AMA updates Smilie situation

From the American Motorcyclist Association

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) released information Saturday concerning unsubstantiated expenses reimbursed to former AMA Board Chairman Dal Smilie. The information was presented by AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman during the annual corporate board members meeting held at the Omni Severin Hotel that day.

"In September, 2007, the AMA undertook an internal review of Board members' travel expenses," said Dingman. "During the review, a pattern emerged of unsubstantiated expense reimbursements to Mr. Smilie. In October, AMA counsel contacted Mr. Smilie regarding the nature of the unsubstantiated expense reimbursements. Preceding the AMA Board's Nov. 17 meeting, Mr. Smilie offered his resignation from the Board.

"At the November meeting, the AMA board accepted Mr. Smilie's resignation and approved AMA management's recommendation to undertake a third-party review intended to document the scope of the unsubstantiated expense reimbursements to Mr. Smilie. The AMA engaged the services of an outside firm to undertake a forensic review of Mr. Smilie's expense reimbursement requests. Information gathered to date was presented to the AMA Board in its meeting yesterday, Friday February 15.

"At Friday's meeting, the AMA Board voted to report the results of the review to appropriate law enforcement authorities. Meanwhile, the forensic review is continuing, and therefore we can make no further statements regarding the matter at this time.

"This action demonstrates that the AMA Board of Directors and AMA management hold themselves accountable and act with integrity," Dingman said. "I want to assure our members that we consider the management of their money to be a sacred trust. If that trust is violated, then we owe it to each and every member to seek justice on their behalf and to undertake measures to ensure that their trust is never violated again."