Sears gift registry for troops violates rules

[CommunityEditor]

Defense officials have notified Sears that troops will not be able to participate in their “Heroes at Home Wish Registry” because they would be violating ethics regulations.

On Oct. 23, Sears Holding Corporation officials said they are working with defense officials to resolve the issue. “Sears is committed to supporting these military families and will not waver in that support,” said spokesman Tom Aiello.

Sears’ gift registry matches donations from the public with military members who registered for gifts at Sears.com through Sept. 28.

“After reviewing the available details of the Wish Registry, we determined that, as structured, participation in the Wish Registry results in an improper solicitation,” Leigh Bradley, director of the Standards of Conduct Office for the Defense Department General Counsel, said in an Oct. 14 letter to Sears.

“We respectfully request that Sears refrain from deploying its anticipated November-December campaign, which results in an improper solicitation of public support by eligible military personnel and their families.”

Defense officials are aware of at least one request to a military installation to have personnel appear in uniform at Sears stores to promote the program.

“Such activities by DoD personnel would constitute an improper endorsement of Sears, and its program ... as well as a misuse of their uniform at Sears’ commercial gain,” Bradley wrote.

Service members are being notified that participation in the registry constitutes an improper solicitation for gifts. E-mails are being circulated by the services.

Service members must return any gifts received through the program. Since Sears has contact information for service members, Bradley said, defense officials are asking Sears officials to notify service members that government ethics regulations prohibit their participation.

“We recognize that this decision is likely to jeopardize the program’s viability; however, as public servants, we are not permitted to improperly profit from public service or to show unauthorized preferential treatment to a particular company or its activities, especially where there may be commercial gain,” she wrote.

She urged Sears officials to contact the Standards of Conduct office to discuss possible modifications of the program, as well as the potential viability of future initiatives.

Allison Barber, outgoing deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, said defense officials want to make it easy for the public to support the troops, but sometimes connecting the two communities can be difficult.

Barber oversees the Pentagon’s “America Supports You” community relations program.


Article: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/10/military_sears_wishregistry_102308w/

[Boats/88]

Defense officials have notified Sears that troops will not be able to participate in their “Heroes at Home Wish Registry” because they would be violating ethics regulations.

On Oct. 23, Sears Holding Corporation officials said they are working with defense officials to resolve the issue. “Sears is committed to supporting these military families and will not waver in that support,” said spokesman Tom Aiello.

Sears’ gift registry matches donations from the public with military members who registered for gifts at Sears.com through Sept. 28.

“After reviewing the available details of the Wish Registry, we determined that, as structured, participation in the Wish Registry results in an improper solicitation,” Leigh Bradley, director of the Standards of Conduct Office for the Defense Department General Counsel, said in an Oct. 14 letter to Sears.

“We respectfully request that Sears refrain from deploying its anticipated November-December campaign, which results in an improper solicitation of public support by eligible military personnel and their families.”

Defense officials are aware of at least one request to a military installation to have personnel appear in uniform at Sears stores to promote the program.

“Such activities by DoD personnel would constitute an improper endorsement of Sears, and its program ... as well as a misuse of their uniform at Sears’ commercial gain,” Bradley wrote.

Service members are being notified that participation in the registry constitutes an improper solicitation for gifts. E-mails are being circulated by the services.

Service members must return any gifts received through the program. Since Sears has contact information for service members, Bradley said, defense officials are asking Sears officials to notify service members that government ethics regulations prohibit their participation.

“We recognize that this decision is likely to jeopardize the program’s viability; however, as public servants, we are not permitted to improperly profit from public service or to show unauthorized preferential treatment to a particular company or its activities, especially where there may be commercial gain,” she wrote.

She urged Sears officials to contact the Standards of Conduct office to discuss possible modifications of the program, as well as the potential viability of future initiatives.

Allison Barber, outgoing deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, said defense officials want to make it easy for the public to support the troops, but sometimes connecting the two communities can be difficult.

Barber oversees the Pentagon’s “America Supports You” community relations program.


Article: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/10/military_sears_wishregistry_102308w/

DOUBLE STANDARDS!
I was just getting ready to start a thread on this story!

What ever happen to including Retired members, and veterans! We all are suffering hard times.
Yet what I really do not understand is how the government is letting this happen.
Anything a service member recieves over $25.00 is not authorized and military members are not authorized to accept.
This is a gift card! It is a Gift! So why is the Military breaking the rules for some and not for everyone!
It makes me angry because back in 2004 when the USS Momsen was commssioned in Panama City, FL.
The Commssioning Board in Panama city wanted to do something nice for the crew.
For all of their hard work. The city bought Leather Jackets at $250.00 a piece for all the Officers and the Chiefs for all the hard work they put into getting the ship started from scratch. The crew was given 10,000
to up grade the ships lounge. Which I believe they purchased Flat screen TV's and other items.
There was a big investigation on these Jackets and they had to be given back.
The reason. No military member or government employee are to accept any gifts over $25.00.
If Sears, Phone companies and other businesses can give gift cards over $25.00 and Military Members can accept them . It would make me question the care packages that are being sent to troops overseas.
They are gifts and some care packages are way over 25.00.

Then I feel the government should return the Leather Jackets (Which by the way where copies of the Leather Jackets that Admiral Momsen use to wear) to the orginial crew members that earned them!
Other wise the government is playing a double standard here!

Please do not get me wrong I am all for care packages! It's just rules are rules . Just wonder why they are broken for some and not others!
I vote we do away with the Gift Limit!

[Your_Name_Here]

DOUBLE STANDARDS!
I was just getting ready to start a thread on this story!

What ever happen to including Retired members, and veterans! We all are suffering hard times.
Yet what I really do not understand is how the government is letting this happen.
Anything a service member recieves over $25.00 is not authorized and military members are not authorized to accept.
This is a gift card! It is a Gift! So why is the Military breaking the rules for some and not for everyone!
It makes me angry because back in 2004 when the USS Momsen was commssioned in Panama City, FL.
The Commssioning Board in Panama city wanted to do something nice for the crew.
For all of their hard work. The city bought Leather Jackets at $250.00 a piece for all the Officers and the Chiefs for all the hard work they put into getting the ship started from scratch. The crew was given 10,000
to up grade the ships lounge. Which I believe they purchased Flat screen TV's and other items.
There was a big investigation on these Jackets and they had to be given back.
The reason. No military member or government employee are to accept any gifts over $25.00.
If Sears, Phone companies and other businesses can give gift cards over $25.00 and Military Members can accept them . It would make me question the care packages that are being sent to troops overseas.
They are gifts and some care packages are way over 25.00.

Then I feel the government should return the Leather Jackets (Which by the way where copies of the Leather Jackets that Admiral Momsen use to wear) to the orginial crew members that earned them!
Other wise the government is playing a double standard here!

Please do not get me wrong I am all for care packages! It's just rules are rules . Just wonder why they are broken for some and not others!
I vote we do away with the Gift Limit!

I agree that those jackets, if they came from the government of Panama City, should not have been taken away.

The big difference I see between anonymously stuffing care packages and what Sears was trying to do, is that they wanted members to pose--in uniform--in ads touting the program. The structure of the gift registry was problematic too--it could be construed, even though it's far from everyone's actual intentions, that military members are "on the take."

[searlesdf]

ok, so this is what I see. According to the discussions I've had amongst the crew we can only decide on one reason why we can't participate in things like this. You see, Sears is asking the public for donations to distribute gift cards amongst service members. Now, many people would see this as a great thing, however, this in fact is an excellent marketing ploy to increase Sears profits.
Let me explain. A civillian decides that he/she wishes to donate money to sears so that they can send gift cards out to service members. The service member recieves say $100 gift card to spend ONLY AT SEARS. In effect, Sears takes advantage of the public wanting to support troops in order to increase profits. Since only Sears and affiliated companies are particapating in this program, and the money is set aside strictly for that store, then if military members accept these gifts, that would be so favortism to that particular store. The military is very strict about this sort of profiteering and does not condone it, therfore they set regulations against it.
In my own opinion however, if Sears wishes to give VISA/MASTERCARD gift cards out of thier OWN POCKETS, then there is little harm in this. Sears makes no profit from this since they are spending thier own money, and military member show no favortism since they could use that money anywhere they wish.

[ringjamesa]

Kellie, no they shouldn't have been allowed to keep the jackets and these servicemembers cannot keep the items that they recieve from Sears (don't think there is a rule that says their families can't though...).

[DDNIGHT]

At first, the Army had issues with it, but I can tell you first hand, that the program went ahead as planned.

I signed up in November, got my first $100 on the Sears card in mid-December, another $100 email coupon for Chrismas decorations a week later, another $50 on the Sears card on Christmas eve, and the last $25 two days ago.

In all? $175 on the gift card and $100 in Christmas decorations via a printable coupon....$275!

I don't see the harm in anything about this....if Sears wants to collect donations from people and then disburse it to troops....SO WHAT!!

[LOAL-D]

In the first Gulf war the government of Kuwait wanted to pay every service member who deployed a bonus! The first George B. said no way, smacks of mercenary booty. Wish I had that dough though…
Maybe that’s “ill-gotten booty” or “ill-booten gotty..(Hawkeye Pierce)
:eek: