You know how Dismas was all, “our eleventeen million dollar purchase of luxury suites at fancy sports joints is cool” for a week or so? They played it off as Kosher and just another way to lure in the big money?
Forgive me, because I’m naturally skeptical and bitter.
Lookit here in the Dismas winter newsletter (Warning: External PDF Link):
Dismas Charities helps create broadcast outlet for Bellarmine University In an effort to further promote Dismas Charities throughout the Com-monwealth of Kentucky, Dismas is sponsoring the newly-formed Bellarmine University Basketball Network this season. All games will be broadcast on WGTK AM-970. The arrangement between Bel-larmine and Dismas has created a live broadcast outlet for all Bel-larmine men’s basketball games. The first game in which Dismas gained state-wide and national recognition for this community effort was November 4 against the University of Louisville at Freedom Hall. Four women’s team away games will also be aired. “Please join me in becoming involved
Hrm. Dismas running across Kentucky to promote BELLARMINE basketball? Really? Bellarmine?
Why on earth would anyone do that? That’s like telling people you’re serving Coke for dinner and instead serving up Shasta or Big K.
The CEO is an alum, apparently:
Dismas President receives prestigious university award Dismas Charities President/CEO Raymond J. Weis has been presented with the Distin-guished Alumni Award from the Bel-larmine University Alumni Association. The annual award is presented as a testa-ment to the Bellarmine mission of prepar-ing leaders for society and to those who have “distinguished themselves in professional accom-plishment, community service and demonstration of attitudes consistent with religious and ethical values.” In the nearly 30-year history of the award it has been presented to community leaders, local, state and na-tional elected officials, internationally recognized physi-cians and professionals, a Governor of the Common-wealth of Kentucky, an Army General, judges, and a member of the Dismas Board of Directors. Weis has also received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from St. Xavier High School for distinguishing himself in his profession and in his service to others.
Am I wrong, or doesn’t this smell like the big dogs at Dismas just wanna use their profits to watch some sports from a fancy box?
Sure, Dismas does some great work. All of the Dismas employees I’ve ever met have been terrific examples of upstanding citizenry. But none of them will ever get to enjoy a luxury box at Yum! Diabetes Center. None of them – the ones busting their rear ends – will get to put their butts in seats in those boxes… like the CEO and the board. So I’m just trying to figure out why on earth anyone can justify this.
An organization would have to have a history of spending large amounts of money on items like this, otherwise the entire board would be freaking out about wasteful spending.
24 responses so far ↓
1 blowin' in the wind // Sep 8, 2010 at 3:05 pm
This is absolutely, positively outrageous! Doesn’t any nonprofit in this town have ethics? What on earth is Bellarmine thinking by doing this????
2 le gardien de but // Sep 8, 2010 at 3:33 pm
From the article: “….The arrangement between Bellarmine and Dismas has created a live broadcast outlet for all Bellarmine men’s basketball games. The first game in which Dismas gained state-wide and national recognition for this community effort….”
–gained state-wide and national recognition for this community effort–can somebody explain this? Somehow I think it is a logic error. Dismas declares itself to be nationally recognized…
3 bestmid // Sep 8, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I think it’s all mission-driven. Isn’t Dismas House named after the thief hanging on the cross aside t’Crucified Jeebus, and who then asked Our Lord to save him a luxury box seat in heaven?
(btw…did Richie Farmer’s Mustache play for Popey on the Knights? THAT would make Bellarmine b-ball worthy of national recognition. )
4 ask a city worker... // Sep 8, 2010 at 8:05 pm
…who has to put up with the criminals that Dismas sends us every day. A Dismas worker for the city recently went into an employees purse and stole her ID. So his girlfriend could ride the bus for free. He was let go but Dismas just sent him out to another department the next day. Another Dismal worker gat caught beating his meat in a city vehicle in Jeff Mall’s parking lot. But they’re cheap! And they take more jobs from honest workers than all the Messicans in KY.
5 Jason Cissell - Bellarmine University // Sep 9, 2010 at 10:51 am
Jake, your somewhat funny cheap shot at our athletics program aside, please understand that Dismas signed on as a sponsor for radio coverage of Bellarmine basketball… they didn’t *create* the broadcast. We’re happy to have them as one of our athletics program’s sponsors.
Now, back to that cheap shot! There’s a lot of excitement around our basketball program these days, with a great coach and a great team. We don’t have fancy box seats… we just have smart students juggling their academic demands so they can also play basketball for a growing crowd. I’m sure your comment simply reflects a lack of awareness of our athletics program, so, we’re setting aside a free ticket for you for one basketball game this winter… just let me know when you want to join me! :-)
6 jake // Sep 9, 2010 at 10:57 am
Take it up with Dismas. I copied & pasted from their newsletter, which I linked.
But that cheap shot was factual and honest! I don’t even think Bellarmine students watch Bellarmine basketball. heh.
7 MARRYlarry // Sep 9, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Years ago, when Ray Weis went to work for Dismas House, he was underpaid and overworked. Dismas House operated out of a small house on, I think, 5th Street, or somewhere near it. None of the guys who graduated in social work wanted to work for Dismas because the pay was so low. But Ray got in there and built the organization up to national recognition, made it prosperous, and supplied both the released prisoners and the city with manpower and income. Now he’s being raked over the coals for his success. Why shouldn’t he be paid well? CEO’s of industry who haven’t done nearly as much for their respective companies are paid far more. Why is there such an envy in our society for anyone who is successful, resourceful, and prosperous? What is driving this hateful witch hunt? Please let’s return to an appreciation and respect for the industrious people who make our world better. Yes, they should be paid all we can afford; they deserve it!
8 jake // Sep 9, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Nice spin, but I haven’t seen a single person rake him over the coals for his success.
Tons of people HAVE questioned the expenditure of hundreds of thousands on luxury boxes at sporting facilities, however, and have asked why he’s paid so much.
9 Bubbles LaRue // Sep 9, 2010 at 1:41 pm
No wonder the folks running Dismas reportedly had no clue about the people in their their care gettin’ jiggy in the back room with Metro Employees at LMAS.
That pathetic little Love Shack on Manslick Road pales in comparison to the luxury stadium accomdations enjoyed by those working so hard to turn around the lives of Louisville’s most needy.
WWJD?
10 MARRYlarry // Sep 9, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Jake,
Since he’s built the project up to a level where this is easily affordable through smart investments, why isn’t it considered one of the “perks” of the job like any other successful business? Dismas seemed like a bleak job prospect when Ray went to work there and his friends felt sorry for him taking it. But it was so like Ray, in his idealism, courage, and faith in mankind to want to make this venture successful. He has spent his entire working life making this grow to what it is today. He should be praised instead of ridiculed for what he has built there. Dismas IS Ray and there is no better person in Louisville than humble Ray Weis. If he wants good seats in the stadium in the name of Dismas and he’s made wise investments to cover it and it’s not taking a thing away from anyone, why are people so envious? Ray is about at retirement age now, so let’s consider this part of his legacy as the hard-driving executive who put Dismas on the map.
Regard this as part of his retirement package and know he will use it to better the relationships that are important to Dismas.
11 jake // Sep 9, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Uh, are you kidding me? “Perks” aren’t part of running a NON-PROFIT. And perks don’t get investigated by the State Auditor.
Seriously – you kids can stop with the spin.
I get it. Dismas sucked ass before Magic Ray came along. Now it’s the most successful thing, ever, so everyone should just look in another direction when he spends hundreds of thousands on luxury boxes. Because that’s what responsible CHARITIES do during economic depressions.
Wow.
The stupid. It burns.
12 stop madness // Sep 9, 2010 at 6:52 pm
Who in their right mind is drinking Ray’s “koolaid”? He makes over three times the salary of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons ( they have a 5.6 billion dollar budget),
and over twice the salary of the head of the Red Cross ( they do a lot more for humanity than Dismas). This is all so much more than his salary. Dismas is a for profit operating as a non profit. Period. How much “good” could the government do with the money Dismas should be payng in taxes. Oh, Kentucky, don’t be so foolish.
13 Donna Mattingly // Sep 9, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Marrylarry said: “Since he’s built the project up to a level where this is easily affordable through smart investments, why isn’t it considered one of the “perks” of the job like any other successful business?”
___
Because that is not how a charity is supposed to operate, that’s why. That money was not “his”, despite whatever smart investments he made!
There is much work to be done for the less fortunate, and this kind of self-serving expenditure is simply beyond the pale and hurts all legitimate charities.
It sounds to me like this Ray guy truly believes that charity begins at home – HIS own home!
14 Donna Mattingly // Sep 9, 2010 at 8:57 pm
I am confident that Crit Luallen will find a charitable and tactful way to explain the parameters of a charitable organization to the experts who run this organization.
15 angryfatman // Sep 10, 2010 at 8:21 am
I’m sure Crit will bust his crooked butt. Then, as usual, everyone will get off with minimal or no penalty. Welcome to Kentucky.
16 wondering // Sep 10, 2010 at 9:36 am
This is a legitimate question: At what point should the state auditor’s authority to audit recipients of state and local public money cease?
Do we allow them to audit the books of contractors who build roads and heap scorn on the owners of these companies who may live a lifestyle that’s better than that of the average Kentuckian?
What about the landlords that rent to state government, like Ratliff in Frankfort and all those other property owners in the 120 counties that rent or lease office space for the local agencies formerly under the CHR umbrella? Are they fair game?
How about those who sell vehicles or tires to state agencies?
17 jake // Sep 10, 2010 at 9:41 am
wondering: It’s convenient for you to anonymously spin and never respond when you’re proved wrong. So I don’t expect this time to be any different.
But Dismas ASKED for Luallen to examine them.
18 Earl // Sep 10, 2010 at 10:57 am
Funny stuff, marrylarry.
19 ValGirl // Sep 10, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I wonder, is it a 501(c)3, anyone know? The only think being a nonprofit (a state designation) is that they don’t have to be answerable to stockholders, but can use their money to pad the wallets of the employees they choose to so reward.
Dismas inmates should be out, every day, picking up trash, etc. They should not be used to substitute for paid employees. Did you know the 1st Division has to drive down and pick up the worker every morning – yes, boys and girls, a convicted prisoner gets to run around inside the PD ALL DAY!
20 AC360 // Sep 10, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Guidestar.com ~ Dismas Charities (not sure if 501c3) is a separate entity from their Foundation. I wonder where is Board of Directors might be in all of this? BOD members should be worried about the fiduciary and fiscal governance responsibilities that they are in fact held responsible for. I am wondering about the charity and its Foundation and if they might lose their charitable status….
21 ValGirl // Sep 11, 2010 at 7:52 am
Yeah, AC, I’m with you. The CEO doesn’t set his own salary, after all. I looked up the list of Board Members, and I honestly suspect most of them simply signed off on what was put before them – and I suspect many of them probably thought that WAS an appropriate salary, given that it was probably about what most of them make annually, too. But big difference between your own company and a charity.
22 wondering // Sep 11, 2010 at 8:58 pm
OK, Dismas asked for the audit. Big deal. But I still have to ask how far the state auditor’s authority should extend? How about to the area development districts? Local boards of education? And, yes, private contractors that do business with the state?
23 jake // Sep 12, 2010 at 10:15 am
Yes to all of those.
Getting tax dollars? You better fucking answer for them if you’re a business or non-profit.
24 tpacommentarian // Sep 15, 2010 at 12:01 am
To MarryLarry: a lifetime of hard work does not entitle one to rape and pillage the public till. I don’t know Ray Weis, but at feeding off the public teat is not my definition of success. And that salary for the vice president! Makes you wonder what she’s really being paid for.
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