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

  slimboy Start with the Roman Catholic Church

  http://www.wsj.com/articles/vatican-releases-financial-statements-1437046714
  
• 
  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

  While a person in authority may access and control to the Watchtower Society's finances, they're only authorized to use it on certain things.

  Until we can see the financial statements, we don't know that. Accurate financial statements are just the first step in uncovering waste and fraud. Given the lack of transparency, the top dogs at WTBS could be paying themselves million dollar salaries and we wouldn't know it.
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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

  As FreeGirl2006 notes, nonprofits can have taxable income. The 990 form is the form used to communicate the income from a for-profit enterprise within a tax exempt or nonprofit company.

  As I've said in the past, none of these random bits of paper are actual financial reports. Real transparency would mean releasing an audited financial statement every year. They've never done that, nor are they required to. However, many churches believe that financial integrity begins with transparency, and thus they release their financials.

  If you really want to force change in the organization, pressure them to provide their flock with real information.
• 
  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

  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.
• 
  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

  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.
• 
  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.