A Deficit of $100 Million Is Confronting the N.R.A.

NY Times ^ | 12/21/2003 | STEPHANIE STROM

[Joe Brower]

This is the first of this. I can't seperate the facts from the spin here, but overall it does NOT sound good.

[Joe Brower]

[Joe Brower]

Argh!

"This is the first of this." = "This is the first I've heard of this."

[Newbomb Turk]

Well for starters they could save money on mass mailing me. I am already a member but they regularly bombard me with paper.

[byteback]

I always think the same thing. Waaaay too much spent on mass mailings.

[uncbob]

Wonder how much was wasted fighting CFR

[Bob J]

Methinks the NRA is a bit tubby.

[caltrop]

I couldn't agree more. The number of mailings I get from the NRA's unreal. They have to cost a fortune to produce and mail and could, IMHO, be replaced with periodic articles describing the things they're doing and the funds they need in The American Rifleman or The American Hunter. I suspect they'd get almost as many contributions at a fraction of the cost.

[Riley]

Well for starters they could save money on mass mailing me. I am already a member but they regularly bombard me with paper.

Agree completely. Last time I re-joined, I asked them, "Please, don't send me anything. No ball cap, no magazine, no ILA mailings, nothing. Just a membership card."

Of course, they didn't listen. Why can't we opt for cheaper electronic delivery of thie communications? Or offer a different membership level for people that just want to defeat the antis without all of the frills?

[King Prout]

well, that ain't good.

[DesertWalker]

This is nothing new for the NRA. They ran a huge deficit in the early to mid 1980's as well, and in the midst of that they bought the new headquarters building in Fairfax, VA, and commissioned a massive computer system project to manage finances, membership, mailings, etc. They survived all that, and an expensive audit by the IRS ordered by the Clintonistas in the mid 90's.

A fellow I used to work with had worked on the computer project as a programmer. He said it was the worst managed information project he had ever worked on. Since most big system projects are a nightmare to manage, it must have been REALLY bad.

[bikerman]

getting in my 2 cents worth to much in mass mailings I have to agree sometimes 2 or 3 a week finally quite my membership figured if they have that much to mail me every week they don't need me as a member

[concerned about politics]

Their junk mail is unbelieveable. They must spend millions on postage alone!
Why spend all that money on people who are already members? Why not spend it on Constitutional education instead of all that useless crap they send in the mail? We just throw most of it away!

[Shooter 2.5]

The headquarters building was a good idea. I saw pictures of the leaky mess they had before. The new building even paid for itself by renting out the space that wasn't used.

That said, it looks like it's time to send them a Christmas gift.

[Newbomb Turk]

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind giving the my money. It just seems as if they spend all my money mailing me asking for more money.

Seems kind of like a waste of financial resourses.

[IronJack]

Before you get too concerned, look at the source. NY Times. First of all, they screw up so often they're probably talking about the IRA -- the Irish Republican Army -- not the NRA. Secondly, they hate gun rights and gun advocacy organizations so bad they probably just made the numbers up. And thirdly, even if the NRA has some money woes, they're good for it.

Concern, yes. Worry, no.

[Nick Danger]

I can't seperate the facts from the spin here, but overall it does NOT sound good.

Since it is from the New York Times, you can assume that it is designed not to sound good. But it's impossible to tell what it means... they use income statement and balance sheet terms interchangeably, which means they don't know what it means either.

What appears to be a growth in the deficit is actually a demonstration of membership growth and growth in longer-term commitments from members," Mr. Phillips said.

That sounds like they are taking cash from lifetime memberships and spending it today, leaving on the books a liability for tomorrow. If they have a good handle on how many lifetime memberships they sell every year, that may not matter.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I used to shoot at the basement range at the old building in DC in the early 70's and it was'nt in the greatest shape. The firearms collection was arranged in a manner that made it look like the stuff in a pawn shop.

All the same, this isn't good. I think I'll give a membership of two for gifts.

[PA Engineer]

Ditto.

[tubebender]

If you don't save your magazine make sure it gets into some waiting room for the public to peruse. Mine go into the waiting of our business and no one has ever complained...