Soroptimist members quit

GLENDALE — Ten members of the Soroptimist International of the Verdugos have left the organization over concerns that member Stephanie Mines’ push to join a major group fundraiser posed a conflict due to felony fraud charges pending against her.

Mines is accused of passing bad checks from a Citibank business account to her personal account at the Glendale Area Schools Federal Credit Union — a practice called check kiting — to inflate her balance.

In June, Mines paid $21,323 in restitution, the full amount bank officials said was outstanding, but prosecutors forged ahead with criminal charges.

Mines has an extensive history of community involvement, serving in the Glendale Education Foundation, the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce and the Sparr Heights Merchants, in addition to the Soroptimists.

But the Soroptimists who recently resigned, including Charter President Nancy Hathaway, maintain that Mines’ involvement in Soroptimist financial dealings can give the public an appearance of impropriety for the organization.

The resignation was a response, in part, to Mines’ push to become involved in the upcoming Bowling for Boobies charity fundraiser as a member of the organization’s Ways and Means committee, Hathaway said.

“Basically, we had hoped that Stephanie would have taken a lower profile, had stepped away from any of the club’s financial dealings or the club’s money,” she said. “She doesn’t want to do that. She wants to — what we think — is build character, and it should not be at the expense of Soroptimist.”

But other Soroptimist officials are standing behind Mines,contending that she has not been involved in financial activities since the criminal case came forward, said Edith Fuentes, speaking on behalf of Soroptimist President Kate Bernier.

“Stephanie is not in any shape or form a major part of the fundraiser,” Fuentes said. “Stephanie is a member in good standing with Soroptimist International of the Verdugos. She has served the club very well as past president for two consecutive years and has not done anything wrong as far as Soroptimist is concerned. Her issue and her case is her own personal issue, and we are leaving that to the court to decide; it has nothing to do with Soroptimist.”

In addition, regional Soroptimist officials who asked to review the matter have decided not to get involved because the issue is unrelated to Soroptimist activities, Fuentes said.

“Whatever was the agenda of those 10 members who resigned, that’s up to them,” Fuentes said. “This is a voluntary organization; everyone’s time, money . . . is all optional. We’re not going to stop anyone from coming in or resigning; it’s up to them.”

Patricia Milman, a charter member who resigned, challenged Mines’ continuing financial involvement in an e-mail to her.

“It is my opinion that your involvement in the Soroptimist organization in this way gives the appearance of impropriety to the public,” Milman wrote. “It is a common place for a public figure to step down while charges are pending.”

Mines’ defense attorney has maintained that the transactions were the result of negligent bookkeeping — an unfamiliarity with her account balance — and not a plan to defraud the credit union.

He called the lawsuit against her the result of “a certain animosity” against her by bank representatives, especially in light of the fact that Mines has paid complete restitution.

The accounting trouble was further exacerbated by “personal turmoil” with her brother, who was also involved in the business. Mines did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

Mines is scheduled for an arraignment and a plea hearing at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 16 in Pasadena Superior Court, Dept. E.

 CHRIS WIEBE covers public safety and the courts. He may be reached at (818) 637-3232 or by e-mail at chris.wiebe@ latimes.com.