Charities - SECOND NOTICE rant

[Bird]

My dad would tell me stories about the American Red Cross and their activities during WWll providing "aid" to the GI's.

My Dad's best friend from the time they were kids was in the SeaBees in WWII, so he learned to hate the American Red Cross.

 

[RollingsFarms]

What I hate is when I go to a gas station and before they give me my change they'll say "would you like to donate your change to such and such" and I say no and then they give me this look like "cheapskate!". Firehouse subs is also another one that begs for your change to help fireman, ems, police, etc. Doesn't matter what you buy they will beg for your change. It's getting absurd to go anywhere anymore and be begged for change and the way they make it sounds is they expect you to give it to them. Gets expensive if you do it every time you go in a place!

 

[Garandman]

That right there is funny, don't care who 'ya are, that's funny.

Imagine how it goes down in the People's Republic of Massachusetts.....

The ACLU took a case involving a student who wore an NRA shirt to school. I'm all for anyone who makes life difficult for the Government....

What I hate is when I go to a gas station and before they give me my change they'll say "would you like to donate your change to such and such" and I say no and then they give me this look like "cheapskate!".

I just say, "We donate by check" which is true. Why donate after tax dollars when you are entitled to donate pre-tax dollars?

 

[Industrial Toys]

You try and be charitable and for your generosity, they sell your name,like some kind of a suckers list, to other charities.

Don't you just love non profit organizations where they make six digit incomes?

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I give to only one - Salvation Army. I've seen what they do locally and its good.

The Red Cross is little more than a money machine. Regardless of the event, the Red Cross NEVER misses an opportunity to solicit more money.

My experience, working local disasters through my amateur radio club, was the Salvation Army was First In and Last Out. The Red Cross would drive through when the local media was taking video, just to get their vehicles on the newscast. If/When they arrived, it was after the heavy lifting was over.

 

[PILOON]

The AARP* sent me a renewal notice reminding me expiry was in 6 months!
I am in Canada and they wanted me to purchase a US$ money order and not to send a check.

*IMO merely an insurance broker judging by the quantity of policies they offer. (I use the card mainly for motel discounts)

My favorite charity is local newspaper XMAS fund as EVERYTHING goes to food baskets.
I also like the SallyAnn.

 

[phiferpharm]

The Red Cross is little more than a money machine. Regardless of the event, the Red Cross NEVER misses an opportunity to solicit more money.

My experience, working local disasters through my amateur radio club, was the Salvation Army was First In and Last Out. The Red Cross would drive through when the local media was taking video, just to get their vehicles on the newscast. If/When they arrived, it was after the heavy lifting was over.

Man, you are SO spot on with this comment. I was a Unit Commander during two Hurricanes in South Florida - Andrews and Wilma - The Red Cross wanted us to get them set up quickly for Telephones. As far as we could tell they were constantly doing PR to get pledges. They made it clear they didn't want donations of anything but dollars. On the other hand, the Salvation Army was amazing.

 

[mjarrels]

Remember when Bob Dole was running for president, his wife Liz was head of the red cross and was being paid, I believe just over $200,000 per year.

mark

 

[MacLawn]

I NEVER answer my phones unless it's from Ethyl or daughter, etc. Phone, email, mailbox, all of it is an INTRUSION on me. Uninvited. Just emptied my shredder so I can keep shredding more junque.

 

[MikePA]

IMO, the key with a charity is how much of every dollar goes to the intended recipients and not how much their CEO, or any other officer, makes. It should certainly be over 90 cents, preferably over 95 cents.

For large charities, they can be handling milions of dollars. Would you want some rookie, right out of business school handling that? Large charities are competing with other large businesses for talent.