From: "Alex Hamilton", [EMAIL PROTECTED] I drew the attention of the NRA to Ian Brown's open letter of January 29th. I have been asked to publish the two preceding letters (Mr Brown to Mr de Havilland of December 19th and Mr de Havilland's reply of December 27th) so as to set Mr Brown's letter in context." Regards, Alex ___________________________________________________________________ > 19th December 2000 > Dear Mr de Havilland, > > I understand that certain NRA members, Council members, and staff have > brought the Association into disrepute by causing questions to be asked by > the Charities Commission. > > You may know that rumours about these alleged questions have been > circulating around the shooting world, and Bisley, for some time. > > The recent, much delayed, NRA Journal sheds no light on the affair. > > Please furnish me with the following information: > > 1. the list of questions (18 in number?) received in the spring > 2. the draft answers circulated to Council members > 3. the final answers submitted to the Charities Commission > 4. the second list of questions, received in July > 5. the draft answers circulated to Council members > 6. the final answers submitted to the Charities Commission. > > Either e-mail or fax will be convenient. I suggest the information also be > posted on the Association's website. > Yours sincerely > Ian R.M. Brown > ___________________________________________________________________ 27th December 2000 Dear Mr Brown, In reply to your letter of 19th December it appears that certain members of the NRA did indeed try to bring the Association and/or its officers into disrepute by complaining over Council's head to the Charity Commission about perceived grievances in about March 2000. Though we are advised that the Commission recognised the complainants were mostly likely to be "politically motivated", the Commission has of course a legal duty to consider all complaints except those which are patently frivolous. Accordingly, the Commission sent a list of questions to all members of Council. A draft answer was prepared in conjunction with our solicitors who advise us on charitable matters and was sent to all members of Council for clearance or comment. Some six comments were made which were incorporated into the definitive reply sent by the solicitors. A list of supplementary questions was subsequently sent by the Commission and the same procedure as above was followed. The eventual reply incorporated the less than half a dozen comments received from members of Council. There, so far as we are aware, the matter rests. It would be in the NRA's interest to see the original letter(s) of complaint that were sent to the Charity Commission which have so far not been made available to Council; and obviously the Commission cannot be expected to release such originating correspondence. If, through your association with the Complainant(s), you can obtain a copy would you please send it to the Secretary to Council as soon as possible? If you wish to see copies of the correspondence between the solicitors and the Charity Commission, I have to advise you that this is confidential to members of Council so I cannot send it myself, though I imagine you will have already received copies from within the Complainant(s) circle. Yours truly J.A. de Havilland Chairman, NRA Council Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01