4t
editor's note
by matt comer
matt@goqnotes.com
Transparency key to
social trust
Shocked. Seriously, I was. What I thought
was a simple, straightforward news story
turned into one of our most controversial.
As the comment count continued its upward
trend, I thought to myself: "Why don't we
ever get this kind of reaction on more impor
tant, impactful news pieces and features?"
The story—on allegations of fundraising
fraud against Charlotte company Wooftease
and event group Club Cub — racked up a to
tal of 84 comments online (as of press time,
the comment count was still rising). That's
the most comments we've ever received
on any story, ever. (To read that story, visit
goqnotes.com/8247/.)
Then I realized: Our short, online article
on Wooftease and Club Cub /sone of those
"more important, impactful stories" and hits
on an issue that strikes at the very heart of
our community.
At any given time there are various non
profit groups raising money, holding events
or otherwise soliciting support. Sometimes,
businesses also join in on the action and
promise to give a portion of the money they
receive to an area community group.
For the better part of our movement's
history, non-profit and local, community-
based groups have been at the forefront of
progress. By far, these organizations have
pushed our agenda, offered us support,
operated resource hotlines, websites and
community centers and provided various
social welfare programs and services.
Without these groups and their hardwork
ing volunteers, our community would look
far different and we certainly wouldn't be
where we are today.
In the case involving Wooftease and Club
Cub, I take no stance or opinion. Speaking
generally, however, our community must be
on guard against groups or businesses who
show upon the scene with less-than-pure
intentions to solicit funds under fraudulent or
not-so-transparent purposes. It's rare, but it
does happen. And, when it happens a sort of
social trust can break down.
There's only one way to battle against
fraudulent "non-profit" groups, and it re
quires legitimate non-profits to operate with
a sense of transparency and public account
ability. Most often, although not always, real
non-profits with legitimate purposes are
more than willing to be open with their meet
ing minutes, financial data and budgets and
other information, going far beyond the few
annually-filed items that are legally required
to be open for public inspection. These are
the types of organizations that build trust
4 qnotes Oct. 2-i5.2010
with their donors, stake holders and larger
public and, atface value, can usually be
trusted with your money.
In tight economic times it becomes that
much more important to spend and donate
your money wisely. Before contributing to a
group that merely claims to be non-profit, be
sure to check them out. Ask for their IRS tax-
exempt determination letter or annual tax
return filings and other information (much of
which is also publicly available via guidestar.
org, irs.gov and sosnc.com). If the group
offers no resistance, you can generally be
assured the organization is doing the right
thing now and will likely continue to do the
right thing once it receives your money.
CM PD forum: Let's
make it a success
In our last print edition, on Sept. 18,1
took the time to give due credit to Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) of
ficials and community members who pulled
together to organize Chief of Police Rodney
Monroe's community forum on Oct. 12 (see
page 7 for more).
Come Oct. 12, my hope is to walk into
the Community Center and see a standing-
room-only crowd. We owe ittothe people
who made this possible and we owe it to our
community. Want to help get people to the
forum? Be sure to tell all of your friends, post
about it on your Facebook or Twitter profiles,
announce it in your church or faith group's
service or newsletter or even offer to give
folks a ride. The forum is our community's
chance to be heard on issues related to
CMPD. It is an all-too-rare opportunity in
this city we can't pass up. For more infor
mation and directions to the Lesbian &
Gay Community Center of Charlotte, visit
gaycharlotte.com.::
Cipoll
Why did you come or why are you going to NC Pride, Pride
Charlotte and Blue Ridge Pride?
See the options and vote: goqnotes.com/to/qpoll
■7
It's a way to show how free we
are now, and we've got this and
we will get more later. I think it's
fun to come and see and it would
help other people who might be
questioning.
— Chase Wall, Booneville, N.C.
I haven't been to a parade before.
They are important Our parades
will show we deserve our freedoms.
~ Jordan Beam, Booneville, N.C.
This is my very first time at NC
Pride. It is very exciting.
~ Doreen Donavan,
Sanford, N.C.
I came to bring my girlfriend. I
wanted her to experience being out
and proud.
~ Jeannine Hogan,
Wilmington, N.C.
I wanted to come with my girlfriend
and we brought our children. They
wanted to come and its the first
time they've been to anything like
this.
— Wendy Perez, Sanford, N.C.
This is my second time coming. I
wanted to bring (my family] and we
are having a ball.
—Lisa Nelson, Sanford, N.C.
I always come to Pride. It's the only
place to be with the community
in the state and see very different
parts of the community. It's also
nice to be out in droves when 50
years ago we couldn't da this.
— Samantha Korb, Mebane, N.C.
I've been coming every year. I
can't break the tradition.
— Lee Sartain, Raleigh, N.C.
Connie J* \etter
Attorney and Counsellor at Law
CJVLaw.com
704-333AOOO
fe-
1208 The Plaza
Charlotte
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