The President's Club Annual Gala - "Men Behaving Badly"

Interesting discussion on radio, two feminists with different opinions . One claims some feminists are now dictating what jobs women should do , I agree with her.

Shirley, you need to watch the Mark Steel take on it, particularly about all the men who were there but miraculously never saw anything.

Providing the job description is 100% accurate I see no problem in offering the positions- but I doubt "Must smile and make pleasant conversation whilst sleezy old men grope up their skirts, pat them anywhere and expose themselves" will get many takers.

I have read that GOSH is returning the money it received from The Presidents' Club but that is not just the money from this year's auction which has probably not been handed over yet, but all money received in the past. Some families are not very happy about that and think that they should keep it for the benefit of the children and their families

“All monies raised in our name go to support vital work. However, due to the wholly unacceptable nature of the event we are returning previous donations and will no longer accept gifts from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust.”

Possibly the money from previous years has not yet been spent (if not, why not?) - or will they be using taxpayers' money to return these donations? To whom will the donations be returned? Another charity in more desperate need may be glad to receive it, of course.
It was accepted in good faith in previous years so personally I don't think they should return it to wherever.

As a charitable trust has been set up where will this money go to now? Back to those who donated? To the Dorchester?
Perhaps those who would ultimately benefit from this money should have a say rather than those in charge of the charities.

I'm sorry, but I think that's just dreadful! Why haven't former donations been spent bearing in mind the on going desperate need, who or what is the money being handed back to, the donators? another charity? Let's face it, the only losers here are desperately sick children and their equally desperate parents.

I agree niggly

The first quote was from the Independent, here's one from the Sun:

A Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust spokesman said: "The expert medical treatment that children receive at the hospital will not be affected by the return of these donations. The day-to-day care and running of Great Ormond Street Hospital Trust is entirely paid for by the NHS. GOSH charity has not taken the decision to repay this money lightly. The decision was made by the senior management team at the charity and the board of trustees, supported by the hospital."

www.thesun.co.uk/news/5437922/families-slam-great-ormond-street-hospital-london-presidents-club-donations/

I heard that discussion on the radio this morning Anniebach very interesting . Why should any woman make another one feel bad about what they choose to do to make money ? I can’t remember who said it but £150 ( plus huge tips apparently) for a few hours dressing up in a sexy outfit or 20 hours cleaning toilets?

The funds could pay for 15 ventilators or a month's accommodation for 13 families to stay with their loved ones at the London hospital

I can understand them refusing future donations (well, there won't be any) but does the GOSH charity investigate the source of all the donated money they receive to see if they feel morally justified in receiving it? Are they being too self-righteousness at the expense of children and their families?

I think GOSH were wrong to return donations that were given in good faith . I wonder how many of their people were at the event ?

Why should any woman make another one feel bad about what they choose to do to make money ?
Moral superiority?

Yes they are being too self righteous Jalima . As you said, do they question /investigate the source of every single donation or is it just fashionable to be disgusted ?

Yes you’re spot on Jalima Moral superiority . It’s so easy for those with plenty living their charmed life to go all moral isn’t it.

Obviously if you knew that the money came from a dubious source which could be illegal it should be refused but did they honestly have no idea that the money they were receiving over a number of years was from a somewhat sleazy charity auction?
And why have they not spent it? How much is in the charity fund which could be spent for the benefit of children and their families?

In 2016/17 they raised £101.8m which is wonderful.

It was a most interesting discussion Gillybob.

Two feminists disagreeing on a woman's right to choose where she works.

I never watch darts but seems at darts matches girls are involved rather similar to girls at car exhibitions, this will now be stopped so those girls will lose their jobs .

I am curious how some here know the ages of all the men st that charity event , did they have to be of a certain age to attended , I assume as they are being called old men they were all approx 80 years of age ?

Wonder if the next goal by the PC brigade will be to make prostution illegal

Perhaps the old ones are the rich ones?

They must have provided blindfolds too as no-one saw anything.

" All monies raised in our name go to support vital work. However, due to the wholly unacceptable nature of the event we are returning previous donations and will no longer accept gifts from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust.”
---

So what would / will they do if this a 'principle' with regard to my previous question.

"Great Ormond Street has set a precedent has it not. What if JM Barrie were to be found to be a paedophile ? What if GOSH has taken funding from a Dictator , Criminal, etc.? If there was a Freedom of Information request asking for the names of ALL donators and there were names and associations that perhaps were by far worse than the Presidents Club donation would GOSH stand by it's principle and hand the money back? If not, why not."

GOSH has quite possibly happily taken proceeds from some donors a lot of people would get their knickers in a twist over on another day I have no doubt.

gillybob The people who are passing judgment on the young women are those who are saying the whole thing is a lot of fuss about nothing. It has been suggested that because these young women, having accepted certain conditions under which they were employed, should have anticipated and accepted the sort of behaviour that occurred.

I certainly don't blame the women for choosing to take up this employment, even if it meant wearing a skimpy outfit. Does the fact that a woman is wearing a skimpy outfit and is paid £150 for hostessing mean that, in a sense, she is accepting a deal that includes lewd comments, unwelcome propositions and hands up skirts?

I do, however, agree that it is a fairly pointless handing the money back. If the Club had continued and the hospitals had kept on accepting the money raised by such events, that would have merited outrage. What is happening to the money - presumably it will go to charity in some form anyway?

So you wouldn't mind if your granddaughters were treated like that, Annie?

That's what I'm wondering Eloethan - where will the money go? Presumably the Presidents Club is/has a charitable trust - there must be some charities so desperate for money they will gladly accept it surely?

What's done is done, what's given is given and should now be spent to help children and perhaps there will be more awareness in future, until the next scandal anyway.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42818467

Whether charities are allowed to return money.
If a large donor says he will not support you any more if you don't give the money back, then charities are allowed to return money.

I have mixed feelings about these big charity dinners.
On the one hand they seem to be sometimes used for the rich and famous to compete in flaunting their wealth.
On the other hand, where would the needy organisations be without them?
From what I've seen they charge a lot to attend, more than the cost of food and drink, we certainly couldn't afford it.

I am intrigued as to a point repeatedly mentioned. .

What has the cost of the ticket to attend the function got to do with it?

If you have ever run a charity do you have to get as much as you possibly can for free / donated but you have to ensure all costs are met. If you make ANY money from ticket sales / auctions etc. a well run charity hands over ALL the profit raised.

One can presume the higher the ticket cost the better for the fund raising possibly.