BRC in Depth

[HummBebe]

I called BRC this morning, and spoke with a gentleman who after a few questions gave me the phone number to the Executive Director of BRC, Greg Mumm.

They pointed out to me the BRC's 990 form, which states exactly where there donations come from and the exact dollar amount. It is an IRS form.

http://www.sharetrails.org/files/taxes/05F990.pdf

BRC's focus is Land Use and Access issues for the Offroad Community. 75% or their total income comes soley from membership donations.

I also found a few others:

Sierra Club: http://www.activistcash.com/organiza...ls.cfm/oid/194

Wilderness Society: http://www.wilderness.org/Library/Do...IRSForm990.pdf

Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/about/2005990.pdf

Earth Justice: http://partners.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_gsReport=1&partner=network forgood&ein=94-1730465

National Resouce Defense Fund: http://www.activistcash.com/organiza...als.cfm/oid/19

Center for Biological Diversity: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/s...D-2005-990.pdf

I also invited him to come and speak with us regarding the position of the BRC, it's focus and contributors.

Thanks, Beebs

[KenP]

So this is wrong? They've completely changed? Done a 180 and have abandonded their roots? Abandonded their donors?
http://www.uspirg.org/

While the Blue Ribbon Coalition claims to be a grassroots groups representing the individual off-road vehicle user concerned about recreation on public lands, this report found that the coalition is closely tied to the timber, mining, and oil and gas industry as well as off-road vehicle manufacturers and dealers. Far from being a grassroots organization simply advancing an agenda of access to public lands for dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles, this report documents how the Blue Ribbon Coalition is working hand-in-hand with resource extractive industries to keep our national forests open to logging, mining, oil and gas exploration and other destructive activities that are incompatible with recreational uses

For the record, I want land opened for "resource extracting". We, as a Nation, need to be more self-sufficient.

[HummBebe]

Posted in the other thread:
http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...t=27809&page=2

And the direct link to their site where it is posted there:
http://www.sharetrails.org/index.cfm?page=14

[KenP]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Posted in the other thread:
http://www.elcovaforums.com/forums/s...t=27809&page=2

And the direct link to their site where it is posted there:
http://www.sharetrails.org/index.cfm?page=14

That's great to see and I'll admit that maybe all the other talk is wrong.

Thanks J.

However, I'd still like to see the top twenty corporate and individual donors, with amounts given, before I concede 100% that so much of what I've read about them is wrong. It's all about the stakeholders.

BTW, the president is listed as Jack Welch on the IRS pages you linked to. Is that the Jack Welch who used to be president of GE? The GE that does all this:
http://www.ge.com/company/businesses/index.html

Capital Solutions
Corporate Financial Services
Healthcare Financial Services <LI class=last>Real Estate
Diagnostic Imaging
Global Services
Clinical Systems
Life Sciences
Medical Diagnostics
Integrated IT Solutions <LI class=last>Interventional, Cardiology and Surgery
<LI class=last>Consumer & Industrial <LI class=last>Electrical Distribution <LI class=last>Equipment Services <LI class=last>GE Fanuc <LI class=last>Inspection Technologies <LI class=last>Plastics <LI class=last>Security <LI class=last>Sensing<LI class=last>Aviation Commercial Aviation Services
Energy
Energy Financial Services
Oil & Gas
Transportation <LI class=last>Water & Process Technologies
Networks
Cable
Film <LI class=last>Parks & Resorts

That sure would be interesting, but I doubt it's the same man.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by KenP

However, I'd still like to see the top twenty corporate and individual donors, with amounts given, before I concede 100% that so much of what I've read about them is wrong. It's all about the stakeholders.

Ask him, he's on the Board now....Greg Mumm. If 75% of a 1million dollar org comes from people like me, that only leaves 250,000 for 'big contributors" that's not very much.

The BLM controls the "Natural Resources"

[Greg Mumm]

I am here and available if you would like to ask me questions. I will check this for the next couple of days and see if I can't respond to any questions that are thrown at me.

Just a few comments:

Normally, I don't spend a lot of time in forums because it would dominate my time and there is so much to be done. I need to tell you up front that I will not answer any questions that impose on the privacy of our membership.

There is a fine line between lying and spinning the truth and I guess it all boils down to perspective and motive. The BlueRibbon Coalition has this sort of attack on its character happen quite often and generally it is the same sort of attack based in the same typical source articles. Truth be told, I think the smear campaign done by those sources has been amazingly effective and they should be given credit for how well that effort has done over the years. All they have to do is accuse and people blindly believe it as fact. Mostly I think folks believe because they want to believe it... They need to believe it.

I am not here to try to convince someone of anything. I am here only to answer questions. BlueRibbon Coalition doesn't have any hidden agendas. If you want a conspiracy theory to pan out, you will need to look elsewhere. Everything is out there for anyone who wants to to look at. It is on our website. It is on member's websites. It is on other's websites. It is in the media of all sorts all around. Read it and believe what you decide you are going to believe. I only ask that you consider the source. Truth is an elusive thing.

It amazes me sometimes though as is happening in this particular forum thread is that a smear on the character of BRC is given and it is on the back of BRC or others to prove that it is false. That really isn't the way it is supposed to be in America is it? Yet it happens/happened here.

I am the one who, among other things, is ultimately responsible for fundraising for the BlueRibbon Coalition. I can tell you that we ask for every single dollar that we get or it is volunteered willingly by those who believe in our mission. We were not set up by some industry conglomerate as a front. We were set up by a group of individuals just like yourselves (which included Clark Collins) who just wanted to preserve access. Nothing has ever changed in that regard. I belong to a local Land Cruiser Club, go wheeling just like you, enjoy other forms of recreation just like you, and put my pants on just like any of you every day. Well, most days anyway :^)

We are also grateful for every dollar we get. We spend those dollars on a well publicized mission whose focus is on recreational access. We represent, as you can see above, a whole plethora of individuals and organizations who are concerned with the diverse issues of access for recreation.

The truth is, if Exxon came to me tomorrow with an offer for funding, I would likely take it. They would of course have to accept the caveat that they understand we have our own agenda and they do not get any more vote in determining what we do than the guy who spent $20 to become a member. In fact, we have been accused so many times of being funded by Exxon, that we decided we should put an open letter in our magazine next month asking that Exxon actually do fund us.

It is true that we have taken money from Mining companies on occasion and from Timber companies on occasion and from other industry sources as well. Not because we are a front for them. It is because they may have seemed a likely source for a grant to do something for recreational access so we asked them. Never has that been the bulk of funding for BRC. The bulk of funding has always come from the many good folks like you or me who support what we do for recreation... our members.

Because we listed a donor in a magazine who happened to give us a couple hundred dollars or even a couple thousand dollars so we could print a member handbook or hire a NEPA expert to assess a land management plan does not make us an industry lackey. We are simply giving recognition where recognition is due. In that same magazine we also listed a lot of individuals and organizations who donated as well. It is common, rightful and professional to express your gratefulness and recognize what people do to help you along your course.

In doing that however, you open the door to anyone who wants to take that listing and spin it into something it is not. That happens. I will still continue to do the right thing and recognize our supporters none-the-less.

Greg Mumm
Executive Director
BlueRibbon Coalition

[Greg Mumm]

Originally Posted by KenP

So this is wrong? They've completely changed? Done a 180 and have abandonded their roots? Abandonded their donors?
http://www.uspirg.org/For the record, I want land opened for "resource extracting". We, as a Nation, need to be more self-sufficient.

We have not completely changed and done any 180s dude. Nor have we abandoned our mission. But, it is not as you have said... or believed based on what "they" have said. Our record stands on it's own.

Greg

[KenP]

Thanks J.

Greg, thanks for joining and I hope you can clear up the issues we've brought forth as laid out.

What involvement does your organization have in reopening mining roads and timber roads not for personal outdoor enjoyment, but for businesses to make their way back to the cut off/protected lands?

Who's your top Washington lobbyist and who else does that person and their firm represent?

Who are the 20 top individual and corporate donors and what percentage of your total donations come from them as a group (you don't have to individually post each donor with each dollar amount).

Thanks again and I look forward to having you clear up my concerns that people I know may be taken advantage of.

Ken

BTW, I reserve the right to ask more questions, such as why is this info not on your website? Or is it I just can't find it?

[DennisAJC]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

I called BRC this morning, and spoke with a gentleman who after a few questions gave me the phone number to the Executive Director of BRC, Greg Mumm.

They pointed out to me the BRC's 990 form, which states exactly where there donations come from and the exact dollar amount. It is an IRS form.

http://www.sharetrails.org/files/taxes/05F990.pdf

BRC's focus is Land Use and Access issues for the Offroad Community. 75% or their total income comes soley from membership donations.

I also found a few others:

Sierra Club: http://www.activistcash.com/organiza...ls.cfm/oid/194

Wilderness Society: http://www.wilderness.org/Library/Do...IRSForm990.pdf

Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/about/2005990.pdf

Earth Justice: http://partners.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_gsReport=1&partner=network forgood&ein=94-1730465

National Resouce Defense Fund: http://www.activistcash.com/organiza...als.cfm/oid/19

Center for Biological Diversity: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/s...D-2005-990.pdf

I also invited him to come and speak with us regarding the position of the BRC, it's focus and contributors.

Thanks, Beebs

I guess those numbers don't include the numerous lawsuits won by BRC?




$561,815.00 in direct public support. $284,689.00 in membership fees. $232,450.00 in Salaries

That's quite disturbing. Impressive burn rate.



Hey Bebes, out of curiosity, are you on BRC's payroll or do you recieve any financial comphensation?

[HummBebe]

Take a look at Sierra clubs number Dennis....that's impressive.

[Greg Mumm]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Ask him, he's on the Board now....Greg Mumm. If 75% of a 1million dollar org comes from people like me, that only leaves 250,000 for 'big contributors" that's not very much.

Actually, the real number is closer to 10-15% of our budget coming from grants/big contributors unless you count advertising sources to help us publish our magazine and website. But even those are often Ma and Pa operations related to recreation.

I casually tossed out the 75% to you on the phone earlier today being contributions and memberships.

Greg

[KenP]

Originally Posted by Greg

Truth be told, I think the smear campaign done by those sources has been amazingly effective and they should be given credit for how well that effort has done over the years. All they have to do is accuse and people blindly believe it as fact. Mostly I think folks believe because they want to believe it... They need to believe it.

No, I don't want or need to believe it, Greg. I'm trying to look out for a few people I count as friends.

To me, that's all this is about. If you're on the up and up, great!

Thanks
Ken

[KenP]

Please tell me that Jack Welch isn't the Jack Welch of GE.

[HummBebe]

Sierra Club
85 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone 415-977-5500 | Fax 415-977-5799 | Email information@sierraclub.org





Finances

for tax year ending 12/31/2004

Income $91,843,757.00
Expenditures $90,195,947.00
End-Of-Year Net Worth $53,339,819.00

Tax Status501(c)4

91 million vs $561K now that's scary.

[DennisAJC]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Sierra Club
85 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone 415-977-5500 | Fax 415-977-5799 | Email information@sierraclub.org





Finances

for tax year ending 12/31/2004

Income $91,843,757.00
Expenditures $90,195,947.00
End-Of-Year Net Worth $53,339,819.00

Tax Status501(c)4

91 million vs $561K now that's scary.

Not really. Businesswise, Sierra Club is a financially well honed corporate monster now.

What I find scary is the BRC's payroll in relation to it's public donations and income. That's a scary burn-rate.

[HummBebe]

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

Not really. Businesswise, Sierra Club is a financially well honed corporate monster now.

What I find scary is the BRC's payroll in relation to it's public donations and income. That's a scary burn-rate.

They have eight employees and one attorney. Thats not much is it.

So now they are a grass roots org, yes? With that kind of "burn rate" they couldn't possibly stay afloat if they did not have all those volunteers.

And your numbers ... if you want to use an actual 'burn rate" should be 1 million to 232k....right?

Not to mention BRC is a 501(c)3....Sierra Club is a 501(c)4

[DennisAJC]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

Acceptable and very proportionate for the size of the organization.




Sierra Club = $92 Million Dollars - 2.5% to Administration costs.

BRC = $1 Million Dollars - 22% to Administration costs.


I'm trying to simplify it as best as I can, but can you see what is wrong with this picture?

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by KenP

Please tell me that Jack Welch isn't the Jack Welch of GE.

No....silly goose.

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by DennisAJC

Acceptable and very proportionate for the size of the organization.




Sierra Club = $92 Million Dollars - 2.5% to Administration costs.

BRC = $1 Million Dollars - 22% to Administration costs.


I'm trying to simplify it as best as I can, but can you see what is wrong with this picture?

nope....I can't.

I see a small org out there trying to make a difference.

That's what I see.