2025
Board of Inquiry, Andy Dietz
Findings of the Acting AWMA Board of Inquiry Committee Regarding the Complaint by Shannon Faltak, Membership Chair, Against Andy Dietz, President
The Alternates of the AWMA Board of Inquiry have conducted a thorough review of the complaint filed by Shannon Faltak, Membership Chair, against Andy Dietz, President. In conducting our review, we have carefully examined the initial findings of the previous BOI committee, the details of the complaint, and Mr. Dietz's response.
We concur with the previous BOI Committee’s determination of relevance/sustained regarding the complaint of Conduct Prejudicial To The AWMA and affirm that the allegations presented are within the purview of our review. After a comprehensive evaluation of the materials provided, we have reached a decision that the complaint is sustained.
The complaint alleges several actions taken by Mr. Dietz within the first 20 days of his presidency of the AWMA.
• When Mr. Dietz stepped into the role of President, he immediately attempted to install Amanda Hoadley as the Vice President when the AWMA Bylaws states a clear process for filling the role of AWMA Executive Board vacancies and AWMA Committee vacancies. That process requires that the Executive Board take nominations through the Secretary and vote on the VP. (AWMA Bylaws Article VII: Officers of the Association, section 6.
Vacancies, subsections a. and b.) At the same time as appointing Mrs. Hoadley to the VP position he unilaterally added her to private communications, allowing access to sensitive information that he had a responsibility to keep secure and private.
o Mr. Dietz’s response to this charge included the fact that he thought the resignation was “abrupt and unexpected” as well as the interplay between
board members on the procedure for filling the role of President. The AWMA Bylaws are clear, and Mr. Dietz has an affirmative duty to read and abide by
those bylaws.
• Mr. Dietz created a new Ad Hoc committee to do the work of the already existing standing Social Media Committee which violates the AWMA Bylaws (AWMA Bylaws Article VIII: Appointed Positions, section 2. Appointed Committees subsection a.). Mr.
Dietz told the AWMA Board that all social media accounts/pages would be owned by the AWMA, not by an individual. His resultant page was owned by Teri Robinson. Not all AWMA Board Members were given access.
o Mr. Dietz’s response to this charge is that he believed that the vote to change the existing committee from “ad hoc” to “standing” was invalid and he’d
assumed that Acacia Brewer’s failure to respond to him was her resigning from that ad hoc committee. Simply assuming the non-response of the Standing Committee’s Chair constituted an abdication of that role isn’t a valid process.
• Mr. Dietz summarily made a motion for the AWMA Board to “removal of Jessica Johnson as Secretary” on 12/1/2024 in contravention of Sturgis which requires a General Board of Directors vote to accomplish. The complaint states the Secretary is subject to the BOI process just like any other member of AWMA and no BOI had been submitted.
(AWMA Bylaws Article VI: Boards of Directors, section 1. The General Board of Directors, subsection c.)
o Mr. Dietz ignored his fellow board members when it was pointed out that he was violating the bylaws and Sturgis and continued to push for a vote to remove Ms. Johnson.
o Mr. Dietz’s response to this charge simply calls out the Sturgis rules claiming
that AWMA Bylaws don’t actually cover the procedure for removing a member from the Executive Board. The AWMA BOI process takes precedence of recommended disciplinary action.
• Mr. Dietz attempted to achieve a change to the AWMA Bylaws with a vote of the General Board when the bylaws require 30 days’ notice for the same. (AWMA Bylaws Article VI: Board of Directors, section 1. General Board of Directors, subsection c. Meetings, subsections i. and ii.)
o Mr. Dietz claims that Article XI, section c. permits amendments to be conducted via email but neglects to address the 30 day notice requirement which is very clear within those same bylaws.
• Mr. Dietz sent out an Election Buddy ballot with the help of Anne Camper on a proposed bylaw amendment to a list of delegates that had not been vetted by the Secretary. The Secretary is specifically charged with tasks associated with identifying and vetting each club Delegate as a valid member of the General Board and bypassing the process was against the bylaw requirement. This ballot was against the AWMA bylaws and Arizona state law as AWMA is incorporated in Arizona. Arizona law 10-11003, section 4 requires “The corporation shall notify each member entitled to vote of the proposed members'
meeting in accordance with section 10-3705”, azleg.gov 10-11003. Legitimate Delegates to the General Board of Directors did not receive that ballot. For example, Allison Greene advised Mr. Dietz via email on 12/13/2024 that she had not received this ballot and he never resolved that issue. (AWMA Bylaws Article VII: Officers of the Association, Section 3. Duties of Officers, Subsection d.)
o Mr. Dietz’s claim that his perception of a conflict of interest of the Secretary
does not absolve the Secretary from the duties appointed to them. Nor does it absolve the Executive Board from the notice requirements of the bylaws and
the state.
• Mr. Dietz has failed to call to order any meeting of the Executive Board of Directors for the purpose of creating a budget despite multiple good faith efforts by his fellow board members to have a meeting. (AWMA Bylaws Article I: Name, Colors, Profit Status, and Budget, Section 3. Profit Status and Budget, subsection c.)
o Along with the apparent failure of the petition by the Secretary to hold a meeting, Mr. Dietz offers his perceptions of difficulties between members of
the board and the time zone differences as reasons for not holding a meeting.
• Mr. Dietz supervised the creation of a new AWMA website that’s not in compliance with AWMA Bylaws. The proposed website does not reflect the organizations’ declared colors of red, white, blue. (AWMA Bylaws AWMA Bylaws Article I: Name, Colors, Profit Status, and Budget, Section 2. Colors, subsection a.)
The committee found it alarming that Mr. Dietz accused Ms. Faltak of misrepresentation, lying, and cheating but never showed any proof in his response. We also find it alarming that, in his defense, Mr. Dietz shared private board information that was not germane to the complaint against him in this case. This committee should never have been privy to this information. His accusation that Membership Chair Ms. Faltak of attempting to “wrest a property right I rightfully attained to a nonprofit corporation” we find particularly troubling. Mr. Dietz has no rights to the AWMA’s property, as its President he has a fiduciary duty to protect the membership and the organization.
These recommendations are made in the interest of maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of AWMA, ensuring accountability, and upholding the trust placed in the leadership by the membership.
Given the severity of the findings of the numerous AWMA Bylaw violations and violation of Arizona State Law, we hereby recommend to the AWMA Executive Board that Mr. Dietz’s membership be rescinded. Furthermore, we strongly advise that this action include a 3 to 5 year suspension of his membership and a lifetime ban on all AWMA Executive Board Seats and all AWMA Committee Positions. The multiple, continuous and purposeful AWMA Bylaw violations
and the violation of Arizona State law could result in legal ramifications for the organization. These violations have also put the organization’s non-profit status in potential jeopardy.
According to AWMA Bylaws ‘No member who has been suspended or expelled by AWMA may participate in any activities sponsored by the association, or in activities sponsored by any of its clubs, for the duration of the suspension or permanently if expelled.’.
These recommendations are made in the interest of maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of AWMA, ensuring accountability, and upholding the trust placed in the leadership by the membership.
These recommendations are made in the interest of maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of AWMA, ensuring accountability, and upholding the trust placed in the leadership by the membership.
Acting AWMA Board of Inquiry Committee
Findings of the Acting AWMA Board of Inquiry Committee Regarding the Complaint by Shannon Faltak, Membership Chair, Against Andy Dietz, President
The Alternates of the AWMA Board of Inquiry have conducted a thorough review of the complaint filed by Shannon Faltak, Membership Chair, against Andy Dietz, President. In conducting our review, we have carefully examined the initial findings of the previous BOI committee, the details of the complaint, and Mr. Dietz's response.
We concur with the previous BOI Committee’s determination of relevance/sustained regarding the complaint of Conduct Prejudicial To The AWMA and affirm that the allegations presented are within the purview of our review. After a comprehensive evaluation of the materials provided, we have reached a decision that the complaint is sustained.
The complaint alleges several actions taken by Mr. Dietz within the first 20 days of his presidency of the AWMA.
• When Mr. Dietz stepped into the role of President, he immediately attempted to install Amanda Hoadley as the Vice President when the AWMA Bylaws states a clear process for filling the role of AWMA Executive Board vacancies and AWMA Committee vacancies. That process requires that the Executive Board take nominations through the Secretary and vote on the VP. (AWMA Bylaws Article VII: Officers of the Association, section 6.
Vacancies, subsections a. and b.) At the same time as appointing Mrs. Hoadley to the VP position he unilaterally added her to private communications, allowing access to sensitive information that he had a responsibility to keep secure and private.
o Mr. Dietz’s response to this charge included the fact that he thought the resignation was “abrupt and unexpected” as well as the interplay between
board members on the procedure for filling the role of President. The AWMA Bylaws are clear, and Mr. Dietz has an affirmative duty to read and abide by
those bylaws.
• Mr. Dietz created a new Ad Hoc committee to do the work of the already existing standing Social Media Committee which violates the AWMA Bylaws (AWMA Bylaws Article VIII: Appointed Positions, section 2. Appointed Committees subsection a.). Mr.
Dietz told the AWMA Board that all social media accounts/pages would be owned by the AWMA, not by an individual. His resultant page was owned by Teri Robinson. Not all AWMA Board Members were given access.
o Mr. Dietz’s response to this charge is that he believed that the vote to change the existing committee from “ad hoc” to “standing” was invalid and he’d
assumed that Acacia Brewer’s failure to respond to him was her resigning from that ad hoc committee. Simply assuming the non-response of the Standing Committee’s Chair constituted an abdication of that role isn’t a valid process.
• Mr. Dietz summarily made a motion for the AWMA Board to “removal of Jessica Johnson as Secretary” on 12/1/2024 in contravention of Sturgis which requires a General Board of Directors vote to accomplish. The complaint states the Secretary is subject to the BOI process just like any other member of AWMA and no BOI had been submitted.
(AWMA Bylaws Article VI: Boards of Directors, section 1. The General Board of Directors, subsection c.)
o Mr. Dietz ignored his fellow board members when it was pointed out that he was violating the bylaws and Sturgis and continued to push for a vote to remove Ms. Johnson.
o Mr. Dietz’s response to this charge simply calls out the Sturgis rules claiming
that AWMA Bylaws don’t actually cover the procedure for removing a member from the Executive Board. The AWMA BOI process takes precedence of recommended disciplinary action.
• Mr. Dietz attempted to achieve a change to the AWMA Bylaws with a vote of the General Board when the bylaws require 30 days’ notice for the same. (AWMA Bylaws Article VI: Board of Directors, section 1. General Board of Directors, subsection c. Meetings, subsections i. and ii.)
o Mr. Dietz claims that Article XI, section c. permits amendments to be conducted via email but neglects to address the 30 day notice requirement which is very clear within those same bylaws.
• Mr. Dietz sent out an Election Buddy ballot with the help of Anne Camper on a proposed bylaw amendment to a list of delegates that had not been vetted by the Secretary. The Secretary is specifically charged with tasks associated with identifying and vetting each club Delegate as a valid member of the General Board and bypassing the process was against the bylaw requirement. This ballot was against the AWMA bylaws and Arizona state law as AWMA is incorporated in Arizona. Arizona law 10-11003, section 4 requires “The corporation shall notify each member entitled to vote of the proposed members'
meeting in accordance with section 10-3705”, azleg.gov 10-11003. Legitimate Delegates to the General Board of Directors did not receive that ballot. For example, Allison Greene advised Mr. Dietz via email on 12/13/2024 that she had not received this ballot and he never resolved that issue. (AWMA Bylaws Article VII: Officers of the Association, Section 3. Duties of Officers, Subsection d.)
o Mr. Dietz’s claim that his perception of a conflict of interest of the Secretary
does not absolve the Secretary from the duties appointed to them. Nor does it absolve the Executive Board from the notice requirements of the bylaws and
the state.
• Mr. Dietz has failed to call to order any meeting of the Executive Board of Directors for the purpose of creating a budget despite multiple good faith efforts by his fellow board members to have a meeting. (AWMA Bylaws Article I: Name, Colors, Profit Status, and Budget, Section 3. Profit Status and Budget, subsection c.)
o Along with the apparent failure of the petition by the Secretary to hold a meeting, Mr. Dietz offers his perceptions of difficulties between members of
the board and the time zone differences as reasons for not holding a meeting.
• Mr. Dietz supervised the creation of a new AWMA website that’s not in compliance with AWMA Bylaws. The proposed website does not reflect the organizations’ declared colors of red, white, blue. (AWMA Bylaws AWMA Bylaws Article I: Name, Colors, Profit Status, and Budget, Section 2. Colors, subsection a.)
The committee found it alarming that Mr. Dietz accused Ms. Faltak of misrepresentation, lying, and cheating but never showed any proof in his response. We also find it alarming that, in his defense, Mr. Dietz shared private board information that was not germane to the complaint against him in this case. This committee should never have been privy to this information. His accusation that Membership Chair Ms. Faltak of attempting to “wrest a property right I rightfully attained to a nonprofit corporation” we find particularly troubling. Mr. Dietz has no rights to the AWMA’s property, as its President he has a fiduciary duty to protect the membership and the organization.
These recommendations are made in the interest of maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of AWMA, ensuring accountability, and upholding the trust placed in the leadership by the membership.
Given the severity of the findings of the numerous AWMA Bylaw violations and violation of Arizona State Law, we hereby recommend to the AWMA Executive Board that Mr. Dietz’s membership be rescinded. Furthermore, we strongly advise that this action include a 3 to 5 year suspension of his membership and a lifetime ban on all AWMA Executive Board Seats and all AWMA Committee Positions. The multiple, continuous and purposeful AWMA Bylaw violations
and the violation of Arizona State law could result in legal ramifications for the organization. These violations have also put the organization’s non-profit status in potential jeopardy.
According to AWMA Bylaws ‘No member who has been suspended or expelled by AWMA may participate in any activities sponsored by the association, or in activities sponsored by any of its clubs, for the duration of the suspension or permanently if expelled.’.
These recommendations are made in the interest of maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of AWMA, ensuring accountability, and upholding the trust placed in the leadership by the membership.
These recommendations are made in the interest of maintaining the integrity and ethical standards of AWMA, ensuring accountability, and upholding the trust placed in the leadership by the membership.
Acting AWMA Board of Inquiry Committee