Fort Smith (Sep 27/04) - An internal dispute shows signs of easing at Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre in Fort Smith.

At the Sept. 15 annual general meeting, former president Clayton Burke and former vice-president Henry Sinclair, who had both previously criticized the centre's management, were reinstated to the organization. Burke was elected vice-president and Sinclair a member of the board of directors.

"I would say we're back on track," Burke says, noting there was an open and frank discussion at the Sept. 15 meeting.

Greg Heron was elected the new president after being nominated by Burke.

Another meeting will be held Sept. 27.

"We're going to be discussing in detail all the issues and finding resolutions to them," Burke says.

In March, Burke and Sinclair wrote a letter calling for the centre's executive director to resign and an interim management board to replace the board of directors.

That resulted in Burke and Sinclair being dismissed from the executive and booted out of the organization.

They had expressed concern that the friendship centre's finances and programs were being mismanaged. They also claimed nepotism, noting there are many family links in the organization.

An audit found no indication of improper financial activities.

Burke now says it has been a very painful experience, but an important one to go through for the future of the centre.