[farmfriend]

Anybody want to buy a car?

[backhoe]

Regarding this woman?

Helen Taylor, The Nature Conservancy's Michigan director, accepts one of the four trucks donated by GM Cardmembers in April.

Rest assured this "Director" draws a fat salary, perks, etc.- paid by the group... who extorts money from GM's customers...
( Corporations do not pay taxes, fines, or other such fees- they pass the costs on to their customers...)

[E.G.C.]

bTTT!!!!!

[bigfootbob]

NO, THIS CAN'T BE! I BUY ONLY GM! I HATE FORD'S & DODGE'S. OH NO!

[blackie]

I don't drive GMC products.

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

[madfly]

Look up reports on the 501-c crowd at this BBB site.

Nature Conservancy report from Better Business Bureau's Charity site, www.give.org (2000)

The following information is based on TNC's consolidated audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2000.

Source of Funds
Contributions for land and other conservation projects		204,144,000
Investment income		161,181,000
Contributions for operations		125,829,000
Land contributed for conservation		86,082,000
Sales of conservation land to governmental agencies and other conservation organizations		81,925,000
Government grants		60,086,000
Royalties, fees and other		21,203,000
Contributions to endowments		18,773,000
Mitigation and contracts		14,052,000
Contributions of goods and services		5,416,000
Contributions of trade lands		4,885,000
Contributions for land preservation fund		3,272,000
Total Income		$786,848,000

Note 1: In reaching the conclusion that TNC meets the standard calling for a reasonable percentage (at least 50%) of total income from all sources to be applied to programs and activities directly related to the purposes for which the organization exists, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (the Alliance) considered the following, among other things. TNC believes that although their land purchases for conservation purposes are considered a fundamental part of their program expenditures they cannot be recognized as a program expense within an audited financial statement as a result of accounting rules. The 2000 audit report for TNC shows that it spent $310,448,000 or 38%, of total income ($786,848,000) on program service activities. If these figures are adjusted to incorporate land purchases as a program expense, then TNC spent program expense, then TNC spent $429,064,000, or 67%, of adjusted total income ($640,680,000) on program service expenses.

[babble-on]

Ok, I have to say that I find the Nature Conservancy to be the most palatable nature organization out there. For the most part (and I know there are exceptions) they are preserving the land that they want by PURCHASING it. In other words, they are taking donations from citizens who are therewith saying that they ascribe an economic value to the preservation of nature, and buying land in the open market from its owners to preserve as natural space. If someone else wants that land they could pay more for it than the Nature Conservancy. All in all, I think they operate in a way which I can reconcile with capitalism.

[Harleys Mom]

I would almost be willing to buy a GM product if GM would donate $6.6 mil to the Ohio State Grange.