everyone needs to get behind this organization, they are one of the only ones fighting for us.

My Take
http://killinghandpoker.com/?p=217

Its a start

Where are all the heated defenders from last week?

I agree BR. From a business standpoint this does not look so good, but I know nothing of how non-profits typically work... esp. non-profits lobbying for something, not just feeding hungry etc. Their 2006 should have been many times more profitable in terms of money raised... all I can do is hope that they are putting the money to the best use possible. I agree about the salary tho... although I am not sure how many people that covers, I can take a good guess.

Still, not sure what else/who else we can rely on to get our views out there besides the old write the congressman/senator (which every1 should do too).

The going standard is that 60% or greater of funds collected should go to directly to the cause. One caveat- it is conceivable that a startup effort would require startup costs which would effectively lower the acceptable bar.

FWIW.

TJ

Send your money to the ACLU. Even if you dont agree with all of their politics, they do have the backbone and backing to fight.

80% of companies delay filing as long as possible. Its a standard practice. And it saves them money, allowing them to earn more interest on that money...the larger the company, the more sense it makes.

Here's an article saying "according to Senate records", the PPA has given $720,000 in lobbying efforts. That's a pretty good chunk of change.

The 2005 numbers don't look great, but that was in the beginning when the organization was trying to get off the ground.

They spent $227k or so in advertising. I'm not sure what that was for, as I'm 100% positive the PPA doesn't pay Bluff Mag a penny.

That may have to do more with PR agencies and such. I do know you don't just get on CNBC, Bloomberg, etc for free if you're some new organization just starting out.

I don't have all the answers, but it does look like more and more info is coming out (like the link below) that is showing the PPA is making at least a small impact in DC.<A target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0107/2514.html">

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0107/2514.html</A>

I have had meetings with the founder of the PPA, and know for a fact that he put in atleast 100k of his own money to start up the PPA. He started this off with every good intention, and has spent alot of time figuring out what the best way is to bring together a million of the most independent thinking people in the World, poker players. This is no easy task, and the PPA's success to this point is a minor miracle in itself.

BRSavage, as far as those numbers go, I would agree with you if this company had been around for a while, but this was basically their first year, and it is hard to make interest on money that is being used to pay back the initial investment. As far as advertising goes, WSOP booths and other ways they have gotten their name out there certainly all have not been free.

Overall, I have been nothing but impressed with the PPA, and we should be exbracing the only organization out there that is looking out for us, all the time.

my 2 cents,
gank

Explain to me how you earn $400 in interest with 1 million taken in? Even just the EXCESS unspent which is 300K should earn at least 1K a month...

As far as transparency, I beg to differ. If I was running a clean operation, I would be lightning fast in posting financials to avoid any hint of impropriety.

Supermoves, what benefit does a not for profit company have to delay posting financials, especially when their integrity is being questioned? By the way, the posting of financials in no way affects there ability to prudently draw interest on any deposits received until the money is spent.

If gaining substantial numbers of members is a key goal in showing congress we are a huge group, isn't being open and transparent conducive to attracting membership?

When this issue first came to light the only response that I saw was double talk and circle jerking, and no real tangible evidence that everything was above board. I personally have no experience with the PPA, but I do have experience with people who delay in providing information in a timely manner and who speak in circles while never providing proof positive that everything is kosher.

It is not only the responsible thing to do, it is absolutely imperative that the PPA be 1000% transparent, and personally I find it troubling that the information has to be extracted by force. If truly the PPA is concerned with everyone having the correct perception of them as an entity then they should be racing to make this information readily available to the world.

I am definitively curious as to how much was collected in 2006, and what the percents were as far as actual money that went to our cause, and what results were achieved. Until that is disclosed I would not contribute one red cent. Once it is disclosed, and if all is in line, I would gladly contribute to those out to protect our interests.

Chris.

Not that they delay posting financials, but they generally file an extension for their taxes...and obv. they are not going to post financials until AFTER they file their taxes...thats all Im sayin.

I think some of the misconception here is that people think the PPA is some 20 man operation or something.

Michael is doing a ton of this stuff pretty much by himself or with the help of just a couple other people.

I knew when the calls for financial records came out, there was probably a zero percent chance financials were ready.

But besides all that, I really don't care why only $xxx amount was made in interest, and other things like that. Is the PPA being run like a Fortune 500 business???? No, but they did give $720,000 to lobby on our behalf. That's good enough for me. I don't care when they file their 990 or how much interest they make.

What the heck does it matter how long they took to file their 990?

KK suited,

Here you go with the circle talk again, infusing your quotes as if they are fact. I will believe the $220,000 amount as per the 2005 disclosure until I see the 2006 financials.

I will accept your word as the truth, but I certainly will not donate until I see the financials for 2006.

And, by the way, are you serious about the interest and Fortune 500 quote? Your damn fricking right I expect them to act like intelligent individuals and use the money given to them by poker supporters in a responsible way. To expect anything else is, quite frankly, not bright?

Do you UNDERSTAND the ramifications if it was found out that the PPA was found to not be financially responsible? Do you UNDERSTAND that this impropriety would be used by the people who oppose online poker as an example that we need their help in governing our lives as we are permeated by thieves and people who deal in deception?

Your damn right that I DEMAND transparency and timely disclosure. People like you who encourage us to blindly send money without the full confidence that it is legitimate are not doing poker a favor. You keep riding the horse that we need to support them as they are our only voice. I have news for you, if they are our only voice and it turns out that they are not legitimate, then we have completely ruined our credibility.

You make my case for me when you state that they shouldn't be run like a fortune 500 company. They should be run like ANY responsible company.

I would think that the PPA would take the initiative and complete and file the financials so as to be able to actually have the FULL support of the poker community, not just those who blindly and recklessly say to give... they also need the support of the intelligent people who have learned that is not too bright to just say hey, let's wing it, fuck disclosure and being smart business people.

Good God man, if I have to explain it to you that in itself is a problem.

Chris.

Just to keep the record straight, I see $220K- not $720K as program services (lobbying). That means 18.5 cents on the dollar went to the cause; that's not a very good number. As I posted earlier, 60 cents on the dollar is an accepted amount by non profit watchdogs. I can give a pass on some of the startup costs, not sure how much. But the PPA definitely needs to commit to a stated goal (program services as a percentage of funds received) before I will donate. Also, I would suggest saving your breath on individual line items on the 990 filing (such as interest). The only number that really matters for non profits is Program Services/Funds Collected.

TJ

Chris, I think supermoves main point is that as a start-up not-for-profit organization that maybe their focus on interest bearing accounts and such were not in line with what they should/could be, but I would be very surprised if that number did not go up substantially and more in line with your thought process in the 2006 statement as they should have realized by that point that they were making a finacial mistake by not investing on hand cash better.