COMDTINST 1750.6B
APR 12 1996
c.
Spending appropriated funds on spouses' club activities or using Government equipment
to print or copy spouses' club newsletters are prohibited by law. However, when their
activities benefit all unit members, commands may allow spouses' clubs to use MWR
equipment, such as copiers, on a no-cost, not-to-interfere basis. If no MWR copier is
available, then with permission and using their own paper, clubs may use the copier used
to print MWR material. Commands can support local spouses' clubs' efforts by making
space available for meetings (when possible) and cosponsoring workshops, symposiums,
and other forums designed to provide comprehensive information and referral service on a
wide range of family related programs and issues. The command also may provide the
spouses' clubs with permanent mailing and electronic mail addresses at the unit.
d.
Spouses' clubs may solicit funds and property from outside sources to raise monies
necessary for the programs and good works for which the clubs are noted. When doing so,
club members must be sensitive to the fact that because there is such a close and personal
connection between the clubs and the Coast Guard, any impropriety in their fund raising
activities is likely to be imputed back to the Coast Guard. Additionally, depending upon
the circumstances, an impropriety by the spouse in soliciting or accepting a gift could be
imputed back to the Coast Guard member. Accordingly, commands should advise
spouses' clubs to adhere to the following guidelines in all fund raising activities:
(1)
Spouses' clubs may neither solicit nor accept contributions from prohibited sources,
e.g., companies which the Coast Guard regulates or does business with see enclosure
(1) to COMDTINST 5370.8A, "Standards of Conduct" for a more detailed
discussion of the term "prohibited source."
(2)
Auctioning rides on Coast Guard vessels or the use of other government property in
conjunction with, or in furtherance of, fund raising activities is prohibited.
(3)
The spouses' club must make it clear that it is separate and distinct from the Coast
Guard, that it is the spouses' club which is doing the soliciting, that all contributions
are voluntary, and that the Coast Guard in no way endorses the product or service
solicited.
Because improprieties in spouses' club fund raising activities may be imputed back to the
Coast Guard, commands should take notice of such activities within their areas of
responsibility. Commands with questions regarding the propriety of spouses' club fund
raising activities should seek advice from their servicing legal office.
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