[EIDXA] re ZL9HR

[Richard Haendel]

  a.. Info below is distributed by Jacky ZL3CW and John 9M6XRO.
The eight international (non-HARAOA) members of the recent ZL9HR DXpedition 
have been attempting to achieve Financial Reconciliation with the HARAOA 
Team Leader and Co-Leader (VK2IR and VK3YP) in respect of the sponsorship 
funding received from DX Foundations, DX Clubs and individual amateurs to 
support the ZL9HR DXpedition operators who incurred heavy expenses for this 
trip. Naturally, the hire of the ketch "Evohe" for the duration of the 
DXpedition featured high on the list of expenditure. This and all other 
costs were met in full upfront by the participants.

The subject of sponsorship distribution was raised with the leaders before 
we departed from Campbell Island but it got a muted response. A 'celebration 
dinner' had been arranged for the whole group on our return to Invercargill 
when we were hoping for some clarification on the matter. Neither VK2IR or 
VK3YP turned up or even responded to our calls or texting. For me, 
personally, alarm bells began to sound!

With most of us back home, through our spokesman we again raised the matter 
of Financial Reconciliation with the Leaders, VK2IR and VK3YP. Only VK3YP 
has responded thus far and his replies have been dismissive, evasive and at 
times bordering on abusive. VK2IR's complete silence in the background is 
quite untypical. I quote from the latest email sent by VK3YP to the group:

  "There will be NO donations paid to team members as this was never agreed 
prior to dxpedition. If there is any surplus and currently there is no 
surplus - funds will stay with HARAOA as a non profit organization to fund 
future events and sponsor dxpeditions. All donations were made directly to 
HARAOA (legally incorporated as a non profit organisation in Australia) and 
not to individuals. I will not reply to any further emails."

To suggest that donations must be made to 'individuals' to offset our costs 
is totally unheard of. It soon became obvious to me from the tone of VK3YP's 
emails that we will never receive an honest statement or financial 
reconciliation.

Prior to our departure for Campbell Island, sponsorship had reached 17,000 
Australian Dollars (over US$17,800) and it is not unreasonable to assume it 
is closer to US$25,000 now. HARAOA is still appealing for donations and I 
want everyone to be fully aware of just where their donations are going - 
into the HARAOA coffers. Furthermore, these amounts mentioned take no 
account of additional revenue which will derive from QSL cards.

I know that DX Foundations and DX Groups are presently scrutinising their 
expenditure in support of DXpeditions and I feel they should be made aware 
of this appalling abuse taking place. I also urge individual amateurs not to 
give further support and, along with some others in the group who have 
expressed similar sentiments, I totally wish to disassociate myself entirely 
from HARAOA and its ongoing deceitful fundraising endeavors.