Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France
So yesterday I received an email from one of my clients, which was blast e-mailed to a few hundred people in town.

Specifically the petition was designed to influence the Bishop in my town.  My client does not believe the bishop has "done everything possible to educate the people" that the Obama & Clinton have a pro-choice agenda, and agenda that is in conflict with anti-abortion beliefs Catholics hold dear.

Now, with that said: he's a Republican, a Catholic, a pro-life supporter, and an extremely influential member of the community.  But above all, he's pro-life...he was an clinic orphan.

Today I receive a call from the client to discuss the petition.  I got the feeling from him he was pitching the "play ball or I'm gonna take my business elsewhere" agenda.  Although, I can't be sure if he was really pitching it in that fashion.  I provide about $20k of services to him per year.

So I tell him I was not going to sign the petition.  I told him I do not feel confortable in signing a petition, because the Bishop isn't the type of guy that will write letters to the news outlets.  He also isn't the type to discuss these types of things in a public forum - during Mass, sure...but it wouldn't be as obvious as "vote Republican because of pro-life issues"....he usually would discuss it individually.

And then I say "I usually don't sign petitions anyway.   But with that said, I know the Bishop personally so I'd prefer to discuss it with him privately rather than a petition".

Then there's some silence followed by: "I can respect that".

Discuss?

Last edited by Pug (2008-03-27 11:05:09)

GunSlinger OIF II
Banned.
+1,860|7070
I dont like signing petitions.  You never know when you might regret putting your name on a piece of paper.
Mekstizzle
WALKER
+3,611|7048|London, England
So this guy is telling you to sign a petition or he's going to stop being your client?
GunSlinger OIF II
Banned.
+1,860|7070
I think he was more or less implying from what I read.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

Mek-Izzle wrote:

So this guy is telling you to sign a petition or he's going to stop being your client?
Maybe.  Truth is he's a good client, and this is his first strike before I fire him myself.
SenorToenails
Veritas et Scientia
+444|6557|North Tonawanda, NY
Does your business with him directly relate to religion or politics?
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

SenorToenails wrote:

Does your business with him directly relate to religion or politics?
Of course not.  However, I do provide a lot of free services to priests & churches around town (my version of "volunteering").

I actually lost a client once for:
There's a investment portfolio for the religious - the stocks picked are companies that have fully embraced religion in their daily operations.  This could be any company from oil wells to bible publishing to making office supplies.

The client said how great it was - making money with companies that support their own beliefs, and the main purpose was wealth appreciation so the fund participants could donate more money once they earned it.

I told the client I keep faith and business separate - your business ethics might come from something you learned from Church, but to mix might affect decisions I make.
topal63
. . .
+533|7145

Pug wrote:

Mek-Izzle wrote:

So this guy is telling you to sign a petition or he's going to stop being your client?
Maybe.  Truth is he's a good client, and this is his first strike before I fire him myself.
You're going to fire a client?
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

topal63 wrote:

Pug wrote:

Mek-Izzle wrote:

So this guy is telling you to sign a petition or he's going to stop being your client?
Maybe.  Truth is he's a good client, and this is his first strike before I fire him myself.
You're going to fire a client?
Business is good right now, I fire about five clients per year, and we can be selective.  I would rather not fire this guy though.

I fire people who lack ethics or put themselves in a situation where they are at risk, which in turn increases my risk.

The fact is this guy donates about $2m per year to charity and appreciates what I do.  He's pretty influential, which he's used to better the community.  I like the guy.

However, this is the first time I've seen him shoot out a petition - and the first time I've questioned his reasoning behind his rationale.  It doesn't seem well thought out at all - especially because he has a personal relationship with the Bishop as well.
KEN-JENNINGS
I am all that is MOD!
+2,991|7058|949

Pug wrote:

There's a investment portfolio for the religious - the stocks picked are companies that have fully embraced religion in their daily operations.  This could be any company from oil wells to bible publishing to making office supplies.

The client said how great it was - making money with companies that support their own beliefs, and the main purpose was wealth appreciation so the fund participants could donate more money once they earned it.
You know, I do the same sort of thing (probably on a much smaller scale) with my investments.  I use Progressive Assets (http://www.progressiveassetmanagement.com/) because they are committed to investing in socially responsible companies.  Maybe I don't make as much as I could investing with other firms, but I feel better about myself for doing it that way.  Plus the CEO is a Green Party fixture.
SEREMAKER
BABYMAKIN EXPERT √
+2,187|6995|Mountains of NC

sign it using someone elses name
https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/17445/carhartt.jpg
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

KEN-JENNINGS wrote:

Pug wrote:

There's a investment portfolio for the religious - the stocks picked are companies that have fully embraced religion in their daily operations.  This could be any company from oil wells to bible publishing to making office supplies.

The client said how great it was - making money with companies that support their own beliefs, and the main purpose was wealth appreciation so the fund participants could donate more money once they earned it.
You know, I do the same sort of thing (probably on a much smaller scale) with my investments.  I use Progressive Assets (http://www.progressiveassetmanagement.com/) because they are committed to investing in socially responsible companies.  Maybe I don't make as much as I could investing with other firms, but I feel better about myself for doing it that way.  Plus the CEO is a Green Party fixture.
That's fine.  You are limiting yourself to invest with what you are comfortable with - there's possibilities of reaching your investment goals quicker by picking up company securities which don't conform.  My issue with the one you have chosen, and the one I cited earlier is the usual goal of the investment manager is fund performance which has nothing to do with how ethical companies are.

However - if the "green technologies" are going to be the future, its kind of hard to argue my point...


SEREMAKER wrote:

sign it using someone elses name
Lol - signed "Little Baby Jesus"
Lotta_Drool
Spit
+350|6610|Ireland
What services do you provide him with for $20k a year?  If it is abortion equipment I definately wouldn't sign the petition because that would have the potential to effect your bussiness, but if it is baby food it could be a good thing.

This one is tough because the Bishops can move diagonally.
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6832|North Carolina
No offense, but this client sounds like a prick.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

Turquoise wrote:

No offense, but this client sounds like a prick.
He's not.  Which is why I'm stunned.
ATG
Banned
+5,233|6956|Global Command

Lotta_Drool wrote:

What services do you provide him with for $20k a year?  If it is abortion equipment I definately wouldn't sign the petition because that would have the potential to effect your bussiness, but if it is baby food it could be a good thing.

This one is tough because the Bishops can move diagonally.
Castle!
Lotta_Drool
Spit
+350|6610|Ireland
OK, this was a creepy ad that poped up on this thread.

https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imgad?id=CNXL5KvljbWuOhDYBRhPMgiDH-GeXZ3CrQ
Braddock
Agitator
+916|6717|Éire
This sounds like one of those moments in life where you follow your beliefs or 'whore' yourself for money. The guy had no right raising the issue with you really, unless he's also a close friend or something. I mean If you were voting on the issue it would be a secret ballot, having a petition is a trick to see what side of the fence everyone is on.
Lotta_Drool
Spit
+350|6610|Ireland

ATG wrote:

Lotta_Drool wrote:

What services do you provide him with for $20k a year?  If it is abortion equipment I definately wouldn't sign the petition because that would have the potential to effect your bussiness, but if it is baby food it could be a good thing.

This one is tough because the Bishops can move diagonally.
Castle!
No, the rooks can move straight, the bishops are the dildo looking ones that move diagnally.  Very powerful at the start of a game, but are weak as the game progresses.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

Braddock wrote:

This sounds like one of those moments in life where you follow your beliefs or 'whore' yourself for money. The guy had no right raising the issue with you really, unless he's also a close friend or something. I mean If you were voting on the issue it would be a secret ballot, having a petition is a trick to see what side of the fence everyone is on.
I tell people what to do, not the other way around.

$20k isn't enough for me to worry.  It's more about the political fallout with people this guy knows if this goes sour.
ATG
Banned
+5,233|6956|Global Command
Not worth it imo.

Sign it.
DrunkFace
Germans did 911
+427|7108|Disaster Free Zone
Sign nothing!!!

EDIT: This whole 'firing clients' thing doesn't make any sense what so ever...

Last edited by DrunkFace (2008-03-27 19:23:18)

SenorToenails
Veritas et Scientia
+444|6557|North Tonawanda, NY

DrunkFace wrote:

Sign nothing!!!

EDIT: This whole 'firing clients' thing doesn't make any sense what so ever...
I think he means sending them a letter informing them that they will no longer provide services, as opposed to handing them a pink slip the next time they show up.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

DrunkFace wrote:

Sign nothing!!!

EDIT: This whole 'firing clients' thing doesn't make any sense what so ever...
You call them or send a letter saying "we periodically review our clients and reevaluate the direction of the firm.  We thank you for giving us the honor of providing high quality services throughout our relationship.  It seems the costs, financially or otherwise are too high to continue servicing your account.  If you need help finding an adequate replacement for our services, we will help you in any way we can".

Ps. Go fuck yourself


I can only expand with trained personnel.  I just hired two folks since Nov.  I can train anyone else right now...too much effort.
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6969|Texas - Bigger than France

ATG wrote:

Not worth it imo.

Sign it.
A little late.  I've already made my decision.  I'm just bitching about the consequences now.

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