Hope for Hailey.org

[tehcloser]

The merchandise has been removed from Priscilla's blog on Big Country.

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/news-blog-stylefile

And I'm going to take a nap, expect news, lol.

 

[NSS]

Can I just add something?
Thanks!

Whilst I find the "business/money making" aspect of missing or exploited children dreadful. I am trying to avoid being too opinionated about this subject.

I support Tim Miller and Marc Klass and others in their endeavors to make a difference, but once upon a time they were the equivalent of Haileys Angels, or similar volunteer searchers.
I would love to see more clarity on how ALL of these organizations allocate their funds, but non profit organizations have no real duty to disclose their accounting for public consumption.

If we seek to change how this particular case is being worked regarding 'merchandise', then we must take care not to overly restrict those groups that genuinely do great work.

 

[Blue Eyed Chick]

I would love to see more clarity on how ALL of these organizations allocate their funds, but non profit organizations have no real duty to disclose their accounting for public consumption.

I was under the impression that if you donated to a non-profit, you could ask to see their accounting, and they had to comply?

 

[SmoothOperator]

I was under the impression that if you donated to a non-profit, you could ask to see their accounting, and they had to comply?

Blue-Eyed Chick I believe you are correct.. In all/any of my personal dealings with{and that includes charities/orgs that I have "looked into" and from there may/may not have chosen to participate..purchase..or donate to certain ones that I found questionable}..

That said I believe that once an organization is deemed a non-profit org immediately all of their accounting records..break-down of percentages and where those percentages go..etc..etc..become transparent and are available to the public 100%..

A few posts up you'll find a link that tehcloser posted that touches on this aspect specifically where Hope For Hailey org. is concerned..

 

[Knox]

Some of the disclosure requirements depend on if you are Incorporated or Unincorporated. We went through all of the in Lindsey Baum's case. Personally I find money matters distasteful in missing children's cases, creates a lot of dissension.

1. What is an unincorporated nonprofit association?
   
   An unincorporated nonprofit association is an unincorporated organization consisting of three or more members joined by mutual consent for a common nonprofit purpose. Unlike nonprofit corporations, unincorporated nonprofit associations do not file certificates of formation with the secretary of state. For more information, see Form 208 (Word 32kb, PDF 21kb).
2. Does an unincorporated nonprofit association have to file anything with the secretary of state?
   
   No. An unincorporated nonprofit association may, but is not required to, file an appointment of an agent for service of process. See Form 706 (Word 84kb, PDF 51kb). In addition, the association may, but is not required to, file a statement of authorization as to real property with the county clerk.
3. Is an unincorporated nonprofit association a tax-exempt entity? If not, how do I become tax-exempt?
   
   A Texas nonprofit organization—whether a corporation or an unincorporated association—is not automatically exempt from federal or state taxes. To become exempt, the organization must meet certain requirements and apply with both the IRS and the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

http://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/nonprofitfaqs.shtml

 

[tehcloser]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................redcat's zazzle is gone too. Odd.

 

[NSS]

I have created some confusion on the accounting and accountability issues, so I'll try to demonstrate by using my Church as an example.

As members we have an annual budget meeting and the accounts are presented, however they are simply defined under headings such as Salaries, utilities, mortgage, discretionary and so on. The annual figures are presented there.

Here's what it doesn't tell me.
How many paid staff members we have and their individual salary/benefit cost.
What we pay in power, water, alarm monitoring etc.


In some cases involving missing children, the board of directors have been paid 'expenses' but offer their time for free.
In one instance, the printing and advertising contracts went to members of the missing childs family and close friends etc.

One persons 'merchandising' is anothers 'fundraising'.

One persons 'expenses' is anothers 'bill paying'.

If the head office of an organization is their spare bedroom, then the business utilities are also general living expenses.

See, it can be crazy making to follow the money trail --- find where some went --- be absolutely outraged ---- then realize that it's perfectly legal, even if somewhat distasteful.

Sorry, I said I was going to steer clear and then monopolized the conversation. I promise to stop talking about it now.

 

[SuziQ]

I was under the impression that if you donated to a non-profit, you could ask to see their accounting, and they had to comply?

How do you determine who is a legit non profit? Having a non profit tax id number doesn't mean much.

 

[SuziQ]

NSS, you explained it perfectly. I know myself that I am really tired of seeing car and house payments being made with donations and to find out that very little of donations go to the actual cause. And it's all legal!

 

[hollyblue]

So now all of the funds generated will be going into a search fund rather than the reward fund. Sounds reasonable enough to me and more practical. Hailey needs to found. IMO

 

[tehcloser]

Amber Dubois's mom has posted at another forum (run by monkeys) that Hopeforhailey.org is the official website for Hailey. They were going to sell shirts but decided against it. They are going to have a donate button set up on the site soon. All those funds will be used for in the search for Hailey. The parents do not have access to the money and no funds will be used inappropriately. She personally helped set this up with the correct people and with legal help.


They have nothing to do with the merchandise that is being sold on CafePress and have no idea who is selling it.

OK, hang on, :banghead: Somebody is just flat out lying here. Big Country said the merchandise was going to be sold by "Hope For Hailey". "Hope For Hailey says, "they have no idea who is selling it". Really?????????????? In the mean time, the zazzle site went poof...WTH is going on here? I just looked on cafe press and all I could find was buttons. Now if all this had been honest and above board, why is it all disappearing?

 

[yllek]

OK, hang on, :banghead: Somebody is just flat out lying here. Big Country said the merchandise was going to be sold by "Hope For Hailey". "Hope For Hailey says, "they have no idea who is selling it". Really?????????????? In the mean time, the zazzle site went poof...WTH is going on here? I just looked on cafe press and all I could find was buttons. Now if all this had been honest and above board, why is it all disappearing?

IF....

It wasn't, imo.

Public outcry and lots of caring eyes watching very closely.

Poof....

Good.

Enter someone credible who established the website. Now, we've got a search fund overseen by an independent party with a guarantee from Carrie McGonigle. Best for Hailey. Works for me.

P.s. It's encouraging to see so many people rally together when something appears exploitive; the united voice of objection made a big difference and helped force the focus back on finding Hailey, imo.

 

[yllek]

Sorry bout the cryptic message post above, more caffeine required!

My understanding is that Carrie McGonigle from TeamAmber acquired the web site domain and is going to administer the HopeforHailey site on behalf of Billie and Clint. The HopeforHailey organization is actually Billie, Clint and friends, that was my understanding at least. I think it's possible that Carrie was unaware of all the merchandise that was being peddled. Billie claimed she was unaware until the Big Country piece and the message from HopeforHailey was posted this week. All kinds of Hailey "gear" has been out there for at least 7 weeks and I believe Billie was aware of it, but wouldn't be surprised if she failed to mention anything to Carrie. I hope Carrie doesn't find herself in a similar spot as Marc Klaas did. I'm glad she's listening to feedback and investigating, then letting people know what she will be allowing on the site as its administrator. I expect Billie to have little interest in the HopeforHailey website after Carrie's statement about a monitored search fund (and possibly only t-shirts).

Wouldn't be surprised if that merchandise that was pulled from zazzle and Big Country ads pops up somewhere else on-line once the heat dies down a little (unless Hailey is found). Glad to see teh checking for it; I'm gonna keep doing searches too. No reason these peddlers are scurrying underground now unless there's something to hide, imo.

 

[yllek]

Guys we need links. Thanks.

Sorry grams - here you go:

Here is the Parking Lot link that talks about who makes up the Hope for Hailey organization:
[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130417"]Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

Here is the link to the HopeforHailey website set-up:
http://whois.domaintools.com/hopeforhailey.org

Related links:
Feb. 21, 2011
Billie says she and her estranged husband are uniting in the search for their daughter. The two also plan to launch a website, HopeforHailey.com, this week.
http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=344666


Feb. 23, 2011
This weekend, she and her ex-husband will be in Dallas to address a human trafficking awareness group.

“This should help spread the word about Hailey even further, and there will be a web page set up known as hopeforhailey.com.

“There won’t be any blogging where people can talk trash. This will be the only Internet site where you can get mine and Clint’s exact words, and we’ll keep it updated.”
http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=345546

Sorry, Carrie is mostly communicating via another crime board so I can't link her personal response to the merchandise issue. Don't have an edit option on my post that you quoted grams. Can you edit it or just delete both messages altogether if you see fit. Thanks and sorry for the headache.

 

[everyoneneedsavoice]

Hmmmm....I just noticed this article was updated:

<snipped>
*Correction: The merchandise found on Cafe Press is not affiliated with HopeforHailey.org, as originally stated in this article. Below is a response from organizers:

More at link:
http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=349816


ps - am i crazy or is this yet another "new" correction? i don't understand how you can publish an article with links to items for sale for a specific information without verifying the accuracy of the data. i have no idea how it works in journalism, but I do know that I wouldn't have a job if i published reports w/ inaccurate data such as this. I don't get it...or...maybe i do -

 

[TGIRecovered]

I'm not very impressed with the quality of journalism we have in this area. Much of it is sloppy reporting. True investigative journalism is non-existant. We are lucky to have any questions answered at all. Most articles and news reports are simply a copy and paste job from a press release, IMO. Misquotes and mistakes are par for the course!

MOO

 

[hollyblue]

Just wanted to note that the BOD for the Hope For Hailey officical site. I don't recall the first person, but the other two are a mother/daughter team and search(ers) for HD. I found the last paragraph interesting...first I read it was today.

The Hope for Hailey/Hailey's Search fund has a board of directors made up of three people:
1) Bill Markunas
2) Glenda Turner
3) Kristy Lloyd
The board of directors are in charge of maintaining the fund and ensuring that none of the money is misappropriated.

Hailey's Search is a part of Hope for Hailey, and is headed by the board of directors. All searches are conducted in a safe, legal manner. Detailed records are kept of areas searched, and they are turned over to law enforcement so that they can follow up on anything found.

Everyone involved with Hope for Hailey or who participates in Hailey's Search does so on a strictly VOLUNTARY basis. All time and labor is donated. No one is compensated for their time, or reimbursed for gas, or personally benefits in any way from the money in Hailey's fund.

When Hailey is found, any money left in the fund will be used to pay for expenses including, but not limited to her rescue, transport from place found accompanied by her family, and any expenses resulting from the ordeal of having been taken away from her family, abducted, kidnapped, or secreted. The fund will also pay for expenses which include, but are not limited to any medical provider, hospital, counselor, doctor, therapist, psychological care, and/or treatment, as well as any final expenses as may be deemed appropriate and in her best interests guided by recommendations of experts in these fields.

 

[tehcloser]

Do tips go through that site?

 

[scorekeeper]

Do tips go through that site?

Their poster list LE as contact.

But it does have a contact section where you can leave a tip.

I know Clint said he follows up on tips that he receives but I am not sure where those tips come from (his FB, personal, or the HFH site)

http://www.hopeforhailey.org/contact-us.html

JMO

 

[hollyblue]

Do tips go through that site?

I don't believe so teh, it says to call the CCPD or the 1-800 LOST number.

http://www.hopeforhailey.org/index.html