Another fundraising problem...WWYD?

[Justanopinion]

What would you do or what do you think?

Our local sports association offers football, cheer, drill, basketball and baseball for 1st thru 6th grades.
Sign up fees are $70 per child per sport and then uniforms are extra. The sign up fees covers insurance, referees or umpires, field maintanance, etc.

The board is made up of 10 people who serve 2 year terms. Elections are done the last football game in October every year and 5 of the board members positions will be open. Board members can re-run to stay on the board.

Well, it seems that the current board has decided to do a fundraiser of BYOB,(Bring your own booze) Casino theme. They want an outside group to do it and hand over the money to the organization. They are still very much in the planning stages of doing this fundraiser.

But the problem is, this last Wednesday, at the monthly meeting, one board member objected to this fundraiser based on religious beliefs. He believes that gambling is wrong and said he did not want any part of this fundraiser. I also believe that gambling is illegal in Texas, but I could be wrong.

So anyway, the board, decided to remove this one member due to "lack of participation". Meaning, he won't participate in this one fundraiser. This man has never missed a board meeting. He actively coaches 2 sports. Has a child that plays just about every sport offered. Has been part of this organization for at least 10 years now.

So, what do you think and what would you do if anything?

 

[TennisGirl80]

What would you do or what do you think?

Our local sports association offers football, cheer, drill, basketball and baseball for 1st thru 6th grades.
Sign up fees are $70 per child per sport and then uniforms are extra. The sign up fees covers insurance, referees or umpires, field maintanance, etc.

The board is made up of 10 people who serve 2 year terms. Elections are done the last football game in October every year and 5 of the board members positions will be open. Board members can re-run to stay on the board.

Well, it seems that the current board has decided to do a fundraiser of BYOB,(Bring your own booze) Casino theme. They want an outside group to do it and hand over the money to the organization. They are still very much in the planning stages of doing this fundraiser.

But the problem is, this last Wednesday, at the monthly meeting, one board member objected to this fundraiser based on religious beliefs. He believes that gambling is wrong and said he did not want any part of this fundraiser. I also believe that gambling is illegal in Texas, but I could be wrong.

So anyway, the board, decided to remove this one member due to "lack of participation". Meaning, he won't participate in this one fundraiser. This man has never missed a board meeting. He actively coaches 2 sports. Has a child that plays just about every sport offered. Has been part of this organization for at least 10 years now.

So, what do you think and what would you do if anything?

Has the man been removed from the organization totally, or just for this one fundraiser? If its entirely, then thats wrong - and kinda scary that they would just cut someone off like that after so many years of service. If its just for the one fundraiser, then.... its kind of rude, but I'd get over it.

 

[agnes!]

Seriously? The board is made up of a bunch of jerks.

And if gambling is illegal, then it is illegal and the entire group could get into a lot of trouble with law enforcement. Someone needs to find out what the laws are in your jurisdiction. Some cities/towns/counties do allow certain games of chance (say, Bingo for churches) for charity. Other places will call casino nights & bingo "gambling" and people get arrested, etc.

agnes!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Depending on how they set up the "theme" will depend on if it is illegal.

I suppose you can pay a "donation" and then just gamble for fun with chips. No prizes awarded for the winners.

You could turn in your chips for "tickets" and then turn in your tickets for "novelty prizes", no cash or anything to do with cash including coupons and gift certificates. (Think video arcade, like Dave and Busters).

As long as they are not cashing the chips in, you could get around it, maybe.

I am not a gaming specialist....I hope they are getting the correct advice how to handle this fundraiser so they don't get into trouble with the law.

It sounds like fun to me if you can get around the legal stuff. I would participate just for fun.

Our Catholic Churches do some gambling. The quarter bet on the wheel and the paper things that you tear off, plus BINGO. But this is MO and the laws might be different.

 

[TaraPA]

What a great bunch of role models that board sounds like - let's show the kids that we can make a buck off of drinking & gambling! Seriously...are they going to have the Tball kids going door-to-door selling admission tickets for a Gambling Boozefest? Just my opinion but I think that theme, while it might make some decent money for the organization, is just plain wrong for a group that supports sports for KIDS. There's no way I'd participate or support that fund raiser.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What a great bunch of role models that board sounds like - let's show the kids that we can make a buck off of drinking & gambling! Seriously...are they going to have the Tball kids going door-to-door selling admission tickets for a Gambling Boozefest? Just my opinion but I think that theme, while it might make some decent money for the organization, is just plain wrong for a group that supports sports for KIDS. There's no way I'd participate or support that fund raiser.

I guess you didn't grow up Catholic.

 

[TaraPA]

I guess you didn't grow up Catholic.

Nope! Wanna spill some juicy stuff?

 

[luvnmy2bys]

Ah the drama of youth sports. Whoever thinks its all about the kids is wrong. It very much is political. My DH and I were part of our local youth sports club for 4 years. Both of us had board positions. Last year we finally decided that we couldn't take the drama anymore. My DH has coached both baseball and football all four years. This year he was not selected as a coach. I know it is because we both dropped our board positions and they are paying us back. The coach selected has no experience and has never coached before. My DH is the high school asst baseball coach.
luvnmy2bys

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Nope! Wanna spill some juicy stuff?

You mean you never heard of alcoholic priests? (Sad when I look back, but who knew back then.)

The church picnics (think 70's here), were drinking for adults, rides, gambling and alot of fun.

I remember doing the "quarter gamble" on the wheel as a kid. You could only win 50 cents tops. But if you sat there long enough you lost alot of dough.

 

[mjkacmom]

I guess you didn't grow up Catholic.

We just had family bingo night at the Church - BYOB! It was in the basement, where they have a weekly bingo, and everyone helped clean up and set up for family Mass the next morning. Father George was there, too! When local organizations have casino nights, it's for prizes, not money (because that would be illegal here). We also have lots of tricky trays (with alchohol) - I really don't consider it gambling.

 

[Tink888]

What would you do or what do you think?

Our local sports association offers football, cheer, drill, basketball and baseball for 1st thru 6th grades.
Sign up fees are $70 per child per sport and then uniforms are extra. The sign up fees covers insurance, referees or umpires, field maintanance, etc.

The board is made up of 10 people who serve 2 year terms. Elections are done the last football game in October every year and 5 of the board members positions will be open. Board members can re-run to stay on the board.

Well, it seems that the current board has decided to do a fundraiser of BYOB,(Bring your own booze) Casino theme. They want an outside group to do it and hand over the money to the organization. They are still very much in the planning stages of doing this fundraiser.

But the problem is, this last Wednesday, at the monthly meeting, one board member objected to this fundraiser based on religious beliefs. He believes that gambling is wrong and said he did not want any part of this fundraiser. I also believe that gambling is illegal in Texas, but I could be wrong.

So anyway, the board, decided to remove this one member due to "lack of participation". Meaning, he won't participate in this one fundraiser. This man has never missed a board meeting. He actively coaches 2 sports. Has a child that plays just about every sport offered. Has been part of this organization for at least 10 years now.

So, what do you think and what would you do if anything?

Why would they remove him from the Board completely? That makes no sense to me. Wouldn't the Board vote on whether to have the fundraiser and majority rule wins? So they'd get to have their fundraiser anyway and the guy against it could just sit out and not participate.

Yeah, to be on a board where any dissenting opinion was removed from the board would bother me. It's not right.

Now the gambling thing I don't know. They do a lot of Nights at the Races around here. I don't really agree with them for youth organizations but they do raise a lot of money.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You have inspired me to go gambling tonight. Actually we were discussing it earlier in the week.

Sammy Hagar open a restaurant in Harrah's called "Sammy's Beach Bar and Grill"...today. I am sure it is packed to death there.

Still, I am going to go and check it out. Why not?

 

[Loverly]

I would NEVER have an alcohol event connected with a youth sports organization!

 

[EthansMom]

In our state, any gambling fundraisers need a permit. Also, encouraging people to bring in their own liquor (with no control over consumption) may lead to liability issues.

I don't think it's right of the board to exclude a member who objects to the fundraiser for religious reasons. The excluded board member is better off without them, IMO.

Most of our local fundraisers have alcohol being served.... it seems that more money is raised if alcohol is served.

 

[minniecarousel]

We've had Casino Nights to benefit either Little League or Youth Soccer, not sure which. It had to be held at the Community Center, and not one of the schools, since they served alcohol. I'm sure we had Board Members who didn't participate because of alcohol & gambling. Sounds like your Board didn't handle this situation very tactfully. I see no problem in actually setting up a fund-raiser in this way.

 

[daisax]

I would stand up for the person who was dismissed, even --- ESPECIALLY --- if you disagree with the person about whether it's an appropriate event, but merely because it's overreacting to a very reasonable objection. I don't share the objection, but it doesn't surprise me that people feel that way and I think it's an honest difference of opinion that he shouldn't be punished for, especially since he has been a devoted worker.

Since an outside group is running it, they probably will have all the permits in place (but I would check the laws carefully). I also wouldn't touch anything BYOB related -- too much liability.

Like some other posters, I come from a Catholic background and consider gambling and booze perfectly appropriate adult activities within certain parameters.