In an attempt to clear his name, Greg Mortenson co-founder of the Mont.-based Central Asia Institute, and of "Three Cups of Tea" fame is removing himself from day-to-day management of CAI. CAI has taken on an acting executive director and a communications director. She is Karin Ronnow, a former Bozeman Chronicle reporter who wrote adoring stories on Mortenson's work in Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.
The CAI board of directors will expand …from three members, Mortenson and two other persons. Mortenson crashed from being a celebrity to at the least an embarrassed author and charity executive. Both roles seemed to unwind when the CAI's treasurer and board chairman -- famed physician-climber ("Everest: The West Ridge") Tom Hornbein -- quit in frustration at Mortenson's lack of ability to manage and when the former K2 climber was charged by a "60 Minutes" expose with empty schools and questionable authenticity of his books.
Nonprofit Imperative gathers its information principally from public documents...some of which are directly quoted. Virtually all cited are in some phase of criminal proceedings; some have not been charged, however. Cites in various media: Featured in print, broadcast, and online media outlets, including: Vermont Public Radio, Miami Herald, National Public Radio, Huffington Post, The Sun News, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Wall Street Journal (Profile, News and Photos), FOX2, ABC Spotlight on the News, WWJ Radio, Ethics World, Aspen Philanthropy Newsletter, Harvard Business Review, Current Affairs, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, St. Petersburg Times, B, USA Today Topics, , Newsweek.com, Responsive Philanthropy Magazine, New York Times...and many more • Nonprofits: On the Brink (iUniverse, 2006)
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6 comments:
The acting Executive Director is Anne Beyersdorfer. Karin Ronnow does handle media and communications.
Tom Hornbein resigned in 2002, long before Three Cups of Tea was even an idea. Greg Mortenson and Tom Hornbein did not share the same vision for the future of the organization.
Julia Bergman
Former CAI Board Director, 1997-2009
Thank you Julia for the information. As indicated my updates are from public documents...http://www.seattlepi.com/local/connelly/article/Mortenson-60-Minutes-target-takes-lower-2446761.php. Your correction may provide for more fodder for an upcoming update.
I always want to be as correct as possible, so your info. is important
Gary, Perhaps in future ~ knowing that CAI is currently in a "change process" ~ you could double-check a news piece by stopping in at ikat.org You'll always find the latest there!
Susan Hale Whitmore
CAI donor
Thanks Susan.
Since Judge Haddon ruled to dismiss the class action suit on May 1, I think it is time you write an update on the situation, particularly looking into the false allegations made against Mortenson that he was a "liar" a "fraud" and a "cheat". The court system as well as the Attorney General's office found no evidence of criminal activity or wrong doing by Mortenson. The CAI deserves it's place back on the "aproved" lists, and your updating the siutation could go a long way toward that goal, rebuilding the charity after this uncalled for disaster.
Have written several updates...thanks
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