2007 Year In Review Message

[♠SARKID♠]

http://www.cap.gov/documents/CAP_Year_in_Review__2007.pdf

Revised policy on CAP fundraising to prohibit gaming – reducing uncontrolled exposure.

I didn't quite understand what they meant by this.  Are they talking about actual video games like the flight sim addon?  Or did we open a casino somewhere 

[Pylon]

They're prohibiting CAP squadrons from running gambling operations.... Bingo, pull tabs, poker nights, Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, casino nights, etc.

There are some squadrons that do operate things like bingo and pull-tabs, and make tens of thousands of dollars a year doing it.  Like Tyler Composite Squadron (link to PDF of their squadron's 2005 IRS Form 990, see page 13).

[NIN]

They're prohibiting CAP squadrons from running gambling operations.... Bingo, pull tabs, poker nights, Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, casino nights, etc.

There are some squadrons that do operate things like bingo and pull-tabs, and make tens of thousands of dollars a year doing it.  Like Tyler Composite Squadron (link to PDF of their squadron's 2005 IRS Form 990, see page 13).

jeebus!  They grossed over $600,000!  YOWZA!

EDIT: Forgive me if I'm a little slow on this.. But they grossed over $600,000 just to make $12K?

Am I reading that right?  If so, my unit has $6500 in the bank and we didn't have to make $300,000 to do so. Bingo doesn't pay, it seems, really.

[Pylon]

jeebus!  They grossed over $600,000!  YOWZA!

Well, the vast majority of that seems to be "pass through".  In other words, they're buying the bingo tabs and selling them for a higher price.  A lot apparently was given away for bingo prizes, as well, since they were $30k in the hole on bingo games that year (but luckily made it up in tab sales)

In the end, they're only profiting $12k/year from that operation.

EDIT:  Yeah, a lot of money out.  I'm guessing that the tab company foots the prizes, maybe, and the squadron pays say $X per bingo tab and the squadron sells them for $X+1 - so in high volume, those types of transactions drive up your gross income and expenses.  Always look for the bottom line.   

[mikeylikey]

CAP's role in the Steve Fossett search brought overwhelmingly positive world-wide media attention to our organization.

-Some negative since CAP was the "front-agency" and we did not locate him!

• Blizzard SAR efforts in Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma took CAP to new heights by providing airborne reconnaissance.

-Umm  Other Wings routinely do recon missions that average hours those wings would never dream of

• CAP provided transnational threat-reconnaissance for Joint Task Force North and the U.S.  Coast Guard helping to ensure the integrity of our borders.

-Really, thats news to me!

• Every CAP region took part in Wreaths Across America by sponsoring and placing more than 6,000 wreaths at veteran cemeteries nationwide.

-What was the cost per wreath?  It is a noble cause, but the costs may outweigh the benefits.  Plus I think I read that not every veteran received a wreath depending on their religion, but they did not receive something other in it's place.  That is a shame!

• Over 98,000 viewers "attended" our various national events via live-streaming; more than doubling last year's attendees.

-Ummm ya here is a question........ WHAT?!?!  When we could actually "connect" or the server was not down, or the "town-hall" meetings were not broadcast.  Why bother sending it out, if they won't show it all, and people can't even connect to it.  

• CAP was the subject of over 17,000 media inquiries; up from 10,000 in 2006. Our story is getting out!

-One reason......TP.  I guarantee the numbers drop back to 10,000 in 2008!

• capchannel.com website logged almost 400,000 visitors; a 50% increase from last year!

-Is this site even updated?!?  

• CAPNews On-line again received over one million hits.

- Of course it did, because if you go to CAP.gov, and want to see the news of the day you just click on one of the links displayed in the center of the page.  I think their numbers are "beefed up" here.  I read the news there, but everytime I click the back button, scroll to a new tagline and click it, that most likely counts as another HIT.

And Finally.....

• The new Volunteer Support to Air Force (VSAF) initiative allows CAP to work along side Air Force person in various career fields.

-OK.  the program was just announced in 2008.  There are no guidelines, 2 bases will be involved, clearly not a 2007 initiative on a National Scale.  I can't wait to work alongside a Air Force Person, in various Career Fields!  Oh right.....probably not coming to a town near ANY OF US!    Thanks for beefing up the end of year "report" NHQ.

Now if we can actually see some documentation for these claims that would be great.

[captrncap]

• The "Commander's Guide to Finance" provides CAP Commanders with the knowledge to assume fiscal responsibility.

Anyone get this?

[mikeylikey]

^ Nope.  But why do we need it anyway when we have a Wing Banker Program book?? 

[captrncap]

^ Nope.  But why do we need it anyway when we have a Wing Banker Program book?? 

The WBP is only to write checks, document accounts, etc. not make sure the Squadron/Group using the money wisely.

That's what I think the guide is meant to illustrate.

[RiverAux]

The wreaths program doesn't cost CAP anything.  The company donates and ships the wreaths out to the units. 

[mikeylikey]

^ Thats awesome then!  I must have missed that when reading about the program.  Thanks! 

[Tim Medeiros]

• The new Volunteer Support to Air Force (VSAF) initiative allows CAP to work along side Air Force person in various career fields.

-OK.  the program was just announced in 2008.  There are no guidelines, 2 bases will be involved, clearly not a 2007 initiative on a National Scale.  I can't wait to work alongside a Air Force Person, in various Career Fields!  Oh right.....probably not coming to a town near ANY OF US!    Thanks for beefing up the end of year "report" NHQ.

Now if we can actually see some documentation for these claims that would be great.

Yes, the program may have been announced in 2008, however I'm sure there has been extensive planning before then and not just a "hey, I think I'll post this for the heck of it" type of deal.

[mikeylikey]

^ Yes but the letter was supposed to be accomplishments in 2007, not "things planned in 2007 for implementation in 2008".

[jeders]

They're prohibiting CAP squadrons from running gambling operations.... Bingo, pull tabs, poker nights, Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, casino nights, etc.

There are some squadrons that do operate things like bingo and pull-tabs, and make tens of thousands of dollars a year doing it.  Like Tyler Composite Squadron (link to PDF of their squadron's 2005 IRS Form 990, see page 13).

Lubbock Composite Squadron used to have bingo, that's why we have something like $10,000 available and another $70,000 or so in a CD. It'd be nice to have bingo and other gaming methods back, but we can make money other ways.

[FW]

They're prohibiting CAP squadrons from running gambling operations.... Bingo, pull tabs, poker nights, Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, casino nights, etc.

There are some squadrons that do operate things like bingo and pull-tabs, and make tens of thousands of dollars a year doing it.  Like Tyler Composite Squadron (link to PDF of their squadron's 2005 IRS Form 990, see page 13).

Lubbock Composite Squadron used to have bingo, that's why we have something like $10,000 available and another $70,000 or so in a CD. It'd be nice to have bingo and other gaming methods back, but we can make money other ways.

The problem was a few squadrons were not reporting "Non related business income" to the IRS.  This was a very bad thing.  Fortunately, for CAP, the IRS was kind and only demanded the back taxes.. no interest or penalties.  One individual responsible was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to repay CAP.  It's better we left this type of game to others.

[jeders]

They're prohibiting CAP squadrons from running gambling operations.... Bingo, pull tabs, poker nights, Texas Hold 'Em tournaments, casino nights, etc.

There are some squadrons that do operate things like bingo and pull-tabs, and make tens of thousands of dollars a year doing it.  Like Tyler Composite Squadron (link to PDF of their squadron's 2005 IRS Form 990, see page 13).

Lubbock Composite Squadron used to have bingo, that's why we have something like $10,000 available and another $70,000 or so in a CD. It'd be nice to have bingo and other gaming methods back, but we can make money other ways.

The problem was a few squadrons were not reporting "Non related business income" to the IRS.  This was a very bad thing.  Fortunately, for CAP, the IRS was kind and only demanded the back taxes.. no interest or penalties.  One individual responsible was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to repay CAP.  It's better we left this type of game to others.

Which is why I said it'd be nice to have it back, not that we should necessarily have it back. Unfortunately there are some people that just don't handle money properly.

[Slim]

The wreaths program doesn't cost CAP anything.  The company donates and ships the wreaths out to the units. 

^ Thats awesome then!  I must have missed that when reading about the program.  Thanks! 

To expand just a little. 

The wreaths themselves didn't cost CAP anything.  Sponsoring a wreath (actually, purchasing one to be placed) cost the donor $15.00.  Of that, the selling unit got $2.00 back per sponsorship sold.

Worcester Wreath Company paid/donated the shipping from the factory to the cemeteries.