Let's Get Honest! Absolutely Uncommon Analysis of Family & Conciliation Courts' Operations, Practices, & History

Post Title with Shortlink…

Happening NOW: Locally and within the USA, Matching Nonprofits to Legal Entities and Tracking Them Remains at Best (for Most) a Messy, Expensive and Unreliable Process, but Internationally — More Streamlined, Monitored, and Standardized for Faster, Easier, and More Profitable Trade. See FSF, FSB (G20-formed, 2009), LEI Legal Entity Identifier [global database + system], GLEIF (Swiss Foundation), LOUs (who issue LEIs) and ‘KYC’ (Know Your Customer) [Publ. Nov. 23, 2017]. (case-sensitive short-link ending “-7To”; moved here Nov. 3, 2017, publ. Thanksgiving Day). (About 8,000 words with some post-publication revisions).

…and Geneaology.”  Where it was moved from (which post also has its own “Footnote Post” published 11/22/17):

Before WHO’s HiAP there was UN’s Agenda 21; As Usual, Internationally-Networked Nonprofits such as ~ ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, Inc.** ~ (1991ff, MA legal domicile; first HQ in Boston, then Berkeley, then Oakland, and lately Denver) Help Spread the Latest Version of the Global Gospel. (with case-sensitive short-link ending “-7N2,” post started 10/14/2017 as one of two spin-off posts from my “HiAP” one; being published  ca. Nov. 3)

Miscellaneous (blog-related) FYI: Images here (and as a rule) are clickable to enlarge unless otherwise noted that clicking on them will lead to the website quoted. Sometimes quotes and images may display similarly; one indicator is that the images usually have borders and a caption. And are more likely to have logos, photos, etc. I’m about to stop saying this on each caption, to simplify image captions and save space on them. “CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE (if needed) is the default…. Why: One drawback of linking directly to the website is that websites change so often, links later end up broken.  A saved image, however, is a saved image (Printed from the website, saved as “png” or “Pdf” files on my computer, then uploaded and stored on this blog domain; not the Internet-at-large.  I’ve been blogging for over nine years; “change happens” in those URLs meanwhile!!).

Foreword.

As detailed as my post titles are, they typically don’t name all topics covered in the post.  The next two numbered paragraphs summarize what didn’t make it into the title but did into the post.  Between numbered paragraphs (1) and (2) I added a quote and images reviewing the background and timeline of the HHS and its previous incarnations as it relates to these topics.

Para. (1) is just below this Foreword, and starts:

(1) This post also contains a section reviewing the greatest ad agency of the 20th century (Lord & Thomas) and the philanthropist Lasker family’s (who controlled it since the early 1900s) political and HHS-expanding*  influences…

For reference and because of the sizeable explanatory gap between them, Paragraph (2) starts:

(2) Oh yes, “Choose Chicago” is the name of aI 2012-formed 501©3, with a board of just about three individuals, but it’s related to and was formed by a different 501©6 dating to 1970.

The TOP “HALF” OF THE POST deals with FIRST HALF OF ITS TITLE, demonstrating how messy it can get following LOCAL nonprofits (Prime example: Paragraphs (1) and (2) as mentioned above).

The BOTTOM “HALF” (not including a “experiential footnote” section at the bottom) CONTRASTS BY SHOWING EFFORTS TO STANDARDIZE AND ORGANIZE INTERNATIONAL ENTITY TRACKING AND IDENTIFICATION.  This section has less explanation and more and larger images in a series numbered “#1/11” through “#11/11.”

TWO MAIN TOPICS, but in “A-B-A” format:   The post has basically two subjects, but as previously written, then expanded to add the HHS background and “Choose Chicago” IRS Form 990 tables (in interactive format), I see there are actually three major sections, making for an “A-B-A” format: the third section (after the 11 images and International section with all those acronyms: LEI, LOU, GLEIF, KYC etc.) returns to the subject matter of both ad agency and Choose Chicago.  Then there’s a minor commentary footnote at the very bottom.  Switching it back to “A-B” format I feel would push the International Section too far down on the page, also some of the third section may be review for people who have been regularly reading the blog or followed my posts on Tobacco Cessation and Big Tobacco Litigation, Settlements, etc.

Different sections are shown by large subtitles.  The first two are easily seen, and here’s the third (the return to original subject):

Two Famous Ad Agencies, one succeeding the other, and a client, “Choose Chicago” and related philanthropy

In General. What concerns me is where nationally-based errors (which are built-in and at times, “beyond belief” for how large, and how many they are, based on what I’ve seen so far as just a single blogger, though I say a consistent and diligent one) will be uploaded to the global level, let alone who will control it. If you amplify corruption, you get more corruption concealed, potentially, and harder to fix.

Consistently dishonest reporting on nonprofit entities is corruption.  I’m not sure the international level of business identifiers referred to here is directed at the nonprofit sector, but it comes along with the corporate sector; they are interlaced and “joined at the hip” through funding and asset investments.  We are dealing at the G20 levels in this topic.  (See “G20.org” for more info.)

Just a reminder….(Google Search results). Click here (G20Germany.org) to expand the map and for more info.

A few reminders of who are the G20, the G7, and its purposes:

Quote July 2017 from “theBalance.com” should be taken “as-is” (website uses independent contractors as contributors):

What does the G-20 Do? | World Leaders Address Terrorism, Climate Change, and Economic Crises, by Kimberly Amadeo in “The Balance” (Updated July 18, 2017)

The G-20 is the G-7 plus developing nations such as Brazil, China, India and Russia. The G-20’s members represent two-thirds of the world’s people and 85 percent of its economy. Since 2007, the media has covered each G-20 summit. That recognizes the members’ role as significant drivers of the world economy.

The G-20’s primary mandate is to prevent future international financial crises. It seeks to shape the global economic agenda.

It lends the perspective of Asian and Latin American growing economies. That “broadens the scope of international economic and financial cooperation.” (Source: “The Group of Twenty: A History,” G-20 Study Group, 2007.)

The finance ministers and central bank governors of the G-20 countries meet twice a year. They meet at the same time as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. (Source: “G-20 Information Centre,” G-20.)

In 1999, these ministers and governors created the G-20. They needed dialogue between developing and developed countries. They were responding to the 2007 Asian currency crisis. The meetings started as an informal get-together of finance ministers and central bankers.

2017 Summit Meeting

July 7-8, 2017: Hamburg, Germany. The meeting focused on climate change and global trade. It made little progress.  U.S. President Donald Trump opposed the views of the other 19 countries.

From the G20.org website (Germany was President in 2017, and the meeting in Hamburg in July 2017).  Some general facts: (I replaced “bold” with “underline” here):

Partners – key international institutions

At the invitation of each Presidency, international organisations also regularly attend the G20 meetings. These organisations include the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the World Bank (WB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN). The German G20 Presidency has also invited the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017.

Participation – the most important guests

Spain attends the G20 Summits as a permanent guest. The Presidency can also invite representatives of regional organisations and guests to the G20 Summit. The German Presidency has invited Norway, the Netherlands and Singapore as partner countries to the G20 process, as well as the African Union (AU), represented by Guinea, the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), represented by Vietnam, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), represented by Senegal.

And in case there is any question whether the 2008 financial crises led to the formation of the G20, and from there, a Financial Stability Forum and “FSB” (Financial Stability Board) now resulting in the global LEI system, second decade of the 21st century, with (see the 11 images below) intent to better control “Shadow Banking”, next image also from G20.org says this:

This time, Click IMAGE to access website. (G20.org describing role of 2008 crisis in elevating participation to the “heads of state” from central bank leaders, etc.)

Also interesting is how recently this level of business identifier was developed.  It’s still evolving and registration I’m sure so far is incomplete..   [End “Foreword”//LGH.]

Identifying Underlying Realities* Domestically and Keeping Track of them over Time: “How Messy It is!”

*MATCHING NONPROFITS TO THEIR OWN LEGAL ENTITIES AND FOLLOWING THEM IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRESS OR OTHER (LIKE “WIKIPEDIA”) DESCRIPTIONS. 

See first ½ of post title:

Locally and within the USA, Matching Nonprofits to Legal Entities and Tracking Them* Remains (for Most) a Messy and Expensive and Unreliable Process at Best….

(1) This post also contains a section reviewing the greatest ad agency of the 20th century (Lord & Thomas) and the philanthropist Lasker family’s (who controlled it since the early 1900s)political and HHS-expanding*  influences, then checking back in with current successor ad agency Foote Cone & Belding(“FCB”)’s new CEO (German, in the process of becoming an American citizen) and according to some descriptions (incl. “Wiki”) one of FCB’s key Chicago clients, “Choose Chicago,” promoting international (especially from mainland China!) tourism to this Great Lakes City.

*(so to speak; HHS was only formed in 1980, predecessor HEW in 1953, before that see “FSA” (Federal Security Agency) (Suggested review includes at ALLGov.com, or @ HHS.gov (Highlights)

(This, and next image, from “ALLGov.com”)

One of the largest civilian departments in the federal government, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees the implementation of numerous health and welfare-related programs. HHS’ budget accounts for almost one out of every four federal dollars, and it administers more grant dollars than all other federal agencies combined. HHS’ Medicare program is the nation’s largest health insurer, handling more than 1 billion claims per year. Medicare and Medicaid together provide health care insurance for 25% of Americans. Many HHS-funded services are provided at the local level by state or county agencies or through private sector grantees. With its large size also has come a large number of troubles and controversies involving birth control, prescription drugs, food safety and more. …

[[See next annotated image for Public Health Service (1902) with Food and Drug Act, NIH (1930), up through Carter Administration’s 1980 HEW becoming in part, the HHS + (separated from “HEW”) the DOE (Dept. of Education). Not referenced, but generally known — a few World Wars, Korean War, Viet Nam War meanwhile, and (less well-known but still relevant) Congressionally-granted (to the U.S. President) the authority to reorganize the executive branch, particularly relevant and utilized by FDR in 1939 (on the eve of WWII) and not rescinded until 1980.  Basically, it seems the drastic expansion of what is now HHS occurred during the years this Reorganization Authority was in force.  

Annotated image: ALLGOV’com HHS History (partial 1902-1980) viewed 2017Nov22 WED. For source URL, click HERE.

The NIH formed only in 1930, and the Laskers (incl. Mary Lasker after Albert D. died — she outlived him by 42 years (1952-1994) with major White House and other connections through the family and related family members high placement and wealth; pushing for the National Cancer Act of 1971 and HHS funding of biomedical research (throughout the 1980s) AND the campaign against smoking (started earlier — see image), this family’s influence on the current nature and structure of the HHS should not be underestimated.

Part of the family fortune originated in the tobacco industry (as a client of the ad agency Lord & Thomas)…In fact, speaking of family connections on both sides of this tobacco war and HHS-expansion over the years:

Smokers’History.com page on the Brody Family (starting with Susan Lasker Brody and connection to CDC leader, donations to health funds and schools, etc.), and paragraphs such as…

…(Journalist Jane E.) Brody assures us that the “experts” who concocted the Surgeon General Report were “approved by cigarette manufacturers” – but not that the health establishment has been systematically stocked with corrupt frauds and incompetents by the Lasker Syndicate, who systematically ignore the role of infection in the diseases they blame on smoking; nor that the cigarette manufacturers actions were controlled by Lasker Syndicate stooges, particularly Edward Lasker on the board of directors of Philip Morris from 1960 to 1981. She gushes that “Research has since confirmed and extended those findings” to diseases including ulcers which have since been proven to have been caused by Helicobacter pylori, “a dozen types of cancer” in which research on infection has been suppressed, and “low birth weights, which characterize a large percentage of high-risk infants,” which was really caused by chorioamnionitis as demonstrated since by a concealed gold-standard study and confirmed by steadily-rising rates of low birthweight. And she gloats about a University of Wisconsin study showing how their hate propaganda manipulates college students’ attitudes against smokers.

Or, and I’ve posted this one,  “The Power Elite Controls Both Sides” (and how far back it goes…)

The consolidation that created the “American Tobacco Trust,” described as involving already-existing “barons” controlling other major aspects of life.  I noticed (having learned more about this since publishing posts on “tobacco litigation” topics earlier) that the incorporation of the ATC in New Jersey in 1909 also involved, apparently, revisions to “General Incorporation Law” presided over by James Brooks Dill (Yale grad, attorney courtesy NYU school of law, lived 1854 – 1910, founder in 1892 of “The Corporation Trust Company” and his law firm being its chief counsel, also helped revise corporate laws of Canada!):

(#1 of 2, SmokersHistory.com) Power Elite…American Tobacco Company (link)

(#2 of 2, SmokersHistory.com re: American Tobacco Company)

That smoking causes cancer is now, it seems, generally accepted (and if it weren’t, the control HHS and the FDA with its influence over funding to ensure all believe that it is), I find it interesting that the Lord & Thomas successor agency, Foote, Cone & Belding, has become involved with (See #2 below) the misleadingly mislabeled “Choose Chicago” promotion and that a related entity has been formed for now real apparent reason (that I can see), while the 990s of the previous entity show many “anomalies” a.k.a. math and labeling/categorization errors.  This has not bee mitigated much by those continuing to promote “Choose Chicago” as if it began in 2012, and not with the earlier, related entity called “Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau.  More at Para. (2) below…

In the 1990s (not shown in ALLGOV.com annotated image; would be covered in ALLGOV.com though) of course 1996 PRWORA further expanded the types of services (i.e., marriage/fatherhood promotion, block grants to states, etc.) administered under HHS also under the justification of “welfare” “Public health” and reducing the debt burden on the federal government.

Footer to ALLGOV.com, viewed Nov. 22, 2017, for its HHS page.

So yes, remember that timeline and at least a few basic agency or Acts of Congress definitions (PHS 1902 –>(NIH 1930) SSA 1935(?)–> FSA 1939–>HEW (Nat’l Cancer Act not referenced in image, but it’s 1971–>HHS) are relevant to this post, and with “drastic expansion” + ineffective monitoring of the charitable (tax-exempt) sector — it’s good to keep in mind. Also, the Food Drug & Cosmetic Act (1938) as of 2009 now includes tobacco products for smoking cessation…as I’ve posted on recently, and repeatedly.]]  It’s a major power grab over the tobacco industry by the FDA.   (From the FDA Website), with a good section of the debates affecting advertising and labeling, ironically…

David Wallechensky (b. 1948) creator of “ALLGOV.com” a website (like Online Etymology Dictionary) I tend to reference in this blog)

ALLGOV.com “created by David Wallechinsky and developed by IT Labs” which, its website says, was started by only three people [unnamed on the website] in 2005 and has physical offices in Florida, California and Macedonia.  David Wallechinsky sounds interesting (click link and see “Interviews”/”VICE”). The website may not be as current as it shows (2016) — no HHS secretary past 2005 Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin is listed.

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Also, I have posted before, but this still-active website is also a good, readable history (timeline) of the HEW and its predecessor the FSA, although it only goes up to 1972. Found on-line at ASPE.HHS.gov, “A Common Thread of Service”

Click image to access website (the headings once there expand to narrative)

(2) Oh yes, “Choose Chicago” is the name of a 2012-formed 501©3, with a board of just about three individuals, but it’s related to and was formed by a different 501©6 dating to 1970, meaning, a business trade association, the much larger, and government-dependent entity (of completely different name) not mentioned in the FCB article listing “Choose Chicago” as a Mayor Rahm Emmanuel project.  Again, “Choose Chicago” came up because of the FCB reference in a recent article.

I looked briefly (about a half day?) at those 501©3 (2012ff) and 501©6 (1970ff) tax returns too.  Of course I couldn’t easily look at any tax return much before very early 21st century.  (See complaint in the title on tracking local or domestic (USA-based)  nonprofits!)

Try looking! –it shows the backstage operations behind the front-page (and increasingly under centralized control) media reports and their “spin,” basically, any time something is published. It’s not always that facts are wrong.  Often, labeling is wrong and facts are misleading — while yet more facts are simply absent — MIA — “Missing” in the action of publishing.

Wikipedia gives names but not types of organization. Choose Chicago (not its original name) is one EIN# (see below) but there was a preceeding organization with shared leadership (Convention Bureau….)

The 501©6 isn’t even called “Choose Chicago” to this date, at least on its IRS forms… And this one gets major gov’t grants.

This smaller one is now (but wasn’t originally — this time, “Foundation Center” database seems to have gotten the various names right, for a change).   It organizes volunteers, while the other org. pays its (few) officers’ salaries. IN FYE2015, its primary Program Service Accomplishment (activity) was granting over $600K to the James Beard Foundation. It also organizes volunteers to “beautify” (clean up) public areas in the city — better for tourism, obviously (and, secondarily?, Chicagoans).  Meanwhile on the other (related, older) org, the salaries of the officers and directors just keep increasing…and the IRS forms I checked show major internal inconsistencies (indicating lack of oversight by the public ON those returns, probably). See more below on the post.

The parent post, not yet published, brought up another major issue to address and remind readers about — an area of ongoing concern with our (if the shoe fits, wear it, consider it) addiction to on-line news + print media (“Cant’ live without it, but there are cognitive function and independent thinking ====> eventual social disorganization/vulnerability to exploitation) side effects from living exclusively ON it…”).

From the 501©3 actually called (currently, not at first) “Choose Chicago” is a subsidary of (owned by) the other, with few board members, and those there, paid by the “related” 501©6 with the longer name, created in 1970 by a merger (see Wiki) of several others. That other one is more “flush” and its primary revenue, year after year (and constantly increasing –a lot!) is government grants. The “membership fees’ of about $2M, however, did not show major increase over the same time period (I looked ca. 2003 – 2015). At some point (as I recall) there was also a fiscal year-end change to the 501©6 to FY=calendar year (YE Dec31).

In table format with active links, checked Nov. 22, 2017 (day before “Thanksgiving”):

Total results: 4. Search Again. Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, a 501©6 EIN# 361704879, “dba Choose Chicago,” “Year of Formation: 1970”

EIN# 362704879 showing “Change of Accounting Period” and a dba. From the lower of the two labeled “2014” in related 990finder (Foundation Center-provided) four-row table of tax returns).

There are two results for 2014 because of a change of accounting period, from YE 07/31 to YE 12/31, i.e., to a fiscal year = calendar year status. The above table doesn’t show radically different “gross assets” because they are gross assets, but the underlying returns of course shows radically different revenues because of the shorter year, first year of that change (see image “Prior Year” vs. Current Year” lines 8 – 12 in the image).  I also note it does say “dba” Choose Chicago.  If this entity is “dba Choose Chicago,” then  claiming “Chose Chicago” has a 2012 origin is false — unless it’s indirectly referring to the dba only, because THIS organization goes back much further.   State of Illinois LLC/Corp Search data could be checked.

And here are the later last three year’s tax returns for 501©3 “Choose Chicago” (with that as part of the legal business entity name), and those aren’t “Foundation Center” name screw-ups but apparently entity name changes..

Total results: 3. Search Again.  EIN#454847768, a 501©3, “Founded 2012”

In 2012 it was called “Hospitality Cares dba Choose Chicago”

Further discussion of this — not for this post. due to the Show and Tell required. There’s more to show and tell, obviously, including interested persons, related entities, and as I said, anomalies on the larger, older organization’s tax returns, not to mention rapid expansion over time of the government grants reported.

So… it’s important to distinguish between news reporting as a function of international and major corporate functions as necessary, and where “alternate” media may actually be, in some ways, so “crazy” as to induce a similar craziness in those who rely, protesting “MSM” on their favorite sources instead (Choose on: LEFT or RIGHT political extremes)….

[[SEE MORE @ FOOTNOTE “EXPERIENTIALLY” EITHER/OR (“Addition to MSM or out-there alternate media”) below on this post]]

New section:

About “Internationally Streamlined,… Standardized for Faster, Easier and More Profitable Trade” / LEI, GLEIF, LOU, KYC”

See second ½ of post title:

…but Internationally — More Streamlined, Monitored, and Standardized for Faster, Easier, and More Profitable Trade. See FSF, FSB (G20-formed, 2009), LEI Legal Entity Identifier [global database + system], GLEIF (Swiss Foundation), LOUs (who issue LEIs) and ‘KYC’ (Know Your Customer)

Separately, while attempting to write up a single post on “Beyond HiAP….Agenda 21” and the article where I learned about yet another international nonprofit whose membership (until recently) was limited to government officials BELOW the state level (with some exceptions) and whose behavior as a nonprofit indicated less than standard respect for state laws (staying incorporated by sending in annual reports), but even while in compliance, changed names and main addresses in its, so far, still short life, I may still have to, for length, extract that section-by-section analysis with its reminders about “ad hominem” arguments, or implied arguments, as a GREAT way to distract the public from anything those sponsoring the media (incl. managing editors, executive editors, family scions or otherwise) wish the public to be distracted from — like reporting containing vocabulary, or links to it, sufficient to discuss government operations with access to back-up sources — into another post.  And there’s already a footnote post (new concept I’m trying out in lieu of having a footnote-function, at least that aware of, technically available on this blog platform).

The extract (moved section) starts below this line. A few paragraphs left as a footprint from the parent post.

WHY IN THE UNITED STATES, WE SHOULDN’T JUST MENTALLY SLEEP THROUGH AND CONTINUE ASSENTING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXPANSION, AND INCREASINGLY INTERNATIONAL AND PRIVATE, SELF_INTERESTED, SELF-PROMOTING CHARACTER OF NONPROFITS ESTABLISHED IN THE USA AND NAMED AFTER OR AFFECTING “GOVERNMENTS” OR FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.

FOR one, these can be used to set up RICO (racketeering) or used as shell corporations concealing the collective ownership.  Their assets can be controlled and/or moved internationally with ease and without major oversight by the average person, or the IRS (due to the number of nonprofits involved and their rapidly changing filing status (non-filing, status-revoked, status re-instated and so forth, changing addresses (principal offices) at times, “related entities” named (Sched R on an average Form 990 for public charities), and how the boards of directors can so easily be non-local, and not even US citizens — although the tax-exemption privilege adds to the burden of those who do pay taxes here, including income taxes.

It allows pooling and rapid movement of assets AND funds across borders, despite IRS reporting requirements on the same.  Meanwhile, in 2008, the IRS Form 990 arrangement (for all filing entities, I mean the form itself) changed so significantly that comparing before and after even for the same organization is complex and burdensome (i.e., parallel information shows — if reported at all — on different parts of the return.  A good question might be how and why this form change possibly relates to the 2008 recession and collapse of the housing market)…. etc.

Do You know about LEI’s yet? {short section with images}

Simultaneously, I am just beginning to learn about LEIs, GLEIF, LOUs, the FSB and other international systems seeking to simplify and accelerate international financial transactions, with ROC (regulatory oversight commission) and better monitoring the Shadow financing (not a term referencing criminal activity, but not on the normal (securities exchanges?) radars as it might affect on-radar activity. Pardon my use of an older technology as an analogy for the technical terms I don’t remember.

I’ve uploaded 11 images.  I’ll number them for separation, but they are in no particular order here.

They are here FYI and for a reminder that there is an intent to establish, further refine and monitor, and better control a global economic system — so why should plans for a global anything else (whether Sustainability, Agenda 21 (or 2030), or HiAP — or for the corporate membership of ABIS, “Health as an Asset” and, having the involved governments become signatories, pressure, encourage (and fund) them to set the global standards into national, local and state law, WHATEVER the cause seem so far-fetched?  I think this is interesting and relevant, and putting it in for an indicator showing the participants and relationships.

Contrast the speed and simplicity (although accuracy, I’d still be concerned about) of electronic communications and transactions between corporations (internationally) with how SLOW it is to extract and compare/validate or invalidate when it regards public policy, activities by government-sponsored tax-exempt entities whose home domicile is the USA? (Or, anywhere else).  What about when the USA is the home base, but the membership is international?

The problem here isn’t having LEI’s but NOT having anything comparable within a country as powerful as the USA for use by the public and regarding the public policy-setting entities outside government.  (and I DNK yet what’s existing within the UK; just barely beginning to crack other systems of charity or legal entity registrations).  I believe we should also acknowledge the power of the G7, now G20, in establishing its will on participating nations, and that the 2008 financial collapse comes up as a justification for a “re-set” or at least improvement in the technology of control, as it involves LEIs.  (See caption to Image #1 of the 11).

They are talking derivatives trading, and over-involvement in derivatives risk I hear was high on the list of causes of the 2008 recession.  (I posted some charts in “State-run Banks” or other post detailing a 2009 State of California CAFR, after Walter Burien’s article brought the source (if not those exact charts) to my attention.  I.e., JP Morgan was high on the list for involvement in derivatives, compared to any of the other big banks, at the time.

So a big crisis pushes for big transformation; nothing new politically there…The bigger the disaster, the easier it is to sell (those who must be sold, including but not limited to the public) on the solutions.  Here, FSB (Financial Standards Board) an outgrowth of the Financial Standards FORUM, seems to be calling the shots, with the help of the Swiss GLEIF and of course, participation by the various countries.

#1/11: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (with Dodd-Frank) and the EU EMIR (European Infrastructure Regulation) specified the use of LEIs..

#3/11: “The FSB is the founder of the GLEIF foundation and appointed [its first board]”

#2/11: “Created in 2009, The FSB is an international body (sic) that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system…by coordinating nat’l financial authorities and international standard-setting bodes… (re): financial sector policies).

#4/11: FSB (I think) Int’l Financial Institutions.  Only four…

#5/11: “FSB Members UK, USA, and EU with corresponding “national authorities” involved. For the USA: <1>”The Fed” (Federal Reserve System) Board of Governors, the <2>SEC Commission, and <3>the U.S. Treasury. For the UK, one bank and one Financial Conduct Authority. For the EU, one bank, and “The European Commission.” …(Obviously just some of the many FSB members).

#6/11: FSB.org — a good place to start and probably (I DNR) where I did recently. “What We Do.”

#7/11: Shadow banking =/= necessarily illegal activity. See definition: “bank-like activities that can become a form of risk… especially when linked to the bank system.”

#8/11 G20 to the FSB, 2010 in Seol: Can you figure out how to better regulate and mitigate the risks of “Shadow Banking activities”? Thanks!

#9/11: (image description not in chrono order, caption corrects this): January 2013, LEI ROC (regulatory oversight committee), actually a “group of public authorities from around the globe” is established to oversee Global LEI System. LEI ROC oversees the (Global) LEI system… The FSB establishes GLEIF in June 2014 to support the “implementation and use” of the LEI, HQ Basel, Switzerland, but it seems the LEI ROC oversees the GELIF. Meanwhile…OCT. 2015, there’s a MoU (delegation of responsibilities in the undertaking…)

#10/11 LEI ROC MoU as referenced above.

#12/11 LEI ROC MoU as referenced above.

Those terms and any on the above images are all searchable; I’m including here for a comparison of how INTERNALLY it’s difficult to compile information on our own country’s government + nonprofit entities, and the financial business taking place (esp. in the nonprofit sector) — this difficulty hardly seems accidental — and the G20 (formerly the G7) are holding high-level forums to make THEIR corporate and international transactions simpler, more streamlined and more cost-effective through a new database.  LEI = Legal Entity Identifier; GLEIF — the Swiss Foundation implementing? the database of those entities which have them; LOU — Local Organizations that issue them (in the US, per a list dated June 2017, the only one I see is Bloomberg.com), and ROC — regulatory.

Two Famous Ad Agencies, one succeeding the other, and a client, “Choose Chicago”and related philanthropy

My several posts featuring “smokershistory.com” not to mention that website itself, and the “Lord & Thomas” (<=”Chicagoloy” link re: major ad agency of the early 1900s, and the basis for the Lasker Foundation wealth) profits being then poured into an, it seems belated and questionable concern for cancer victims, with massive expansion of the United States health departments, especially NIH and NCI (National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute) and in that process, driving in which direction cancer research goes (away from certain possibilities and towards biomedical, genetics research) should by now have revealed that there’s a lot more than meets the eye, and a lot more than public benefit as the possible prime motivator, if it ever was that motivation.

A few reminders, or in case you’re new to this theme on the blog:

Mary Woodard Lasker 1901-1994 from “The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers” at GWU © 2006 The Roosevelt Papers), &  Albert Lasker (1880-1952) from “New World Encyclopedia which admits to getting it from Wikipedia.

Both are brief bio  and “life’s work” summaries, omitting certain other details, but do note that Mary was Lasker’s 3rd wife after the first one Flora Warner, mother of three children, (married 1902-1936) died, his marriage to the second, an actress Doris Kenyon (1938) barely lasted a year, and finally in 1940 to Mary — herself divorced from gallery owner Paul Reinhardt. And that Mary was primarily responsible (outliving Albert for so long) in pushing several Presidents for the National Cancer Institute, and promoting/expanding (with Albert while still alive) for massive expansion of government funding for medical research and the NIH.

Albert Lasker (1880-1952) from New World Encyclopedia.

Lakser (sic) was the third child of eight and spent his childhood in Galveston, Texas where his father, Morris Lasker, was a successful business man who worked as the president of several banks.

In school, Lasker was an average student, but was an ambitious young entrepreneur. He actually started his own newspaper, the Galveston Free Press at the age of 12. He wrote, edited, and published the paper, which included local advertising. A year later, Lasker closed down the Galveston Free Press to take a job at the Galveston Morning News. {{at age 13?}} There he earned recognition for managing to secure an interview with socialist leader Eugene Debs. In high school, Lasker served as editor of his school’s newspaper, and worked for the Galveston Morning News.

After graduating from high school, Lasker worked for the Dallas News and the New Orleans Times-Democrat and set his sights on pursuing a newspaper job in New York City. However, his father Morris was against it. Albert compromised and agreed to try a position in Chicago with the Lord and Thomas advertising firm, a company his father had done business with. Lasker started as an office clerk at Lord and Thomas in 1898, and ended up working there for 44 years, making it the largest advertising firm in the United States.  [3 links expanding upon NYC, Chicago and the US removed]

And a reason given for why he stepped down from Lord & Thomas to let others take over — his son Edward wasn’t interested.  Plus his assistance in a Presidential election (Warren G. Harding) with subsequent reward of a prominent position in government.

Albert Lasker took a break from his leadership of Lord and Thomas between 1918 and 1923 to pursue his interests in politics and baseball. He purchased a substantial share of stock in the Chicago Cubs baseball team and fought hard to save baseball from all of the gambling and corruption which had plagued it. His efforts resulted in the establishment of an independent baseball commissioner. In 1920, he applied his advertising genius to politics, resulting in the election of President Warren G. Harding. After taking the oath of office, Harding appointed Lasker to the position of chairman of the United States Shipping Board, a post he held for two years.

One of Lasker’s mote (sic) notably successful advertising campaigns occurred between 1923 and 1942,** with Lasker aggressively promoting Lucky Strike cigarettes for his client, the American Tobacco Company. The ad campaign was so successful, that it led to America’s acceptance to allow women to smoke cigarettes wherever they wanted to. ….

And stepping down from the agency, for successor Foote Cone & Belding, and philanthropy.  (NB: this article is simplistic, only cites a few references and the Lasker foundation, but that’s one reason I chose it.  Next quote contains a few statements which I don’t see footnoted (for example, Lasker getting classes on menstruation in public schools in order to promote “Kotex,” although there’s plenty of write-ups on that ad campaign elsewhere… Also recall (see “Mary Lasker” link above) their, or at least her, involvement in Birth Control, Planned Parenthood, etc. … so it’s not too far-fetched.   (first paragraph below).

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Among Lasker’s pioneering contributions were the introduction into schools of classes that would explain to young girls about menstruation (done to promote Kotex tampons). He is also credited as being the inventor of the soap opera, with being responsible for the fact that radio (and television after it) is an advertising-driven medium, and with having masterminded Warren Harding’s election campaign.

Too bad this New World Encyclopedia doesn’t put more effort into citing references for its sweeping, its declarative statements about Lasker directly, instead of, or in addition, to providing links to common words and concepts as you see.  Too bad also any volunteer proofreaders were on strike or sleepwalking, it seems.   Oh well……Anyhow it’s common knowledge that FCB was a successor agency

In 1938, after his son Edward failed to show interest in advertising, Lasker stepped down from managing Lord and Thomas and eventually closed it down four years later in 1942, selling out to three staff members who started [sic] serviced former [[Lord and Thomas]] clients through their new agency named Foote, Cone & Belding.

After he retired, Lasker pursued his passion for philanthropy. He aggressively promoted the expansion of medical research in the United States. He and his wife Mary established the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation in order to support medical research, and created the Lasker Awards for Public Health. The culmination of these efforts resulted in the federal government’s creation of the National Institutes of Health.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopediacontributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats. The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

• Albert_Laskerhistory

**a.k.a. basically, between (US involvement) in World Wars I and  II.

Next two images (fine print, green borders, representing partial, not whole page) from OAC (Online Archive California) refer to the “Albert D. Lasker Papers, The Huntington Library [Art Collections and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department], San Marino, California.   [Huntington.org], again, for an idea scope of activity and influence in the country, and another brief biography.  Note:  the library where this is found is itself a beneficiary of Frances Lasker Brody (a daughter).  The two screenprints (images) overlap with red-bordered, light-blue background quotes from “Chicagology” on Lord & Thomas.

Albert D. Lasker Papers MSS descr. found at OnlineArchiveCalifornia, as held at Huntington Library in San Marino Calif. More bio details and relatives named; noticed date of acquisition and source. Click image to enlarge.

Albert D. Lasker Papers MSS descr. found at OnlineArchiveCalifornia, as held at Huntington Library in San Marino Calif. More bio details and relatives named; noticed date of acquisition and source. Click image to enlarge.

From “Chicagology.com” on Lord & Thomas the advertising agency, and Albert Lasker (starts with the “Lord & Thomas” image, now below-left inside thicker maroon borders, then the blue-background quote):

Chicagology, Lord & Thomas (Click image to enlarge): “One Chicago ad agency… overshadowed all the rest…”

…. Lasker sold the public on the idea of orange juice (people previously only ate oranges), built brands such as Goodyear and Van de Kamps, established a “records of results” department that monitored its clients’ advertising impact with catalog-response precision, and even used advertising to help defeat Woodrow Wilson’s League of Nations. Advertising legend David Ogilvy rightly ranked Lasker as one of the “six giants of modern advertising.”

The most legendary American advertising copywriter was Lord & Thomas’s Claude C. Hopkins. In his popular autobiography, My Life in Advertising (1927), Hopkins captured the populist style of Chicago advertising as literature for the common people. Hopkins is probably the father of consumer advertising for branded goods. He dubbed Schlitz the “beer that made Milwaukee famous,” created unparalleled brand equity for Palmolive soap and Pepsodent toothpaste, wrote the “shot from guns” slogan for Quaker Oats, and invented free product sampling through print coupons. Hopkins penned the most influential book ever written about advertising—Scientific Advertising (1923). As one of the greatest copywriters in the history of advertising, Claude C. Hopkins made a lasting impact on the way advertising is created. At the same time he brought great success to his clients and earned himself an unparalleled salary of $185,000 a year, in 1907!

and…

Lord & Thomas and Lasker blazed an impressive track record. They were responsible for branding the California orange crop and creating Sunkist, a more marketable product since oranges now had a name that could be promoted. The agency also promoted the invention of the juice machine and subsequent popularization of orange juice as a daily morning beverage. It also worked similar magic with raisins (Sun-Maid) and took Lucky Strike, an obscure cigarette brand, and made it a top seller

Lasker retired early enough to let Foote Cone & Belding continue the saga.

FCB (with another recent merger) is still around and prominent, as this Sept. 2017 article in the Chicago Tribune shows, talking about how despite today’s smaller screens (i.e., laptops, cellphones, tablets,vs. billboards and huge spreads in print magazines) and targeting to “an audience of one,” creating the “epiphanic moment” and (their expertise) still works:

FCB Chicago CEO ad agency CEO says big ideas still work on small screens

Robert Channick Contact Reporter.  Sept. 14, 2017 in The Chicago Tribune under “Q&A”

 In a world where TV viewing is shifting to small mobile screens and online ads are targeted to an audience of one, Michael Fassnacht, CEO and president of FCB Chicago, is still thinking big.

Fassnacht, 50, helms one of the oldest and largest ad agencies in Chicagoand sees the fragmenting media landscape as an opportunity for FCB to use its size, experience and diversity to create campaigns that break through the clutter and resonate with viewers. …

Coming up with the big idea — the epiphanic moment … — is more important than ever for Fassnacht and FCB Chicago, whose client roster includes AB InBev brand Michelob Ultra, fruit spread-maker Smucker’s and Choose Chicago, the city’s convention and tourism bureau.  {{AB =Annheuser-Busch}}

FCB Chicago traces its roots to Lord & Thomas, a Chicago ad agency founded in 1881, which evolved into Foote, Cone and Belding. In 2006, the agency merged with Draft, a Chicago-based marketing services firm, where Fassnacht was an executive. ….

Fassnacht took the reins at FCB Chicago, then known as DraftFCB, in 2010. FCB’s global headquarters is in New York, but Chicago remains one of its largest offices, with more than 700 employees.

A native of Germany, Fassnacht is in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. He lives in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood [on the near-north side of the Chicago [downtown] Loop:  the University of Chicago main campus is on the other side] with his wife and two children. [A short interview follows].

“Choose Chicago” is called a Foote Cone & Belding client (FCB the successor to Lord & Thomas /Lasker-owned famous ad agency) per this Wiki, but a further look quickly shows its earlier, related, and wealthier 501(c)6 entity, a business and trade tax-exempt, is not and never was called “Choose Chicago,” and tax returns of the 501©3 show much more limited activity since 2012.  The 501©6 Form 990s also have internal inconsistencies (“anomalies”), rather obvious ones…

“Choose Chicago” is an organization contracting or partnering with about four government agencies and other associations; created in 2012 by Mayor Rahm Emmanuel.  For FCB to have it as a client must be a Very Big Deal…(Image from Wikipedia,  “Tourism in Chicago“):

Their Board of Directors (note affiliations).  And how interesting that the only international PR & Tourism Offices shown (see nearby image) are — all four — in China! Two offices in Chicago and an “Eastern Regional” one in D.C., and four in China….

[Choose Chicago (2012 Mayor Rahm Emmanuel-launched) target customers (Only Int’l Offices 4 in) CHINA ~ Imaged 2017Oct31 Tue]

(I also just looked up the two related entities — a SMALLer foundation 501©3 started in 2012, which is “Choose Chicago” and the LARGER, started in 1970, 501©6 (hospitality trade association) which still doesn’t even bear the name “Choose Chicago” itself.  Internal inconsistencies throughout on the tax returns, and some definite “interested persons” on the boards of directors.  Tax returns, Forms 990 (or where applicable — not here — 990PF, etc.) ALWAYS have a story to tell about those running any organization.  It’s not the whole story, but it’s an important part.  What shows up on the web pages and self-descriptors is more likely advertising, and less likely accurate when referring to time, or sometimes, even names of the organizations involved.)The older organization used the website “ChooseChicago.com”, previously “MeetInChicago.com.”  Changing a website doesn’t necessarily mean launching an organization.  Whatever Mayor Emmanuel “launched” in 2012, the Forms 990 reflect a major expansion of government grants NOT to that 501©3 called Choose Chicago Foundation (formerly Hospitality Cares), but the earlier 501©6 trade association.  Won’t discuss it further here on this post — you can look it up easily:  “Search here.” (check the Schedule R for the EIN# and name of the related tax-exempt entity)…I am thinking it might be worth a short, polite, letter asking why the internal consistencies over the years, and how outsiders like myself might be curious about why such a high-profile operation has such “interesting” filings….Especially as Chicagoans and others are likely funding most of this (based on the (Pt. VIII after 2008) Statements of Revenue) and their primary interest at this point, seems to be in inviting Chinese visitors, especially business people, at US taxpayers’ expense, although no question a major metropolitan area this large could use a vital and thriving tourist industry for jobs.

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MOST reporting seems to contains mischaracterizations of organization names, and often as well of founding dates in favor of promotion (or criticism) + simpler names (sound-bytes).  When in doubt, or even when not, check it out!

CHOOSE CHICAGO is the 2012ff 501©3, CHICAGO CONVENTION and TOURISM BUREAU, INC. is the earlier 501©6 and (per Wiki) the City also has an “Office of Tourism” differences, and names…

Activities and fund balances of the government entities listed in Wiki, such as Chicago’s “Office of Tourism” should be visible, or its controlling department, under a City of Chicago (governmental) CAFR.  The information we should be seeking out and looking at are those organizational statements, financial statements, and (where it’s private sector tax-exempt), the 990s or 990PFs if available.

It took very little time to realize there is a problem with truth-telling on the Form 990s, not just the public profile here.  I took screenprints of tax returns and immediately formed an on-line folder for the topic.

 

 

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[1] Footnote “Experientially” EITHER/OR (“Addition to MSM or out-there alternate media”) 

Experientially, I have ceased responding to or soliciting communications from some people (after significant investment in relationships on-line and telephone discussions at least, in conjunction with blogging) who simply cannot or will not talk outside their political spectrum — or bother to look at the window framework when reposting, referring, re-blogging, or quoting another.  I notified (where on a group email list and at times individually) why doing so when I did so.  Primarily this refers to people, whether individuals or on-line group leaders or even those running nonprofits focused on the subject matter, who are taking a position on some of the family court issues.

The controlling group-think and “hate-talk” verbiage — absent evidence (in the group situation for sure) the willingness to do some legwork (apply mental effort and some personal time) to getting ON one or more public access databases, and starting to learn how to look things up — then making it a habit.  Instead of asking me to do it for them, or just not getting around to doing it, period.

That set of individuals were, apparently, far-right or conservative (with a mixture of religious  in there, but not throughout).  On the other hand, people I also know and have known for years also on the more liberal, Democrat, progressive, etc. side of things — who are more politically correct than to engage in hate-talk (some of them!) based on: gender, demographic sector, or religious beliefs (including having some!) — somehow never get around to the lookups either, and so by assent and silence, continue to tolerate the ongoing racketeering / money-laundering angles involved on the progressive side, too.

Both groups have college graduates and what would otherwise in a basic conversation NOT on hot-button issues, probably sound like decent, smart, professionally-active or successful groups.  Those on the liberal (that I referred to above) include women (particularly — I’m a woman), whether or not mothers — who are articulate, extremely (above-average) literate and culturally throughout their lifetimes, showing tolerance for diversity beyond many other groups.

BUT what they’re not onto — whether it be age, or lack of a pressing, urgent motivation affecting their personal bottom lines and safety — for some reason, is comprehending the business operations of government entities, the power and influence — and along with it, need to be monitored — of the nonprofit sector.

In some cases, this may be in part, limitations on computer fluency (the ability to use email doesn’t mean one is likely to be doing on-line research from available resources), which may have in part an age factor.   It could also be (at this point) that my own brain works differently — in addition to the ample motivation prompted when the family courts (a) stripped off protection from domestic violence without blinking, when I most needed it to stay financially independent (i.e., WORK), and (b) similarly, barely blinking except to add more personnel and court hearings — and retroactively reduce child support arrears I, personally, was owed at the time as a single mother — facilitating felony child-stealing on their watch, with tacit facilitation ALSO by the law enforcement refusing to enforce the existing court orders when directly (in person, with the paperwork in hand) asking them to, DURING the act — and before it, and after it.

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