Thread: ALIPAC has Failed To Raise Minimum Operations Budget

Dear Friends and Allies in our 12 year fight against illegal immigration & Amnesty,

I regret to inform everyone that ALIPAC has failed to reach our goal of $30,000 for our base operations budget. We came in at $24,025 which is 6k short of what we need to operate. This is also the third funds drive in a row over the last 9 months that has come in short.

At this level of funds, we can only operate through the middle of August, which would keep us in the fight against Paul Ryan on August 9, but we will not be able to make it to the Dr. Kelli Ward Vs. John McCain election we care so much about on August 30.

We have cut everything as far as it can be cut and even our Treasurer has been laid off yet continues as a dedicated volunteer. We are unable to do many of the things a PAC needs to do with direct voter contact in important races and the only thing left to cut on this operation is me.

I am so thankful to each of you who has given of your time and funds during this drive and prior years. Standing with you in this fight has been a true honor and blessing for me.

For those of you who don't know me well, I've been putting in 60+ hour work weeks for over 12 years now, and while my salary is the lowest of any CEO among all of the short list of illegal immigration fighting groups in America, and among the lowest 10% for all nonprofit groups, we have delivered big wins for you all at small fractions of other group budgets.

Unlike other groups that do mass fundraising and list sharing (i.e. share your emails and addresses and phone numbers), I'm a leader with no retirement, no healthcare, no significant savings, and no benefits. The other DC based groups all have top execs making a quarter million dollars per year plus benefits!

And while we have been able to accomplish great things and important victories that have prevented amnesty from being passed already, there is a limit to how low our budget can go while allowing us to still continue as a true national organization vs. merely a blog on the web.

Those of us who have fought on the same side together through ALIPAC over the years know that it was our donations, volunteers, and strategies combined THAT PLAYED THE DECISIVE ROLE STOPPING AMNESTY IN D.C. IN 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2014.

To help ALIPAC possibly survive this crisis, I am announcing the following steps.

1. I am going on immediate leave without pay for two weeks to take time to address my health and family, and to alleviate two weeks of my compensation from the PAC budget. I have been glued to these machines night and day with little respite for the last 12 years and for my own sanity, I'm going to step back for two weeks to meditate, recuperate, and have some tough discussion with both friends and supporters. The instability of not knowing if I still have a job or organization three times each year and having to scrape so hard for funds has taken a big toll on me. Perhaps a short break after all this time will help me come up with some ideas that can help.

2. While this job has not provided me with any of the benefits most other group leaders enjoy, like a 401k or retirement savings plan, I only have about $1,000 in my personal savings. But I plan to loan that $1,000 to ALIPAC to help raise our funds total to $25,000

3. I am going to post this message on our site, and on all of our Facebook pages that almost completely blocked everything we tried to say to our supporters there over the last few days, and let it stand until I return around July 14 to decide if and what ALIPAC can do.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO HELP REDUCE THE $5,000 DEFICIT IN OUR BUDGET THAT WE CAN MAKE NO MORE CUTS TO COVER, THEN PLEASE SEND US YOUR SUPPORT TO....

ALIPAC
PO Box 30966
Raleigh, NC 28622

or via our secure online donations page via debit card, credit card, or Paypal at..
http://www.alipac.us/donations/


All donations we have received or do receive by July 14th will be put to good use in our cause.

I will still be checking my email from time to time while away if anyone has any questions, suggestions, or feedback for me at WilliamG@alipac.us.


Despite the many reasons I believe are responsible for these funding shortfalls, I take full responsibility for the failure of ALIPAC to achieve our goals.

William Gheen
AMERICANS FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION PAC
Post Office Box 30966, Raleigh, NC 27622-0966
Tel: (919) 787-6009 Toll Free: (866) 703-0864
FEC ID: C00405878

Anyone who takes time to read any of the threads and posts should most definitely read this one. W reveals his dedication and committment to this cause and the sad truth that this may come to an end soon. There seems to be a liitle more time for readers to re-evaluate their budgets and possibly direct some of their funds this way. I was touched by W's honesty and openness. As a fairly recent participant, I have always enjoyed the direct and succinct comment made by W and his contributions to the media and press regarding the issues he is so passionate about.

I have had the need myself to take some time away from my work and recharge my batteries. Hope you will be able to replenish your energy and thoughts and eventually keep this important cause alive. You have availed many to explore ideas and commentary on a virtual platform with fair rules and passionate participants.