ypsi~dixit

Randomness, but speaking of vacation plans (or the lack thereof), I think it's crazy that EMU's summer semester begins on Monday July 3rd, and professors are actually expecting us to come to class!

Whatever happened to extended 4th of July weekends? Now it's all about getting down to work I guess. At least the university closes for the 4th itself, but jeez.

That's ridiculous. They just ruined a whole passel of vacations and if there's anything Americans need more of it's vacation time.

It's also silly. Plenty will ignore this, and they'll have only a sprinkling of folks actually in class, so they won't be able to get anything done anyways! Result: a complete waste.

MICHIGAN ELVISFEST IS A SCAM!!

That said, i will tell you why...

Just perused the July Depot Town Rag. The front page states a claim that "All profits from the festival are donated to charity." Elvisfest is a nonprofit, and as such is not supposed to have "profits". However, to give the impression that they actually support charaties with the money they generate, the Depot Town Association listed, bullet by bullet, where the dough goes:

The first two bullet points were transitional housing and summer camps for poor children: The reality is that Michigan Elvisfest has to purchase a $5000 license from Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) to conduct the festival using Elvis' name, likeness, and catch phrases ("thank you very much", etc). EPE, in turn, directs a portion of proceeds from the license revenue to a cause called "Presley Place", a transitional home for kids that also operates summer camps. In short, Michigan Elvisfest is not donating to Presley Place, they are buying a license to make money.

The next three bullets have to do with playgrounds, city park improvements and public projects. In reality, that is the money Elvisfest pays the City of Ypsi for the use of Riverside park, the public utilities, police protection, etc. Though the city is in bad financial shape, it is still not a bonafide charity.

The last two bullet points, FAN donation of stuffed toys, phone cards and miscellaneous items to Mott Childrens Hospital and the Salvation Army, has absolutely nothing to do with any monetary donation from Michigan Elvisfest, and as such, should not even be included in the list. The FANS donate these items.

In summary, All of this begs the question... What does the DTA and Elvisfest do with the six-figure profits they receive from the gate, beer sales, concession sales and now.... gambling profits? Now I said profits, not gross, but net.

Anybody out there know? You really should care, as somebody might be pocketing a ton of money out of this, and cheating the government out of its due, which cheats all of us.

Laura,
You can find the answers to all your suspicions re: Michigan Elvisfest right here in Depot Town. Get out from behind your computer and onto the street.
-Tom

Again. This is not a burning concern of mine. In The Know is the individual who raised this issue. Not me. And I do wish I had time to investigate this issue but the fact is, I don't.