Absolutely! for the last 2 years I've been telling them that we don't have the money to give them for donations of $150.00. Last year they sent me to collections because I refused to send their so called donation. This year they are doing it AGAIN!! I call their number and its a NON working number (501-221-2053) I call the back number on the invoice 501-666-2772 and they never answer! I am Fed Up. I'm taking this abuse to the authorities.
They continually call my house at all hours of the day and night. Even as late as 9 p.m. !! I fell for it the first three times. They stated they would send me a yellow envelope for my donation and they never did send one. I reqested the envelope three times and none ever came. When they first called, they asked for my ex-husband, who has NEVER been associated with my phone number, and when they were informed no one by that name lives here, they then asked to speak to me...using my maiden name which I have only been going by for the last 8 months. If it is a legitimate organization, I expect more respect than to be getting calls at those late hours, and it all just seems shady to me. Even if a yellow envelope does eventually show up at my house, I'm not donating to then after such harrassment and shady actions.
I currently work part-time for telecom. I know, I have an instant group of haters. Before you start hating though I would like to inform you, the general public, of a few things. The first thing would be my paycheck. I know you know that no one can work for free regardless of who or where they are in life. I'm sure you are aware that even if I did work for free I would have personal expenses I will have (and do) incurred even as a volunteer. Transportation cost including fuel, tags, insurance, etc..., I also have to eat a lunch during the day, wear clothes (silly? Maybe, but that is a required expense). I have a college degree and am working towards my PhD in psychology and I could and can work part-time anywhere but I choose to work for telecom. Why? I can tell you that it isn't for the amazing 400 dollars a month. I can tell you that it is for the $700K that Telecom raised for dental insurance for state police officers and their families. It's also for the hundreds of teddy bears that the state police give to sick children every year, as well as many other programs that telecom and the ASPA provide. If you to want to donate, tell us no thank you. Trust me, we will appreciate your honesty.
For those of you who think that the ASPA ISNA scam or is being scammed in some way, you can research their annual earnings and expenses like I did before accepting employment. Telecom provides the ASPA over $1.8 million dollars a year with the help of kind Arkansans like yourself. $1.8 million that they would not have had. Period.
If you have trouble understanding fund raising and how it works let me assure you that ALL nonprofits have to pay salary, office fees, administrative, and any other cost that are associated with operating a business.
However, for every one person who thinks that fund raising is a 'scam' there are thousands who realize the need. These are the people who help all of the children of Arkansas, who help buy bullet proof vests to keep our protectors safe from harm, who help the families go though that horrific time when they suffer the loss of a fallen police officer who happened to be their father, their husband, their son or their uncle. These are the people who realize what love is and what it means to love someone you have never met. Being a police officer is a truly thankless job.
This organization is the Boy Scouts of Telemarketing they will not lie about the percentage of your donation and where it goes. 77% Administrative cost such as ; employee pay , long distance phone calls , equipment , utility's , postage , decal printing , & etc. 23% goes directly to the Arkansas State Police Association's chosen program for that campaign . It also helps the economy here in Arkansas by creating job opportunities for the civilians here in The Natural State . With that being said please do your research before posting horrible assumptions about this great organization.
I keep getting calls from this company and the people are so rude!!! I told the caller I was a single mother and could not afford to give and he responded "Not even ten dollars?" in a very rude tone. When I said "No, I have 15 bucks as of right now and that is for my children's lunch money for this week.Sorry" and his response was "Yeah you are sorry." and hung up on me!!!!