Discussion of Changes at USNA

<p>^^^^^^^^^^^ I was simply looking at the Annual Reports of the Alumni Assn which shows in the neighborhood of 40 million annually for the past several years. Correct me if I am wrong, but all donations, I think, go through the Alumni Assn. You are correct in that I ignored NAAA revenues and expenses. I always considered athletics a break even but I may be wrong. I was simply going on an annual budget of around 400 million and an annual Alumni Assn expenditure of 40 million. I will go back and look at the Annual Reports and see what I am missing. I think most of the fund drives become revenues from which income is derived to make expenditures. Also, those totals kinda work when backing into the 350k or whatever the costs to educate a mid that are published now.</p>

<p>I should have clarified I will withdraw my support to the class of 2010 parents fund. When you are told something from the fundraiser it better be true! BTW I still do believe the numbers GA quoted. </p>

<p>Anyway we too have thought about donating directly to the programs he is involved with. Unfortunately for us most have the activities he participated in have been deleted. No Sailing squadron - no ability to work on his class d quals. No Orchestra, Probably no Midshipmen Winter Musical. I'm all for helping all Mids but I would like to support those programs that my Mid is benefiting from. We are thinking of supporting, with the remainder of our foundation pledge, the Company wardroom.</p>

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I've got to wonder what made you donate to USNA in the first place. Was it really the ECAs? The fact 2/C got town liberty? Or that USNA is a great institution that produces leaders for our nation?
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<p>Pretty much "USNA is a great institution that produces leaders for our nation" but in the context in order to do that, these Mids need the EC's and when informed that would be where the money would be utilized we pledged. Not that I should have to justify why I give to anyone. </p>

<p>The military training budget should be my tax money. But if I have the ability to give in an avenue that is a benefit to the Mids through organizations that will make them more holistic leaders, that is where I want my money to be utilized. If he were a varsity athlete I would have donated there too. Putting my eggs so to speak into one fund made more sense that sending nickels all over the place.</p>

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I've got to wonder what made you donate to USNA in the first place. Was it really the ECAs? The fact 2/C got town liberty? Or that USNA is a great institution that produces leaders for our nation?

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<p>I am a bit perplexed that you would ask anyone why they gave in the first place. No one should have to justify to anyone why they are voluntarily giving a sum of money to any organization.</p>

<p>well if anyone has some extra $$$$ lying around, sounds like the food fund could use some right now.....</p>

<p>(am I sounding like a broken record???? oh my :eek: )</p>

<p>There is an important difference here between charitable/philanthropic support and choosing to support one's particular interests (athletics, musical, etc.) One is supporting institutional priorities. The other, while legitimate and even laudable, merits no charitable deduction as it fails one of the 5 essential tests for determining if it's "charitable" ... it does not provide any fiscal relief for those things that the taxpaying public would need to otherwise fund. Both are fine, but call them what they are. One is indeed donating, the other is something else, but funding one's own self interests. </p>

<p>Whatever the definition though, guaranteed that USNA does not receive 35% of its annual budget from private monies. That would be $147m year (4200 mids x $100k/mid/year x 35%) in and year out. Nowhere close to this. The noted $40M/annually is very minor league when looking at national colleges and universities, and even a $275m campaign is not notable beyond the USNA. There are many billion $ campaigns happening all over the country.</p>

<p>Blame it on the fund-raiser. :eek: </p>

<p>btw, Native Texan ... the government indeed asks this question of you, and all who include alleged charitable deductions. And the over 1 m non-profits regularly ask us all why we give. It's your choice to tell them you either don't know or don't care to tell. ;) Most people will gladly tell you, as noted on this thread, why they think they give to a cause. And why they don't. There's nothing private about private giving, including how much you and I give to any specific cause.</p>

<p>Food is an excellent Idea. Wish I lived closer and could deliver meals to squad personally!</p>

<p>Talked to the boy just before dinner - was not looking forward to have to scrounge and share food. He was fed very well on his few days on the sub! How is starving our Mids a reflection of the Fleet...inquiring minds want to know?</p>

<p>G*d help the mice...I'm sure they will be taking the brunt of hungry Mids!</p>

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G*d help the mice...I'm sure they will be taking the brunt of hungry Mids!

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<p>oh my!!!!!! you don't think they would resort to eating those, do you???? :eek:</p>

<p>(G*d better help them- the mice that is- if they even TRY to nibble on the food they have in their lockers!)</p>

<p>Just went back and look through a bunch of old annual reports, NAAA budgets, etc. I stand by my original statement. All giving goes through the Alumni Association. Fund raising drives have increased their assets tremendously. However, their expenditures for the soccer stadium, sailing center, Alumni Hall, Memorial Stadium, and all other capital improvements along with all other assistance, academic and otherwise, has been at or below 40 million each year. The federal budget is around 400 million and the NAAA is self sustaining. Excess NAAA funding contributes to the Brigade or members thereof attending away games and funds the athletics themselves.</p>

<p>MMMMM Mice with ketchup or texas pete hot sauce. Yummy</p>

<p>:roll:</p>

<p>Yikes I wasn't even thinking on the edible terms - more on the thought of jump or dive school ;)</p>

<p>Microwaved?</p>

<p>"Yikes I wasn't even thinking on the edible terms - more on the thought of jump or dive school </p>

<p>Microwaved?"</p>

<p>PLEASE discourage your mids from this (microwaving). It would make getting ready for next class A inspection VERY much more difficult. Maybe they would enjoy the explosive results enough it would be worth the mess...... This experiment has definitely been done before!</p>

<p>hey, cruelty to animals is a federal offense--look what happened to Michael Vick...did anyone mention that no food is to be removed from the mess hall anymore? Can much of this be related to budget cuts? For example, instead of five movement orders, there will be two movement orders this year. Sailing is costly too.</p>

<p>Michael Vick ... now there is a disaster...looks like Virginia is going to add to his problems with dog fighting and cruelty to animal charges.</p>

<p>Mids beware blowing up mice in a microwave that would be a mess.</p>

<p>I take it this is the cuts for offshore sailing, I understand that Sailing Squadron is history, is this correct? Did hear that they cannot take food out of King Hall but mine said there is not any food to be taken out so apparently isn't an issue yet. Did hear that there was a line of Mids at the gate for picking up delivery.</p>

<p>What effect, if any, are these changes having on the sailing teams? Is this what you mean by sailing squadron?</p>

<p>Sailing Squadron is/was a "club" that sails together or goes on a few overnight sailing trips - not a racing team. Can work on quals and sailing proficiency through the squadron.</p>

<p>There are the Offshore Sailing team and IC Sailing team.</p>

<p>please don't tell me they have fried the mice....
or worse, still- actually even considered eating them!</p>

<p>Profmom- with all the posts on the parents listserve about the "abundent food" I am beginning to wonder if I dropped my Mid off at the wrong academy. No doubt his entire squad was on that line last night after their "no-dinner-dinner." Praying that today went better, lest he actually consider joining the "don't-tread-on-Texas" crowd and actually go on a hunt for the poor little critters! :eek:</p>

<p>Sad that the sailing will be history- was hoping one day for my Mid to take me out for a spin....oh well...."no boats" at the "boat school" will certainly be different!</p>

<p>Survivorman at Canoe U.
Join us tonight as survivorman shows us how to hunt, clean and roast a mouse with a Leatherman knife and an old can of Brasso. After the break we will see how he rigs a shelter using old sails and riggings from the unused 44's. Learn how he can avoid and trap the dreaded and deadly MOOW using just his skills of survival and a unused video tape as a snare.,</p>

<p>Later on Dirty Jobs.....
You thought the old USNA dairy farm was sold.... you were mistaken join Mike Rowe as he shows us how they are now turning 100 years of composted Manure into nutritious and delicious meals at King Hall. </p>

<p>Just kidding folks.... :)</p>

<p>With all the posts these past few days - this one has got to be the best! I'm looking to TIVO the next SurvivorMan episode. Hey, do you think Terry Dietz will be SurvivorMan?</p>

<p>xchefmike- too funny!</p>

<p>so what do you say you come out of retirement, go and put your chef hat back on and cook some decent food for our guys down there on the severn? apparenly the one-slice-for-all pizza didn't cut it (our mid could devour an entire pie if we let him)....</p>

<p>bet if you set up shop right outside Gate 0 you could make your fortune and retire!!!! (for good!!!)....all while doing another great service to your country!</p>

<p>whatdaya say???? ;)</p>

<p>you know- this is really, really sad.
I am thinking back to our mid's visit to Notre Dame, and the "cafeteria" open to the students.... where you could move freely from the deli section to the grill, to the select-your-own-items-bar for stir fry..... what is wrong with this picture? I can't help but wonder how this will all "read" to those new candidates that visit for a CVW..... (hmmm..... are they still doing those????? ) </p>

<p>Trying to go with the flow....but feeling like I am being caught in the riptide these days....</p>

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<p>There was a West Point Major who either posted or was quoted on CC several months ago, discussing sitting at the tables at WP and how it had molded him into the officer which he had become, basically attributing it to his success in Desert Storm. I can't seem to find it. If anyone knows where it is, maybe they could repost it. Very good analogy which makes us thankful that Army officers all don't go to Notre Dame.</p>