One of the key missions that US Missouri Team has identified for itself is to support existing GNU/Linux and free software user groups, foster new groups, and educate individuals, businesses, and government officials in our state about the benefits of free software in general and Ubuntu in particular.
This is a big task in a state with six million citizens and over 180,000 sq. km. The online tools provided by the Ubuntu Community are a great start, but to achieve our goals, we will have to get out in the community and evangelize Linux face-to-face -- at technical conferences, user group meetings, government hearings, and offering technical assistance. In short, it will require money. Therefore, we are considering forming a non-profit Missouri corporation to assist us in raising funds to cover expenses for marketing and evangelizing, and approaching corporate and individual sponsors to assist. At a minimum, being a non-profit will give our activists the ability to write off at least a part of their expenses at tax time. It also gives the organization the time-tested advantages of a formal structure that can legally outlive the activity of its current participants. Forming a corporation is relatively easy, but several legal issues have occurred to me, and I wanted to know if anyone else has attempted this and resolved these issues: 1. Is it a violation of the Ubuntu trademark policy to incorporate as the "Ubuntu Missouri Team" or some other similar name? If it is, will incorporating under a more innocuous name muddy our connection with the Ubuntu community? 2. Would the community recognize a loco that had an independent, legal existence? Right now, the Community Council (which I understand is the sponsoring organization for the LoCo movement) really doesn't wield any particular control over individual LoCos, except for the power to approve them; therefore, it would seem to me that there would be no conflict, at least as the system is currently set up. However, does the Community Council intend on exercising more closely held control over LoCos in the future, and if so, would incorporation interfere with those plans? 3. Has any other LoCo looked into incorporation and non-profit status, whether on a state/local/provincial level or nationally? If so, what have your experiences been? Any other thoughts or observations are welcome. Obviously, our first and foremost purpose is to advance the cause of free software, so we don't want to do anything that might cause us to go into direct conflict with the rest of the community. However, we want to make a real impact on our state, and experience shows that we cannot do that by restricting ourselves to the virtual, internet space. We have to get out among the people, which is difficult and expensive for men and women who do this while carrying other full-time jobs and paying bills. If this needs to go to a different list, or should be directed at a specific person, please feel free to direct me there! Thanks and have a great weekend! Matthew G. Copple Team Contact US - Missouri LoCo Team [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- loco-contacts mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/loco-contacts
