Question for Pumbaa (and any other firefighters that may be lurking)

[Bernie Brewer]

Last night I received yet another phone solicitation from someone representing the Firefighters of Wisconsin Association (or something like that). I have also recieved similar calls for the Police association, and the State Troopers Association. I never give to these orgainzations because the salespeople (for lack of a better word) aren't willing to give me a breakdown of the funds collected. I must say, these solicitors are the pushiest, rudest, most inconsiderate people on the planet. They try any means they can think of to get your money, from guilt trips to almost threatening. Pumbaa, what is your take on this? Is this a legitimate charity? If so, how much do these solicitors skim off the top? Does it help you in your profession? Do you approve of these solicitors? Just wondering.....

 

[Reverend JC]

They are legit, but they hire hair lips and fast talkers to do their phone calling for them. Most i have found to be rude.

I am sorry for all hairlips offended!

 

[Brewpastor]

They are as bad as preachers on Sunday morning come offering time!

 

[Hopfan]

I just tell them that I only donate locally and directly to the firehouses and med squads. I feel better knowing that I can go in and hand a check directly to the Chief rather than giving money to someone on the end of the phone.

 

[Brewpastor]

Make sure you tell them to remove your name from their list, that way if they call you again you can sue them.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Make sure you tell them to remove your name from their list, that way if they call you again you can sue them.

Does that apply to charitable organizations, too?

 

[alemonkey]

There used to be a company here that did this type of fundraising. They donated a VERY small percent of the funds raised to police/firefighters. Just enough to make it somewhat legit.

I have a friend who took a telemarketing job in high school doing what was supposed to be a police fundraiser. He got suspicious when his first paycheck was paid in cash. After searching around he couldn't find any record of the organization he was supposedly raising money for. He got out of there fast.

 

[RichBrewer]

I've gotten to the point that I don't do business with people who knock on my door (Girl scouts and boy scouts the exception) and with anyone over the phone.

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

There used to be a company here that did this type of fundraising. They donated a VERY small percent of the funds raised to police/firefighters. Just enough to make it somewhat legit.

Ever hear of United way? They're operating somewhere around 70% overhead!

Best to go brew those smoke-eaters a batch of pale ale for after hours. That would probably do more good than a donation.

 

[the_bird]

Ever hear of United way? They're operating somewhere around 70% overhead!

Careful when you discuss United Ways. Our local United Way, of which I have been a board member for several years, disburses about 70% - 75%, maybe a touch more, of what we collect each year. We're raised a bit north of $700k and disbursed over $500k (we're very small, we only cover a small part of the county). The totals are a little goofy because there are so many different ways in which we give money away (regular allocations, special grants, small one-time grants, community priority grants).

So, don't get the national organization confused with the local United Way chapters.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

It reminds me too of all the ridiculous foundraisers that the schools, little leagues, etc have every year. So little of that money actually goes to the schools that I'd rather just give the school a cash donation. Beats paying ten bucks for a little can of popcorn and having the school only get three bucks out of it.

 

[Genghis77]

In Vietnam, the Red Cross used to show up and sell a cup of coffee and a doughnut for a buck fifty.

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

Careful when you discuss United Ways. Our local United Way, of which I have been a board member for several years, disburses about 70% - 75%, maybe a touch more, of what we collect each year. We're raised a bit north of $700k and disbursed over $500k (we're very small, we only cover a small part of the county). The totals are a little goofy because there are so many different ways in which we give money away (regular allocations, special grants, small one-time grants, community priority grants).

So, don't get the national organization confused with the local United Way chapters.

My bad bird. It gets a little frustrating at times is all. I'm going to have to close this thread soon anyhow it looks like.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Eh, we'll never solve the "is this charity charitable" problem here on HBT. So, I won't bother with throwing more opinions at that argument.

However, I will NEVER buy anything from anyone nor will I give money to anyone who solicits by telephone. To do that validates their tactics, and I hate their tactics, even if they have the most charitable cause in the world.

 

[cha ngo]

I think I can throw a unique perspective on this. I used to be one of the "fast talking" phone solicitors for the Washington State Council of Firefighters. My understanding was that a percentage of the funds went to the firefighters union. My further understanding was this percentage was fairly small. This was years ago, so I cannot speak for the circumstances today. I can say that in the short time I worked there, the state attorny general shut us down at least once.

 

[Pumbaa]

Sorry it took me so long to reply, work was kind of busy last night . . .

ANYWAY, I got the call too the other day. I dont know what the deal is with them but my response is always . . . "Well I'm a firefighter for the City of Milwaukee, I'll contact my union hall and if I make any donations it will be through them" . . . and it always leads to the person on the other end of the phone stammering and stumbling like they just got caught or something.

I dont know if they are legit, I dont know how much of the money they raise actually goes to the cause they are supposedly rasingmoney for . . . My personal opinion is F*** 'em.

• If Firemen and Cops are trying to raise money for on the job safety (which is what this group told me it was for) I'm pretty damn sure there would have been something on the Channel 4,6,12 or 58 newcasts about it. (I'm assuming you get local Milwaukee channels, if not subsitute NBC, FOX, ABC, and CBS in there)
  
• You pay more then enuff in taxes Firemen and Cops shouldnt be soliciting you to donate privately unless it is for something specific like when the Firefighter in Greenbay died late last year, for a legitimate charity activity like Burn Camp, or for fund raising like we did after 9/11.
  
• If you ever feel the need to donate to your local firemen do it locally and not through some bullsh*t state or national organization and then go through your local department or local firefighter union (in Milwaukee that would be IAFF Local 215)
  
• If you REALLY want to help out your firemen and cops pay attention at election time and when you local/state government want to cut positions. Pay attention to what your local department says about it and take what the department and unon says into consideration. In Milwaukee I would say ignore what the current chief says because he is just fighting to keep his job for another year so he can retire and listen to Local 215.

Firemen are in a very wierd position . . . we are the only occupation that strives to put it's self out of business every chance it gets. When it comes to saffing and equipment below the managment level is it very rarely political with what we ask for but normally VERY political with what we recieve. In the City of Milwaukee we just had yet another reduction in staffing (5th staffing reduction IIRC since 9/11)which not only puts our own lives in more danger then before but also decreases the amount of service provided to the public. When you hear about staffing cuts, if you pay attention, You'll hear about things like NFPA and IFSTA standards. Those standards are generic bare minimums. They have been devised by committees made up of members from very large to very small departents and the "standards" are always compromises. You'll hear cities say how they want to run at those standards but if you look closely they tend to pick and choose which standards they follow.

OK I'm starting to rant and ramble so I'll just leave it at that, hope I answered your questions

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Thx Pumbaa. I'm glad to get your take on it. Your response was about what I expected. BTW I like the way you say you'd like to be put out of business, but I give you my personal guarantee it will never happen. I've been in enough homes where Handy Hank Homeowner decided to do his own wiring to tell you that there are a lot of fires waiting to happen out there...........

 

[david_42]

I bought one of those houses! The PO had cross-connected the furnace and the garage's breakers, so he could run a welder out there. And worse.

 

[Wolf]

I got one of those calls the other week, this one for the Police. I agreed to donate $5, so they sent me to the person who takes the info. After giving her all the info she slips in 'And we have to tell you that this cannot be claimed as a charitable donation on your taxes.'
'Why?'
She hesitated, 'Because the IRS doesn't view it as a charitable foundation'.
'Why?'
'Because some of the money may be used to try to pass legislation and things like that'
Needless to say I told her to forget it.

 

[rdwj]

However, I will NEVER buy anything from anyone nor will I give money to anyone who solicits by telephone. To do that validates their tactics, and I hate their tactics, even if they have the most charitable cause in the world.

That's my stance too. I'm short, rude or just hang up on them.