Heather and Michael: Please let me know if you can attend on Thursday the 31st, otherwise, I'll reschedule.
I hope to hold a Board of Directors meeting on Thurday, July 31st in Manchester. The Public Library had to withdraw its offer as their children's program needs the space. I've asked the folks at the ABI if we might use their meeting space. If not, we might end up in a parking lot somewhere or at a seedy bar, with any luck. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats with be completing their route of the Portland Sea Dogs, complete with Atlas Fireworks, so it ought to be a fun time in the Queen City. Stay tuned for details. Shawn and Ben had indicated their willingness to attend. maddog is on the left side of the Atlantic. Bill Sconce expressed grave reservations at last night's PySIG. I'd appreciate one more board member to let me know they can make it to continue to persue this, or the other two to express their regrets and I'll work at rescheduling. I expect the other officers will want to update the board, and I welcome all interested parties to bring up issues or questions to the board as well. To catch up the board of directors and all interested parties, I met with a student intern, Lydia Liu, and her faculty advisor, Ashlyn Lembree, at the Franklin Pierce Law Center clinic on 1 July 2008. IAW the direction of the board, I signed a letter of agreement that the clinic will advise GNHLUG on the matter of obtaining 501(c)(3) status -- original to be provided to the Secretary at the next meeting. Lydia was only attending fplc.edu for the summer and would likely not see me again. The clinic is pretty much shut down for the month of August, but we can expect additional help in September and onward, from different students. I was provided with a copy of the following documents, and we reviewed them in detail: (a) "Applying for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status" (I couldn't find a link to this exact document, but if you start reading at http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/index.html, you'll eventually know it all) (b) Publication 557 (06/2008), Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization http://www.irs.gov/publications/p557/index.html OR http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p557.pdf (c) IRS Form 1023 "Application for Recognition of Exemption" and the accompanying instructions for that form. http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html (d) Form 2848, "Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representation" I asked why on earth the FPLC would want to be the official representative of GNHLUG, and they were stumped for an answer, too. At this point, that document remains incomplete. As we do not require representation for any proceding, it seemed wise to put it aside for the time being. The following actions have to be completed in order for us to move forward: 1. The Board needs to amend the current articles of incorporation in two regards: the purpose has to be made more clearly iaw the guidance of the 501(c)(3) and the dissolution arrangements need to be more specific in disposing of any assets to another 501(c)(3) organization. Suggestions for the exact wording will be provided by one of the interns. 2. The board and assisting members need to document the charitable contributions made to the group over the past three years, and create this as a budget. There were two units of measure suggested, and both should be used: actual dollars expended and volunteer hours contributed. Details to be discussed at the board meeting. 3. Form 1023, Part IV, what I've nicknamed "The Essay Question" and the IRS calls "Narrative Description of Your Activities" which pretty much counts for 90% of the grade. This is not only a description of what we are, but concrete examples of what we've done, and included attachments (handouts, flyers, pictures from activities, etc.) that should clinch the application. This is the other major board/volunteers task that I'd like to work with others to undertake. There's a lot of material here if we can take the time to assemble a timeline of events, participants, activities and contributions. -- Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com _______________________________________________ gnhlug-org mailing list gnhlug-org@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-org/
