Installfest matters

Thu Aug 21 21:28:21 MST 2014

http://www.mpglug.org
Meetings to be held in the Town of Queen Creek Annex.

On Thu, Aug 21, 2014 at 1:39 PM, Stephen Partington <cryptworks at gmail.com>
wrote:

> they both ultimately go to the same place
>
>
> https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maricopa-Pinal-GNU-Linux-Users-Group/556228454505290?fref=nf
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 20, 2014 at 11:48 AM, <techlists at phpcoderusa.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Are both of the pages the same group?
>>
>> https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=565460910248711&id=
>> 556228454505290
>>
>> https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=556228454505290&story_fbid=
>> 565462070248595
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2014-08-20 00:46, Kaoru Wilbur wrote:
>>
>>> Great info Mark. I am sure the new Maricopa Pinal GNU Linux users
>>> group will find this useful as they complete their charter.
>>>
>>> On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 6:35 PM, Mark Phillips
>>> <mark at phillipsmarketing.biz> wrote:
>>>
>>>  Just to add my two cents to the non-profit discussion. I set up a
>>>> 501c3 corporation over 10 years ago for my daughters' club softball
>>>> teams. I was the head coach and president of the corporation. I had
>>>> a lawyer help with the application as probono work....I downloaded
>>>> the application from the IRS, filled it out, asked the attorney a
>>>> few questions, he reviewed the final application, and the IRS
>>>> approved it. I kept the books in gnucash and filed the annual tax
>>>> forms myself....a few reports from gnucash and some electronic
>>>> filings with the state and IRS. I had three teams and over $45K in
>>>> annual donations, so it was not that small of an operation. It was
>>>> easy. It is amazing what one can learn by just reading the IRS
>>>> handouts. I did not need a CPA or attorney after the initial filing
>>>> with the IRS. I also haven't been audited or sent to jail for my
>>>> 501c3. I am also not a CPA or attorney...just an engineer with an
>>>> MBA. I think there is a certain mystic about non-profit
>>>> organizations that is just not true. It is not that big of a deal.
>>>> You need three officers, just like any other AZ corporation to get
>>>> started.
>>>>
>>>> I am not volunteering to set up the non-profit, nor do I have an
>>>> opinion whether PLUG should be a non-profit or not. I am just saying
>>>> that from my personal experience, it is not as scary and difficult
>>>> to setup and run a non-profit as part of this discussion is making
>>>> it out to be.
>>>>
>>>> Mark
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 1:53 PM, Gilbert T. Gutierrez, Jr.
>>>> <mailing-lists at phoenixinternet.net> wrote:
>>>> There are ongoing costs to being a non-profit. You do have to file
>>>> taxes every year. I believe in the past that was not so if you were
>>>> not having a certain amount of funds running through your accounts.
>>>> Additionally, the board, or officers, are responsible for the
>>>> accuracy of those taxes and the compliance of the organization which
>>>> should not ever be overlooked.
>>>>
>>>> I would not say its a good thing or a bad thing. I would say it is
>>>> a good thing if you have a bunch of corporate donors lined up to
>>>> provide significant funding to some of the plug activities. If you
>>>> are speaking of a $100 here or there (under $1k/year), I would say
>>>> that it is a waste of time becoming a non-profit.
>>>>
>>>> You will have to have money to maintain the following...
>>>> 1. CPA for tax season,
>>>> 2. Lawyer (mostly for initial filings, but also for organization),
>>>> 3. Commercial bank account (banks charge for those things).
>>>>
>>>> This is my 2 cents only. I was once on the board of a charitable
>>>> organization that failed. It was a lot of work and I always had
>>>> concerns about money mismanagement.
>>>>
>>>> Gilbert
>>>>
>>>> On 8/19/2014 12:24 PM, Ed wrote:
>>>> 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
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
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>
>
>
> --
> A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from
> rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
>
> Stephen
>
>
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