COPY OF EMAIL SENT TO THE CTCF/AIFS/RAUIL FOR THEM TO WORK TOGETHER IMMEDIATELY AND PREVENT THE CLOSURE OF ALL OF THEM.
29th December 2019
To:
Bill Gertz Chair AIFS and CTCF Board Member Email: Wgertz@aifs.com
Jack Burg Vice Chair AIFS and CTCF Board Member Email: jburg@aifs.com
Mike Berry, Senior VP AIFS and CTCF Treasurer Email: mberry@aifs.co.uk
Alisa Brookes, Senior VP AIFS and CTCF Board member Email: Abrookes@aifs.co.uk
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cc: Phil Deans, Acting President RAUIL phil.deans@richmond.ac.uk and President@richmond.ac.uk
cc: Penny Egan, CTCF Board member Email: Penny.Egan@rsa.org.uk
cc: Robert Maars, CTCF Board member Email: moynitrust@gmail.com
cc: Vice Chairman of the Richmond University Board of Trustees - Mary Richardson - damemary@btinternet.com
cc: Sarah Olney - Member of Parliament for Richmond - saraholneyrpnk@outlook.com
cc: Felicity Buchan – Member of Parliament for Kensington – felicity@felicitybuchan.com
cc: Gavin Williamson – Secretary of State for Education – gavin@gavinwilliamson.org
cc: Steve Rasch Chairman CTCF and counsel to AIFS - srasch@loebblock.com
cc: Chairman of the Richmond University Board of Trustees - Richard Resch - richardresch714@gmail.com
Petition Link with over 1800 supporters - https://www.change.org/p/american-institute-for-foreign-study-aifs-preserve-the-heritage-and-culture-of-richmond-the-americal-university-in-london
RE: REQUEST FOR URGENT ACTION AND ATTACHED THREE PETITIONS PLEASE READ AND CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION
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Dear Bill, Alisa, Mike, and Jack,
We, the Alumni of Richmond, are writing as you have an AIFS and CTCF affiliation, and we understand some of you have also been members of RAUIL's Board of Trustees. I hope you will share this information with the entire CTCF Board to understand their legal responsibilities and liabilities and consequences.
RAUIL's alumni have not received any response from any of you, Stephen Rasch or the CTCF Board members to our petitions or any proposed long term resolution. Approximately 1800 people have signed our petition and we will continue our efforts until you take appropriate action to fulfill your mission as a charity and support RAUIL. We also understand the students have begun a movement. We will not allow CTCF or AIFS to profit from the closure of the University, due to their likely conflicting or commercial interests!
We have spoken to a few legal UK advisors, on a preliminary basis, all whom believe that it seems very probable, from the limited information we have so far, that Stephen’s Rasch’s and CTCF’s actions may be deemed unlawful, which would create a situation that all parties-RAUIL, CTCF and AIFS may lose their charitable status/affiliation or their entities altogether. One example of CTCF/AIFS's potential improper action is their request for the resignation of RAUIL's President a few weeks ago (refer to attached JPG). Also, please review the attached two alumni petitions and a parent's petition (particularly Page 3), which provides more food for thought. Such actions may have any of all of the following possible outcomes:
1) Risk closure of RAUIL and/or
2) Result in the complete deregistration of CTCF as a charity and/or
3) Place AIFS as an organization at risk too.
If inaction continues, you will destroy Sir Cyril’s legacy for RAUIL and AIFS including CTCF’s charitable status! CTCF's actions raise the most serious questions as to the charitable status which has been presented to the UK Charity Commission and UK authorities. These actions also harm students, staff, faculty, parents and alumni and our community.
Please take Immediate Action: Fulfil your mission as a charity and Provide the necessary funding from CTCF to allow RAUIL to negotiate a meaningful partnership next week when the Board meets to allow it to continue AND send a strong message to current/ incoming students and RAUIL alumni that we will not CLOSE the University. Let's work together to continue Sir Cyril’s legacy.
If CTCF and its subsidiary AIFS do not fulfill their mission to support RAUIL and Sir Cyril’s legacy, CTCF risks being de-registered as a charity and this will risk the existence of RAUIL, CTCF, and AIFS. If this happens, we would demand a full public investigation with the Charity Commission and the UK government. If all three entities were to close down, it would be a tragedy for all, and it would put at risk not only RAUIL's students, staff and faculty but so many students and staff who have been part of AIFS. For whatever commercial benefits there may be to be gained by you, it seems losing all organizations which Sir Cyril created would come at a great human cost!
The alumni believe it is shameful and unlawful that AIFS has neglected its responsibility for the health and safety and compliance costs of the properties (including withholding funds to a point of crisis), neglected reports and put members of the RAUIL community at risk.
Attached is Petition I, Petition II, the Parent's petition, and the 'Stephan' Email, for you to take action.
Thank you in advance for doing what is right for the staff and students of RAUIL.
Kind regards,
The Alumni of Richmond American International University in London