SSN on early registrations
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric Cernjar
I'd highly recommend attending the webinar on Monday night. Some of these questions will be addressed, and additionally you have the ability to ask questions.
Generally speaking, I do not feel you are at a financial risk going through this process. You aren't providing a social security number, a credit card number, or any other information that could be used to harm your credit. Typically hackers are going after private and valuable information, not mailing address information. That said, if you can demonstrate that you were harmed due to this background check, yes there is insurance in place.
I will be leaving for vacation tomorrow, so likely will not have access to the webinar. This is my first post, as I just found out about this blog last Saturday at our monthly chapter meeting. I read all 71 pages of posts yesterday before making this first post. I am the President of EAA Chapter 439 out of Iron Mountain, MI (in the U.P.), and have been for about 15 years, and have flown around 300 YE's. I can't say how disappointed I was in, not only the program but, the implementation. Being a trusting (and clearly now, a naive) person, I reluctantly did the training and registered for the background check. I DID question national on why background checks for other organizations wasn't considered (I am a nationally registered USSF soccer ref, and also do high school soccer). I can't imagine the thoughts of someone in law enforcement or child education being subjected to this absurd policy. My response back was about as terse as it gets. My thoughts at the time; this is a member organization?
About two weeks after my registration I get a letter from the IRS, questioning the refund I applied for. Well, we owe a substantial check to them this year, and had not even sent in our tax return yet. This is the second year in a row someone has tried to get a refund on our account. We expected this year to be different, since the "IRS had purchased us one year of 'identity protection' because of last year's issue". Our CPA could NOT complete our tax return last week on line, as there is now a security block on our account. We also have had several issues changing or opening accounts this past year, even though we have not one cent of debt. My SSN has now been sent across two (or three or four) business computer systems (and is stored securely where?) because EAA management did not heed the advice of several members during the review of the program before implementing it. It was only after reading this blog that it occurred to me I have never surrendered my SSN on the 6-8 background checks I have agreed to previously.
I am the president of three different non-profit, 501C3 aviation organizations, and just gave up that position on a fourth (soccer club). I also own and run an 8 figure per year truck dealership. I would NEVER implement something like this without a ton more input in my own company, none alone with a non-profit member organization. The totality of the impact of this policy will probably not be realized for a few years, but have no doubt, this will seriously impact our program for kids, at a time when virtually every youth program in this country is struggling with declining numbers. Several have said, what would Paul think? I have to ask, why wasn't this done while Paul was alive. I think we all know the answer to that.
Although I have completed the registration, I can't say what our chapter will do. I believe once chapters review the logistics of continuing YE Flights, the reality of this program will cause a considerable percentage of chapters to discontinue supporting the program (as evidenced by the 70 pages of prior posts to mine). Don't be fooled into a false sense of how many have registered being an indication of how many support this program, and will continue to fly YE's. As the restrictions become an actual reality and are part of Chapter YE events, we will have a some comply with every aspect, some just ignore it, and others throw in the towel. As a chapter leader, I will be open minded but we will not ignore the policies. I seriously doubt we will get enough pilots and volunteers to complete the YPP. I can't continue this program without volunteers, and you just made a really big challenge a whole lot tougher.
I don't have access to our chapter YE pilot numbers, as I haven't apparently ever registered. If someone from national is reading this, I would be interested in knowing how many Young Eagles Chapter 439 has provided since inception?
Tom Sullivan
EAA Chapter 439 President
EAA # 410923