We know that many of you have been excited and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the CMALA Convention, originally scheduled for the weekend of April 10-12, 2026. This committee has shared in your enthusiasm, and we have been working hard behind the scenes to be ready in time for the main event. Unfortunately, new information has come to our attention that has caused us to make some difficult decisions for the path forward.

 

On December 18, 2025 the Executive Board for CMALA CONVENTION, INC. received correspondence from the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, a subdivision of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of California’s Department of Justice. In that letter, we were first made aware that the required nonprofit filing with the Registry was not submitted for fiscal years ending: 04/30/2020, 04/30/2021, 04/30/2022, and 04/30/2023 (*note that filings for 04/30/2024 and 04/30/2025 were submitted and confirmed as received). Those delinquent years coincided with the global pandemic and post-pandemic period, a time of great confusion for many nonprofit organizations. Because a new Executive Board is elected annually at the CMALA Convention business meeting, we believe there may have been a loss of knowledge of regulatory filings that did not get passed down during this time, an innocent oversight that is only catching up to us now.

 

As a result, CMALA CONVENTION, INC. has been placed in a ‘Revoked’ status with the Registry, which means we are prohibited from distributing or expending charitable assets until we have taken the necessary actions to be approved for reinstatement. Since receiving this notice, the current Executive Board (elected March 30, 2025 at the 2025 CMALA Convention) has been engaged in multiple conversations with elders of the fellowship, attorneys, tax preparers, and government entities - all of whom have provided vital information to guide us. We are in the process of submitting a formal petition to the Attorney General’s Office with all past filings and supporting documentation with a request for reinstatement. While we feel very confident in the outcome of this petition, the review process can take anywhere from 45-90 days (possibly longer depending on how many nonprofit organizations are ahead of us in the queue).

 

So what does this mean? The good news is that this does not have any impact on our 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax status. We have contacted the appropriate offices and received affirmation letters of good standing from the IRS, California Franchise Tax Board, and the California Secretary of State’s Office. Additionally, we have been made aware that this non-filing issue of prior years with the Registry has been a somewhat common occurrence for many nonprofits that were not aware of the filing requirements during the pandemic period. We have heard firsthand experiences from trusted servants of other organizations that have come through this process with favorable results. As there was no malfeasance or fraud involved, we believe the same will hold true here. However, with the convention only a few months away, time is not on our side. 

 

Given the contracts that we are required to enter into in advance and the money that would normally be spent leading up to the convention - funds that we are prohibited from spending as of today - we are left with no choice but to postpone the 2026 CMALA Convention. Our goal is to expedite this process to the best of our ability, so that this is a minor delay that will allow us to reschedule for some time in the summer. We cannot, however, commit to specific dates until we receive an official reinstatement from the Attorney General’s Office and have complete assurances from the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers that the organization is once again in good standing.

 

The Executive Board intends to learn from the lessons of our past by incorporating necessary guardrails into our Bylaws and business protocols to ensure that this oversight does not happen again. In our own personal recovery journey, we gain an understanding of the principle of the ninth step - “responsibility.” This same standard applies within the context of this organization as well. The future of CMALA is of the highest priority for the trusted servants of this elected body, and we are committed to resolving this matter and seeing it through.

 

This convention and what it represents to our community is so much bigger than any one of us. As we have navigated the stress and challenges of the last few weeks, we have shared with each other individual stories of how the CMALA convention had such a positive impact on our own lives. The survival of this organization is not just for the benefit of this collective fellowship; it is personal. We all have an emotional connection to CMALA and want to see it grow and thrive for years to come. It is our belief that the improvements that are being made and the work that is being done today will allow that to happen.

 

We know that this delay will be disappointing to many, as it is for us as well. We understand there may be questions from the community, and we will do our best to address your concerns. You are welcome to submit questions or comments to questions@cmala.com. We humbly ask that each of us rise above any gossip or unnecessary negative commentary on what may have occurred in the past. Let us instead stay focused on today, creating space for positive energy to flow in the faith and assurance that this temporary setback will only make us stronger. It is our intent to be transparent and keep the community informed (when permissible) as events unfold. As soon as we have confidence in the organization’s standing and are ready to put a new date on the calendar, we will let you know. In the meantime, we ask for your patience and grace as we trudge the road ahead.

 

With gratitude and in service,

 

2026 CMALA Executive Board:

Andrew B. Chair

Jason C. Co-Chair

Gabby E. Treasurer

Keith K. Secretary

Brian S. Advisor