Sandy and Tina,
Am not about to get into a debate as to whether or not the USGenWeb or any of its members
should or should not incorporate.
However, some of the messages posted to our project lists are inaccurate and should be
corrected.
First, our project bylaws already contain a "mission" statement as follows:
"ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
Section 1. The USGenWeb Project is an organized group of volunteers working to create an
online center for genealogical research by linking every county in the United States. The
purpose of this organization shall be to gather genealogical and historical information
for free online access by researchers
Section 2. This purpose shall be accomplished by presenting websites which shall be
central repositories of historical and genealogical research data, donated either by the
website coordinator or other contributors. In presenting this information, the foundation
of the organization shall be at the local websites (county, township, parish, town, etc.)
which shall be linked to the state websites which shall be linked to the national website.
The USGenWeb Project shall also provide a "digital library" called The USGenWeb
Project Archives."
Second, for nearly five hundred years our country has recognized only three kinds of
"legal entities":
1.. Individual
2.. Partnership
3.. Corporation
The decision of two or more individuals such as a club, society, association, project,
etc. to become a legal entity is their prerogative. And, legal entity status has nothing
to do with whether or not it is for profit or non profit, or its tax status.
Third and finally, IRS section 501 applies to a multitude of organizations, "legal
entities", seeking tax exempt status. 501c(3) status is for charitable
organizations. Suggest y'all read the IRS publication at
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p557.pdf to see where you think the USGenWeb Project fits in
before any proposals are made to the project membership. I wonder, for example, if we do
apply for tax exempt status, Section 501c(6) may be more applicable.
Regards,
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandy" <teylu(a)earthlink.net>
To: "NCGenWeb" <NCGENWEB-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [NCGENWEB] Fw: Call For Volunteers For FinancialManagementCommittee
Nola and all,
I do not believe that anyone with any experience in organizational
management would have formed this committee, let alone would
volunteer to waste time serving on it, because:
• There is no need for a "financial management committee" until the
USGWP has - or anticipates having - revenue.
• The committee is specifically instructed to make NO recommendations
on its findings. Item 3 of the motion specifies the committee is to:
"Provide a report to the Advisory Board (without recommendations) of
findings."
• The duration of the committee is open-ended, with no timeline set,
and clearly is anticipated to exist for an unspecified number of
*months*, which is wholly unnecessary given its "charge." Item 7 of
the motion specifies *monthly* committee "reports of tasks,
accomplishments, and plans" be provided to the AB.
The entire premise of such a committee is a classic example of
placing a cart two miles ahead of its horse. Frankly, I see no need,
particularly given USGWP is now 10+ years in existence, to form a
committee prior to putting the following primary questions before the
membership, in this order:
1) What is the MISSION of the USGenWeb Project?
2) Do you desire that the USGenWeb Project incorporate as a non
profit? Secondarily comes the question of do you desire the
incorporated non profit to seek tax-exempt status under U.S. Revenue
code 501(c)(3)?
You cannot answer the second question without first knowing the
MISSION of the organization to be incorporated. I am sure many of us
(both those who support and those who oppose incorporation as a non
profit) might have no interest in proceeding to the question of
incorporation if we should find that we do not agree with the outcome
of the question of the organization's mission. Those who do not agree
with an organization's mission, usually do not interact with that
organization. Everything else about the organization becomes moot.
The USGenWeb Project has existed for 10+ years. I see NO need to form
a "committee" to propose a mission statement. The AB should be able
to do this and put its proposed mission statement before the full
membership for a vote. I believe it should do so ASAP, and I see no
reason it cannot do so within a month. Certainly, the board can do
this much. If the board feels it needs "input", it can send out a
"proposed" mission statement to the full membership and ASK for
suggested changes to it, but this should NOT be used as some sort of
"delay" tactic. A *timetable* for the whole process of establishing
the mission statement should be decided and made known to the
membership IN ADVANCE.
Likewise, a timetable should be established and made known regarding
a vote on incorporation as a non profit.
This project is 10+ years old. It is comprised of adults. Each member
is perfectly capable of researching on his/her own - either via the
internet, or by picking up the phone and calling their nearest
consumer protection agency, their state Attorney General's office, or
the nearest non profit association, and ASKING the pros and cons of
becoming a bona fide non profit incorporation. If members *choose* to
be an "uninformed electorate," that is their choice. Citizens have
that right and make that choice in every U.S. presidential election.
There's no reason to abridge that right or preclude that choice for
the members of the USGenWeb Project.
Once the USGWP mission is established, and the question of the
membership's desire to incorporate as a non profit decided, any
committee(s) necessary for specific tasks relating to accomplishing
incorporation, such as bylaws and finance, can be formed, but should
have specific charges, with specific time limits and be directed to
make a committee recommendation to the AB and membership.
-Sandy
CC, NCVance
On Oct 9, 2007, at 7:49 PM, Nola Duffy wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tina S. Vickery" <tsvickery(a)gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 11:33 AM
Subject: [USGENWEB-DISCUSS] Call For Volunteers For
Financial ManagementCommittee
> Call For Volunteers For Financial Management Committee
>
> *****Please forward to USGenWeb Project lists*****
>
> The Advisory Board is seeking five (5) volunteers in good
> status with demonstrated experience in organizational
> financial management to serve on a temporary fact finding
> group as approved by Motion 07-12. If you are interested
> in volunteering, please submit your name, project
> positions that you hold and a summary of your financial
> qualifications to Tina Vickery tsvickery(a)gmail.com. Your
> email will be shared with the entire USGenWeb Project
> Advisory Board. Emails of interest will be accepted
> through Wednesday, October 17, 2007.
>
> ---
>
> Motion 07-12
>
> "I move the Advisory Board establish a special fact
> finding study group which would:
>
> 1] Review and document current financial laws relative to
> non-profit organizations such as USGenWeb. For example,
> incorporation registration, unincorporated non-profit
> registration, 501(c)3 status, status quo and so on and
> what each would mean to this organization as possible
> effects/non-effects of possible needed future funding.
>
> 2] Develop a list of possible financial paths USGenWeb
> could pursue, or not, with potential advantages and
> disadvantages.
>
> 3] Provide a report to the Advisory Board (without
> recommendations) of findings.
>
> 4] The group will have five members who have demonstrated
> experience in organizational financial management.
>
> 5] The Advisory Board will recruit and select initial and
> subsequent group members.
>
> 6] The group will structure itself and the group
> leadership and assignments.
>
> 7] The group will provide reports of tasks,
> accomplishments, and plans to the Advisory Board every
> month.
>
> ----
>
> Thank you,
>
> Tina S. Vickery
> National Coordinator
> USGenWeb Project
>
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