I learned in church today

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I taught EQ yesterday, when I posed the question "what is the priesthood?" I was given the answer "What Mitt Romney has".

So I learned that.

[wuapinmon]

I taught EQ yesterday, when I posed the question "what is the priesthood?" I was given the answer "What Mitt Romney has".

So I learned that.

That's to avoid too often repetition of Melchizedek's name.

[Paperback Writer]

That's to avoid too often repetition of Melchizedek's name.

Now that was funny.

[DU Ute]

Now that was funny.

Yeah. Got to give wuap some props for that one.

[Donuthole]

When talking w/my parents yesterday, FOS came up. I told them about how I pay directly to my ward's "Other" budget and write in "Scouts" in lieu of giving fund that go directly to corporate BSA via FOS. My dad chuckled and told me that wouldn't work in their stake. Apparently their SP has the wards track all donations made by ward members to the scouting fund and when FOS money is due, the ward cuts a check from the YM fund for that amount to FOS.

I admit, I hadn't considered that "loophole" (i.e. dishonest transaction) but it now has me wondering how many bishops out there would do something like that to meet their goal, particularly when faced with heavy pressure from the stake to meet the goal set by the Stake.

EDIT: This isn't something done above the table, FYI. My dad knows about it because he was the ward financial clerk for a couple years.

[Jeff Lebowski]

When talking w/my parents yesterday, FOS came up. I told them about how I pay directly to my ward's "Other" budget and write in "Scouts" in lieu of giving fund that go directly to corporate BSA via FOS. My dad chuckled and told me that wouldn't work in their stake. Apparently their SP has the wards track all donations made by ward members to the scouting fund and when FOS money is due, the ward cuts a check from the YM fund for that amount to FOS.

I admit, I hadn't considered that "loophole" (i.e. dishonest transaction) but it now has me wondering how many bishops out there would do something like that to meet their goal, particularly when faced with heavy pressure from the stake to meet the goal set by the Stake.

EDIT: This isn't something done above the table, FYI. My dad knows about it because he was the ward financial clerk for a couple years.

That doesn't surprise me one bit. Several years ago when I was scoutmaster we had a wealthy ward member contribute several thousand dollars with the specific condition that the money be used locally to support the ward troop. A year or two later I needed to buy some equipment so asked if we could use some of that money. The bishop kind of dodged the question for a few weeks so I pushed it further. I was told that the money had been used elsewhere and what the ward did with that money was none of my business and that I should butt out. That got my dander up, of course, so I pressed the issue and reminded everyone that as a church we ought to be transparent and fully ethical about how we manage money and that I was considering reporting what had happened to this donor (who was a friend of mine). That was followed by lots of backpedaling and an offer to buy whatever equipment I needed and the money would be provided. But they never gave a full accounting for the money, so it was clear that it was not all used the way the donor intended.

[Moliere]

When talking w/my parents yesterday, FOS came up. I told them about how I pay directly to my ward's "Other" budget and write in "Scouts" in lieu of giving fund that go directly to corporate BSA via FOS. My dad chuckled and told me that wouldn't work in their stake. Apparently their SP has the wards track all donations made by ward members to the scouting fund and when FOS money is due, the ward cuts a check from the YM fund for that amount to FOS.

I admit, I hadn't considered that "loophole" (i.e. dishonest transaction) but it now has me wondering how many bishops out there would do something like that to meet their goal, particularly when faced with heavy pressure from the stake to meet the goal set by the Stake.

EDIT: This isn't something done above the table, FYI. My dad knows about it because he was the ward financial clerk for a couple years.

Yikes! Those sneaky bishops!

Your next move is to just stop supporting scouting altogether. I'd probably do this if I knew the bishop was cutting checks to FOS under the table and I didn't have a kid in scouts. Though if I had a kid in scouts there is no way I'd cut a check to the scout fund given how much I'd likely have to pay for scout camp. As a leader, I just donate in kind every year and call it good.

[wuapinmon]

We had over $900 that _I_ raised from selling parking during Mardi Gras by myself for equipment for my troop. It was a brand new troop and we had nothing.

One Sunday the SP comes in and tells me that he's taking the money to pay for a High Adventure program for the stake. I protested but was told that funds were consecrated and under his discretion since they were derived from fund-raising on Church property.

Needless to say.....

[Jeff Lebowski]

We had over $900 that _I_ raised from selling parking during Mardi Gras by myself for equipment for my troop. It was a brand new troop and we had nothing.

One Sunday the SP comes in and tells me that he's taking the money to pay for a High Adventure program for the stake. I protested but was told that funds were consecrated and under his discretion since they were derived from fund-raising on Church property.

Needless to say.....

That volcano art evokes beauty and serenity, not anger.

Wow, I would have been furious. That's a textbook case of corporate-style management.

Here is the bottom line on these things: NEVER let that kind of money sit around. Spend it ASAP before someone grabs it. This is true not just for the church, but any big corporate environment.

[Paperback Writer]

That volcano art evokes beauty and serenity, not anger.

Wow, I would have been furious. That's a textbook case of corporate-style management.

Here is the bottom line on these things: NEVER let that kind of money sit around. Spend it ASAP before someone grabs it. This is true not just for the church, but any big corporate environment.

And never agree to the following terms: we won't spend any money this year for HA and instead of a real HA, we'll volunteer to help at a "camp" for special needs kids. Because we were volunteers, room and board were free and the HA amounted to washing dishes and cleaning the mess hall for three days while sleeping in cabins. A very lame HA! My kids had more responsibility and fun as volunteer counselors at their sister's diabetes day camp.

But no worries, next year we'll have lots of money for HA and do something significant and memorable. Meanwhile, the stake rearranges several wards and almost all the YM that went on that HA are now in a brand new ward. All that money is staying in the previous ward with kids who actually experienced a real HA last summer. And the new Bishop has just notified us that since we are a new ward, funding is scarce and not to expect much in terms of HA this summer.

To make matters worse, they actually had a vote for HA. A canoeing trip or volunteer camp and the canoeing trip won. Duh. But this Bishop vetoed the vote and we went to the volunteer camp instead. So I'm planning my own Father/Son HA this summer (again). But this time I think I'll use the money that I usually donate to FOS to fund it.

[Moliere]

And never agree to the following terms: we won't spend any money this year for HA and instead of a real HA, we'll volunteer to help at a "camp" for special needs kids. Because we were volunteers, room and board were free and the HA amounted to washing dishes and cleaning the mess hall for three days while sleeping in cabins. A very lame HA! My kids had more responsibility and fun as volunteer counselors at their sister's diabetes day camp.

But no worries, next year we'll have lots of money for HA and do something significant and memorable. Meanwhile, the stake rearranges several wards and almost all the YM that went on that HA are now in a brand new ward. All that money is staying in the previous ward with kids who actually experienced a real HA last summer. And the new Bishop has just notified us that since we are a new ward, funding is scarce and not to expect much in terms of HA this summer.

To make matters worse, they actually had a vote for HA. A canoeing trip or volunteer camp and the canoeing trip won. Duh. But this Bishop vetoed the vote and we went to the volunteer camp instead. So I'm planning my own Father/Son HA this summer (again). But this time I think I'll use the money that I usually donate to FOS to fund it.

This whole post is confusing. Why would the money not be split proportionally among the kids? You can easily have a check cut from the "other" fund and deposit it into the new wards account. You might want to make that request if you haven't already.

Also, how does the bishop have the authority to veto something the YM voted to do. It sounds like the trip is within the guidelines and rules of both the BSA and the church. So much for letting the kids run their own program. Our YM voted on a high adventure trip that I'd rather not do, but that's what they want to do, and it's within the rules, so I supported it.

EDIT: I once had a bishop try to cancel one of our activities at the last minute because of his own weather concerns (even though the activity would be mostly in the building). I told him he needs to have more faith (he didn't like this comment even though it was in jest) and that the activity would still happen. Needless to say, the clouds parted and the heavens shone and the activity was a huge success.

[Goatnapper'96]

That doesn't surprise me one bit. Several years ago when I was scoutmaster we had a wealthy ward member contribute several thousand dollars with the specific condition that the money be used locally to support the ward troop. A year or two later I needed to buy some equipment so asked if we could use some of that money. The bishop kind of dodged the question for a few weeks so I pushed it further. I was told that the money had been used elsewhere and what the ward did with that money was none of my business and that I should butt out. That got my dander up, of course, so I pressed the issue and reminded everyone that as a church we ought to be transparent and fully ethical about how we manage money and that I was considering reporting what had happened to this donor (who was a friend of mine). That was followed by lots of backpedaling and an offer to buy whatever equipment I needed and the money would be provided. But they never gave a full accounting for the money, so it was clear that it was not all used the way the donor intended.

Our ward does well with FOS. I coordinated the local efforts one year and my Bishop was clear to me that I am to keep all cash donations seperate from checks. If the goal was met with checks, I was to give him all the cash and he put it directly into our ward scout budget. He had to deal with the SP because they are used to Rockland carrying the stake, but he held firmer than General Stonewall Jackson!

[wuapinmon]

That volcano art evokes beauty and serenity, not anger.

Wow, I would have been furious. That's a textbook case of corporate-style management.

Here is the bottom line on these things: NEVER let that kind of money sit around. Spend it ASAP before someone grabs it. This is true not just for the church, but any big corporate environment.

It was a symbolic volcano showing how I had to act at peace and sustain him while inside I was filled with liquid hot magma.

[UtahDan]

This thread is the most valuable asset in the portfolio.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Something about Hautecoug's post reminded me of this gem:

Last Sunday our Ward Mission Leader was teaching Gospel Essentials for the last time as he had just been released. He closed his lesson on Family Responsibilities using a Brigham Young quote about "happifying your wife" and concluded with "Brethren, it behooves us to seek immediate repentance if our wives are not happy."