Posted on 11/24/2006 4:45:03 PM PST by Anti-Bubba182
HOUSTON — For the first time, the Minuteman Civil Defense Corp. has revealed a smattering of intriguing details on its finances, but some former members want to know more about how the group has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributors' money.
Chris Simcox, the founder of nonprofit border watch group, posted IRS forms and an audit on his Internet site Nov. 15 in response to media reports raising concerns about how the group was handling its contributions. The new documents offer a glimpse into the organization's finances, former Minuteman loyalists say, but leave several unanswered questions.
"Just too many irregularities"
Among them: How are the Minutemen spending thousands of dollars in membership fees they've collected over the past 19 months? And what companies or other nonprofits received $277,000 — amounting to more than half the group's contributions in 2005 — for unspecified "personnel services?"
Already, questions about the group's finances and other concerns have prompted some leaders to quit. Bill Parmley, the former head of the Texas chapter of the MCDC, was one of the first leaders to leave in July 2005. "There were just too many irregularities," Parmley said in an interview this week. "I just didn't want to be involved in something like that."
Simcox and his spokeswoman, Connie Hair, did not respond to repeated phone calls or messages.
In barnstorming stops across the country last year, Simcox told crowds of new recruits that the organization charged a mandatory $50 membership fee for background checks.
He made exceptions for anyone who already had a concealed-weapons permit, which requires an extensive background check, and for former law-enforcement officers.
Questions surface over $50 fee
But the group's recently posted IRS Form 990 — a public record required for all nonprofits — shows the group spent only $1,074 on background checks for volunteers in 2005 while charging new recruits $50 each and collecting more than $54,000 in registration fees.
Kenneth Buelter and his wife, Daphne, former Minuteman loyalists, recalled meetings where MCDC leaders explained the $50 fee.
"They told us it was for background checks," said Daphne Buelter..............."
ping
You can tell they are having an effect because they are under fire.
That's a fact!
bttt
And, were they, individually or collectively, effective enough?
"And, were they, individually or collectively, effective enough?"
Don't know who was more effective but overall they weren't enough. Not surprising considering the YEARS of complaceny about the borders.
Why don't they take the money collected and start building the 700 mile fence that was passed through congress. Maybe after seeing this accomplishment, congress might even build another 700 miles. It is interesting that nothing has been done with regards to anything the minutemen promised. It is a shame because there integrity is being questioned and people will stop giving donations.
I'll vote for Lou Dobbs, but obviously none of them have been effective enough, because nothing has been done yet but a bit of election-year pandering.
I think someone at MCDC is making a mint off people's concern, but I don't expect them to end up doing anything practical.
However, I was rather irate at the GOP this past election season when they said the terrorists would get us if the Dems were elected, yet they haven't taken any action in the 5 years since 9/11 to secure the borders. That, IMO, should have been the first thing they did.
Total Revenue .......... $ 418,493 Total Expenses ......... $ 449,667 Net Assets/fund balances .. $ -31,174
" like that"..which was not a financial reason of leave..quote was taken from following story on the subject of "racism" and pasted into posted current news story?
Background: Disputes arose over whether the Minutemen should give water to dehydrated migrants. "Part of the Minuteman thing is you're a humanitarian," says Parmley, "so I suggested us throwing some money together and going out and buying some Pedialyte water and they just went through the roof."
It was Parmley's idea to run operations in Houston targeting day laborers and the contractors who hire them. And Parmley, a petroleum geologist and landowner in Goliad County, bought the plane tickets to fly in national Minuteman leaders from Arizona last month to begin organizing efforts here.
He asserted they also have made comments about shooting illegal immigrants or letting them die from dehydration.
Both Parmley and Bee County Sheriff Carlos Carrizales confirm that during a discussion early this year of illegal immigrants on private property in rural Goliad County, one resident asked: "Can't we just shoot 'em?'
Parmley "was a motivator," says Guy McMenemy, a former Houston police officer who has been involved in meetings here. "But I don't think him leaving will affect Houston, because we have a lot of people who are motivated here, too."
A lot of Parmley's woes seem to revolve around small-town politics, particularly his relationship with other members of the Sarco Concerned Citizens organization, which meets regularly in a white, one-room schoolhouse in Sarco. Members started complaining to elected officials a while back about the smuggling problem, says current chapter president Kenneth Buelter (Buelter replaced Parmley) , but they didn't get much help. The white vans kept flying through, loaded with migrants, at all hours of the day. "So we started looking around," he says, "and the Minuteman organization was the place that has gotten us the most publicity."
And nothing generates publicity like a little bit of controversy.
Parmley claims other members of the citizens group, all of whom are part of the Goliad chapter of the Minutemen, have been trying to undermine the local sheriff, Robert DeLaGarza, because he's Hispanic. "DeLaGarza, he's a great guy, a very nice guy," says Parmley. "I've known him since he was little. I've known his daddy for a long time. I've known his family. They're good people. I couldn't care less if they're Mexican. This is South Texas. Get over it."
Parmley says it all started about a year ago when he went to a local meeting where citizens were discussing how they could replace local Hispanic politicians with Anglos. He says he brought these issues to the attention of Simcox about a month before quitting, but Simcox put him off. Parmley suspects he was off somewhere grooming himself for political office.
Parmley resigned abruptly in late July alleging racism in the local chapter and a lack of organization on the national level. In subsequent interviews, Parmley stated the racism must run through to the national chapter since it had failed to take action against the Goliad group. "I have seen how they have not tried to carve the cancer out of the (Goliad area) group. I can only assume that (racism) is a part of their agenda," Parmley said previously.[2]
* September 12, 2005: “The Goliad chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps was dissolved today," reported Goliad chapter president Kenneth Buelter in a brief e-mail sent to the Victoria Advocate on Monday evening. There was no additional explanation in Buelter’s e-mail.[3]
As to Bill Parmley’s sudden resignation and accusations of racism in the group, Garza, who worked for more than 30 years as a private investigator, said he looked into the allegations and found them groundless. “It was merely a misunderstanding and misinformation,” Garza said, referring to the charges of racism.”[4]
Add to Post #12..which I unfortunately left out..
Who was more effective at galvanizing the opposition, Lou Dobbs, James Sensenbrenner, or Samuel Huntinton?
Parmley sounds like an agent provocateur. That little trick is older then dirt.
"Who was more effective at galvanizing the opposition, Lou Dobbs, James Sensenbrenner, or Samuel Huntinton?"
None of the above, that honor goes to KarLaRazaRove.
There are a lot of things to don't add up with that group
Yes, and a lot of excuses and bluster.
For instance, the extension. Now, I understand anyone can file for an extension. Then there's the Washington Times interview Simcox granted, and he was pulling numbers out of thin air while his CPA was crunching numbers. Then we find out shortly after the election, neither Simcox's "guesstimations" or the audit jibe.
Defending the indefensible is Clintonian.
Wow! They actually owe money. I guess I might have to send another donation. This is horrible. I know the group is not perfect but to be hounded AND owed money seems crazy.
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