MY RESIGNATION LETTER:

Dear fellow Oakdale Saddle Club members:

This letter is to formally explain my reasons for resigning from the position of Newsletter, Social Media, and Website Chair at the Oakdale Saddle Club, a role I have held for the past several years.

It has been my pleasure to serve the members of the Oakdale Saddle Club. I took pride in keeping everyone informed of upcoming events through both digital and physical media. I also designed and maintained the members-only Oakdale Saddle Club website, as well as the Oakdale Rodeo website.

I have always believed that the Oakdale Saddle Club was guided by a Board of Directors committed to transparency, honesty, and fairness toward all members. Unfortunately, over the past several months, I have witnessed actions and behaviors that fall short of these standards. As a non-profit organization, we are expected to operate professionally and in full compliance with California corporate law. Because these expectations have not been met, I can no longer, in good conscience, continue in my role or remain associated with individuals who do not prioritize honesty and the best interests of all members.

In November 2025, several Oakdale Saddle Club (OSC) members expressed serious concern regarding a specific member’s recent arrest on 44 counts of embezzlement and her continued involvement with OSC committees—particularly the Rodeo Queens and Scholarship committees, which serve as role models for our youth. Due to the club’s well-known culture of severe retaliation against members who raise difficult issues, these concerned members felt unable to voice their concerns directly. They approached my husband for assistance in addressing the matter appropriately. This information is publicly available, and the members reasonably expected the Board to handle the situation promptly and transparently.

It was evident that the Board was not adequately protecting the integrity of the OSC. In standard ethical practice for youth-serving organizations, an individual facing multiple felony charges of this nature is expected to step aside from such committees pending the outcome of the legal process.

The Board of Directors could—and should—have addressed the issue by issuing clear, factual, and reassuring communication to all members, similar to the approach taken by the CCPRA Board. Had the Board acted earlier with transparency, the unnecessary division within our club could have been avoided.

As a non-profit organization, the Oakdale Saddle Club is required to abide by its bylaws as well as California corporate laws, including AB 506, which applies to the Rodeo Queen committee given its direct work with youth. AB 506 mandates that regular volunteers (those with more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year of direct contact with minors under 18) complete fingerprint-based Live Scan background checks, along with mandated reporter training. Allowing an individual arrested on multiple felony embezzlement charges—a crime of moral turpitude involving a serious breach of trust—to remain in a prominent role-modeling position for our youth raises significant questions about the organization’s governance, risk management, fiduciary duty of care, and commitment to its mission.

It is well known that my husband, who previously served on the Board of Directors, shared these concerns. In January, he approached Club President Ed Viohl to relay the members’ worries, only to have them immediately dismissed. At the February general meeting, when a member attempted to raise the legitimate concern about the scholarship and rodeo queen committees (without initially naming anyone), confusion ensued. My husband then stepped in to provide clarity by addressing the publicly known facts and resolving the speculation that the Board had allowed to persist. His statements were made in good faith solely to reduce confusion and keep members properly informed.

The March Directors’ Meeting minutes noted that Gail Alteri expressed concern regarding the “conduct of the past general meeting,” which constituted a grievance. The Board motioned for a closed session; however, no recommendations were made, and the procedures outlined in our bylaws (Article V, Section 1) were not followed. That section requires written notice of a hearing, including a general description of the matters to be considered, to be given to the member(s) involved not less than fifteen (15) days before the hearing. The member(s) must also have the right to be heard, orally or in writing.

At the March general meeting, President Ed Viohl openly stated that he was not familiar with the club’s bylaws and permitted the sharing of grievances in open session—a direct violation of our governing documents. Several members made defamatory statements about my husband for raising these legitimate concerns. As the presiding officer, President Viohl failed to intervene and stop the inappropriate comments. My husband was not present at that meeting.

Let me be perfectly clear: this has nothing to do with the elections. After listening to members from the February meeting, I am deeply concerned that we are being deliberately sidetracked from the real issues facing our club. Elections were resolved six months ago and it not even an issue to my husband.  He put that behind him and moved forward and is fully occupied with our involvement in the Mariposa Sheriff Posse. It is time to set aside unrelated personal attacks and focus on the core issue: the serious and ongoing confusion among members regarding the handling of a felony arrest and its implications for our youth programs.

Let’s get back to the real issue.  At least ten members raised questions about allowing the individual in question to continue serving on committees involving young women. This uncertainty was evident at the February meeting. My husband received a letter from President Viohl (not signed by the full Board) outlining grounds for his membership termination, including conduct unbecoming a member, endangering the welfare of members, and creating division. These same standards should apply equally when a member faces serious felony charges involving breach of trust, particularly in roles that model behavior for youth. Transparency and open discussion of legitimate concerns strengthen an organization; suppressing them through retaliation and deflection creates the very division cited.  Mike’s actions were protective of the club and its youth participants, not harmful to them.

He acted responsibly and in good faith by sharing publicly available information regarding the member’s arrest on felony embezzlement charges and by relaying the legitimate concerns expressed by the other members.  His statements were made solely to reduce confusion among members during the February 12 and March 12 meetings and to fulfill his rights and responsibilities as a member in good standing to raise issues affecting the club’s youth programs, governance, and compliance with its own bylaws and California youth protection laws (including AB 506). 

Also, practical reality (liability and policy): Most youth-serving non-profits suspend or remove the person pending resolution of the charges to fulfill the organization’s duty of care and protect against negligence claims. Liability insurers may ask for proof of AB 506 compliance and could deny coverage or raise rates if the organization ignores red flags. This organization needs to take into consideration the seriousness of placing the club into a potential liability exposure and damaging our club’s reputation.

My husband attended his appeal hearing and provided the Board with relevant information in advance. He requested that the hearing be recorded due to the lack of trust that had developed; President Viohl declined, and we respected that decision. I have reviewed the Board’s recent response letter and am concerned that it continues to deflect responsibility and includes a false accusation regarding an illegal recording of a hearing. I was physically present and can confirm that no recording was made. The letter also misreferences the bylaws (citing Article V, Section 1 instead of the correct Article VI, Section 1 regarding conduct of members, guests, and visitors).  “ARTICLE VI – CONDUCT OF MEMBERS, GUESTS, AND VISITORS; Section 1. “All members, guests and visitors to the Club shall be subject to such rules and regulations governing the use of the Club and its facilities as the Board of Directors shall from time to time deem proper and prescribe.  Members inviting guests or visitors shall be responsible for all debts to the Club incurred by such guests or visitors, and for all damage done and liability incurred by them.”

The OSC President lacks the familiarity with our bylaws and the Board’s handling of these serious concerns should be known to all members.

Mike remains committed to protecting the Oakdale Saddle Club’s reputation and integrity. However, the OSC President and Board of Directors suspended him for one year based on false accusations, including an alleged illegal recording of his appeal hearing (which I personally attended and can confirm did not occur) and claims that he engaged in conduct unbecoming of a member, endangered the welfare of club members, and created dissent and division. In reality, my husband attended only the February general meeting referenced earlier in this letter and has not attended any OSC meetings since. He has never threatened nor placed anyone in jeopardy.  The actions that have actually caused division is from  Board’s failure to address legitimate concerns transparently.

 Every member deserves a Board of Directors and Club President who operate with full transparency and consistently act in the best interests of the club and its members. I have not observed this level of leadership since November 2025. For this reason, I can no longer participate on any committee under the current Board. 

The Board of Directors has lost the trust of many members. As a result, concerned members are now reluctant to speak up for fear of retaliation.  The Board should immediately take responsibility for correcting misinformation, stop the attacks and division, and restore trust of all members.  Continued deflection and personal attacks will only deepen divisions within the club.  I expect the Board to address concerns openly, professionally and ethically so we can move forward as a transparent, unified, ethical, and honest organization.

Sincerely,

Wendie Kotowski