As long as someone has brought this subject up, I would like to ask a question. When certain of their members get up to speak, they announce themselves to be members of the Taxpayers and Citizens association. Explain this to me.

I take this to mean that you don't necessarily have to be a taxpayer to sit in on and comment during their meetings - just a self-proclaimed resident?

If I'm wrong, set me straight....

I am almost positive I have heard the "and citizen's". By adding that little addition to the title, it makes it sound (whether you pay your dues or not) that you don't necessarily have to be a taxpayer - any renter (coughcoughsampatillacoughcough) can me a member.

Art it's funny that you bring up Habitat ... I was just taking a cruise through the world wide web and well I was wondering why a one time thriving service has been reduced to a student/faculty club at the University of Scranton who only answer phone calls and emails once a week as opposed to the funcitoning office they used to have.



Habitat for Humanity/Lacka Cnty, Inc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address550 Madison Avenue
Scranton, PA 18510-2497
Phone342-7911 leave message
HoursHours: Currently, we are not maintaining regular office hours.
Contact Person: Board of Directors check voice mail once a week.
All volunteer organization for now.

UofS habitat club contact: habitat@scranton.edu
ContactStudent Contact 06-07, Matt Tirella

DescriptionDESCRIPTION: Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit,
ecumenical housing organization with over 1700 affiliates world
wide.

The Lackawanna County affiliate was organized in 1990 to
provide low-income families with the chance to own simple, decent
homes. Habitat relies on volunteers and donations to keep the
costs of its homes affordable. The homes are sold to approved
families, who pay interest free mortgages back to Habitat. The
money collected from the mortgage is reinvested into additional
homes for other qualifying families.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: HFH is looking for volunteers to assist
us in the following ways:

HFH needs volunteers to assist with construction
houses.

HFH also needs assistance in the office, completing
administrative tasks such as filing, copying, stuffing envelopes,
etc. Time commitment: Flexible

Most importantly, HFH needs volunteers to help at the site;
building, painting, landscaping, cleaning, and a variety of other
tasks. Work days are scheduled through the office, and advance
sign-up is encouraged, but not required.

FACULTY/STAFF VOLUNTEER: In addition to all previously mentioned
volunteer opportunities, faculty and staff are encouraged to
supervise workdays with students and volunteers to become
involved at the committee and board level.

Training is available as needed. In addition, general Habitat
information is available by contacting the Program Manager at the
Habitat office.

*Walking distance from the University of Scranton.

Apparently it is not open to all citizens ... again it is somthing that is only open to those they choose ... kind of like someplace else we all know of.

Lus, thank you for taking this extra step to find info about this organization. But my question stikll remains - if it is a "taxpayer" association, then only taxpaying residents of Lackawanna Can be members. By adding the word "citizen" to the title, anyone with fifteen bucks can have a say in what happens here - even if they are NOT a taxpaying resident.

We pay our Lackawanna County/Library and Scranton City/School taxes (and have since we began working at sixteen) which I believe gives me the right to have a voice and a vote if I choose to join this association. But what gives this same right to some loud-mouthed, podium thumping yahoo who moved here a short time ago? Does this guy have a job? Does he pay income taxes to the city? Does he pay property taxes?

Sure - any transient who moved here from parts unknown and pitched a tent under a bridge makes you a 'citizen', upstanding or not. I feel you should be more rooted in your city before you have the right to vote for any changes which may take place.

For the record, Bill is correct; the Archbald land deal was a case of not in my back yard - not shady dealings. I should have been more clear in my post. My point remains though - bad press and continued bad leadership.

Quinn is a real whiner too. Expect a visit from him here once he catches wind of this thread.

That Collegiate baseball thing sounds familiar too - didn't he get caught up in some kind of legal wranglings over that? I somehow remember a controversy and a fine. Anyone?

Hey Art Shari and friends told us to find something worth discussing ... instead of continuously bashing the DD site ... I thought this was worthwile ... actually I didn't just think of it ... I got a PM from one of our posters asking that we check into this ... so I put the feelers out for information ... funny thing is there is plenty of proof out there and it is not ... sadly ... just a rumor!

clearly ... yet he is running the taxpayers association ... I have got to wonder.

Art is there a website or possibly an article that speaks to the issue of this baseball team?

This is what I found on the Times' website

By Jennifer L. Henn Tribune Staff Writer

The state attorney general's office has no intention of returning the $1,000 it fined Robert "Ozzie" Quinn nd his Collegiate Summer Baseball League in 2001, a spokeswoman says.

Mr. Quinn has requested that the money be returned based on a U.S. Supreme Court that upheld the right of organizations to solicit door to door.

In January 2001, Attorney General Mike Fisher's office charged Mr. Quinn with violating the state Charities Act when he failed to register the league as a charitable organization. He also failed to keep and provide financial records of the league's donations and expenses.

Now, Mr. Quinn is pointing to the Supreme Court decision last month that overturned a law requiring registration and permits for door-to-door solicitation.

"That vindicates me. The highest court in the country said you don't have to register," he said.

"You can't argue with that."

On the contrary, according to Barbara Petito, Mr. Fisher's deputy press secretary.

"What the court ruled and what he did are apples and oranges," she said. "Our case had nothing to do with his solicitation or that court decision."

In rejecting the town law, the justices said it was too vague and applied to too many kinds of door-to-door encounters. But Ms. Petito said the same ruling declared it is constitutional for states to have registration and reporting requirements for nonprofit organizations.

"They can make up whatever interpretation they want," Mr. Quinn said. "No matter what they say or do, I feel free and clear."

Mr. Quinn, president and founder of the league, said his failure to make the required reports was inadvertent.

I like the concept of a taxpayers association, but this one in particular sours on me a bit, given the cast of characters that are associated with it.

Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.

it cracks my up that c-o-c-k-y was bleeped.
such Puritans...

A fifteen dollar b|tchfest with no moderator.
Ahhh, I get it now.