As we wait for the judge to rule on two court actions that we believe will unseat the old Friends of Fort Knox board of directors, we are often being asked by financial donors what they should do until this matter has been resolved legally. Many donors are concerned that their financial contributions will not be spent on Fort Knox projects, but to fund needless lawyer fees.

The old board has expended more than $12,000 on legal fees to conduct elections and rewrite bylaws stripping membership of rights.

All legal fees arising from our court actions are covered by FFK insurance policies, so the old board’s expenditures on excessive legal advice might be viewed as irresponsible. We understand that the old board has proposed to expend thousands of dollars more this year in extraneous legal fees. The proposed expenditures come at a time when the organization continues to spend down emergency reserve funds, leaving the organization with the lowest level of funds in a decade.

We would advise those who wish to continue to contribute to Fort Knox projects that they contribute directly to Fort Knox, through the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. Detail that your contribution is to be used only for Fort Knox preservation-restoration projects and mail it to: Fort Knox State Historic Site, 711 Fort Knox Road, Prospect 04981, telephone 469-7719.

We hope the matter of whom legitimately controls the Friends of Fort Knox board of directors will be resolved soon, but in the meantime we suggest donors heed the advice suggested in this letter.

Michael Celli

Brewer