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The nonprofit
National Football League is asking Congress for
an exception to the new IRS Form 990 regarding
salary disclosure (NYTimes 8/12). The
new rules would require that the names and salaries
of approximately 25 of NFL staff who make
more than $150,000 be reported. The NFL has
asked the American Society of Association
Executives for lobbying support. “We believe
that people who need to know about salaries paid to
NFL staff are the owners who already can
access that information. No valid purpose is served
to supply the same information to the general
public,” says an ASAE spokesperson.
QUESTION: Do
even the owners need to know salary information or
is that the chief staff executive’s responsibility?
An editorial calls for
revoking the International Olympic Committee’s
tax exemption (WSJ 8/4). The author claims
that host China’s human rights abuses are
inconsistent with one of the Fundamental Principles
of Olympism: “The goal of Olympism is to place sport
at the service of the harmonious development of man,
with a view to promoting a peaceful society
concerned with the preservation of human dignity.”
He says: “Treat the committee as the business it is,
tax it, and let it get on with the very big business
of running a major global sporting event.”
COMMENT:
Mission or principles statements – just words or a
real compass?
The Ladies Professional Golf Association
quickly reversed a policy which would have required
tour players with two years experience to pass a
basic oral English exam (NYTimes 9/6). The
hurried retraction indicated that “the LPGA
had not thoroughly examined the ramifications of the
policy.” The association said the intent was to
enhance financial opportunities for the tour and its
players, of whom a growing number are foreign-born.
CAUTION:
What were they thinking in our politically correct
environment?
Mary McFate was an
active volunteer in gun violence prevention
organizations, serving on the boards of Ceasefire
Pennsylvania, Freedom States Alliance,
and actively volunteering for the Brady Campaign.
“She’s been active in everything and involved in
every single major gun violence prevention
organization,” says the executive director of
States united to Prevent Gun Violence.
Unfortunately it turns out that Mary is working for
the National Rifle Association the whole
time, skillfully infiltrating their adversaries’
organizations (MotherJones 7/30)
COMMENT: Do
you know who your volunteers are?
“I can tell you from
extensive experience that most of today’s
associations are losing money due to poor pricing
practices,” says Andrew Lang (Associations Now
9/2008).
COMMENT: I
wholeheartedly agree. Consider this pricing
philosophy: “The object of price is not to recover
cost but to capture value in the mind of the buyer”
(Ralph Nimer)
“What is your overall
attitude toward associations?” 43% of respondents
over 60 gave “very favorable” ratings but only 30%
of those under 30 gave “very favorable” ratings (ASAE
& The Center’s Decision to Join).
CONCERN: The
assumption is that as they get older, people will
increasingly see associations more favorably. Let’s
hope so….
“There is one timeless truth about time: It’s a
major problem for people” (USAToday 8/5). In
two polls by the paper 50% of respondents say life
is busier this year than last, and most all want
more time with friends and family.
TIME:
The impact of this trend on associations is
considerable.
The 80-20 phenomenon, Pareto’s Law, were 80% of
results or output come from 20% of participants may
change in online activity. According to Jakob
Nielsen, 1% of online users are active contributors,
9% contribute occasionally, and 90% don’t contribute
(Click, by Bill Tancer 2008).
PARTICIPATION:
This 1-9-90 breakdown might also be more accurate
for traditional volunteer activity today as well
versus the 80-20 commonly believed.
32% of Internet users are members of
a social network according to a Pew Research Center
survey (NYTimes 8/18)
NETWORKING: Have associations lost
networking market share as networking gravitates to
social networks?
The Italian Association for Defense of Animals
and the Environment has collected 1,900
signatures on its online petition urging Pope
Benedict to stop wearing fur-trimmed garments (USAToday
8/14). Seems Benedict likes an ermine cape and
matching hat.
COMMENT: Nobody gets a pass when it comes to
animal welfare or the environment.
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