Posted on 07/20/2006 12:08:29 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps calls itself a "project of the Declaration Alliance," although few MCDC volunteers know what the alliance does or why Minuteman donations are routed through the charity founded and headed by conservative activist Alan Keyes.
Several Minuteman leaders and members questioned the wisdom of ceding control over fundraising to the Herndon-based Declaration Alliance, part of an intricate weave of conservative organizations founded and chaired by Mr. Keyes or tied to longtime Keyes associates working with MCDC.
MCDC President Chris Simcox told The Washington Times that the alliance offers "an experienced organization for mass mailings, advertising and public relations" and the ability to conduct a "fully accredited and independent audit" of MCDC finances.
Mr. Simcox said he "checked these people out very carefully before agreeing to work with them" and that he made the "correct decision" in hiring "clean professional consultants, accountants and media professionals." He did not, however, disclose during an interview last week or in a 3,961-word follow-up statement how much Declaration Alliance and its affiliated organizations have been paid for their services
During the interview, he said, "Not one cent of MCDC money has been spent on alliance projects." The statement, released on the MCDC Web page, www.minutemanhq.com/hq/, does not mention Declaration Alliance or Mr. Keyes. ...."
"..Diener Consultants first contacted the Minuteman organization in early 2005, said Ms. Hair, the MCDC spokeswoman who also was a top adviser to Mr. Keyes in his presidential and senatorial races. She said she called Mr. Simcox after the Minuteman group was created to ask whether he had a media plan. After being told no, she said, she met with Mr. Simcox and Minuteman co-founder James Gilchrist in Washington and signed an agreement...."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
BigSkyFreeper: "I'm not the one defending Simcox's shoddy financial records, which he hasn't denied."
http://forum.minutemanhq.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1845
We, the undersigned Minuteman Civil Defense Corps officers and leadership, have complete confidence in the professional firms we have retained to perform fiduciary responsibility and accounting for the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps. We here reconfirm the Board of Directors’ decision to employ accredited and experienced professionals to assist the organization in management of our finances.
The Declaration Alliance and the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps organizational entities are both in full compliance with IRS regulatory statutes and filing obligations. Each entity will file the requisite Form 990 on deadline by this November 15th, being held to the same standard as every other non-profit corporation in the country.
There are those both within the border security movement and actively opposed to it who, for ideological reasons or in advancement of personal ambition, wish the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps to fail. Critics are obtaining false information from known racialists, anti-Semites and a small handful of disgruntled people who have been terminated from staff or from leadership involvement with the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps over a year ago because they could not meet MCDC standards or adhere to our strict field standard operational procedures.
Consequently, these dismissed Minutemen have no actual knowledge of MCDC finances, regulatory compliance, filing deadlines, non-profit status, or other accountability matters.
The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps with its border watch efforts in all four southern border states and five in the north and growing, has forced into the national spotlight the lawless and wide-open conditions at our borders. Illegal immigration and our lack of border security is now arguably the #1 issue in this country, and tabloid-style gossip of this nature drives readership. Recent criticism of Minuteman Corps finances is utterly without merit.
The Minuteman Corps has taken on every branch of government, every politician, every government entity and every agency involved in collusion or negligence to keep our borders wide open—and have exposed them as either corrupt, negligent or even criminal in their incompetence. It is no surprise that efforts to discredit our organization abound. We continue in our mission undistracted and undismayed by these groundless attacks.
Chris Simcox, President
Al Garza, National Executive Director
Carmen Mercer, Vice President
Greg Thompson, National Development Director
Bill Irwin, National Operations Director
Pass the M&M's...
EV, I dont' know if you do or not, but if you work for these folks you really should let people know that. I think people that have a vested interest in something should always be up front about it. Maybe put it in your tagline? Just a suggestion.
Did some volunteer work for Jim Gilchrist when he ran for Congress, and have worked as a consultant on a number of Declaration Alliance projects, but I've never worked for Simcox or the MCDC.
I've never been anything but open about any of that here on FR, friend.
Yeah, the brown ones don't go down so easy, do they? LOL
Thanks for providing some background in this area. Is this a DA project for you then?
Actually, I like the red ones. ;)
How long ago did they hire those professionals, EV?
Has it been since these questions came up last week?
In the first case it was texasforever, and in the second case it was Howlin. I'm pinging them to the thread so you can ask them yourself.
L
There's a pretty bright line between speaking your mind and commiting a slander. That's not a threat, that's a fact.
Is independent thinking a conservative trait,
Yep it is. You be sure and let me know when you see some of the Open Borders Pro Amnesty folks actually do some.
In this case there is the appearance of impropriety.
There are allegations of impropriety. What's lacking is evidence. You know, that good old fashioned thingy that's admissable in a Court of Law.
L
No. I'm a volunteer supporter of the Minutemen and all they have accomplished to bring this important national security and sovereignty situation into the forefront of the consciousness of the American people.
You asked me that yesterday, and I gave you my answer.
Has it been since these questions came up last week?
No. Simcox realized quite some time ago, from what I know, that his little grassroots brushfire was turning into more than he could personally handle...that he was moving into the operational realms that Washington politicians have pretty much reserved for themselves (through campaign finance laws and IRS regs and FEC requirements, etc.).
So, he and his board apparently decided to hire folks who do that for a living.
Pretty smart, I think.
To: TexasforeverWhy not? Is it because you have none to cite?No. It's because you're an ass.
381 posted on 07/18/2006 12:41:51 AM EDT by EternalVigilance
I knew EV was on "our side"! :-)
Note to self: Never take legal advice from someone who isn't aware that it is impossible to slander someone on FR.
You mean "Tex" isn't a Democrat?
I'm surprised, but I stand corrected.
Can you clarify please? Are you a volunteer supporter of the Minutemen or of the MCDC?
Both.
Why do you ask?
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