Comments for Darren Clifford Blog http://www.dclifford.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:52:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Full Disclosure for Charities by Alex http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-203 Alex Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:52:11 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=35#comment-203 Again, as noted above, I do agree with you both. If I am asked for money and the reason given is hunger, I will do my best to put that outstretched hand in contact with some very solid and nutritious food. I've found that the people who are hungry will accept this kind of charity and are thankful for it; conversely, I've had people be picky and demand certain kinds of food from certain kinds of restaurants and have walked away from them because, as the adage says, 'beggars can't be choosers'. In terms of charities disclosing their books, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but registered charities do have to have transparency in their accounting for the purpose of being registered so wouldn't that mean that their finances, through the medium of being audited yearly, are open to public consumption if so requested? Again, as noted above, I do agree with you both. If I am asked for money and the reason given is hunger, I will do my best to put that outstretched hand in contact with some very solid and nutritious food. I’ve found that the people who are hungry will accept this kind of charity and are thankful for it; conversely, I’ve had people be picky and demand certain kinds of food from certain kinds of restaurants and have walked away from them because, as the adage says, ‘beggars can’t be choosers’.

In terms of charities disclosing their books, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but registered charities do have to have transparency in their accounting for the purpose of being registered so wouldn’t that mean that their finances, through the medium of being audited yearly, are open to public consumption if so requested?

]]> Comment on Full Disclosure for Charities by Katers http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=35&cpage=1#comment-169 Katers Tue, 26 May 2009 16:05:52 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=35#comment-169 I tend to agree with what you are saying here. I have run into this far too many times. I have the policy that if someone says they are hungry I will ask them what they would like to eat and get it for them, or donate to stable charities such as UNICEF, Amnesty International,Greenpeace, or the Sierra fun, to name a few, who I have been able to look up there overall donations and incomes more or less on their websites. Just let your finger do the walking as they say. While I think that there is a huge level of satisfaction in being present as the giver I think that looking at the global picture of need, like you have Darren, will give us all a better start and better end. It is something that I am trying to do in all my business dealings. We all have so much, to give a little whenever possible, or as part of any major transaction within your own office/billing structures can make a huge difference and let us all be and feel connected through conscious support to others. I tend to agree with what you are saying here. I have run into this far too many times. I have the policy that if someone says they are hungry I will ask them what they would like to eat and get it for them, or donate to stable charities such as UNICEF, Amnesty International,Greenpeace, or the Sierra fun, to name a few, who I have been able to look up there overall donations and incomes more or less on their websites. Just let your finger do the walking as they say. While I think that there is a huge level of satisfaction in being present as the giver I think that looking at the global picture of need, like you have Darren, will give us all a better start and better end. It is something that I am trying to do in all my business dealings. We all have so much, to give a little whenever possible, or as part of any major transaction within your own office/billing structures can make a huge difference and let us all be and feel connected through conscious support to others.

]]> Comment on Tansian University by John http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=22&cpage=1#comment-168 John Mon, 25 May 2009 13:21:27 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=22#comment-168 Hello Sir, I had the privilege to sit in one of your lectures and I didn't regret it. You are about the first few people that has written the truth (without sentiments) about Tansian University (though you wrote few). We all (I personally) want the university to grow to an international level, and I believe having foreign lecturers like you and more will surely make a difference. Please stay with us. John Mass Communication Hello Sir,

I had the privilege to sit in one of your lectures and I didn’t regret it.
You are about the first few people that has written the truth (without sentiments) about Tansian University (though you wrote few). We all (I personally) want the university to grow to an international level, and I believe having foreign lecturers like you and more will surely make a difference.
Please stay with us.

John
Mass Communication

]]> Comment on Bucket List by tamara http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30&cpage=1#comment-162 tamara Fri, 22 May 2009 18:59:21 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30#comment-162 Love love LOVE your bucket list, Darren. Love love LOVE your bucket list, Darren.

]]> Comment on Bucket List by Julie Caron http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30&cpage=1#comment-131 Julie Caron Mon, 18 May 2009 04:12:36 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30#comment-131 Well, frankly I am upset that a trip to Stettler, Alberta didn't make it on your travel list! I would think visiting your cousin would be a top priority... ~maybe our next move should be to a warmer climate so people will actually want to visit~ Here's how you can make it up to me, when you visit Calgary for the Stampede you will just have to detour 2 hours north and visit us for a day. Good luck fulfilling all of your list items, I think you are well on your way! Well, frankly I am upset that a trip to Stettler, Alberta didn’t make it on your travel list! I would think visiting your cousin would be a top priority…
~maybe our next move should be to a warmer climate so people will actually want to visit~
Here’s how you can make it up to me, when you visit Calgary for the Stampede you will just have to detour 2 hours north and visit us for a day.

Good luck fulfilling all of your list items, I think you are well on your way!

]]> Comment on Tragic by Samira http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=32&cpage=1#comment-128 Samira Sat, 16 May 2009 05:21:15 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=32#comment-128 Hi Darren, nice to hear you are coming home! i wish you a safe trip back! Samira Hi Darren,

nice to hear you are coming home!

i wish you a safe trip back!
Samira

]]> Comment on Tragic by Sophie http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=32&cpage=1#comment-126 Sophie Fri, 15 May 2009 19:28:38 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=32#comment-126 Hey Darren, it'll be good to have you back in Canada. we should have you over for dinner when you get back so you can meet the girls. Safe travels, Sophie Hey Darren,

it’ll be good to have you back in Canada. we should have you over for dinner when you get back so you can meet the girls.

Safe travels,

Sophie

]]> Comment on Bucket List by admin http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30&cpage=1#comment-124 admin Fri, 15 May 2009 03:23:12 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30#comment-124 If I don't see you when I come back I am planning on trying to make it up to Calgary for Sarah's wedding! If I don’t see you when I come back I am planning on trying to make it up to Calgary for Sarah’s wedding!

]]> Comment on Bucket List by Mandy Witt http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30&cpage=1#comment-123 Mandy Witt Thu, 14 May 2009 22:13:43 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=30#comment-123 I just read your wish list. I would say you are making quite a dent in your travel section. I talk with your mom about your life and what you are up to and it seems you are doing very well for yourself. Keep it up. Hope to see you when you come back to bc. I just read your wish list. I would say you are making quite a dent in your travel section. I talk with your mom about your life and what you are up to and it seems you are doing very well for yourself. Keep it up. Hope to see you when you come back to bc.

]]> Comment on Keeping it Real! by Stephen Chan http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=31&cpage=1#comment-118 Stephen Chan Tue, 12 May 2009 02:36:33 +0000 http://www.dclifford.com/blog/?p=31#comment-118 If the borrower needs to put up 1/10 of loan and the default rate is indeed 10%, then it seems like the MicroBank can't lose, particularly with 60-100% interest rates. It seems very difficult for any business to generate that kind of return, especially new business, with such high loan rates. Being less than the 200% going rate doesn't make it more palatable. Perhaps a "venture capital" model would be better. What new businesses lack a "board of directors"... strong management connected people networks. A very successful model is Y-Combinator, (http://ycombinator.com/about.html). It was start by several Paul Graham who sold Yahoo Stores to Yahoo for hundred plus million. They provide seed capital in return for a small share of the company. The most valuable aspect is the guidance, networking with other startups, legal help, and introduction with second round investors. If the borrower needs to put up 1/10 of loan and the default rate is indeed 10%, then it seems like the MicroBank can’t lose, particularly with 60-100% interest rates.

It seems very difficult for any business to generate that kind of return, especially new business, with such high loan rates. Being less than the 200% going rate doesn’t make it more palatable.

Perhaps a “venture capital” model would be better.

What new businesses lack a “board of directors”… strong management connected people networks.

A very successful model is Y-Combinator, (http://ycombinator.com/about.html). It was start by several Paul Graham who sold Yahoo Stores to Yahoo for hundred plus million. They provide seed capital in return for a small share of the company. The most valuable aspect is the guidance, networking with other startups, legal help, and introduction with second round investors.

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