FeedsLeague president hopes to revive organization
Vic Barra’s phone has been ringing constantly for about a week.
The questions everyone wanted answered by the Wayne resident and president of the Wayne-Ford Civic League, though, weren’t the ones he wanted to answer.
“Everybody wanted to talk about the negative,” he said. “Nobody wanted to talk about the positive things the league has done.”
Barra, who has guided the troubled charitable organization for two years now, said he was as surprised as anyone when he received a call last week from Westland Police Chief Dan Pfannes, telling him that two former league officials would be arraigned the next day.
Neil Greenfield and his ex-wife, Sherry, were arraigned on charges of embezzlement from the civic league on Aug. 10. Police officials believe they took more than $25,000 of bingo revenue that should have been earmarked for charity.
Barra, who was installed shortly after the pair were removed from the board two years ago, said he’s been trying to bring the league back to its original purpose—to benefit the community.
“I’ve been trying to restore the credibility of it,” he said. “It’s been a long, hard road.”
The civic league lost its bingo license shortly after the investigation started two years ago. That was the primary source of revenue for the organization, which is headquartered on Wayne Road, just south of Ford Road. That, coupled with the debt he inherited, made for a couple of challenging years, according to Barra.
“I’ve kept it going on a shoestring,” he said. “It’s been very difficult.”
With payment plans in place to cover the utilities and taxes, he said the league managed to pull off some charitable efforts during the past few years. They fed 450 homeless people last winter and have promoted other civic organizations, too.
He’s made other changes, too, such as prohibiting the use of the facility as a political venue. In the past, it had hosted candidate parties on election night.
“One of the best things I think I’ve done is remove it from local politics,” he said. “It’s not for politicians, it’s for kids and senior citizens.”
In November, he said he can apply once again for a bingo license. He hopes the steps he’s taken in the past two years, coupled with the removal of old board members, will speak volumes to what he’s trying to do with the league. He said he would also host an open house and membership drive to get more people involved.
“I want to reach out to the community,” he said. “I need help. “Now that this black cloud has been lifted, it’s time to see if I can get the community to help support the civic league.”
