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Grex > Coop10 > #77: Need a Location for Grex Board Meetings | |
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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 105 responses total. |
srw
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response 75 of 105:
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Mar 5 06:38 UTC 1998 |
Yes I meant "no good reason *not* to be a 501(c)3,".
It is not a question of my deserving a tax break. I donate to causes
because I believe in them. I became a Grex member for that reason.
I believe that my $60/year should be tax deductible, not because I
deserve anything, but because Grex does. It leverages my donation. The
way Grex spends my donations compares favorably to the way money I
donate to many tax-deductible organizations is spent. $60 is more than I
donate to *any* other non-deductible organization, but far far less than
my donations to deductible ones. $60 is about as far as I want to go
without tax deductibility.
I also donate at a low level to a few other non-tax-deductible
organizations, but none of them are like Grex in almost any way.
I made my offer in attempt to push grex to get a 501(c)3. I make no
apology for that. It seems that the state government is also making it
profitable for grex to pursue that route, and has even outbid me. (See
the state tax questions elsewhere). While I don't plan on calling or
raising that amount, my $100 offer stands, to be added to the
contributions others may make.
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jep
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response 76 of 105:
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Mar 5 15:01 UTC 1998 |
I didn't mean to challenge or offend you, Steve, I just wondered as to
the reasons.
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dpc
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response 77 of 105:
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Mar 5 18:21 UTC 1998 |
See? Another tail-chasing, negative argument about 501(c)(3) status!
Am I clairvoyant, or what? 8-)
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keesan
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response 78 of 105:
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Mar 5 21:46 UTC 1998 |
The donations are only tax-deductible if you itemize, and to itemize normally
means that you have to have one or more of: high mortgage payments, high
property tax, high state taxes. Many of us would still get no tax credit for
a donation, except that the state gives up to $100 off for dontaions to a
library or university. Does Grex qualify for state credit somehow?
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rcurl
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response 79 of 105:
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Mar 6 02:36 UTC 1998 |
No, Grex would not qualify, as it is not associated with a library or
university (or community foundation). Grex could, however, create an
endowment fund with a community foundations and then donations to that
would qualify for the state tax credit. It is true that the tax-deductibility
is only useful to an individual if they itemize, but it is *very* useful
to the organization because big donors also usually itemize.
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aruba
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response 80 of 105:
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Mar 6 05:58 UTC 1998 |
Jan, how about you and I set a date to get together and work on the 501(c)3
paperwork. I'll bring over all Grex's financial records, and we can get that
part done. I suggest sometime later this month; I should be ready for a full
day out in about 2 weeks. What do you say?
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janc
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response 81 of 105:
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Mar 11 17:18 UTC 1998 |
I say OK. My schedule is flexible. I think before I last pooped out on this
I had drafts of all the more challenging written parts of the document. That
means that most of what is left to do is (1) the financial data, and (2)
getting it all printed up on the forms and sent out.
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aruba
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response 82 of 105:
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Mar 12 07:01 UTC 1998 |
OK. I'll send you mail about arranging a time.
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jiffer
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response 83 of 105:
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May 1 03:34 UTC 1998 |
Okay, I feel as if i should try to pull a few strings and see about reserving
at least the kids room at Zingerman's if need be. They are now open till 10p
so that should be no problem... and as long as we get out of there by 10:30
things should be okay. (Its good to be the employee sometimes.)
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keesan
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response 84 of 105:
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May 1 22:20 UTC 1998 |
Sounds wonderful, I will try to make it to the next meeting. I had no idea
where the ITT cafeteria even was. Hopefully Zingerman's will get enough extra
business as compensation. I always buy two bags of bread ends when I go in
there (which is usually just to buy bread ends, they are good and cheap).
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jiffer
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response 85 of 105:
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May 2 02:55 UTC 1998 |
what do you look like then keesan??? Long haired good lookin guy? hehe
Yeah, I think alot more people know Zing's location though parking does
sucketh! If we keep the meetings from 7 till 10ish then we should be okay
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keesan
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response 86 of 105:
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May 2 19:45 UTC 1998 |
You got one out of three right on the description. ZIngerman's is an ideal
location for people who don't want parking, it is walkable.
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jiffer
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response 87 of 105:
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May 3 03:17 UTC 1998 |
That is true... how many board members and concerned grex living in walking
distance is hte question. However, with the coming of summer, parking is
getting better in the evenings, and Commie High Parking is free after 6p!
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janc
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response 88 of 105:
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May 4 01:39 UTC 1998 |
Normally we've been meeting in the MUG during summers. How do people feel
about Zingermans? I think we used to meet there and had noise problems. I'd
be willing to try it though.
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jiffer
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response 89 of 105:
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May 4 03:04 UTC 1998 |
hmmm... if its under 20 we could close the kids room...
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valerie
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response 90 of 105:
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May 4 05:18 UTC 1998 |
This response has been erased.
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aruba
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response 91 of 105:
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May 4 05:35 UTC 1998 |
Hmmm - I'm all for keeping the noise down, but I'm afraid if we close the door
it will deter people from joining the meeting if they arrive late, and will
deter people from happening by, because it will be awkward to leave early.
(I know when I'm contemplating trying a new social experience, the first thing
I think about is how easy it will be to get away. :))
Of course, at ITI no one *does* happen by. But at the Michigan Union they
do.
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keesan
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response 92 of 105:
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May 4 13:43 UTC 1998 |
How about a big sign on the door saying come in, the door is only closed to
keep down the noise levels?
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aruba
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response 93 of 105:
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May 4 17:06 UTC 1998 |
Well, that would help. I'd be willing to try it, certainly. Maybe we could
alternate between Zingermann's and the Union for the summer, to see which
generates more random arrivals?
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jiffer
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response 94 of 105:
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May 4 18:32 UTC 1998 |
I agree with keesan, its not difficult to make a sign to put out there. And
also, I think grex is relaxed enough that is someone is going to have to
leave early it isn't going to be akward...
And if we give directions to where the kids room is, people can still arrive
late.
The kids room is at Zingerman's Next Door, upstairs. I think you can usually
fit between 10 to 20 people in there...
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davel
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response 95 of 105:
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May 5 01:54 UTC 1998 |
That's where we used to meet. I always found it hard to understand people
(echoes & muzak, I think) even when there weren't other people there talking.
When there were people with kids, or one birthday-party group, it became
impossible for me to follow the discussion. (I have lots of trouble in
general separating voices from background, so I'm probably worse off than most
everyone else in this regard. And I'm unlikely to be there, in any case.
So please understand that I'm mentioning this, not voting against Z's or
something like that.)
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dang
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response 96 of 105:
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May 7 20:51 UTC 1998 |
Zings is great for me, seeing as it's only 2 blocks from where I live...
:)
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jiffer
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response 97 of 105:
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May 8 00:58 UTC 1998 |
I am assuming that most Grexers live near downtown. And if the meetings keep
starting at about 7p then parking should be no problem at all. Commie high
is free after 6p... luckily!
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remmers
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response 98 of 105:
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May 8 14:38 UTC 1998 |
(Actually, most Grexers probably live outside the American midwest...)
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jiffer
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response 99 of 105:
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May 9 00:10 UTC 1998 |
I meant most *local* grexers =)
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