[MBZ] OT:Joined MBCA (can we lose the sudden attack of the caps, guys?)

[Rich Thomas]

I belong to a woodworking club, on the board, and we just recently went 
through an incorporation for legal reasons.  The club had been going 
along in some non-"legal" form for many years but because of liability 
issues for the directors (figuring at some point someone will sue us for 
a hangnail they discovered at a meeting or something) we all decided to 
go the incorporation route.  It was pretty simple, not much involved 
though we did have a lawyer do the paperwork (which to me was a waste of 
money, but there you go).  There are some things that you can put into a 
charter that spell out how the club operates, its purpose, etc. and we 
have had that for a long time.  We are looking at revising that charter 
just a bit now since we are a legal entity, but even that can be 
whatever we want it to be as long as we follow the IRS tax aspect for a 
non-profit org (which appear to be the only specific legal requirements 
of such an org, at least here in Texas). 

I have no idea what the MBCA charter says, and what it's legal 
incorporation papers say, and don't really care, but it seems to me that 
whoever has issues with the org, and belongs to it as a member, should 
read it very thoroughly and carefully to see what it says regarding the 
leadership, etc.  If there are things going on that are contrary to the 
charter then you have a case to take to the board or members if it rises 
to your pissoff threshold level.  If not, then live with(out) it.  It 
appears one of our listers is doing just that, more power to him  -- as 
with our woodworking club the meetings and management are a pain, but I 
find it marginally worthwhile for various reasons.

--R (I am not a lawyer, have played one fairly successfully a few times, 
and stayed in my own home last night.)