The need to be a non-profit, and not being one, has bit us in the ass in the past. this should be done now as there is no pressing need - when the need occurs is not when you want to be starting this. There are some initial costs (fees) just becoming a state recognized organization, getting a federal non-profit status will take longer - The purpose would be education. A bank account is needed and finding a lawyer/accountant that is willing to support the group pro-bono (post a wanted add at ASU) are also needed. Don't skimp on infrastructure - you're starting a distributed group, support it. Start with a group of founders (10+) - each founder brings a C-note.... Start fresh - don't reverse into an established papertrail - don't play adopt a fubar (unless that fubar is a shell of a listed public company - even then it's a bad idea) Keep detailed records of who does what when, you are maintaining IP now. when talking to other non-profits, ask who they use - get a referral - take a meeting - make a list. think about who is good for the advisory board (ie not people you now know) pay them. involve more people than you think you will need - you will need more - tasks should be assigned to teams (not people) share everything - keep open books On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 10:29 AM, wrote: > On 2014-08-19 12:10, Lisa Kachold wrote: >> >> Well if it's that hard to maintain a non-profit how does the San Diego >> LUG, and the Portland and Seattle LUGS manage? >> >> How does Heatsync labs do it? It is EASY! > > > I cannot answer that. We are a different group and maybe what is important > to those groups is not important to PLUG. Have you contacted those goups to > see what they think after the fact? > > Maybe it has something to do with being in AZ. AZ is more conservative and > tends to like less oversight especially government oversight. By becoming a > non-profit PLUG would become a government entity with all that comes with > that. > > Please keep in mind it does not matter to me either way. I responded just > to share. If the group wants to incorporate I am along for the ride. If > doing so does not change PLUG in any significant way then it is not an issue > for me. If, however incorporating causes problems, then it effects all of > us. > > >> Why would we, who can >> read any HOWTO and do any technical thing, think we would need either >> a CPU or a lawyer? > > > This is a legal issue and I'm sure it requires the ongoing expertise of the > experts. Going it alone is risky. > > >> >> >> On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 8:40 AM, wrote: >> >>> Around 1999, while living in Tucson, I joined PLUG and the Tucson >>> Free Unix Group (TFUG) lists. For years we went back and forth >>> about formalizing TFUG. We had at least one meeting and there was >>> lots of discussions on the list. After several years it was >>> decided that no structure was the best structure. >>> >>> You bring up a couple of the benefits, what about the down side. >>> >>> Creating a non profit takes a lot of work. And once that status >>> has been reached there is on going requirements that probably >>> require the help of a lawyer and a CPA. >>> >>> Then there is the issue of ownership and control. This process >>> could start out with good intentions and could turn evil real quick. >>> >>> Or maybe the maintainers quit. Who steps in to take over? What >>> might their intent be? >>> >>> Structure can be good, however I think most of us just want to >>> enjoy Linux and Linux related stuff and be free in doing so. >>> >>> I've been a member of this list for about 15 years and the people >>> on this list have helped me immensely. I appreciate all the help you >>> folks have given me and I'm sure I would not have gotten as far >>> without your help. >>> >>> Keith >>> >>> On 2014-08-19 03:02, Lisa Kachold wrote: >>> >>>> Great idea! I doubt that you will get them (him) to agree to >>>> follow >>>> anything that includes rules and structure to allow for success >>>> (& a >>>> large healthy LUG). As long as people are arguing minutia they >>>> will >>>> never notice all the secondary gain that keeps successful >>>> professionals uninvolved and uninterested. In 2002 I suggested >>>> Nonprofit status so people running the LUG functions and donating >>>> funds and equipment can write off reasonable tax exceptions. I >>>> wrote >>>> the whole process up in the discuss list which was the impetus >>>> for >>>> heatsink labs in Mesa to jump to grants and success through >>>> internships, etc. I told Hans I would do it all myself and he >>>> laughed in my face. >>>> >>>> Anyone who has lived in a comparably sized city knows what a >>>> healthy >>>> LUG is capable of simply by following direction already decreed >>>> in >>>> various guides. >>>> >>>> So, after the installfest conversation in PLUG IRC yesterday >>>> regarding >>>> installfest matters, I noticed that a lot of the items discussed >>>> are >>>> actually guidelines already presented in the Linux Installfest >>>> HOWTO. >>>> >>>> Many improvements to the PLUG Installfest can be made by >>>> following >>>> these guidelines. >>>> >>>> Why are we beating a dead horse... >>>> >>>> Many of these items are part of the HOWTO already. >>>> >>>> I propose the Linux Installfest HOWTO be used as a guide for >>>> discussion and installfests. Has everyone had a chance to look >>>> these >>>> over? >>>> Can we agree to use the HOWTO as a guideline? >>>> >>>> I believe these installfest items will be on the table for >>>> discussion >>>> tomorrow evening. Is that correct? >>>> >>>> If so, I will be attending but not exactly at 7pm. You can either >>>> fill >>>> me in or wait. I'm thinking 8ish at the latest. >>>> >>>> As far as I am concerned, I think one thing we can improve and >>>> hopefully agree upon is following the installfest HOWTO as a >>>> guideline. >>>> >>>> See you tomorrow!!! >>>> >>>> :) >>>> >>>> Marcia >>>> >>>> --------------------------------------------------- >>>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] [1] >>>> >>>> Links: >>>> ------ >>>> [1] http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] >>>> >>>> >>>> --------------------------------------------------- >>>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] >> >> >> >> >> Links: >> ------ >> [1] http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss