The
Prez Sez
Hi Folks!
As I write this (thanks for reminding me Will), Shari and I are just returning from our tour of Italy (Rome, Florence, Pisa and Genoa) and Spain (Barcelona). We were the hosts of 36 High School kids, and oh boy, are those kids fast!
In the past few weeks, we have had the folks from Hobbybarn, U of A, and the Army out at Bollin Field, testing and demonstrating a new type of UAV. I was surprised at it's small size and tremendous speed; these old eyes could hardly keep up with it.
I've been considering our upcoming Father's Day Fun Fly, and have about decided that instead of making the event an AMA sanctioned one, we'll just make it a MMRCC Inc local event, avoiding both restrictions (what events we fly, what rules we use) and who can participate (local, or a combination). Let me know what you think.
My choice for this month's information article is an article Dave Brown published on Club incorporation:
Benefits of Incorporation
by Dave Brown, AMA President
I want to give my thanks to all of the officers of AMA clubs. You all work very hard to make this hobby/sport enjoyable for the members.
Winter brings its share of challenges to the officers, trying to keep the members involved during those long, cold winter months. It is during this time that we have moments to reflect on those things which may help our clubs survive in an ever-challenging world.
How long has it been since you reviewed the basic structure of your club? Do you have bylaws? How long has it been since you audited the treasury? Has the proper, paperwork been filed with the government? Have you taken your site owner/operator to lunch lately?
Please don’t forget to do a safety audit of the field. This is a good time to do it since the grass is low and some of those safety threats are more visible than they are when the grass covers them. Keep in mind the number of trip-and-fall type of accidents we have. Also, please mark those wires, ropes and chains for visibility.
The basics of non-profit incorporation:
1. acquire the proper paperwork
2. choose a name
3. file the paperwork and pay the filing fee
4. apply for tax exemptions
5. write bylaws
6. elect or appoint initial directors
7. hold a board of directors meeting
8. acquire all licenses and permits
*This is a basic outline. Please see the regulations for your state for exact filing procedures.
source: www.findlaw.com This would be a good time to consider the need to incorporate your club. Without incorporation, your club is typically a nonentity in terms of its legal status, and any legal problem the club encounters can result in the personal involvement of the officers and the individual members.
This varies from one state to another, but there is a lot of protection offered by going through the steps required to incorporate your club. Yes, it will require some annual paperwork and a few formalities such as having official minutes of meetings, but the protection of your individual assets is well worth the effort.
I can’t give you the whole process for accomplishing incorporation, but there are a number of books available that will guide you through the process. Most clubs can qualify for one of the not-for-profit classes, but probably not the 501(c)3 status which would allow tax-deductible donations to the club. For most clubs, that isn’t something which would have any practical effect.
This is one case where seeking the advice of a lawyer is effort well spent.
For many of us, our spouses think of the club we serve as “the other person” in our marriages, given the time we spend there. Why not make it legal by incorporating it?
That's it for this month. Until next month, fly safe!
Bill
Club
Meeting
The next meeting of the MMRCC is scheduled for April 6, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at the Northrop Grumman facility. Personnel are required to sign-in and sign out for security purposes.
See you at the meeting……………….Will |
