Comments on: ANOTHER CUPPA JOE

By: jcpardell

jcpardell — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:32:35 +0000

keepthemhonest ——- There have been instances where non-profit CEO’s have been awarded a bonus. However, its usually based upon how the organization has performed. Given that QSDI and RMS have displayed financially poor performances for as long as most can rememeber, I don’t know how any executive of either organization can justify receiving a bonus. I believe action by the CA Attorney General is long overdue. They took action against the former CEO of the Getty Trust and I fail to see why they couldn’t do so against RMS.

By: jcpardell

jcpardell — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:24:26 +0000

harvardgraduate01 – First, thank you for the comments. I would like to state, that I have never entered into this issue for personal accolades.
My involvement, is based upon the fact the Queen Mary is an asset owned by the taxpayers of Long Beach. In addition, the RMS Foundation, being a public benefit, non-profit corporation, is subsidized by taxpayers at the federal and state levels. Furthermore, I have known individuals, who have been done injustices by the actions of the Queen Mary operators.
Your assertion of the Fred Culman issue only raises my suspicions. If he provided machinery located outside of the ship, any remuneraton to him should have been done by QSDI. This being the case, he would have to wait in line with the other creditors who are seeking repayment of the bankrupt company. The question(s) I have are: 1) Why was he being paid by RMS? 2) Why was paying him a greater priority than paying the IRS, FTB, City of Long Beach, Barney Ng, Sempra, etc.? 3) Is the machinery he provided worth the approximately $415,000 he’s been paid? 4) What was the name of his business?
You alluded to his being a construction person for the QM. I was told, he identified himself as a “Construction Contract Negotiator” for the ship to two retired FBI agenst working for a firm conducting an audit of the ship’s finances. Is there any record of his employment?
Also, if Prevratil is living on the ship, he is supposed to declare each time he stays on the ship as a gift. If the board hasn’t approved it, its a violation of the law. However, the RMS board is made up of Prevratil cronies, who most likely have not acted in good faith and rarely questioned his activities.
In closing, I would like to say that your assessments of the Prevratil families relation to the ship’s finances are correct. The RMS Foundation, is a prime example of a director/CEO, who has evoked personal inurement from the organization for the benefit of himself and his family. That is not the objective of any non-profit. What remains to be seen is what the enforcing agencies will do about it.

By: Ibencruzin

Ibencruzin — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:26:29 +0000

I wonder what colusion could be considered when you have a trustee touting an auction on 8/14 instead of questioning facts that have long been in play. I also wonder what cup of coffee people on the council have been sipping when someone like Juan screams this stuff to them and they consider it badgering Mr. Prevratil. The idea of losing a prime operator for development based on dealings that the council was not informed of is a shame. We might not have had the auction is we could have dealt fairly with Carlyle.

Now all this which has been out there for more that 2+ years and is finally breaking to the surface.There does not seem to be any comment from the city council or city attorney. I bet the OC Weekly has already has already talked to most of the council who was unaware how all these things happened. Traci started
the ball rolling when City Auditor Burroughs could not give her a straight answer about the rent credits. She sued. Then comes the Bankruptcy because it placed Mr. Miller between a rock and a hard place. Joe declares Bankruptcy and Juan and others do a sterling job of research. Unfortunately, these activists are considered out there no matter how honest and correct they are with the information. Council member stiff Juan and other when they talk about all this.

Finally, after turning over the information to the Attorney General are they beginning to become believers. The truth is like a light shining in cave no matter how dark it may be you can always see the light. Thre truth has a way of working its way to the surface even when it falls on deaf ears. Congrats Juan for bringing light to such a dark situation. What happens next remains to be seen.

By: jcpardell

jcpardell — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:22:18 +0000

I’d like to make a correction. My information regarding the Carnival Cruise Line bonds were incorrect. The money provided for the Sempra refrigeration plant was part of the $5 million supplied by Barney Ng, who is QSDI’s lender.

By: harvardgraudate01

harvardgraudate01 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:01:47 +0000

Juen Pardell -
They paid Fred for equipment that resides on the wharf by the submarine. Under the Prevatil philosophy that equipment is on “land” and is therefore billed to QSDI. So you might look for the money there.
Howard and Joseph have a very interesting accounting methology . . . something not taught in school.
It’s common practice for people to live on the ship without being held accountable – Mr. Prevrail has a second home on the ship along with a wine cellar at his dispense. Where is that being charged to.
Eric Prevratil also collects a paycheck along with all the other employees every 2 weeks at the Queen Mary. He double dips with his Shipwreck Production. He receives a cut from his Production and with the RMS Foundation – he only appears at the Queen Mary in September and October for Shipwreck but gets paid year round. His appearances are dwindling at the Queen Mary . . . he must have too much money to spend but not enough time to do it in. . . the problem of a “love bought child”.
That is interesting that Robert is working. Last I read about him he retired from the Queen Mary at the prime age of 39.

By: harvardgraudate01

harvardgraudate01 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:37:20 +0000

Juan Pardell you are a genius. Finally someone is finding the truth about how the Queen Mary is really being run. Prevratil is trying to mend where he was lacking as a father to his children . . . I guess this family believes money can buy love. I wonder if they will ever figure out that it doesn’t buy respect.
Fred Culman is an interesting twist. He was never brought to the forefront for the company to see. It’s interesting how he disappears to Europe and comes to Long Beach for the warmer weather – when things get hot at the Queen Mary, he sets sail. Fred coins himself as a contractor to “help” the Queen Mary build attractions, but doesn’t seem to know anything about permits or codes . . . no wonder the City isn’t the Queen Mary’s biggest fan.
Howard Bell is also another well paid puppet . . . I guess his strings are showing now. I suppose Joseph feels he is like his son since he too is being paid very well. I wonder if Joseph is taking any adoptions . . . many people under these conditions would love to be his son.
The funny thing out of this is Prevratil and Bell think they are fooling the employees . . . the employees knew finances were being twisted . . . but the employees NEED their paychecks to take home to their families that are truly loved.
Moral of the story . . . money can’t buy love, but a good soul has the love of his family unconditionally.

PS – Robert I don’t remember you in my Harvard business class . . . did Dad buys that story for you also.

May God bless all of us?

Juan Pardell – you are a Savior

By: jcpardell

jcpardell — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:45:00 +0000

I would like to add a few more items regarding the Fred Culman issue: 1. There is no record of Fred Culman’s company ever having applied for a business license in the City of Long Beach 2. There are no federal form 1099’s issued by RMS to Fred Culman 3. If Culman’s company provided machinery on the ship, he should have been paid soley by RMS and not QSDI (remember he received $45,543.66 from QSDI). 4.Fred Culman lived on the ship rent-free from six months. No other independent contractor has ever been allowed to do that.

By: keepthemhonest

keepthemhonest — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:11:58 +0000

Wow, Joseph Prevatrail and his sons receives huge quarterly bonus checks based on a $12K salary?!Actually, this is not news to the employees who’ve had a wage freeze for years while the employees in the accounting department watched monthly and quarterly checks pass by them paid to Joseph and Robert Prevatrail usually with a minimum figure of $26K.

Unfortunately, disgruntled accounting employees who had loose lips where never able to quite sink this ship against the powerful “spinmeister” of Joseph Prevatrail and company. I’m sure a real audit would find this is just the tip of the iceberg for this Titanic.

Shame on the IRS, the State and other authorities for letting a “public benefit” non-profit go this far. I’ve never heard of a director getting a “bonus” at a non-profit organization, whether or not it is funneled to a bogus or legitimate company. And we haven’t even begun to discuss the “Conflict of Interest” issues attached to that subject.