快一个月了,这次募捐活动在华人社区引起的各种关注和各种感情是以往少见的。
事到如今,我建议:我们都退一步,给自己也给他人一些反思的空间。
有几位总结得很好,这次募捐活动让我们看到了渥太华华人的善良、慷慨、乐于助人的热情。但是也有多方面的欠缺,引起了质疑和争议。欠缺也好、质疑、争议也好,我觉得是正常的。这有几层原因:我们大多数对加国具体操办一些事情的常规方式方法不熟悉;网络私人(非慈善组织)募捐是新东西,有不少含糊的地方,政府还没有很明确的管理条文;事情进展得很快。
我自己在网上查了查,也问了问几位朋友。以下是我的理解:
1. 政府对私人募捐没有很明确的管理条文,即哪些依法必须做,哪些不能做。唯一很明确不能做的是“fraud or criminal activity" (舞弊或刑事行为)。我找到的比较明确的解释是美国麻省的:“The Attorney General's Office becomes involved with charitable fundraising activities only when they are meant to benefit the public at large or an indefinite portion of the public. Fundraising for a specific individual is not considered to be charitable fundraising, since the public at large does not benefit. Therefore, fundraising for a specified individual is not subject to the registration and filing requirements imposed on charitable organizations.No matter what you choose to call your fundraising activity, it is not considered a charitable activity if it benefits only a specific individual or individuals. Donors to your fundraising campaign are essentially making a gift to the beneficiary.Although the AGO does not regulate fundraising for an individual, if there is fraud or criminal activity involved with the fundraising or the handling of the money raised, the office may get involved." (
http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-busin...ting-funds/fundraising-for-an-individual.html) 。加拿大在这方面可能相似。
2. 虽然政府没有明确的管理条文,但社会上有较常规做法:
· 募捐主办方首先要客观考虑有无经济需要,如果真有需要那么要有明确的目标(目标金额或募捐截至日期,whichever comes first)、明确的募捐目的、善款使用标准(criteria)。目标金额应定得慎重,比如可以引用第三方的报价。
· 为善款在银行设信托帐号(trust),善款使用由指定的几位托管人(trustees) 按既定使用标准监督。做信托有一些费用,但它的好处是因为有第三者监督,它给捐款人保证、保护募捐主办人和受益人的名誉、同时也免去了好像事事需要向所有人公开的繁琐。
· 善款使用实报实销,若有剩余,一般受益人再捐出。再捐出的方式和目的不外几种:把慈善回报给社会、以长远、社会参与的方式纪念逝者等等。
· 这些是常规做法。虽然不这样做不犯法,但是这样做了,会省去不少麻烦和避免可能出现的问题。
事到如今,我觉得最重要的目标有两个:怎样尽可能减小两个孩子受到的伤害;作为一个社区,我们怎么从这件事中汲取教训,成熟起来。从这两个目的出发,我提出以下建议:
1.Let it go… 事情过了,算了吧:
· 避免再纠结骗捐这个指控、报警、上法庭等事。首先刘越确实是遇难了;然后,有保险还是没有保险,我觉得至少他们没有旅游保险是事实,所以从狭义理解也有说得过去的余地;再然后,善款使用和最初的说法不同,但是这过程中也有其它解脱因素:有捐款人明确说了要给家人,后来又有退款的事。情理上,有的事是让人费解,但是法律的标准不一定和情理标准吻合。
· 避免在网上遣责对遗体的处理方式。有看法是可以理解的,但少说些吧,个人的事。
· 避免在家里、特别是当着自己孩子的面说这件事,避免给刘/卜家孩子带来压力,用心、用言行帮助两个不幸的孩子。
· 理想的情况是卜女士主动将剩余的善款捐出或至少设为信托;在这方面大家给了很多的提示、建议(比如以刘越名字设立的奖学金 - 在母校,在渥太华市的救生员培训课程, 等等)、甚至质疑,但我想该说的都已经说了,就不用再说了。
2. 该做的事:
· 大家多了解一下加国具体操办类似事情的常规方式方法,下次有需要,主办人、捐款人、受益人都知道该怎么办、相互的期望应该有哪些。大家都成熟一次。
· 参照Woody's 建议,培养及呵护我们和我们的孩子的价值观:honesty and generosity.
Referencing the above post, an example just came out in today's news:
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Globe and Mail: "Family asks mourners to donate to scholarship":
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...s-begin-funeral-arrangements/article18066509/
Kaiti Perras loved to dance. Now, her family wants to remember her by giving others the chance to do the same.
Ms. Perras is one of the five victims in Calgary’s stabbing massacre, after a house party turned deadly Tuesday morning. Families have started to announce funeral plans.
Mourners can pay their respects for Ms. Perras at a Calgary funeral home Sunday. A “celebration of Kaiti’s life,” will be held Monday, according to her funeral announcement. “Colourful attire is encouraged,” the announcement says.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked mourners to make a donation to the newly established Kaiti Perras – Love of Dance Scholarship Fund at the Counterpoint Dance Academy in Marda Loop. Ms. Perras was 23. You can read her
obituary here.
Jordan Segura, 22, was another victim stabbed to death Tuesday morning. Mourners can pay respects Sunday, and a funeral will follow Monday. You can read Mr. Segura's
obituary here.
Josh Hunter, 23, was also killed. A visitation will be held Saturday, with a “celebration of Josh’s life” on Monday in Priddis. You can read Mr. Hunter's
obituary here.
Lawrence Hong, 27, will be remembered at his old high school on Sunday, according to 660 News. Zackariah Rathwell also died in the attack at 11 Butler Crescent, a rented split-level home near the University of Calgary. Funeral arrangements for Mr. Hong and Mr. Rathwell have not been announced.
The five died after Matthew de Grood allegedly stabbed them with a large kitchen knife at a party celebrating the end of the academic year in Calgary. The young adults, including Mr. de Grood, all had ties Calgary’s postsecondary institutions.
Mr. de Grood, who was captured shortly after the stabbings with help from a police dog, is facing five counts of first-degree murder. He is in custody at a forensic psychiatric facility awaiting his first court appearance, set for Tuesday.
Both the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University have hosted gatherings for friends and strangers, giving them the chance to reach out to one another, tell stories and access support.
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仅供大家了解。余款是捐出来,还是以信托的方式留下来给刘越父母和孩子,还是其它,到了现在都不由他人决定了,大家提了够多的参考意见, 不要再说再吵了。It would be even more unfortunate if this ends up bringing out the worst in us.