Most will say Walmart, sure they are cheaper but they are not going to have everything I would need.
I went to staples and bought a 3" binder that is needed to archive all the meeting sign in rosters that we do every week. One year's worth fills up pretty much the whole binder and we have like 5 of these now.
$13 for one 3" binder is alittle spendy eh? Does anyone know of a company that does office supplies in bulk or discount like newegg is for computers or CDW, etc?
I'd hate to bill my squadron $13 for every 3" binder we need or file box that is $20, etc. I am desperately in need of buying various 1" and 1/2" binders for various needs to archive old LG files/documents and prepare current files for easy look up/separation.
If I could get away with electronically filing/archiving them I would do just that but the regulations doesn't have provisions for electronic LG files yet.
We use the SIMS program to do a lot of things but one of them is to track attendance. Then you the information it's right there. We have used it for over a year now without any problem. You might try SAM's Club for bulk buys for some office supplies.
Staples is really good about DONATING office supplies. Just go in and talk to the store manager and let them know what you need. They've helped us out quite a few times.
I haven't had to buy binders, the office I work in has enough people who 'recycle' old project and operation plans and I'll scoop them up whenever I find them. ;)
Pretty much everything you do on behalf of CAP is tax deductible.
I buy and donate, then right it off on taxes. That includes uniform items. Can add up to a pretty penny (especially if you're in command such as I am).
Seeing if they'll donate to a tax-exempt organization is also a good idea.
Dr. Dave
Any thought of scanning the old docs and putting them on disc so you can reuse the old binders? No since in storing a lot of old files when DVDs and CDs are available.
Quote from: RickFranz on March 14, 2008, 12:19:31 PM
We use the SIMS program to do a lot of things but one of them is to track attendance. Then you the information it's right there. We have used it for over a year now without any problem. You might try SAM's Club for bulk buys for some office supplies.
The WMU allows me to enter attendance so I would assume SIMS does that as well. However, we don't enter attendance at the WMU except for safety meetings.
The reason why we keep paper copies is for the members' benefits for tax purposes if for whatever reason they need to go over the archives they have it. I'm almost inclined to continue doing so but I can't do that without the commander's consent and I already know what they'll say so thats out of the question.
We don't have Sam's club here, we have Walmart and Costco. Costco doesn't have all the office supplies I need either including binders which they don't have.
Quote from: LtCol Hooligan on March 14, 2008, 03:16:06 PM
Any thought of scanning the old docs and putting them on disc so you can reuse the old binders? No since in storing a lot of old files when DVDs and CDs are available.
Well that is a considerable thought, you going to volunteer? We're talking about almost 5 years worth of documents to scan. Plus some of the binders are pretty old at least 2 of them are and I would not reuse them.
The good thing is I only have to buy 1 binder per year, or two depending on if we get more or less pages in a given year. Right now our sign in roster prints 7 pages which includes SOME members of other area squadrons who come to ours. Occasionally I can get two years worth of sign in sheets into one binder so to save the squadron funds... but $13/year is hardly anything.
Quote from: jimmydeanno on March 14, 2008, 12:36:30 PM
Staples is really good about DONATING office supplies. Just go in and talk to the store manager and let them know what you need. They've helped us out quite a few times.
Really? how much can I get from them, and can I get it on a regular basis?
I'm going to have to let someone else do the talking, as I do not have a uniform I can "legally" wear right now plus I'd have to submit a letterhead with the 501 tax exempt information at the time I meet with them.
Quote from: DrDave on March 14, 2008, 02:26:23 PM
Pretty much everything you do on behalf of CAP is tax deductible.
I buy and donate, then right it off on taxes. That includes uniform items. Can add up to a pretty penny (especially if you're in command such as I am).
Seeing if they'll donate to a tax-exempt organization is also a good idea.
Dr. Dave
I understand that, but I can't be the one buying it all, all the time the squadron needs to pay for some of it sometimes. And I can't do tax exempt if I am not gainfully employed, I do help the squadron with things at times. I donated a wireless pc mouse because the pc mouse that was on our main PC was crap and I couldn't stand it anymore.
We got significant amounts of office supplies donated by a local office supplier. I did this for a couple of organizations that I work with and got quite a lot. In fact, with one organization, we're still working through the boxes and boxes of folders and some other stuff like a year and a half later. Local companies can be a good resource because they have more of an interest in your specific community.
Remember this: you never know what you can get away with until you ask. (Colin Powell) And that is also exactly how I got his autograph. :)
Quote from: JC004 on March 14, 2008, 04:48:07 PM
We got significant amounts of office supplies donated by a local office supplier. I did this for a couple of organizations that I work with and got quite a lot. In fact, with one organization, we're still working through the boxes and boxes of folders and some other stuff like a year and a half later. Local companies can be a good resource because they have more of an interest in your specific community.
Remember this: you never know what you can get away with until you ask. (Colin Powell) And that is also exactly how I got his autograph. :)
a year's worth of supplies would last us more than a year! I'd go for that!
Quote from: mynetdude on March 14, 2008, 04:51:16 PM
a year's worth of supplies would last us more than a year! I'd go for that!
google: office supplies (your zip code here) :)
might also help to make a list of things you might need and then make a list of companies or types of companies who might be able to donate such a thing. That goes beyond office supplies. And if you need furniture-type office supplies, some office furniture places buy old pieces, which you can get cheap, or you can see if there are any scratch and dent places in your area. Sometimes the damage is minimal or isn't visible if the piece is against a wall or what have you.
We request items like this from Walmart. I think all we did was fill out a form showing we were 501C3 and then got copies of the non-profit request form. We just fill it out and drop it off at customer service. You don't even need to wear a uniform. Once you are approved, you simply pick up a gift card (usually for half the amount requests) and go get the items you want. From there, check out at a register. I don't think you need anything fancy and you shouldn't need to talk to anyone other than the normal clerks. They know what to do.
In regards to volunteering for scanning, I would if I was close by!! I have a printer at work that you can just load them in the feeder and it goes nuts scanning them. I have never tried a whole bunch of documents, but it would make short work of the binders!!
In regards to SIMS for attendance tracking- yes it does do it and it is awesome. If you use it for nothing else, it will definately be a good tool to take advantage of. Import the members and start taking attendance.
Quote from: LtCol Hooligan on March 14, 2008, 06:12:38 PM
We request items like this from Walmart. I think all we did was fill out a form showing we were 501C3 and then got copies of the non-profit request form. We just fill it out and drop it off at customer service. You don't even need to wear a uniform. Once you are approved, you simply pick up a gift card (usually for half the amount requests) and go get the items you want. From there, check out at a register. I don't think you need anything fancy and you shouldn't need to talk to anyone other than the normal clerks. They know what to do.
In regards to volunteering for scanning, I would if I was close by!! I have a printer at work that you can just load them in the feeder and it goes nuts scanning them. I have never tried a whole bunch of documents, but it would make short work of the binders!!
In regards to SIMS for attendance tracking- yes it does do it and it is awesome. If you use it for nothing else, it will definately be a good tool to take advantage of. Import the members and start taking attendance.
I haven't gotten that far into doing attendance, most of Oregon squadrons don't do attendance via the WMU (thats what we use). yeah I have a flatbed printer, so scanning without sheetfeet is pointless. I thought about trading printers with my mom, we both have the same exact model with different features. Hers has a sheet feeder, mine doesn't :P
though TBH scanning 28 pages per month, thats 336 pages total assuming each week the pages are 7 pages x4 weeks thats 28 pages per month x12 for 12 months worth gives me 336 pages I don't think its worth scanning archives for the last 3-5 years... thats a lot of pages/time.
The future though... there is no way paperless is going to happen. Our squadron doesn't want to remove the paper sign in sheets they want to have archived copies of it which is fine with me... but they have to spend $13 for one binder which is fine as well.
As for the Walmart paperwork, see again its a matter of knowing how much you need, I'd rather point to what I need then let them do the money figures rather than having to say ok I need $500.00 and end up only getting 1/2 that to not be able to get truly $500 worth of whatever is needed. Rather than doing that, I'd rather submit a list of things needed and if they have it then they give it.
Like I said Walmart doesn't have everything, they only had 1 3" binder when I went to go pick one up and it didn't close all the way so I opted for staples since they have better stuff and more of it anyhow.
I asked one of our members about this, since he keeps tabs on donations and acquiring the grants and other donations so we'll see about what he has to say about my request.
I think we used to get a $50 walmart card a month or something? Don't quote me on that...I can't remember.
^ 50 bucks a month = $600.00 Thats a good deal!
Also, everyone's state reps/ senators and Federal Reps each have cash available to give out to organizations like CAP that take the time to walk into their office and request it. I highly reccomend every unit Commander and member get to know their elected officials. My old SQD (like 4 Squadrons ago) was able to get a community grant of around $25,000 to build a new building and for other items they needed. It only took filling out an APP, and making friends with the State Reps office secretary and the Representative herself.
I get all our binders at Office Depot (usually @ 85% of the Staples price), and watch for sales. Then you can buy 2 get 1 free, or similar.
Office MAX now offered discounts through the AAFES on line mall. If you have a military member in your SQD, it is worth having the m check prices out for you.
Quote from: mikeylikey on March 15, 2008, 02:57:53 AM
Office MAX now offered discounts through the AAFES on line mall. If you have a military member in your SQD, it is worth having the m check prices out for you.
Say what??? I'm not sure I understand this... OfficeMax gives discountes through AAFES? Well we don't have any military folks but he still has his AAFES card and he can still order from AAFES as he is retired. So yeah, I can ask him if I had clarification what this is about.
^ Yes, fairly large discounts on office supplies and at least 10% off computers. Sometimes more. Tell him the link is on the " Shop Your On line Mall" page.
Quote from: mikeylikey on March 15, 2008, 04:00:03 AM
^ Yes, fairly large discounts on office supplies and at least 10% off computers. Sometimes more. Tell him the link is on the " Shop Your On line Mall" page.
Oh ok I've seen that, didn't know it had to be AAFES required. A lot of companies on that shop your online mall seems to be a referral from the CAP website so thus getting discounts that way.
I'll have him check it out for me :)