Oklahoma Joes Fundraiser Kerfuffle

[DolfanBob]

Far as I'm concerned. The best one for kids these day's is "Boot Camp"

[RecycleMichael]

Far as I'm concerned. The best one for kids these day's is "Boot Camp"

I spoke to about 60 eighth graders today. It was awful. At least ten of them laid their head on their desks and slept before I even started. Five or six girls sat together and just whispered to each other the whole speech.

I fear for our future.

[RecycleMichael]

Back on topic...

I don't think Joe did anything legally wrong, although it would be an interesting and embarrassing trial if the camp were to sue for religious discrimination.

He made a commitment (or at least his wife did on behalf of the restaurant). He then backed out of the commitment. He was a donkey about it.

That is all I need to know.

[BKDotCom]

Nice friendly discussion going on in the World's comments

http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Broken_Arrow_restaurant_pulls_plug_on_fundraiser_over/20130410_11_A9_CUTLIN182923

[heironymouspasparagus]

And if need be I will double/triple my order to offset any "boycott"...

34 times. 

That's how many I know won't be going back...but in fairness, almost 20 didn't really like it all that much anyway....it just doesn't even get close to Albert G's, so why bother??

[RecycleMichael]

I buy more than the average amount of BBQ. I throw two parties a year and use different BBQ caterers (one of the parties is for 200 people). I also have bought BBQ for my son's soccer team and parents every summer. I ate at Oklahoma Joe's in Broken Arrow only a couple of times, but went to the Downtown location a few more.

I have never used Oklahoma Joe's for catering, but was going to try them this year. Not now.

I realize that missing out on a few orders from me won't hurt his business much and Joe will probably now go full blown marketing BBQ for evangelical customers. But if enough people like me don't patronize his restaurant now, maybe he will have learned his lesson.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Broken Arrow location, PR nightmare not so much.  Since BA is a bedroom community, I suspect church-goers would continue to support Oklahoma Joe's, perhaps more so now that there is a crap storm circulating over this.

First Baptist and Rhema are big enough to support Joe...they have pretty much taken over the town anyway.

[Cats Cats Cats]

Hmm..  Does this mean any Jewish kids activities need not apply?  "They didn't disclose". Can you imagine if he asked every fundraiser that came in if they were a Muslim or Jewish organization.  Sounds like that's the future of OK Joe's fundraiser form.  Then again..  I wouldn't want a Christian organization like Westboro Baptist fundraising at any place I owned.  But that's just because of what they do not because of their religious beliefs.  To him, this camp = my Westboro.

[zstyles]

I have alot more to worry about than where I am going to eat based on someone making a capitalistic business venture and than actually doing what HE wants to do and not considering what the VILLAGE wants or whose little feelings might get hurt...good for him I plan on having him cater out next party and also will be ordering lunch for the entire office today from them!

[Red Arrow]

will be ordering lunch for the entire office today from them!

So how many people is the "entire office"?  2? 3?

[AquaMan]

Mixing politics, religion and capitalistic business has always been a bad idea unless you intend to commit to the religion or politics more than the business like Michaels. The fact that this is often argued on this forum explains a lot about Tulsa. I won't eat there because of his blunder. If he had kept his mouth shut I wouldn't know how stupid his business was but he opened it and removed all doubt (credit to Mark Twain).

Business is business. Religion is business. Politics is business. One of those three combinations is pure.

[zstyles]

Mixing politics, religion and capitalistic business has always been a bad idea unless you intend to commit to the religion or politics more than the business like Michaels. The fact that this is often argued on this forum explains a lot about Tulsa. I won't eat there because of his blunder. If he had kept his mouth shut I wouldn't know how stupid his business was but he opened it and removed all doubt (credit to Mark Twain).

Business is business. Religion is business. Politics is business. One of those three combinations is pure.

Spot on and agreed....

[heironymouspasparagus]

I have alot more to worry about than where I am going to eat based on someone making a capitalistic business venture and than actually doing what HE wants to do and not considering what the VILLAGE wants or whose little feelings might get hurt...good for him I plan on having him cater out next party and also will be ordering lunch for the entire office today from them!

Then why not make the decision based on getting good food then, and actually giving your co-workers something they can enjoy, with NO religious implications whatsoever..?...call Albert G's.


Worked at a place one time where the boss would buy everyone lunch from time to time, but would order from Sooner Barbeque on 51st, when they were around.  Talk about a passive aggressive assault on the culinary senses!!  I guess he could have actually liked their 'stuff', but way over half the group wouldn't participate.  Sounds like a little of that may be going on here....

[Gaspar]

So, if a camp is open to everyone, including atheists, discusses how to avoid being bullied (though I really don't know where you are getting this from, I'm starting to think you are making stuff up at this point), and how to think critically (yeah, no classes on how to not think supernaturally), it is an atheist camp?  THIS IS A SECULAR SCIENCE CAMP.  Just because atheists are involved in something does not make it a specifically atheist organization, event, or activity.  

Who really cares (apparently Joe)?

The point is that he (or his wife) made an agreement with this group.  The group then rallied their membership, facebook peeps, twitter twits, and the public to show up.  Lots of people showed up, and after many of them got their meals, Joe exclaimed that he would not pay the group.

Very cut-N-dry situation here.  His reasoning was secondary to the fact that he redacted a commitment to a group of customers and engaged poor poor customer relations.  The fact that he kept money intended for a non-profit organization is unethical.  When the customer made their purchase, they did so on the premise that 10% of the funds would help the group that they drove to Oklahoma Joe's, and purchased a platter of food, to help.

It's not rocket science.

[zstyles]

Who really cares (apparently Joe)?

The point is that he (or his wife) made an agreement with this group.  The group then rallied their membership, facebook peeps, twitter twits, and the public to show up.  Lots of people showed up, and after many of them got their meals, Joe exclaimed that he would not pay the group.

Very cut-N-dry situation here.  His reasoning was secondary to the fact that he redacted a commitment to a group of customers and engaged poor poor customer relations.  The fact that he kept money intended for a non-profit organization is unethical.  When the customer made their purchase, they did so on the premise that 10% of the funds would help the group that they drove to Oklahoma Joe's, and purchased a platter of food, to help.

It's not rocket science.

Agree, they should honor that, I would think that would be some sort of "contract" verbally they could be sued for...but whatever was earned by this, as a general rule of customer service should be given to the group regardless..