Open Stories Foundation---Dehlin, Money, and compensation

[Calm]

2 hours ago, JulieM said:

I agree.  I do hope someone is looking into the more serious allegations (mainly any sexual abuse but others may be included here too).   If someone has taken legal action, we may learn more.   

Kate Kelly is pushing for people to report him to the various government agencies, so it is possible it will be done.

----

On the question of why here, OSF's purpose in part is to critique and explore Mormonism.  The credibility of those who have appointed themselves to do so and the context in which they do this is an appropriate topic in my view for the main forum.  I am okay if mods see it as more appropriate for In the News.  If you haven't reported it yet, please do so.

[Calm]

2 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

I was unaware we had to return moment by moment to the OP to see if the rules had been changed.

An interesting policy. 

I'm out of this thread at least.

I mentioned midthread that I was requesting a limited discussion.  I went back to the OP to add it so new readers would see it as well and wouldn't be caught unawares after I saw a few posters respond off topic to earlier posts (I don't believe I reported them, though I might have once before I registered what happened, my apologies if someone got banned because of that).

Edited May 23, 2017 by Calm

[Gray]

3 minutes ago, Calm said:

Kate Kelly is pushing for people to report him to the various government agencies, so it is possible it will be done.

----

On the question of why here, OSF's purpose in part is to critique and explore Mormonism.  The credibility of those who have appointed themselves to do so and the context in which they do this is an appropriate topic in my view for the main forum.  I am okay if mods see it as more appropriate for In the News.  If you haven't reported it yet, please do so.

I wonder if they'd be forced to pay back taxes and file as an LLC? 

[Calm]

3 minutes ago, Gray said:

I wonder if they'd be forced to pay back taxes and file as an LLC? 

Good question.  The CommonConsent link I posted earlier went into a lot of detail over where it could be problematic and I think I reference the reasons, so I won't repeat myself.  I think they have a real problem for past years with the board construction.  Parker has mentioned in one place she is no longer on the board, so it is possible at least that point has been resolved.

Most people who appear to know what they are talking about suggest moving to an LLC from what I have seen.

Edited May 23, 2017 by Calm

[juliann]

Calm, as to your question about the board, Dehlin posted this: 

Lee Stowell
Roger McOmber
Craig Woodfield
Steve Holbrook
Me

He has also announced a podcast that will be released tomorrow answering questions.

[Calm]

Thank you.  Now I can stop posting that and just point out that him being on the board could still be a problem with the IRS (see the CommonConsent blog for details.  Think I posted it in the first page, maybe second.

Good for him with the podcast.  Hopefully it will be satisfying...as much as possible.  I doubt anything he says can justify just drop kicking long time volunteers and followers who "like" posts, but who knows.

[Calm]

I think I am caught up.  If there were questions directed to me I missed, draw my attention to it.  Will be back tonight.

[HappyJackWagon]

9 minutes ago, juliann said:

Calm, as to your question about the board, Dehlin posted this: 

Lee Stowell
Roger McOmber
Craig Woodfield
Steve Holbrook
Me

He has also announced a podcast that will be released tomorrow answering questions.

RE: JD's post about the podcast scheduled for tomorrow.

Quote

Friends,

I'm planning on recording a podcast episode very soon (tomorrow?) to very openly discuss the Open Stories Foundation, compensation, financials, podcasters, strategy, vision, organization, history, board, etc.

Please email me any questions you have and I will do my best to respond in the podcast. Hoping to record tomorrow, so please send ASAP. openstoriesfoundation@gmail.com

...

Thanks in advance!!!!

Typically he does these on Facebook live so people can listen/watch and submit questions throughout the discussion. I think they usually air around 10 am Mountain time but I'm not sure about the timing on this one.

[Calm]

Do they do a text?  Not a clue about FB live. Assuming they won't here since it is podcast.

[HappyJackWagon]

7 minutes ago, Calm said:

Do they do a text?  Not a clue about FB live. Assuming they won't here since it is podcast.

If you're on FB you would simply go to the MS page at the time of the broadcast, otherwise you can listen on podcast later, but I don't think they have a text version.

[Calm]

I will have to break my podcast rule then to be fair and give him equal time.

 No guarantees of quoting though, so everyone else interested feel free to do that.

[juliann]

Given that he seems to have banned half the universe, I'm not hopeful the questions will be anymore critical than those on his FB page. I hadn't checked there and was not surprised that there was not one negative comment. Wow. 

I also listened to a few minutes of a recent podcast with his wife and it is very clear what the women are talking about. Evidently his wife had a sinus infection, it wasn't too noticeable. He interrupts her to ask why she is sounding so "sultry." She looks taken aback. He then adds "are you trying to be Raquel Welch?" She looked uncomfortable and explained she had a sinus infection but was on the mend. I stopped there. I now believe the sexual harassment allegations. 

[Calm]

46 minutes ago, juliann said:

Evidently his wife had a sinus infection, it wasn't too noticeable. He interrupts her to ask why she is sounding so "sultry." She looks taken aback. He then adds "are you trying to be Raquel Welch?" She looked uncomfortable and explained she had a sinus infection but was on the mend. 

I fully admit it is my bias demanding I post this, but where in the world has his brain been that he is only noticing now they are on camera that his wife sounds different and was apparently unaware of her being ill?

My bias is heavily weighted by previous experiences with the prolonged nastiness of sinus infections.  Everyone in the house quickly becomes aware of when I or anyone else in our extended family gets one.  My doctor even sent me for a catscan once just to be sure it wasn't something more deadly.

[bluebell]

So it looks like we can scratch the 'only interested in celebrities' accusation off the list then?  Maybe it used to be there way (no one has presented any data yea or nay on it happening before April) but if it was it looks like he's not doing it that way anymore.

[Scott Lloyd]

From my Book of Mormon reading today:
 

Quote

 

... For they shall ^bwar among themselves, and the sword of their ^cown hands shall fall upon their own heads, ...

... And they shall ^bfall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that ^cfight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the ^ddust and great shall be the fall of it.

 

(1 Nephi 22:13-14)

[hope_for_things]

Interesting and well written post on this topic.  

http://rationalfaiths.com/open-stories-foundation-true-non-profit/

[Jeanne]

I was unable to get into John's facebook page this afternoon/evening.  Does anyone know what the deal is?

(might be my laptop from hell...who knows)

[wtrdog]

1 hour ago, Jeanne said:

I was unable to get into John's facebook page this afternoon/evening.  Does anyone know what the deal is?

(might be my laptop from hell...who knows)

I found my way here from "the other" board.  Mostly just curious to see if my account will allow me to post.  In answer to your question though, after reading this thread I went onto FB found myself blocked from Dehlin's FB page.  I can see posts, but no commenting.  This is noteworthy because I have never interacted with him or his page in any way.  Never liked anything.  Never commented.  Nada.  My suspicion is that at some point I liked or commented on something that someone else posted, and I guess he didn't like that, FB stalked me, and preemptively banned me from his own page thinking I'd find my way there eventually because we share so many common friends.  Anyway, FWIW, it would seem he is tightly controlling discussion, which is something y'all over here are no doubt familiar with  

[mfbukowski]

2 hours ago, hope_for_things said:

Interesting and well written post on this topic.  

http://rationalfaiths.com/open-stories-foundation-true-non-profit/

If this information is correct, Somebody call the IRS.  This guy is toast.  His address is in a fictitious city?

IF that corporate shell can be pierced, he is personally liable for everything.  Any lawyers hereabouts?

[Calm]

2 hours ago, hope_for_things said:

Interesting and well written post on this topic.  

http://rationalfaiths.com/open-stories-foundation-true-non-profit/

Good update.  Follows in the line of the Common Consent version written a few years ago.

[Ginger Snaps]

44 minutes ago, wtrdog said:

I found my way here from "the other" board.  Mostly just curious to see if my account will allow me to post.  In answer to your question though, after reading this thread I went onto FB found myself blocked from Dehlin's FB page.  I can see posts, but no commenting.  This is noteworthy because I have never interacted with him or his page in any way.  Never liked anything.  Never commented.  Nada.  My suspicion is that at some point I liked or commented on something that someone else posted, and I guess he didn't like that, FB stalked me, and preemptively banned me from his own page thinking I'd find my way there eventually because we share so many common friends.  Anyway, FWIW, it would seem he is tightly controlling discussion, which is something y'all over here are no doubt familiar with  

I think he's changed his settings in general. I've never followed/liked/commented over there at all (not a fan). I just went to his page  and I don't have the capability to comment on his latest stuff either. But if I scroll back to at least Sunday, I have the capability to comment on the post from/with his daughter. My guess is he's tired of "moderating" and has turned off commenting entirely or maybe just allowed it for a chosen few. 

[wtrdog]

9 hours ago, Ginger Snaps said:

I think he's changed his settings in general. I've never followed/liked/commented over there at all (not a fan). I just went to his page  and I don't have the capability to comment on his latest stuff either. But if I scroll back to at least Sunday, I have the capability to comment on the post from/with his daughter. My guess is he's tired of "moderating" and has turned off commenting entirely or maybe just allowed it for a chosen few. 

Go back and check and see whether the posts you had access to were actually authored by John or simply posted to his wall by other people.  What I observed is that posts by him I didn't have comment access to.  But posts by others I did.  I also just checked with a second FB account I have.  That account has full comment access to everything.  This would suggest he is banning specific people.  If he were using generic filtering why would one of my accounts have access but not the other?  I know it's really bizarre that people who have never interacted directly with his page would end up on a ban list, but what other explanation is there?  Facebook only allows very limited filtering options for public posts.  You can seen the globe icon on his stuff, the posts are public.  He can then add limited filters beyond that, like only allowing people who have "followed" or "friended" him to comment.  Well, I tested that with my second account.  It has full access without following him.  So he hasn't applied this filter.   

[HappyJackWagon]

15 hours ago, Calm said:

I fully admit it is my bias demanding I post this, but where in the world has his brain been that he is only noticing now they are on camera that his wife sounds different and was apparently unaware of her being ill?

My bias is heavily weighted by previous experiences with the prolonged nastiness of sinus infections.  Everyone in the house quickly becomes aware of when I or anyone else in our extended family gets one.  My doctor even sent me for a catscan once just to be sure it wasn't something more deadly.

Guys, you are reading way too much into this. Juliann using this exchange as evidence that sexual harassment has likely occurred is ludicrous.

Every time he is on with his wife he tries to engage in a light banter that usually comes off as pretty goofy, but loving. I think he's trying to be endearing in his performance. If anything he is usually too effusive in his praise of his wife. I think this kind of banter is an innocent attempt to build a kind of personal connection with the audience. I'm not saying it's effective but using it as evidence of sexual harassment is just as silly as the banter.

His awkwardness, of which this kind of banter is an example, is what gets him in trouble a lot, IMO. He takes on some pretty sensitive subjects, from sexism, LGBT issues, transgender transitions, marriage issues, mental illness etc, and in virtually every case he asks questions that may not be politically correct, sensitive, or even informed, but are likely the things people want to know but are usually afraid to ask. JD has definitely opened himself up to criticism by stepping into fields filled with landmines. It is not unusual to see him step on one, but I have no reason to think he has ill intent. He's learning just like everyone else.

[stemelbow]

14 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

From my Book of Mormon reading today:
 

(1 Nephi 22:13-14)

I chuckle at the notion that the BoM prophesies about Mormonstoreis and Dehlin. 

[stemelbow]

I finally found what everyone was talking about in regards to paying Wotherspoon 6 times more than Parker fro the same amount of time:

http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/272/272026793/272026793_201512_990EZ.pdf

Yeah!  I don't know how I kept missing it.

Anyway, Dan makes 35 grand off of this while putting in 10 hours a week?  That's quite a sweet gig.  How did Sister Parker miss out on that great benefit?  All she gets for the same amount of energy is a few dollars shy of 6 grand.  Hopefully he addresses that seemingly blatant disparity when he chats today.