, do show contributors by name and amount.
Am I missing something here?
There is an Alan Hayashi who – according to fundrace – has contributed to Hirono and Hanabusa and who is an officer at BAE systems, a tech company that will no doubt benefit from an increase in greater training of our students in robotics. In short, probably not a political tit-for-tat. (It does raise the question of whether money for this sort of thing should stream from tech industry to the taxpayer, and not the other way around.)
Re Kenneth Marcus’ explanation/excuse that failure to file with DCCA was a mere technical oversight. You’ll notice that there is still no filing for LAST year.
Also, according to Lenny Klompus’ filing with the Ethics Commission, the group — while claiming no income greater than $25K for years past — still managed to pay $1,500 for Klompus’ travel in 2009.
checkout the LTG public schedule. another non-profit Hawaii state science olympiad gets ARRA monies. How are they selected?
While reviewing details associated with the Friends of Robotics organization and helping to ensure that they are acting appropriately both with filing and with active use of the funds received.
Let us not forget that the funds are targeted for the benefit of the students of Hawaii.
FIRST Robotics is an exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program with years of demonstrated benefit to students.
Our students, as much if not more than others across the nation, will benefit from additional STEM programs especially FIRST Robotics.
These funds, allocated to this program, have the potential to significantly expand the number of students reached by the FIRST Robotics programs throughout Hawaii. FIRST Robotics will significantly increase the STEM capabilities and future success of the students and the nation.
While you are carefully analyzing the Friends of Robotics organization, it’s due diligence and it’s application of funds, please also volunteer to help a School Robotics team. Volunteer to help at the Regional Competition in March.
All assistance is beneficial not only that of scientists and engineers. FIRST programs need business plans, public relations, marketing and fund raising support as well.
Monitor carefully. But also get out and volunteer. The robotics programs throughout the state are good for the students of Hawaii!