The Pacific Citizen Spring Campaign is in high gear! Have you sent your check in yet? Sometimes, it helps to understand why something is important by looking “at the numbers.” Let’s do that.
As of March 24, 2017, there are 7,823 members in JACL nationally. The total 2016 cost to produce the Pacific Citizen was $345,000 (about $44 per member). By policy, the JACL set the IRS value of the Pacific Citizen at $12 per member, which allows everyone (to the extent of law) to deduct their dues payments from their taxes, less $12).
When we had 20,000 members, covering the cost to produce the Pacific Citizen was pretty easy. However, with our membership at 7,823, the Pacific Citizen “program” last year ran a deficit, which has been accommodated in recent years by drawing down our reserve account, which is pretty lean right now, even with these “good market” times.
With this in mind, the National Council at the last National Convention passed a resolution to request $17 from each member that wanted the “newsprint” version of the Pacific Citizen.
All members with email addresses on file should also be receiving the electronic version of the Pacific Citizen as well. The nice thing about the electronic version for those who don’t live in California is that we get to read the Pacific Citizen about a week before we receive the newsprint, so it helps “all” JACL members read the Pacific Citizen at about the same time.
The goal for the Pacific Citizen Spring Campaign this year (and last year!) is $100,000. That would be about $13 per member.
Last year, we only managed to receive about half that number. So, with that said, let me leave you with two thoughts:
If you think the Pacific Citizen is important to you and to JACL, please consider sending in $50 or $100 to the Spring Campaign. You can find the coupon with the address to send it to in this issue. It’s fully tax deductible to the extent of the law.
For long-term sustainability, please consider the Pacific Citizen and JACL in your Planned Giving process like I have. This kind of “giving” is described at this link (http://tinyurl.com/JACLPLAN) and Mr. Steve Okamoto, who can be reached at steveokamoto1@gmail.com, can explain to you how you can benefit from JACL’s charitable tax-exempt status and ensure the continued legacy of the JACL and the Pacific Citizen at the same time.
I hope to see many of you at the 2017 National Convention this year, which will be held in Washington, D.C., from July 6-9. Come early to see the D.C. fireworks. They’re world class! For more details, please visit www.JACL.org.
Very Respectfully,
Chip Larouche, P.C. Editorial Board Representative
