Estate Planning Letter? What else can we do?

[Storm Chaser]

Another consideration is that if we structure the travel and other policies such that only rich people can be wing and region commanders, we should not be very surprised if their policies and procedures reflect that.

Restated, highly qualified members of average means should be able to aspire to wing, region, and national command.  If we exclude the overwhelming majority of our members from command above the squadron level, we will definately hurt the organization in the long run.

+1

[lordmonar]

All this angst...over someone saying  "hey.....if you think about donating some money....give it to CAP".

If you feel like you already give enough......then don't.

Are we really giving CAP a hard time for trying to raise some more money?

[Fubar]

Are we really giving CAP a hard time for trying to raise some more money?

I won't ever give them a hard time trying to raise more money, but I will be critical when the methods they use involve emails that are disingenuous. I'm not helping my kids by giving their money to CAP.

If the email simply said, "Hey, we're short on cash and we know you love CAP and believe in our missions. Consider a donation today," I wouldn't have an issue. Even an email that said if you're working on your estate planning, please consider CAP. In fact, I'm getting annoyed that the Dr. in charge of "development" seems nearly solely focused on estate planning as a fund raising source.

[Eclipse]

All this angst...over someone saying  "hey.....if you think about donating some money....give it to CAP".

If you feel like you already give enough......then don't.

Are we really giving CAP a hard time for trying to raise some more money?

Which core value is "the ends justify the means"?  I missed that one?

The email sent purports to HELP MY PROTECT MY CHILDREN.

Then it goes on to pretend to "suggest" the ways I should be preparing my estate, which coincidentally
"includes" endowing CAP.

Is this CAP or the CAARP?

[Eclipse]

In fact, I'm getting annoyed that the Dr. in charge of "development" seems nearly solely focused on estate planning as a fund raising source.

+1

The good Dr. has been on staff since sometime in 2012.  Where's the beef?

Where's The Beef - REAL 1984 Wendy's Ad

[Ed Bos]

I thought this thread would be good to brainstorm additional ideas. And I'm also keeping in mind that I won't see NHQ soliciting outside the organization. I'm sure that's going on as well.

[lordmonar]

I will give them nay sayers props for one point they are making......it would help if CAP did have a published strategic plan.....specific, pie in the sky goals or concepts...something you could take to Bill Gates and say "if we only had a really large load of cash we could do XYZ".

That's what universities do, that's what the Boy Scouts do, that's what the ARC does.

They got their ABC list (the things we are doing now) and they got their LMQ list (the things they are doing next year....that they have already got the money for or know where it is coming from) it is the XYZ list we need.   What would CAP do if it suddenly had a $1M dropped in its lap.

[NIN]

What would CAP do if it suddenly had a $1M dropped in its lap.

NASCAR

*ducks*

[Nuke52]

What would CAP do if it suddenly had a $1M dropped in its lap.

NASCAR

*ducks*

NIN, no need to duck when you're absolutely correct.

With some of the head-scratching stupidity to come from on high in recent years, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if an unexpected windfall to NHQ went straight into the shredder so they could throw a celebratory "confetti" party!

[FW]

You guys are something else...NASCAR costs way more than $1 million...

[MSG Mac]

What would CAP do if it suddenly had a $1M dropped in its lap.

NASCAR

*ducks*

That was $6,000,000

[Devil Doc]

Another consideration is that if we structure the travel and other policies such that only rich people can be wing and region commanders, we should not be very surprised if their policies and procedures reflect that.

Restated, highly qualified members of average means should be able to aspire to wing, region, and national command.  If we exclude the overwhelming majority of our members from command above the squadron level, we will definately hurt the organization in the long run.

Wing and Regional and National Commanders arnt Rich? Dangit.

[James Shaw]

Another consideration is that if we structure the travel and other policies such that only rich people can be wing and region commanders, we should not be very surprised if their policies and procedures reflect that.

Restated, highly qualified members of average means should be able to aspire to wing, region, and national command.  If we exclude the overwhelming majority of our members from command above the squadron level, we will definately hurt the organization in the long run.

Wing and Regional and National Commanders arnt Rich? Dangit.

I am disappointed as well. I thought if I got promoted to one of those it would come with the job. 

[BFreemanMA]

I interpreted the "protect your kids" portion as saying, "Hey, you should probably have a will anyway to protect your family and kids financially. While you're doing that, why not include CAP?"

[DoubleSecret]

I interpreted the "protect your kids" portion as saying, "Hey, you should probably have a will anyway to protect your family and kids financially. While you're doing that, why not include CAP?"

It can be spun that way, but here's the thing:  We shouldn't be about spin. 

I interpreted it as a misleading subject line designed just to get me to open the email.  I think the ethics displayed fall far short of the standard CAP should be exemplifying, especially if we want people to hand our organization money.

If the institutional goal is to get people to include CAP in their estate planning, don't hide the ball.  Be proud of it, say it up front, put it the email's subject line.  Don't prey on my desire to protect my offspring in order to get me to open the email. 

[Mitchell 1969]

I interpreted the "protect your kids" portion as saying, "Hey, you should probably have a will anyway to protect your family and kids financially. While you're doing that, why not include CAP?"

Why should you or anyone have to interpret what it meant?

It was either poorly worded or disingenuously worded. Neither is acceptable.

[Johnny Yuma]

What's next? Road marches to the nearest plasma donation center added to the requirements for a cadet encampment?

[Alaric]

Squadron members usually just spend their time driving 10 minutes to their respective units once a week.  Maybe they hitch a ride in CAP van to the SAREX, and the really committed ones add an SLS or CLC teaching opportunity to that list - again hitching a ride in the van.  Many wings reimburse the fuel expenses of those vans for their people to travel to wing events.  I've never been to an SLS or CLC that wasn't free to attend.  I've never been to an encampment as a senior where I had to pay to staff it, or an NCSA that I had to pay the activity fee.  Many wings even offer reimbursement (in some percentage) for their members to go to NSC or RSC.  Most wings even reimburse their squadron commanders for having to drive to the commander's call.

Wing Commander's, etc., aren't spending their budgets flying off to exotic destinations to drink mai-tais on the beach.  They're going from squadron to squadron to present Mitchell Certificates, Required Command Council meetings, BoG meetings, SAREXs, Changes of Command, Encampment Graduations, etc., which can and usually do take up most weekends for years at a time.  The argument that they should be well aware that they need to be able to pay for it themselves is absurd.  The organization needs someone with leadership abilities in the position, not a fat wallet.  You can't demand that someone pay their own way for things that aren't optional for them to attend (like every single one of the activities that the rank-and-file member attends).

I have no idea what wing you are in, but you have been fortunate.  I have paid fees each time I have staffed anything (with the exception of CLCs and SLSs).  I don't think asking that people who want to be leaders should be expected to save for the expenses that the position takes.  I've been a member of several Wings and in only one did the Wing Commander show up to everything at the Wing Level, they delegated, so the Wing CC may go to this change of command, and the CV may go to the next one.  This not only shows delegation, but would distribute the costs (if people were paying out of pocket).  As for Command Council, BOGs, etc, they can adapt methods that businesses use to cut travel costs (videoconferencing, telecons, etc)  If its good enough for Fortune 500 companies, should be good enough for us.