It is a shame. A few years ago they really had the Red Kettle campaign rocking and rolling. Joe helped promote that and get it going. It was the "in" thing to do. Why did they let that slide?
Publishers Notes: This is what I call the snowball effect.
For those of you who are new to SBYNews, I had learned that the Salvation Army was actually PAYING the bell ringers. When I had mentioned this to friends and contributors to Salisbury News we immediately went into action and started reaching out to our viewers for volunteers. The response was so incredible that the Salvation Army immediately stopped paying bell ringers and were able to retain all of the donations to help even more people.
One day I got a call, (after helping the SA for two years) from the Major at the SA who asked me to come into a meeting. It turns out Jonathan Taylor, (EBT Blogger) and his friends contacted the WalMart Corporation stating they had just witnessed me talking to an interracial couple saying I called him a "N-World loving whore" in front of Sam's Club. It was a complete lie/fabrication but they were so proud that they got me thrown out of that location.
I had stated back then that all they were doing was harming the Salvation Army, period. They laughed, made jokes about it and bragged how they had lied and got away with it.
The "snowball effect" is coming home to roost. Last year the SA was back to paying bell ringers because we had nothing to do with bringing in volunteers. Now, (I just heard) the EBT Blogger is reaching out to viewers to HELP the very organization he successfully set out to destroy.
Aside from all that, I have a suggestion to the SA and County Executive. BEFORE anyone does anything financially, I believe the SA should restructure their programs in a very simple way.
Because their programs are offered at such a reduced rate, each parent of EVERY child participating in such activities should agree to volunteer for two hours as bell ringers. Each recipient of their Christmas Gift Program should also volunteer two hours of their time ringing the bell as well.
IF the SA is shy $100,000.00 each year to keep this facility afloat, I believe the newly revised program for bell ringing will help, (at least) save the SA a good $100,000.00, (or close to it) in expenses to pay bell ringers and that savings can go towards saving the rec center on the west side.
Folks, there are times you have to think out of the box. I grow tired of people simply giving up and putting their hands out. We proved the bell ringing through 100% volunteers can work. The SA never came back to us for help, therefore their numbers not only went down, their profits plummeted. Mind you, there are many incredible people who do great things for that organization but how many of them came up with this idea to help save their program WITHOUT asking the already strapped City/County taxpayers to foot the bill.
Anyhow, shame on Jonathan Taylor and his people for destroying a great community program that hadn't had such financial issues in the past. He is a cancer to this community and has some nerve coming off like he's a nice guy for asking the community to salvage what he himself destroyed.
14 comments:
My son and I have volunteered for bell ringing every holiday season for 14 years, up until the last 2 years when they have neglected to contact us about helping. When I contacted them to see what shifts we could ring and no one ever got back to us. I guess they don't care if they have folks out there ringing anymore? It's very unorganized now, nothing like it used to be.
Taylor is filled with the sort of envy that destroys people and ideas. He has only torn down, not built up. It must be a terrible thing to be him.
Like all charities too much money going to the top.
10:57, That is not the case with the local SA. All of the funds stay local.
I did a very difficult time slot for a few years bell ringing. A couple years ago I was cancelled in my slot to be replaced by a popular political group who took my time slot but for only that year. I was already promised that time. The political group was able to move in at the 11th hour and get the spot. I felt it was poor planning to replace a loyal bell ringer with people seeking political attention. Where are they now?
Johnathan will stand before an angry God one day and he won't be able to state his case. He will simply see the lies he told and be cast into a lake of fire. There people burn forever never being totally consumed kept alive so that he may feel the pain he caused others only thousands of times worse. I pray JT you see the evil that motivates you and your minions, confess your sin, ask for forgiveness, accept Christ as Lord and Savior thus being saved from Gods judgement!
10:57 - this charity always comes out as having delivered more than 85% of its charitable income to the mission and services of the organization.
It falls in the top five of the very best bang-for-buck U.S. charities each and every year. Its officers have an annual salary of $33,000-$36,000, plus housing and health benefits, all about the same as an army sergeant.
it is the Liberal way - they have the best intentions, don't you know?
I agree, the parents should be required to put in time volunteering, if they are getting the benefits from it.
It didn't slide. I have done it for 30 years!
I have watched the SA go down hill over the last 10 years or so. not sure what changed in that time but it starts at the top!
11:15 so 36,000 in salary PLUS at least 12,000 in housing, PLUS benefits and you think that is CHEAP?
Yea I'll take that. Tired of the false poverty card being thrown around.
Sounds like pretty good compensation to me.
Joe - like most, if not all, national charities that claim all funds stay local, they have to send a percentage to their regional or national office. I believe they may have loan repayments too.
The SA had a outstanding re-birth of the Red Kettle campaign a few years back that, along with your support, dramatically increased revenue. The SA officers were not able to or had the desire to sustain it.
I am not impressed with the business acumen of the SA officers. If they are not intelligent enough to realize "what they don't know" and seek the help they need, it is on them.
Why should the County bailout a poorly run organization that keeps repeating the same mistakes....definition of insanity!
The national average for income is still about $50K. The average here is about $34K.
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