Wanted your guys opinions.

Billy the Great Khan

Billy the Great Khan

Uwaa OmO
Just got home from my AMVETS meeting and a interesting issue came up during the meeting. We're a pretty wealthy post (about $250,000 combined in our accounts). It came to our attention that a local veteran with 4 children was on the verge of eviction. He came to our post for assistance with the current months rent, around $1200. There was a lot of heated discussion, about how if we help this one veteran how we will have set precedent to help EVERYONE and etc. In the end we voted to assist this one particular person partially ($500).

What does everyone else think?
 
Emperor Septimius Severus said:
Just got home from my AMVETS meeting and a interesting issue came up during the meeting. We're a pretty wealthy post (about $250,000 combined in our accounts). It came to our attention that a local veteran with 4 children was on the verge of eviction. He came to our post for assistance with the current months rent, around $1200. There was a lot of heated discussion, about how if we help this one veteran how we will have set precedent to help EVERYONE and etc. In the end we voted to assist this one particular person partially ($500).

What does everyone else think?
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I would say that you take it on a case by case situation.
As a LLC, you have set no preference and if this was the majority rule; then for this particular case, you have made a decision.

I would ask that you all take another look at this; because $500 is probably not going to help him with his rent, as the owner of his place is under no obligation to accept the $500 and is more then likely going to start eviction precedings.
 
I think they should give him the entire amount or better yet, send it directly to the landlord.

What is the money in the accounts used for otherwise?
 
case by case basis. for those that love WJD....he did the same and still does.

the reality is, imho, that any other method is the false notion of utopia. if you start with the logic that - well, if we have to help this one person. imo, that is the wrong place to start. how much can your organization do with its funds and charter?

it is not an easy issue. my opinion, because of a powerful emotion/tool called guilt.
 
Emperor Septimius Severus said:
Just got home from my AMVETS meeting and a interesting issue came up during the meeting. We're a pretty wealthy post (about $250,000 combined in our accounts). It came to our attention that a local veteran with 4 children was on the verge of eviction. He came to our post for assistance with the current months rent, around $1200. There was a lot of heated discussion, about how if we help this one veteran how we will have set precedent to help EVERYONE and etc. In the end we voted to assist this one particular person partially ($500).

What does everyone else think?
Click to expand...

This is probably heartless to ask but what are his options for making the following months rental payment? Is helping him with this months rent just delaying the inevitable or he needs help just this one month and he has something lined up that will put him back on his feet?
 
I would have voted to give the dude help. Precedent doesn't matter in a group where votes are taken on spending money. It is always a "case by case" basis.
 
We, however, would check his bills and see whether there was a reason he got behind like that other than just bad luck.

We helped one dude after we checked his finances, but first we had to be reassured he was getting rid of a ton of unnecessary rubbish so he wouldn't be back next month.

Basically, depending on amount, we make dudes go through financial counseling before we just write checks.
 
Emperor Septimius Severus said:
Just got home from my AMVETS meeting and a interesting issue came up during the meeting. We're a pretty wealthy post (about $250,000 combined in our accounts). It came to our attention that a local veteran with 4 children was on the verge of eviction. He came to our post for assistance with the current months rent, around $1200. There was a lot of heated discussion, about how if we help this one veteran how we will have set precedent to help EVERYONE and etc. In the end we voted to assist this one particular person partially ($500).

What does everyone else think?
Click to expand...

I think that if your vets group has 250 grand in your bank account you should be helping vets. What are you doing with the money other than collecting it? WHy don't you use it to help struggling vets? Try to get the guy a job, or a better job, or whatever it is he needs. But not just him. Brainstorm about how to bring jobs to vets in your group's community. Reach out to local businesses to help in exchange for good publicity.

Yeah, help as many as you can. Otherwise you just turn into old men sitting around telling war stories for the rest of your lives. To what purpose?

And you should have given him the whole 1,200.
 
cawacko said:
This is probably heartless to ask but what are his options for making the following months rental payment? Is helping him with this months rent just delaying the inevitable or he needs help just this one month and he has something lined up that will put him back on his feet?
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Maybe they ought to help him line something up. I'm sure we are all aware of the problem of joblessness with returning vets?
 
I agree that you should help and do so on a case by case basis. If someone comes for help they should be willing to open up about why they need help. If your help can change things then help them. If there is no other income and you are just delaying the inevitable, help them to find either better work or cheaper housing.

I think one of the other things you could do is find some other sources of help and have them ready. If you make contact with other organizations and have those contacts ready, you might be able to get the vets help faster and easier from organizations that are setup to provide such assistance.
 
Emperor Septimius Severus said:
Just got home from my AMVETS meeting and a interesting issue came up during the meeting. We're a pretty wealthy post (about $250,000 combined in our accounts). It came to our attention that a local veteran with 4 children was on the verge of eviction. He came to our post for assistance with the current months rent, around $1200. There was a lot of heated discussion, about how if we help this one veteran how we will have set precedent to help EVERYONE and etc. In the end we voted to assist this one particular person partially ($500).

What does everyone else think?
Click to expand...
OK....what do I honestly think?

I think you prevented another michigan mouth breather from immigrating to Ohio. God Bless you! ;)
 
Emperor Septimius Severus said:
Just got home from my AMVETS meeting and a interesting issue came up during the meeting. We're a pretty wealthy post (about $250,000 combined in our accounts). It came to our attention that a local veteran with 4 children was on the verge of eviction. He came to our post for assistance with the current months rent, around $1200. There was a lot of heated discussion, about how if we help this one veteran how we will have set precedent to help EVERYONE and etc. In the end we voted to assist this one particular person partially ($500).

What does everyone else think?
Click to expand...

You have to go back to your charter to address this question. If it says "provide charity assistance to members in need" then of course do it. If you run out of money doing it, then so what?

I'm betting it says something like that.
 
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