ARM Questions

I think ARM is a useful charity but would like to understand more about it. Maybe one of the ARM folks could answer some of these questions so we could do a better job of promotion.

1. Is there a link to a webpage that better explains the function, financials, charity events, and overall details of ARM? If not, maybe someone could build a webpage that has answers to some of the questions like these.

2. Now that the dust has settled on the LPO (Lake Pepin Open Tournament), how much total money was contribution to ARM as a result of the LPO and what were the ARM expenses for the LPO?

3. Who are the current and past administrators of ARM and what are their positions?

4. Does anyone associated with ARM get paid for their efforts, or is it completely run by volunteers?

5. Is ARM a nonprofit charity?

6. Are the ARM books open to the public to show the financial detailed contributions, expenses, and lists of all the charity events done for the kids?

7. Who are the current anglers that are the role models?

8. If I wanted to become a role model angler, would ARM reimburse me for my role model expenses?

9. What (if any) is the association of ARM with Big Brothers/Sisters?

Thank you,
Dave Gulczinski

Lets see, I can answer a couple of these questions….

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4. Does anyone associated with ARM get paid for their efforts, or is it completely run by volunteers?

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Everything we do is volunteer.

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5. Is ARM a nonprofit charity?

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Absolutlety

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7. Who are the current anglers that are the role models?

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We are all role models. Being an angler, your own personal morals reflect as who you are, and the image you leave as a role model.

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8. If I wanted to become a role model angler, would ARM reimburse me for my role model expenses?

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Everything I do as an ARM Rep. is completly on my own, with no reimbursement. It’s a feel good for all thing.

#1 – ARM does nnot have a webpage at this time. It cannot afford one at present.

#2 – Almost $800 was donated at last count. This amount is very much appreciated. It was MUCH less than expected, about $10/team, and will likely barely just cover expenses for the tournement.

#3 – There is a board of Directors, currently manned by myself, Dustin Stewart and Mike Little. There are numerous committee chairpersons that hold key positions as well.

#4 – Volunteers MAY be compensated for their expenseses. Most people involved, including myself, donate thier time and money. ARM articles of incorporation forbid any Board Member from EVER being compensated with a salary.

#5 – ARM is a 501-c3 Non-profit organization.

#6 – The ARM books are open to anyone that would wish to see them and intensive, detailed reporting to the IRS is required by law to maintain the non-profit status.

#7 – All anglers should see themselves as potential rolemodels. I am. You are. Whether you are involved with ARM or not. Those directly involved with ARM include many of the members of the EFN staff, tournament fishermen, serious weekend anglers and caring anglers wishing to make a difference in a child’s life.

# 8 – Some/many expenses can be reimbursed.

# 9 – ARM is not directly affiliated with BB-BS… we work closely with them.

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I think ARM is a useful charity but would like to understand more about it. Maybe one of the ARM folks could answer some of these questions so we could do a better job of promotion.

1. Is there a link to a webpage that better explains the function, financials, charity events, and overall details of ARM? If not, maybe someone could build a webpage that has answers to some of the questions like these.

2. Now that the dust has settled on the LPO (Lake Pepin Open Tournament), how much total money was contribution to ARM as a result of the LPO and what were the ARM expenses for the LPO?

3. Who are the current and past administrators of ARM and what are their positions?

4. Does anyone associated with ARM get paid for their efforts, or is it completely run by volunteers?

5. Is ARM a nonprofit charity?

6. Are the ARM books open to the public to show the financial detailed contributions, expenses, and lists of all the charity events done for the kids?

7. Who are the current anglers that are the role models?

8. If I wanted to become a role model angler, would ARM reimburse me for my role model expenses?

9. What (if any) is the association of ARM with Big Brothers/Sisters?

Thank you,
Dave Gulczinski

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James,
It sounds like you have a good start on the ARM charity. I would suggest creating a simple ARM page on your current hosting service. Put a link from the FTR/FTL main pages to this ARM page. When fishermen are then asked about ARM, we could just reference that link.

At the top of the ARM page, have a listing of all the special events sponsored by ARM for the kids, items purchased for the kids, plus any other things done by ARM. Further down in the page, details (like you just clarified) about ARM could be listed.

I believe this would really help out the ARM cause.

Dave Gulczinski

I won’t be able to do that myself Dave. Just too much on my plate at this time. I agree, it’s a good idea. Lots of good ideas out there and this guy can only tackle so many of them.

Any volunteers?

James,
How does this sound?

If you and the other ARM people will send me a PM with any kind of ARM data, I will put together the initial pass of an ARM webpage. I will also put the webpage temporally on the Walleye Searchers hosting service (with permission from the club) and you can just place a link to it anywhere you want on FTR/FTL.

Whenever you have extra time in the next year or two, you can copy the contents of the ARM webpage to your own hosting service and I will delete the webpage I did.

If this is OK with you, just start sending anything dealing with ARM to me. I’ll have something up and running as soon as the data starts arriving.

Dave Gulczinski

Now thats what I call stepping up to the plate!!!

James,
I did not get any PMs or response from you about building, or not building, an ARM webpage for EFN. Please let me know either way?

Maybe you just don’t have the time to send me any information; in that case I would use existing information and pictures from the ARM forum for the initial pass.

If I don’t hear anything from you in a couple days, I will assume you would rather I did not do it — that’s OK, I will not be offended.

Dave Gulczinski

Dave, I think James would like to work with you on this. But he might be busy on the river guiding…….your offer is great and we would all appreciate your help with ARM.

Thanks,

If I wish to make a financial contribution to ARM is there an address I can mail it to.

Thanks

I’ll have someone get ahold of you, thank you for the interest here.

Here is the name and address for any ARM donations.

Thank you,

Anglers as Role Models, Inc.
Attn: Mike Little
2401 W. Burnsville Pkwy.
Burnsville, MN 55337

Hey, Bob,

Thanks for the help with the address. I’ve been offline for a bit, not following the pages all that closely, but am trying hard to keep up.

Thus far this year, we’ve had a few really nice donations that helped to keep us even on the financial side. Expenses have been primarily involved with putting on the LPO, which I would consider a resounding success. We had 77 teams in the tournament and paid out 100% of the tournament entry fee of $200 each. Our one primary problem was that many of the contestants weren’t completely aware of the sponsorship provided by ARM, but I’d say that we’ll draw a good crowd again next year and hope that we can do some more publicizing during the coming year.

Our goal is to raise enough money to fund a sizeable trip for Big Brothers/Big Sisters that will be guided during a fishing day on the Mississippi by pros and volunteer guides and judging by last year’s event, this has been a very successful venture.

Last year’s event worked out very well. We had 22 kids with their bigs, fed them all lunch and got them a full guided day on the river. Tackle, fishing rods and a whole bunch of goodies were donated by various companies and we really had a blast. The guides all came back with wonderful reports of a fabulous fishing experience. We’re looking forward to the same this year.

We do have a number of committee chairs that met once early this year, but really need to get together again. Our activity has been slowed a bit by the sudden departure of two of the primary motivators and directors, so we’re a bit shorthanded at present, although we have a lot of interested people who are looking forward to participating.

One of the primary needs that we have at present is enough guides to help out this year. We will also require shore patrols that can help with the kids when they’re inshore.

All right. Bob G, I’ll send you a PM. We’d love some help with the web pages. It can be hosted right from our own server and can easily be linked to any organization. I’d be happy to work with you on it and would only have to run the site by James in order to make sure that it works and does what it needs to do. Be nice to be able to publish our finances, needs and information in a more public manner. As with any growing group, corporate or charitable, ARM is suffering from some growing pains and needs to be taken care of a little bit better. It is actually completely independent of any of the activities here on this forum, although we can only carry on with the organization through the very wonderful help of our members here.

Please contact me directly if anyone has any further questions or comments.

Mike Little
ARM director.
952-890-6620

Bobber, thanks; I will mail a contribution ASAP. Probably shouldn’t tell you this but my Terrier’s name is also Bobber; after a fishing cork. He does love the boat.

I am sorry to say that things did not work out between the ARM Board and myself regarding the development of the ARM webpage. I believe the position is still open — if any of you have webpage generating skills, extra time, and would like to volunteer to work for the ARM folks then please give them a call.

Dave Gulczinski