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The Commonwealth Competition Council has established a taskforce to study the ongoing or permanent commercial activities of not-for-profit organizations and the effects of such activities on business and state revenues (SJR219 2000 Virginia General Assembly).

Your response and throughts about what's fair are desired.

Having worked for a not-for-profit agency for over 11 years, I have seen the mismanagement of funds and contributions that can take place without outside supervision.
I am currently employed with a "for profit" organization, which is in direct competition with two local YMCA's and a Medical Center Wellness facility.
We have found that the for profit businesses are at a great disadvantage in numerous areas including: taxes, legal matters, fund-raising and marketing/advertising.
Why should these "not-for-profit" organizations be given such governmental privliages when other businesses struggle daily to meet the local and state regulations?
In the fitness industry, YMCA's and Wellness Centers act the same as any other health club. They sell memberships, advertise their fitness facilities to the public, buy the latest in fitness equipment and do direct mailings to recuit new members. Please tell me how they are considered non-profit.
I know that most non-profit organizations offer programs which are needed by the community. However, we must look at these organizations and evaluate which programs are being used by the persons who need them and not directly and unfairly competing with for-profit businesses.
Something needs to be done immediately, before these non-profit businesses take any more of our tax dollars while putting for-profit companies out of business!

For all concerned:
York County: The YMCA of Greater Hampton Roads recently received approval from the York County Board of Supervisors to lease to the Y 6.5 acres of prime real estate for 1 dollar a year for 99 years plus 2 Million Dollars in direct cash subsidy to allow the Y to build and operate a 49,000 sq.ft. facilty whose primary purpose will be to run a health club business and child care services. The facility will be built in the Tabb/Coventry area of the county where housing cost range from $180K to $500K. They will sell memberships, products and other services as well as accept credit cards.

Henrico County: The Y operates child care services in the public schools, advertises through the schools directly to parents and competes with local tax paying child care providers. Henrico public schools have a school board policy that prohibits "for-profits" or tax paying busineses from using school property, thus, local tax paying child care providers were prohibited from bidding on the contract to provide these services in the schools.
More later!!!

Newport News: The City of Newport News recently opened a multi-million dollar "Community Recreation Center" in the mid-town area. The facility features a pool, excersise equipment, aerobics classes, sports areas and equipment such as basket ball courts, etc. and, of course, a child care faciltiy open to the public. It is all owned operated and controlled by the city. It competes daily with numerous area tax-paying businesses including health clubs and child care centers. Is your local Parks and Recreation agency competing with your business?

James City County/Williamsburg: The "Community Recreation Center" is now opened to all in the Williamsburg/James City County area. It features the best in excercise equipment and classes, swimming pool, indoor raquet ball and basket ball courts, aeorbics and more and more. There is also a child care center on site open to all. This facility is owned and operated by James City County. It is only minutes from presitgous areas like Kings Mill, Ford's Colony, and other expensive gated communities. Drive through the parking lot and see the late model SUVs, luxury sedans and high dollar sports cars. This is a Taj Mahal government facility that competes directly with numerous area tax-paying businesses. Would you want to invest millions of your dollars to compete with this faciltiy?

It begins to become clear where Mr. Holloman is campaigning: wealthy communities who evidence their wealth through expensive community facilities. It seems interesting that he argues for privatization in a state that uses Commonwealth in its name. When private business can afford to manage Head Start and pay investors, the rates are simply too high. Similarly, building gyms for yuppies seems a highly suspect investment from either public or private standpoint, in any but those communities where the yuppies control the licensing and leasing authorities on their own behalf.