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Old 05-09-2008, 08:57 PM   #61
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My final word here, unless something new turns up, is that I still have not received word from 1% of the Planet to either confirm or deny that they have examined OceanWatch's accounts.

Once again we will have to draw our own conclusion and, speaking for myself, the lack of a reply has just moved OceanWatch one step further down the ladder of credibility. Jerjacko may have "opened a can of worms" but all the better for it. The doubts expressed here by many of our members certainly needed to be aired. Unfortunately, those doubts still remain and the requests for some simple form of proof of integrity have not resulted in anything but unsubstantiated claims by OceanWatch to be an open and honest organisation.

Aye // Stephen
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Old 05-13-2008, 04:52 PM   #62
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We have been approved by 1% for the Planet who have looked at us and our accounts quite carefully so that can give interested parties a level of assurance.

Chris
Without further comment, we are still waiting for "a level of assurance". Hope no one was holding his or her breath.

Aye // Stephen
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Old 05-20-2008, 08:49 PM   #63
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More than two weeks have passed since I asked 1% of the Planet to provide the information OceansWatch said we could get from that organisation and still no "level of assurance" has been given.

In the mean time I have done a little more homework and found that 501c3 certification is no guarantee either. In fact, after due enquires I received the following extracted from an email from a company specialising in obtaining 501c3 certifications for organisations wishing to avoid tax

Quote:
Thank you for contacting XXXXXXXXXXX concerning your nonprofit’s mission. More organizations use us to apply for tax-exempt status than anyone else. Whether you are forming a charity, foundation, church, school, or even an animal rescue, we make it simple for you to get there.

For 13 years running, XXXXXXXXXXXXX has maintained a 100% IRS approval rate. We've prepared literally thousands of 501c3 applications, all of which have been granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. We accomplish this by actually getting to know your organization and accurately representing its programs. You will be approved - we guarantee it!

We are ready to help guide you through:

Phase I - State Process (includes all forms for Incorporation - $250)

o Provide telephone consultation with you about your organization’s mission

o Provide telephone consultation about your organization’s state incorporation process

o Secure your EIN (included if not already secured)

o Perform a Corporate Name Search (included if not already performed)

o Prepare your Articles of Incorporation (including reviews of and amendments to any existing Articles to ensure IRS compliance)

o Prepare your draft Bylaws (including review of any existing bylaws)

o Provide helpful startup materials for your Board of Directors

o Provide Sample budget template

Phase II – IRS 501c3 Process (includes all forms - $950*)

o Provide telephone consultation about your organization’s mission and proposed programs

o Provide telephone consultation about your organization’s compliance requirements specific to the IRS 501c3 process

o Develop narratives for your IRS 501c3 application based on your mission and programs

o Help you with your budget

o Prepare your IRS 501c3 application

o Interact with IRS on your behalf throughout the review process.

*K-12 schools, colleges, hospitals and scientific research organizations require substantially more work and are priced higher accordingly. IRS and/or state filing fees, if applicable, are not included.

Please note that this checklist does not include the state’s filing fee for incorporation or the IRS filing fee of $750 (typically). A reduced fee of $300 is charged to certain, very-small budget organizations...we will help you determine if you qualify. The state’s fee is payable, by you, to the state. The IRS’s fee is payable, by you, to the IRS. Expect a turnaround of about 2-4 weeks from us and about 2-12 months from the IRS.

When you’re ready, contact us at XXXXXXX
So for $250 anyone using this organisation, according to their claim, can get 501c3 tax exempt status. This is not a guarantee either regarding the seriousness of the charity but purely a fiscal process to receive tax exempt status.

So once again we are left without any information as to the seriousness of OceansWatch.

To OceansWatch I say that I am in no way opposed to the organisation but I certainly would like them to substantiate their claims.

Claiming that we can contact 1% of the Planet is not good enough. On this matter I have received an email from a member of this forum who contacted OceansWatch wanting to work with them but pointing out that she had read the debate here. Their reply to her included the following:

Quote:
They have been asking to see our plans. We have documents talking about our plans but I am not going to release them to people like that. All these people want to do is put us down. They will go through our plans and try to find fault then they might contact people we work with and make them worried and then make it difficult for us to work in the Islands. The people in the forums do not really understand the situation.

I said in the forum I would not send plans because of this. They then proved me right by going to one of the organisations we work with and trying to cause problems for us. I can not risk the future of OceansWatch by giving out that sort of information.
Now that reply is really interesting as we are not trying to find fault with OceansWatch but just attempting to establish their bona fides. The reply is even more interesting when one reads Mr. Bone's statement that we proved him right by contacting one of the organisations OceansWatch work with and tried to cause problems for them. That statement probably refers to me as I contacted 1% of the Planet, as Mr. Bone said one should do if one wanted a "level of assurance". Well Mr. Bone, what is it to be? Will 1% of the Planet provide the levels of assurance you indicated or is this just another unsubstantiated claim?

Once again let me reiterate that no one here is trying to cause problems for OceansWatch. We are simply trying to find the truth.

Aye // Stephen
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Old 05-20-2008, 09:51 PM   #64
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Quote:
That statement probably refers to me as I contacted 1% of the Planet, as Mr. Bone said one should do if one wanted a "level of assurance". Well Mr. Bone, what is it to be? Will 1% of the Planet provide the levels of assurance you indicated or is this just another unsubstantiated claim?
Stephen, I think you will find that 1% of the Planet is a good, credible organisation that has a very good vision.

However, they simply list (on their well publicised website) any organisation (on the strength of their Incorporation Document - only) on their searchable database - provided that the organisation applying is involved (or intends to be) with the "preservation of the planet". They very clearly state that "you deal directly" with any org. on their database and that they do not vouch for any organisation that they list (how can they, afterall). They are a (good) charitable org themselves who act as a repository of links to similar orgs. Being linked on 1% of the Planet simply means that your "Charter" states that you will work for the health of the planet - that's all!

I feel that this is just a further attempt to reach out for some credibility that falls very short. It is unfortunate that Mr Bone has chosen to link his own commercial venture so closely to Oceanswatch with hundreds of posts on the Net - I feel that the conflict of interest has damaged their image badly.

Nothing positive is coming out of this thread. My vote is to close it and allow people to make up their own minds about Oceanswatch.
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Old 05-21-2008, 04:52 AM   #65
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Nothing positive is coming out of this thread. My vote is to close it and allow people to make up their own minds about Oceanswatch.
I agree with all you say. The lack of evidence to support OceansWatch's credibility is overwhelming. In this regard, I was not knocking 1% of the Planet but simply pointing out that the assurances have not been forthcoming, contrary to Mr. Bone's claim.

I certainly think that anyone reading this thread will be in a position to make their own mind up regarding the organisation and I will not mourn the closure of this topic. I would, however, like an opening to be left for OceansWatch to come back at some time in the future and clear up this issue and restore their credibility.

Finally, I must restate that I am neither for nor against OceansWatch. If this is a good-hearted, well intentioned, charitable organisation I would like to see it succeed. I suggest that the first step along that path would be for Mr. Bone to clearly separate his yacht delivery business from his charitable interests and then be prepared for public scrutiny as far as the charity is concerned.

Aye // Stephen
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Old 05-21-2008, 08:27 AM   #66
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I do believe that everyone has had enough opportunity to add to this discussion. I believe that it would serve no positive purpose to continue this thread any further. Thanks to all for your contributions - let's move on and talk about cruising.

This topic should be closed!
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Old 03-06-2009, 01:48 PM   #67
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Post deleted.

This topic is now closed!
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