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Topic: Ocean magazine nonpayment - update
| Author | Message |
| Thegirl | Posted – 5/29/2009 12:15:02 PM | show profile | flag this post Hi, Just wanted to give an update on Ocean magazine (fashion magazine out of Orange County, CA). This references an earlier series of postings, but to recap, I have an invoice of over $1000 that has been outstanding for over a year, and the magazine's check to me (which took about 5 months to arrive, after some reminders) bounced. Just received an e-mail from one of the Chizzick sisters (the people who own and run the magazine) to say they're declaring bankruptcy. I have no idea whether this is true. But they've offered me the equivalent of about $6.00/hr. for the work that I did. I don't know if this means they're closing up shop or just reorganizing (or, again, if it's true at all). I did see somewhere that they were redirecting money from their subscriptions to their Ocean2Ocean foundation. I'll have to ask my accountant if this mean I can write off that invoice as a charitable donation. I would suggest steering clear of these people. |
| JimmyG | Posted – 5/29/2009 2:40:07 PM | show profile | flag this post What makes me suspect that this so-called foundation they're diverting money into is a charity having a very limited number of beneficiaries, all of whom are related? If they're really headed for bankruptcy court, getting something from them is better than getting nothing, which is likely what you'll end up with. And it seems to be a stretch of the imagination you could deduct your losses as a charitable deduction, even if the foundation was legit. |
| amy63 | Posted – 6/24/2009 2:04:17 PM | show profile | email poster | flag this post Ocean Magazine Update I would like to take a moment to address this chat thread and to provide a clear update personally on behalf of Ocean Magazine, as Ocean's Associate Publisher and co-founder. First of all, I find it very disappointing and unprofessional to write such disparaging remarks on a public forum. We have worked effortlessly to make sure that both [name removed by moderator] and [name removed by moderator] have been compensated for their work in which they are referring to. It has now been resolved with both parties. We had simply asked for their patience while we we undergoing structural changes within the company, which has proved to be most beneficial, ensuring the growth and expansion of the publication in this very challenging current economic climate. We had responded to them with complete honesty and compassion, and are happy that this has been resolved amicably. I do though find the comment regarding our non-profit organization Ocean2Ocean extremely disheartening and disturbing, as this foundation is currently actively assisting women in both nepal and thailand who have been victims of sex trafficking. The foundation works on a grass roots level and provides assistance for women who have been able to escape this horrific situation with their basic needs- food, housing, education, transportation, employment, etc. We have worked alongside several organizations in these countries as a way to give back with graciousness and humility and help others in greater need. To suggest otherwise is sickening. We have also recently set up a foundation for April Ann Dutch, who was a member of our digital imaging department who recently passed away at the age of 24 from complications of Moyamoya disease . I am of the sincere belief that we should, especially during these very trying times for many people, be working alongside each other with a greater kindness and respect, as we are all, though our various ventures sharing in a common goal . It is through these challenges that the true quality of ones character is revealed. This is what ultimately defines true success. We wish everyone much happiness and beautiful reward. amy |
| Decorama | Posted – 7/1/2009 7:10:59 PM | show profile | flag this post One thing we can say . . . nothing like magazine publishers who can't write! |
| Thegirl | Posted – 7/1/2009 9:19:10 PM | show profile | email poster | flag this post Payment equals empowerment. Wouldn't you agree? For those of you who are following this melodrama, I?m afraid I need to clarify Amy?s post by reporting that the matter has not yet been settled, since the debt still stands. And ?amicably? is certainly not a word suitable to this unpleasant situation. At this point, I have been sent a check (uncertified; not yet cleared) for $100 (all, I?m told, they can afford), and I am slated to receive that same amount monthly for one year. The debt is now more than a year old, and my patience ended around March of this year, at which point justifiable pissed-off-ness kicked in. During this time I have had to endure e-mails about Ocean?s financial distress, being told that by continuing to pursue payment I am being ?negative? and ?difficult,? and earnest pleas that I ?actually try to be a voice of support and encouragement as women, and as partners in a dream [sic].? Yes, it seems that by requiring payment for the work I completed, I am interfering with the empowerment of women. Must be because I didn?t start all my correspondence with ?pretty please.? And a note about Ocean?s charitable foundation: curiously, it was launched around the same time I received a bad check from them. (Funny enough, I received the second uncashable check around the time they were holding their fourth-anniversary bash at the W Hotel in San Diego, which, fittingly, has filed for bankruptcy.) I would suggest that a more straightforward way to ?empower? women--one of the stated goals of the foundation--would be to pay women in a timely manner for the work that they do, although of course that doesn?t garner the tax and public relations benefits that a foundation does. |
| Thegirl | Posted – 7/1/2009 9:21:37 PM | show profile | email poster | flag this post Last posting The quotation marks in the last posting through as questions marks when I pasted the text in. Please interpret accordingly. Thank you. |
