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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 78 responses total. |
dpc
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response 44 of 78:
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Dec 6 20:01 UTC 1997 |
Richard, I've just read the Grex bylaws (See Coop Item 2) and I can't
see anything in them about 501(c)(3) status at all. I think there
may be a bit of misinformation floating around for the reason that
taxes are considered hard, scary, and boring at the same time, so
very few people have any idea what the story is.
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aruba
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response 45 of 78:
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Dec 6 21:15 UTC 1997 |
According to Jan in resp:coop,13,1 the proviso in question is in our
Articles of Incorporation, article 6, section 3. I don't know where to find
the Articles online, though.
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remmers
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response 46 of 78:
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Dec 6 21:44 UTC 1997 |
The Articles of Incorporation are in Coop Item 3. And yes,
that's where the proviso is.
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rcurl
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response 47 of 78:
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Dec 7 21:19 UTC 1997 |
When Grex does file for 501(c)3 status it will have to submit its
fiscal records for past years, to ensure that it has conformed in the
past to 501(c)3 regulations and does not owe past taxes, etc. It is not
adviseable to do anything now not in accord with 501(c)3 exemption if
such exemption will be sought. Of course, if past practices were not
in accord with 501(c)3, but past taxes are still not due, then there should
be no problem (but maybe some delays).
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srw
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response 48 of 78:
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Dec 8 02:38 UTC 1997 |
Exactly. That is why I don't like to follow arguments that are predicated
on the assumption that we are not a 501(C)(3). We want to become one, so if
we take advantage of the fact that we are not one, we will only make it harder
later on.
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jep
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response 49 of 78:
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Dec 8 16:58 UTC 1997 |
I sure wouldn't want to see Grex endorsing political candidates. What
would such an endorsement mean? That the Board had decided to endorse
someone, and therefore if I want to become a member and vote, I have to
consider the politics of the candidates? That all of us endorse the
candidate? How is that determined? There are users here who are from
countries that don't get to vote. Do they endorse who "we" endorse?
resp:43 really set the bells to clanging for me. Sorry about the drift.
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aruba
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response 50 of 78:
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Dec 8 21:03 UTC 1997 |
BTW we received a packet from Lansing in the mail today, containing coupons
and instructions for paying them the sales tax we have collected.
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valerie
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response 51 of 78:
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Dec 9 01:50 UTC 1997 |
This response has been erased.
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richard
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response 52 of 78:
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Dec 9 22:42 UTC 1997 |
I wasnt saying Grex should endorse political candidates outright,but
just that what would be wrong with giving a little publicity to Larry's
campaign...such as creating a conf for him that could be his virtual
campaign headquarters and reminding people about it in the motd from
time to time. Does that constitute an endorsement? I dont think so
but some think it does and that it would be a 501(3)(c) violation.
I dont think there is anything wrong with public advocacy groups using
grex. And dont think grex endorses a particular group or view simply by
virtue of sharing use of its facilities.
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davel
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response 53 of 78:
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Dec 10 18:34 UTC 1997 |
There are a whole lot of reasons that Grex shouldn't be endorsing candidates
even to the extent of "giving a little publicity to" certain favored
candidates. How do we choose which candidates get favored? How much bigger
does the motd have to get, & who gets to choose which candidates are endorsed
there? Aside from any tax-status issues, it would quickly become a major
distraction from Grex's mission - conferencing - if in fact it got anywhere
at all. Do we start having people run for the board so that they can make
Grex endorse their chosen people? How much discussion do we have to have in
coop about the pros & cons of particular candidates? Bleah. What jep said,
to about the hundredth power.
OTOH, if polygon *wanted* to start a conference here to serve as his "virtual
campaign headquarters", he need only ask that the conference be created. Of
course, the same is true of any candidate at all, so this would constitute
no endorsement whatsoever. As far as I know, our policy has *always* been
to allow any user to propose a that a conference be created, & to do it
(after a reasonably brief discussion period) unless the person making the
proposal changed his mind.
As usual, Richard, your head is screwed on 180 degrees backward on this.
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rcurl
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response 54 of 78:
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Dec 10 18:44 UTC 1997 |
Well, maybe 90 degrees?
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tsty
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response 55 of 78:
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Dec 15 20:08 UTC 1997 |
richard .... 501(c)3 DOES NOT APPLY TO GREX !!
quit typing it, 'k?
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rcurl
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response 56 of 78:
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Dec 16 04:06 UTC 1997 |
It does, according to the Articles of Incorporation (but without the
benefits, only the responsibilities, because application has not
been made).
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dpc
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response 57 of 78:
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Dec 16 19:02 UTC 1997 |
No corporation can impose tax-related duties on itself, for pity's sake!
The languate in the articles can only take effect upon the obtaining
of 501(c)(3) status from the Feds.
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mta
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response 58 of 78:
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Dec 16 19:39 UTC 1997 |
This response has been erased.
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mta
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response 59 of 78:
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Dec 16 19:41 UTC 1997 |
But it becomes much, much easier to *get* 501c3 status if we've already been
following the rules.
The IRS is very willling to turn people down, you know.
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dang
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response 60 of 78:
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Dec 16 21:49 UTC 1997 |
resp:57 Why now? I can't think of any reason why one couldn't.
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rcurl
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response 61 of 78:
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Dec 17 01:02 UTC 1997 |
Re #57, in agreement with #60: of course it can. It can impose policies
(in fact, it has) requiring that it not do anything that would jeopardize
obtaining 501(c)3 exemption, which is what the Articles provide.
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mary
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response 62 of 78:
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Feb 5 13:55 UTC 1998 |
Was the topic of the role (and authority) of the Grex Store
Manager ever brought before the Board? I don't see any
mention of it in the minutes.
I believe Jan announced jiffer has the job. But I'd assume
all purchases will need to be authorized by a Board vote?
That may acually be the best way to go unless the store is
going to be doing a whole lot of business and bringing in
significant profits.
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janc
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response 63 of 78:
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Feb 20 15:44 UTC 1998 |
I don't think the Grex shopkeeper can purchase anything without board
authorizations right now. It is possible that we should consider the
job as one that should be approved by board vote (though jiffer volunteered
during a board meeting and no objections were heard). Formalizing it a bit
more is probably a good idea. I guess the shopkeeper is managing a
non-trivial portion of Grex's assets (the store inventory) and needs to be
appointed by someone, and if not by the board, then who? So yeah, I think
we should elect jiffer to the job.
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rcurl
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response 64 of 78:
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Feb 20 19:11 UTC 1998 |
Anyone manipulating Grex assets or acting publically on behalf of Grex
should be appointed by the board. It helps protect them and assures
others with whom that person deals.
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richard
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response 65 of 78:
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Feb 20 19:43 UTC 1998 |
the grex shopkeeper should be the grex treasurer, because the
treasurer can make purchases without board authorization
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mta
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response 66 of 78:
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Feb 20 20:26 UTC 1998 |
Except for one problem, Richard.
Both shopkeeper and trearurer are big jobs and since Grex can't afford to pay a
salary, we have to make sure our vulunteers also get a couple of free hours a
week to make a living in.
Other than that it makes sense.
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rcurl
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response 67 of 78:
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Feb 20 20:37 UTC 1998 |
Even the treasurer cannot make purchases without board authorization. The
board adopts a budget, or a specific purchase authorization, and identifies
who will make the purchase - it is not usually the treasurer, who just pays
the bill when it arrives.
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richard
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response 68 of 78:
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Feb 21 19:23 UTC 1998 |
yes, but anybody who has their signature in grex's signature file at
the bank can write a check, and pay for stuff, and get it authorized
after the fact by the board. So I guess the shopkeeper needs to be
one of those people. How many people can sign grex checks? Must
be three or four people right?
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