The Observation Deck

The question WAS addressed. You just don't like the answer.

Although, your purpose in asking was not for enlightenment, it was a schoolyard taunt along the likes of

"You show me yours and maybe I'll show you mine."

quote from Shawn:

insult the person.

So who insulted you?

Cue the violins.

Shawn Juris wrote:As the project is owned by the community, can we have the nitty gritty of all the financials published on the deck? I'd be interested in how the income and expense is looking.
Thanks in advance.

Shawn

As you seem truly ignorant in the ways of the world and the LO, let me set this straight.

1) Huge difference between public and private money.

2) Never said community owned, said community run.

3) You seem to be set in trying to confuse and make sure the tax payers are properly confused,

4) The paper was offered to a couple different groups, including LA at one time, when I
had to step away starting other papers in other cities.

5) Two people came forward to take over the project and our books were completely opened to them, and and or anyone else wanting to see them.

6) Someone in the community called the state and said we were violating rules with our
use of community writers, the state did a complete audit of our books and apologized. I imagined that is online somewhere.

7) A person that is taking over the LO has come right out of the ranks of LakewoodAlive and has been given 100% access to all of our records including checkbook, and is free
to report anything she wants to whoever asks. Stop by.

8) Why when someone asks where our tax money is going, that person persecuted, and
made to feel like they are doing something wrong.

9) Now let's look at Pillars and your other member. Or why the great history of the
Lakewood Jaycees was brought to an end by you because you were too old to continue
to be a member and "in charge."

Let's ask for the same from LakewoodAlive.

peace

.

Sorry that I missed your question Mr Farris. I hold no position with Lakewood Alive. I have attended their Downtown Lakewood Business Alliance meeting because I have an office in their footprint. I'd be happy to let you know if there is something else that you're curious about.

I'm still a bit thrown by the way that a question about the Observer is drawing so much about Lakewood Alive.

Shawn Juris wrote:My how things have changed. Not even an effort to address the question, just throw out distractions and insult the person. I had found it odd that a community building forum that has a tag line of good neighbors would have an option for friends and foes. After a few were banned I had heard many got fed up with the animosity and personal attacks. After a year, I figured it would be a good thing to give up for lent, to stop watching people be so hateful and engage in the discussion. I figured there was no way that rational, normal people could be so blind with hatred that the would be willing to spread rumors and in essence attempt to cause harm to an organization or fellow resident. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe, real names or not, mission statement, taglines don't set this apart from any other online arena where people are awful to one another.
It's not about me. This Deck could be good for the public but a few have spoiled it and made it nasty. I'm not at all surprised that so few post here. It's not good for the soul. Can't wait for Easter so I can go back to enjoying my days. Maybe something can be resolved by then and this can be what it promises.

Shawn

It is very hard for private people to answer questions of a privately owned business.

But let me assure you I am here to answer each and everyone.

So let's talk about the Lakewood Observer, Pillars, Lakewood Jaycees, and Lakewood Alive.
Get Mary Anne over here so we can start the discussion.

I will go toe to toe with you and those public 501C3 groups.

Nothing to hide here.

Let's rock my little friend.

.

Shawn,

Lets see....

What am I more concerned about?

How my tax dollars are being used in a local CDC and their lack of transparency.

Or the finances of a private company.

I would have to say....

How my tax dollars are being used is a higher priority.

Rhonda loje wrote:Shawn,

Lets see....

What am I more concerned about?

How my tax dollars are being used in a local CDC and their lack of transparency.

Or the finances of a private company.

I would have to say....

How my tax dollars are being used is a higher priority.

Rhonda/All

Please I welcome this chance to examine all of the books, mine,
Pillars, LakewoodAlive, Chamber's whoever.

Nothing to hide, as I said someone had it out for the LO and had
the state audit us.

I know exactly what my books say.

This is a party I have been looking forward to.
I will gladly take one for "the team" on this one.

Shawn, can you bring Mary Anne to the party?

.

Excellent....

What everyone wants!

Lakewood Observer books open...
Lakewood Alive books open...
ADH books open....
Pillars books open...
Jaycees books open...

Wonderful!!

Transparency and Sunshine!!

Thank you Shawn for your help in bringing all of this into the light of day!

You have succeeded!

You have brought us all together in a positive way.

Thank you!

Shawn

This was dropping off wanted to bring it back up.

As I was getting ready to post our financials, I am wondering about how it will affect
our paid staff members over the years, putting their names out, and if I should.

While I do feel very responsible to the community, and I believe it is community run,
how do you want me to handle that posting?

I want to make sure you get exactly what you need.

Also please note, we have kept no running record of our in-kind donatios to the schools,
libraries, non-profits, city, and groups like LA and Pillars. I am sure we can provide it, but
will have to go back and pull the issues. I have never felt the need to use those deductions.

Should we do our other companies too?

Let me know.



.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Shawn Juris wrote:As the project is owned by the community, can we have the nitty gritty of all the financials published on the deck? I'd be interested in how the income and expense is looking.
Thanks in advance.

Shawn

As you seem truly ignorant in the ways of the world and the LO, let me set this straight.

1) Huge difference between public and private money.

2) Never said community owned, said community run.

3) You seem to be set in trying to confuse and make sure the tax payers are properly confused,

4) The paper was offered to a couple different groups, including LA at one time, when I
had to step away starting other papers in other cities.

5) Two people came forward to take over the project and our books were completely opened to them, and and or anyone else wanting to see them.

6) Someone in the community called the state and said we were violating rules with our
use of community writers, the state did a complete audit of our books and apologized. I imagined that is online somewhere.

7) A person that is taking over the LO has come right out of the ranks of LakewoodAlive and has been given 100% access to all of our records including checkbook, and is free
to report anything she wants to whoever asks. Stop by.

Why when someone asks where our tax money is going, that person persecuted, and
made to feel like they are doing something wrong.

9) Now let's look at Pillars and your other member. Or why the great history of the
Lakewood Jaycees was brought to an end by you because you were too old to continue
to be a member and "in charge."

Let's ask for the same from LakewoodAlive.

peace

.

There we go. Sorry that I jumped the gun about the insults. Those were anticipated from the head of the class here. So ignorant, water boy and some wild speculation about the transition from the Jaycees to Pillars. Man, I get a small sense of what it must feel like to be Jay Foran (volunteer time, participate in the discussion just to have Jim treat you like crap).
To set the record straight the Jaycees ended in large part because of the high overhead costs of state and national dues which delivered little in return. Nice smear though Jim, no need for accuracy when your the publisher huh?

Maybe this time now that we've got everyone here on a Saturday afternoon, what information do you want on LA? Where is the IRS regulation that defines disclosure?

I have to say I'm even more cloudy on the ownership and control of the LO than I was before. So someone else owns it and it's community run but privately owned? So is it a corporation now?

Why do you need the IRS to have transparency and disclosure?

What about what is good for the community?

If Missy can disclose her finances for ADH...it would seem easy for LA to do.

What happened to sunshine?

And what the heck does Jay Foran have to do with this conversation?

what information do you want on LA?

Shawn,

I asked this on a previous post...but it a good place to start

Don't you think LA could give us the same information? If not why not? The latest glossy report for 2009 is just smoke a mirrors with no substance. Why can't we get the same information from LA that Missy just posted?

It would be nice to know what the LA salaries are for all 3 employees as a % to all their income.

Since the information came to light about the Girls & Boys Clubs salaries vs their income and they receive their dollars from the same source as LA.....don't you think LA should disclose that information to make sure that the dollars are going to the mission not the organization.

Here is a second question based on a previous post that relates to this question.

Here is the link to the Lakewood Alive 2009 Annual Report:
http://www.lakewoodalive.com/news/2010/ ... eport.html

Shawn,
I have a question for you...can the salaries for all three LA employees only be $16,283? Or is the salary number in another location?

Can you help me?

Shawn Juris wrote:Maybe this time now that we've got everyone here on a Saturday afternoon, what information do you want on LA? Where is the IRS regulation that defines disclosure?

I have to say I'm even more cloudy on the ownership and control of the LO than I was before. So someone else owns it and it's community run but privately owned? So is it a corporation now?

Shawn

The LO has always been a private corporation. For two reasons. 1) It would limit our ability
to report on politics, as I read the statue. 2) I believe it is the responsibility of groups like
the LO to be accountable as a corporation, and not seek grants and city money. That it
would be wrong to compete for salaries, and luxuries when so many real charities need
the funding. Of course there is the legal protection of a S-corp too.

Again it is a weekend and I have no access to books, this will have to do for now. The LO
has never made money, not counting my investment in the program and the
software(which is not owned by the Lakewood Observer, the LO pays no license fee for
the life of the paper) the LO loses about $2,000 a year. Far less than my drinking tab used
to be. In the third year for some reason we lost more than $2,000. Again, the paper was
not set up to make money, it was set up to serve the community's needs, and be
sustainable.

Through this, neither my wife or I draw any pay, nor have I sought for repayment on any
of my investment. Currently three people get paid at the LO. The sales rep, the editor,
and the delivery person. When it was designed by LO'spaid designer, sometimes he would
bill my company AGS sometimes he did not. I have not sought repayment of that.
Currently Mel Page or myself have laid out the paper, and neither of us are paid to do it.

To my knowledge, none of my AGS companies have benefited financially through the
Lakewood Observer, other than an occasional small ad for AGS Printwear, that I do own
part of.

My belief is that "community papers" should be privately owned and for profit. I have just
chosen not to take any pay or part of the LO's profit. I am not sure if I could ask people to
volunteer if I was making 50,000 or 60,000+ a year. I feel bad doing it and I lose money
each year!

For the record, all Sharon and Rhonda have ever asked is how much did the event
Rhonda managed bring in?(Over a year, she managed it, no answer, think about it.)

I believe Rhonda now asked about pay, as they report $13,000?

Me all I want is an simple apology to Sharon, and the people spending the city's tax
money to account for it.

Yes, we are evil, evil people. Maybe we have the horns.

,