[MR] Background Checks and Children's Activities

[Kelly Keck]

In my opinion, whether an individual can write this off (and, to answer the
good lady's question, I believe it would only be if they itemize), isn't
really the point.  There's just something fundamentally wrong with telling
an officer of a group that they need to pay out of pocket to continue being
an officer, or telling a non-officer that they need to pay to volunteer at
an event.  Sure, there are lots of generous people who've offered to take on
the cost of their own background checks.  The same way there are generous
autocrats who spend money out of pocket on their events, or generous
officers who pay out of pocket for things their local groups can't afford at
the time.  This is wonderful, should be encouraged, and the SCA wouldn't
function half so well without it.  But there's a world of difference between
accepting and encouraging generosity and making people essentially pay for
the "privilege" of helping out, after they've already volunteered their
time.

Since the BoD is requiring this, whatever checks they ask for should be paid
for at the Society or Kingdom level, although individuals and local groups
who want to pay for their own or fundraise to cover the costs should be
encouraged and thanked wholeheartedly.

In Service,
Adriana

On 4/15/07, Norayn <FernsAndNettles at cox.net> wrote:
>
> "Yes, in this situation one would indeed be able to write this expense
> off."
>
> For clarifications sake  ~  would this apply only for those who itemize on
> taxes, or for both those who do itemize and those who don't?
>
> If the SCA organization leaves the cost to the Kingdoms, and if we are
> unable to provide coverage for the entire costs  ~ I wouldn't want to see
> individual scadians (parents or youth leaders) being asked to pay more than
> half.   As suggested previously ~ fundraisers I guess.
>
> Vrederun .  .  .  who does not itemize taxes .  .  .  and who has been
> background checked & fingerprinted more times (in the course of her
> employment) than anyone could imagine
> FernsAndNettles at Cox.net
> Marinus