Joe:
Just got a phone call from someone claiming to be from the MD Chiefs of Police Association.
This was on my business line.
They were soliciting donations for some sort of child identification program. While they were on the phone, I googled their web site, and discovered there was nothing mentioned there about this solicitation.
Needless to say, I did not offer any donation.
I called their number listed on the web site, and the fellow there confirmed that they had hired a marketing firm to solicit donations on their behalf. I informed them that without this activity posted on their site, it looks like a scam when someone calls asking for money under their name.
In any case, I really don't like dealing with "marketing firms" a/k/a "telemarketers" as their take is usually higher than what I would consider reasonable.
You might want check this out.
-Daddio
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
5 comments:
I get the same type phone calls from
TEXAS" SOLISITING MONEY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS. I feel if the schools dont need the money enough to send a student/parent to solicitate they really are not in need. The telmarketer makes more of the money that the sports unit. Why do our students still have to pay the same for sports if a portion of it has been collected thru the telemarketer????
I've seen local police departments use marketing firms to sell tickets to the "Policeman's Ball" in the past. It's not a new practice at all. I agree that it's tacky but that's what they choose to do.
It's not only tacky, it's also an expensive way to solicit donations as telematkers takea very large chunk of the proceeds.
Beyond this I can see supporting the local fire and police serivces, but why in the world does a statewide professional organization of MD police chiefs need or want my money?
Here is their website. http://www.mdchiefs.org/md1.html
IMO this professional organization (apparently focused the administrative end of law enforcement) has no business begging people for funds. It's like the Professional Association of Accountants calling me for a donation.
Outside firms like this generally contract to do all the work for an organization and in the contract there is a guaranteed minimum amount the organization will receive for the fund raising compaign. Generally, however, the contracts spell out that the company doing the work receives 90%of all money they take in.
If you receive a call from one of these company and you support the organization they are soliciting for, I suggest you decline the solicitation and send a check directly to the organization. That way, the organization receives 100% of your donation.
Possibly some LEO can answer this question. Why is a professional organization for Police Chief's, which seems to have as it's main mission helping police chiefs become better administrators, soliciting funds directly from the public?
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