Tag Archives: charity

Idaho

Pocatello Arts Council is not taxpayer funded, but helps bring free public events!

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14 July 2022  (10:08-UTC-07 Tango 06) 23 Tir 1401/14 Dhu l-Hijja 1443/16 Ding-Wei 4720

Recently in the U.S. state of Idaho, apparently (supposedly) a City of Pocatello council person inquired about the funding for the Pocatello Arts Council.  It sounded very much like she was ‘fishing’ for ways to appropriate some of that funding for local government use, not unusual for a city council that has a history of non-transparent, and even non-existent, financial record keeping.  There is one major problem; the Pocatello Arts Council is not a government operation, it is a non-governmental organization (NGO) created and funded totally by donations!

For Summer 2022, the Pocatello Arts Council has teamed-up with many other organizations to bring free-to-the-public Shakespeare performances at the Idaho State University (ISU), in Pocatello.

Idaho State University’s The Quad.

On July 21st, Twelfth Night will be performed on The Quad, starting at 18:30 (6:30PM). Then King Lear makes an appearance on July 23rd, same location.  Food trucks will be staged, but they are not free, bring money or bring your own food.

On this map The Quad is the area marked as #9.

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes conduct sunrise prayer on ISU’s Quad.

For those wanting more academic information about some guy named Shakespeare, on the 20th of July there is a free lecture (with live sample performances) at the Marshall Public Library, in the Old Town part of Pocatello.

The lecture is held before the theatrical plays take place so you’ll get a better understanding of the mind-set of The Bard.

In October 1991, the Pocatello Arts Council was created by a generous grant from an individual.  The council members are not paid a dime, they are volunteering their own time and efforts.  While Pocatello Arts Council is a non-taxpayer funded NGO, they do serve as an ‘advisory council’ to the Mayor of Pocatello.

Pocatello Arts Council also offers very small grants to local people feeling creative, there are deadlines, apply here.

Scandals involving Pocatello & Chubbuck:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, July 2019.

Bridge to Nowhere, and a list of other local taxpayer rip-offs

 

International, U.S.

Incompetent Charities: 4 months later only 23% of donations have reached victims of the March 11 disasters

Within Japan, at least $3.7 billion has been raised by charities, like the Japanese Red Cross and Central Community Chest of Japan.  It was all to help the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis.

A report shows that so far only 23% of that money has actually gone to the victims.

The charities are working with local governments to get the money out, but local officials say the logistics of such an operation, because of the huge number of displaced victims, is making the job difficult.  On top of that, local governments are short on manpower.  Most government workers are involved with clean up, rebuilding, radiation checks and decontamination.

Here’s an idea:  Why not take some of the victims, who’re complaining of not having anything to do because their homes and jobs have been destroyed, and create a disaster relief crew that helps the charities distribute the donations?

The $3.7 billion does not include all the money Japan got from other countries.