I appreciate your concern
thebigsd. However, There's nothing in that post that isn't readily available from any of my web sites -
http://www.nm-ccw.com,
http://www.handgunlaw.us,
http://www.inda-photos.com - etc. already.
I have had a few private responses telling me I was an ass for posting the above - none of whom, BTW, had ever served their country from those that answered that question.
What I said about the WWP is absolutely true. If you listen to the CEOs comments, you can clearly hear him dancing around the issue and trying to re-direct the conversation. Most know me well enough to understand that there is nothing I won't do for my brothers. The last thing I would EVEN consider, is putting up a roadblock to any organization that is helping them. But there is a line even I won't cross.
This is not only about their political position. When I see **** like Wounded Warrior's CEO Nardizzi being paid an astounding $319,692
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12842 & a former officer, John Mella is paid $230,000 per year, my blood boils. That's half a million dollars to two people at the top of the organization, when those funds were donated in good faith that they would be REASONABLY used for our heroes. No one I know would object to reasonable salaries. More than half a million to two employees is outrageous.
However, I continued to support them because they DO do some good work for our guys.
But when the organization displays it's blatant disdain for the very basis of my life, I'm out. More on the WWP rating - it rates a D-.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/consumersmarts/2007/12/13/these-veterans-charities-flunked/
We have damn good charities that help our brothers, that are rated A+ or A. We DO NOT have a reason to even think about supporting one that sucks down funds for their CEO and former CEO [and founder]. Doing all the math, they use roughly 45 percent for administrative costs overall.
I see the controversy my post stirred on the lists. Unfortunately, but not unusually, we have a number of vocal folks that haven't done their research to verify or dispute what I said regarding the WWP, instead preferring to comment regarding the political aspect of my post. Bottom line - the WWP is operated by bottom-feeders that are using our wounded Veterans ills for personal gain. Again, I do agree there is some serious good they do. But again, there are other Veterans organizations that perform far better for our heroes and don't suck life out of the donations at the alarming rate the WWP does.
Here's some additional research for those that are interested.
http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/2012/02/29/segel-the-wounded-warrior-maze/
http://kerry-patton.com/veterans-need-your-support-not-veteran-friendly-non-profit-ceos/
http://cheaperthandirt.com/blog/?p=32314
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...gresham-dont-support-wounded-warrior-project/
Make enough noise - stir up enough controversy - threaten enough loss in donations and things begin to change. WWP may be starting to see the light in some areas since this all began.
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/jul/02/wounded-warriors-get-no-bill-paying-help-from/
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/dec/06/eve-samples-wounded-warrior-project-finally-bill/
This doesn't change my opinion of how the WWP is administered or distributes donated monies but I want to be fair and post the positive changes they make. This is a good start.
As to those that think I'm an ass for posting what I did - I'm good with that. The private replies I've received since that post have all been like yours, 100 percent positive - not one private post negative.
To those that say I've lost a measure of their respect for my post - if it's lost that easily, it was valued too low for me to care.
Thanks for your thoughts,
thebigsd - Stay Safe.
Steve Aikens
