JeffT

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Posts by JeffT

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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?

  we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.

  what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?

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  JeffT

  I'd like the information because I'm an advocate for transparency in all matters. Unless there is some compelling reason like national security people should be honest with each other. The WTBS has been taking money from people for well over a hundred years. I think the people who give it to them deserve to know where it went. Additionally, in this country they have tax free status. I believe all such organizations have a responsibility to let the public know what they're getting financially for letting them avoid the tax man.
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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?

  we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.

  what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?

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• 

  JeffT

  Rebel, not long after I left (I DA'd in 1989, this would have been 1990 or so) I called the IRS and was told that it was private information and they couldn't release anything.
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  35

  A question

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?

  we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.

  what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JeffT

  Has anybody ever written Bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the Society's finances? We all keep batting around speculation about the WTBS and money, and actual information seems non-existent. What would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?
  I suspect they'd round file the letter if somebody liked one of us sent it, what about if it came from a body of elders?
  
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  25

  Warwick to finish EARLY

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ok, story time.. anon asks me via pm:.

  just heard from a wallkill bethelite that warwick will finish early.

  can you confirm?.

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• 

  JeffT

  Most big commercial projects are built in phases. I'm guessing they just decided not to build the last phase just now.

  As I've said, I've done a lot of development deals. Coming in on time and on budget is rare. Ahead of schedule usually means somebody cut corners.
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  25

  Brian Williams should interview Ben Carson

  by Simon in

  1. social
  2. current

  just imagine the crazy stories they could invent together !.

  ben carson has to be finished as a candidate doesn't he?

  can you imagine him being the republican nominee?

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  JeffT

  I can only picture him going up against Hillary in a debate - she will rip him to shreds.

  Nah, he'd claim she's alive because he did emergency surgery on her when she got shot getting off the plane in Bosnia. Brian Williams would probably claim to have killed the sniper.

  Maybe I should write for SNL, there's no end of what you could do with this.
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  35

  Seems odd that the Bible never mentions Pryamids?

  by dropoffyourkeylee in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  doesn't it seem strange that the bible never mentions the pyramids?

  how could someone go to egypt at that time and not even so much as mention the huge monuments?

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  JeffT

  As noted above, locals tend not to notice their own landmarks.

  How many New Yorkers have never been to the top of the Empire State Building or out to the Statue of Liberty? I live in Seattle. I haven't been up the Space Needle in twenty years or so. I've never eaten in the restaurant.
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  25

  Converts

  by Alive! in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i've noticed there seems to be a higher percentage of born-ins here....who are the converted jws?.

  does anyone care to share how they got converted?.

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  JeffT

  During a very bad spot in my life, I starting talking religion with a friend who was a JW. Informal witnessing led to a study which led to baptism. This was all during the run up to 1975. I was disillusioned a few years later, and out a few years after that.
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  211

  Where are you from?

  by BeautifulMind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know we are all anonymous for our own personal reasons, so i understand if you would rather not say.

  but if you don't mind sharing that would be cool.

  i currently live in georgia, usa.

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  JeffT

  Suburb of Seattle. When I was JW I was in Pullman, Spokane and Bellevue. I've been out since 1989, I don't care who knows.
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  3

  Who do you think President Obama will pardon at the end of his presidency? Mumia Abu-Jamal?

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. social
  2. current

  i've found it interesting watching the end of a us presidency to see who the president will pardon.

  it seems to be a tradition of out going presidents and governors.

  i wonder if obama will pardon mumia abu-jamal?

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  JeffT

  He could pardon Hilary Clinton for whatever might have gone on with her server, foreign donations to her foundation, or anything else somebody might think of. She could start her presidency with a clean slate, so to speak.

  He should pardon everybody connected with "Fifty Shades of Grey" with the provision that they no longer write or make movies.
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  80

  ANNOUNCEMENT CLIP ...2015 Annual meeting Sam Herd confirming what we knew a month ago about slow down and halt of worldwide construction

  by Watchtower-Free in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_h68ktwpim&feature=youtu.be.

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  JeffT

  I've heard this speech a bunch of times at private employers, usually at the beginning of a new year. Last year's speech was all about how the company is growing, the product line is selling beyond anybody's predictions, we're all going to get raises and bonuses etc. The short version of this year's speech is "What we told you last year (or last week) was bullshit."

  This doesn't mean they're broke, it does mean they don't have the cash to do what they thought they were going to do. Based on my time working in real estate development I estimate the Warwick project will cost them three hundred to five hundred million dollars, if everything goes well. Anybody that's done development knows that's a gigantic "IF." I can count on the fingers of one hand the projects that came in on time and on budget.

  What we don't know is what is causing the cash sort-fall. My guess (again based on experience in the area) is that somebody had their rose colored glasses on when they estimated the cost of Warwick and now they're trying to cover their costs. This has the potential to suck up a gigantic pile of money.

  I doubt it's lawsuits, those will be a pain, but I don't think they can cost enough to raise this kind of problem.

  One thing we don't know is what they netted from the sale of NYC property. They may have had liens, or they may have financed the sales themselves - not a bad plan as it insures a steady stream of cash, and if the buyer goes under they foreclose the property and sell it to somebody else. If Warwick is going way over budget, the planned income stream may not be enough. Or perhaps something is holding up a sale. We don't know.

  That's my .02 on this.