Litchfield Independent Review - Around Meeker County - Comments

What's negative about asking

Andersen — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:52:31 -0500

What's negative about asking questions? Legitimate charities welcome discussion and volunteer accurate financial information. I don't see either here, but I do see the money signs in the mom's eyes. Let's hope she lets her girl have some fun with friends soon and doesn't force her to "opt" to not see family for months on end ever again. (See the Willmar paper for that disturbing tidbit.) And please, don't try to claim that I "slammed" the woman by repeating her own quotes.

i understand your concerns.

scampers — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:13:54 -0500

i understand your concerns. i will check into your concerns and see what i can give you for answers.
i respect your concerns... i do admitt the negitivity bothers me.
but i will get the answers you are looking for.

EvelynZ's concerns are fair.

MarineCorpVet — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:17:25 -0500

EvelynZ's concerns are fair. As a veteran and proud dad of two active duty servicemen, I always verify the legitimacy of charities that claim to benefit our troops. Sadly, sham charities often capitalize on our patriotism, and it's important to ensure that we don't fuel fraud. No one should be demeaned for doing that.

Like TruthinJustice, I just called the IRS to check on this organization's 501(c)(3) status. Although their website says it's in process, I was troubled to hear that the IRS has received absolutely no paperwork for "OneGirlOneRide". So not only is it NOT a 501(c)(3), it's not even pending! This blatant lie is concerning, especially since they're soliciting cash donations. I also did a quick Internet search and saw that in the St. Cloud paper, the mom said that only some (not all) of the money raised will go toward the cause. That contradicts statements she made in this video.

Of course, quotes from the Brainerd paper are most telling. The mom said that she is unemployed, and she sold their home, car, and furniture. That simply doesn't make sense, since this trip lasts less than three months. Where will they go when the ride's done? Will the little girl even have a home or a bed? Living on the ranch would invalidate 501(c)(3) status, so if this were legitimate, that wouldn't be an option.

EvelynZ, thank you for respectfully and responsibly checking up on this cause. Your gut reaction was right. Like everyone here, my prayers and best wishes are with the girl, who I will continue to support with my prayers.

Truth - that's all I'm

TruthinJustice — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:24:43 -0500

Truth - that's all I'm asking. How long have you known this woman and her daughter? I think Minnesotans are far too trusting?!!! All the newstories printed are positive for Eleese - can't help it, it's truly an ambious journey....but I have called the IRS - they ARE NOT a nonprofit....and can a 12 year even run a nonprofit -- it's surely not a simple process to under take....why doesn't the mother address this issue and share her bylaws? This mother is WAY too involved in this venture so that is why I don't believe it's ALL Eleese idea to keep this ride going. Sure a couple of dollars here and there should add up to $16M - but the cash isn't 'traceable' either.....no one will care if there is a nonprofit/tax deduction if they hand over a few bucks huh? Sure I can be passionate to a point for my kids -- but at the sake of the health of the kid and the horse? Give me a break!!! The Attorney General's office will be investigating this I'm sure...especially since the politicians are involved....so for her sake, I hope she's not a scam....but who could find them after the ride is over - since they don't even have a home!

senator urdahl and senator

scampers — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:42:51 -0500

senator urdahl and senator dille are on board with this also.....
this is legitimate.
all i can do is shake my head in amazement at your reply.
did you research this at all before you came to your conclusion?

forgot to add, check out her

scampers — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:40:40 -0500

forgot to add, check out her web site
www.onegirloneride.com
i will see if i can get some more information for you to back up the facts.
but i guess im amazed at your reaction.
as a mom you believe in your kid dont you?
why would this mom not believe in hers?
my kids passion is horses....
i go the extra mile for their passion (granted its also mine) and would do everything in my power to support them and back them if they ever chose to do something like this with their horse.
it doent matter who you are, when it comes to your kids, most of us will do anything for them.
cant fault a mom for believeing in her child, nor can you fault her for being passionate about it.

they have the 501 status and

scampers — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:36:48 -0500

they have the 501 status and many in the senate working with them, i truely feel this is not a sham.
i am a military wife. i understand where you are comming from.
i think what you picked up on is her moms passion in this, believe it or not some do care.
yes E'leese is tired..... i ride also i can attest it is not an easy thing she is doing. This kid has not been home since the day she left. it has been a tough go but she is doing it from the heart.
not only physically but also mentally. Remember she is only 12 years old.
believe me when i say i know what it like to be left home with a husband deployed and 3 kids at home with things going to hell around you and no help or even a quiet moment to be found.
there usually is no help.
some can be nay sayers all they would like, hey thats alright. BUT i feel she is going to get this done.
think about how tired you would be taking this on.... it is not easy.
Mom believes in her child, she is passionate about her child and the cause.
I as a military wife am thankful she is so passionate about this.
with everyone thats been working with them i can guarentee this is genuine.
maybe its just a shock to peoples systems that someone got off their butts to do something for a change.
it does not matter your age to make a diffrence.
instead of looking for something wrong with what they are doing, why not look at the good?
Trust me i spoke with E'leese at length... if this was something she didnt want to do she would not be doing it.
also if her heart was not in it she wouldnt be out riding that horse 10 miles a day, in all sorts of weather.
have a little faith. believe in this kid, its all she is asking.
yep 3 bucks, less than a gallon of gas....
i think mom just broke it down to show people hey this IS possible and is easier than many think....
look 16 million is a big number and daunting.
many people think man i cant do anything to help with that i only have 5 bucks to spare....
she is showing that even a couple of dollars helps.
anyone and everyone can help even if it is a small amount.
E'leese and her mom dont need to be slammed for doing the right thing.

I wish this girl and her

EvelynZ — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:35:54 -0500

I wish this girl and her hardworking horse my very, very best. This is an ambitious undertaking, and my prayers are with her. But like many other military moms, I am concerned that there may be more to this story. When I met the mom and girl today, I was struck by how overly invested the mom seemed. In the video, her delivery of the line "Let me explain again: We want $3 from every citizen in the state of Minnesota" best conveys the air of entitlement that she had. The girl simply seemed tired, over-rehearsed, and almost afraid of saying the "wrong" thing. I felt bad for her.

Paired with concerns that this isn't a legitimate nonprofit, I'm worried that this doesn't add up. If anyone has any further information, please share.

the fair this year was a

scampers — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:18:01 -0500

the fair this year was a lot of fun!
we show horses, my kids and I had a good time and did well.
thanks to the fair board and all the people behind the scenes to help make it happen

thank you Brent for comming

scampers — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:14:59 -0500

thank you Brent for comming out and supporting us on this ride yesterday!
This little girl has a huge heart and a huge goal to meet, I feel with support and dedication she is going to make this happen!
It was an honor for me to set her ride up through Litchfield, an even bigger honor to ride with her.
Thanks again for helping bring some awareness to her cause!
I will keep you guys updated on her progress!!!
Myself and a national guard member will be hauling horses to the cities to ride with her on the 31st also!
Missy Johnson

Mother nature's way of

LitchRes — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:54:14 -0500

Mother nature's way of enacting population control! Too many of them anyway !

The National Weather Service

Kristin Holtz — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:59:26 -0500

The National Weather Service said it received several reports of tornadoes beginning in the Alexandria area to Meeker County. In a news item on its Web site today, the Weather Service said atmospheric conditions were too dry for tornadoes and the spotted reports were actually "gustnadoes."

"A gustnado is a rotating column of air that forms as a result of turbulence along a thunderstorm gust front boundary. Gustnadoes are associated with shelf clouds, a cloud structure that is often confused with a wall cloud, which is sometimes a tornadic cloud feature. A gustnado is not a tornado, and it is not dangerous.

"On Saturday evening, the gust front boundary was clearly evident in radar data from the Chanhassen Doppler radar, and often, many of the reports occurred several miles ahead of the main area of precipitation with the squall line, which is where the gust front was located. As the shelf cloud associated with the squall line moved over the NWS office in Chanhassen, meteorologists observed the turbulence within it, seeing how it could be confused with a more dangerous wall cloud feature and consequently, result in the volume of tornado reports."

Source: www.crh.noaa.gov/mpx, Top News of the Day

can you believe that more

Civil Srevant — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:47:04 -0600

can you believe that more effort was applied here then the recent story on the sex offender info. not being posted to us citizens to protect our children?There is something definitly wrong with our law enforcement here. Just where is thier priorty list?
What are they doing? I dont think us citizens are getting what our tax dollars pays for!Dear God help us protect our children!!!!!Our law enforcement is too corrupt!

In my opinion, any judge who

LoriM — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:56:14 -0600

In my opinion, any judge who would tear a family apart by not allowing contact between a parent and a child (who are both of adult age and do not want the separation) either does not have children of their own or have a very poor relationship with their own children. You have to be a parent to know the unconditional love that goes along with parenting! This judge obviously knows nothing about parenting or has no parenting skills because they would never take routes such as these!!! Besides, who told these Meeker County judges that they could play GOD???

Can anyone even the law

Civil Srevant — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:58:03 -0600

Can anyone even the law force us to not be able to have contact with our loved ones ? This to me seems very intrusive in ones rights to "family". How can anyone think that by forcing our "young adult" children to stay away from thier parents unless they wanted that but I dont think that this is the case here,would help or be good for them? I always taught my children that family is first and to always love and understand and to support each other as we are a family"unit" and one of gods most precious gifts. No wonder our county is in it's current state of family breakdown.I dont think any mental health or family therapist, or religous clergy would recommend alianation from a loved one for a recovery plan. That would be just as bad as one parent not allowing another parent the right to love and nurture achild because one is mad at the other or another family member.