[TriLUG] software is free, pizza is not

[magnus]

Brian Cottingham wrote:
> Searching irs.gov's charity listings doesn't show TriLUG (or any charities
> in NC containing the word "linux"), so it seems TriLUG has lot any 501(c)(3)
> status it previously had.

It was not that long ago that TriLUG was still promoting itself as a
501(c)(3).  Google has many records, going up to maybe 2 years ago
(probably even more recently) where official announcement included this bit:

"TriLUG has been incorporated as a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit for
the purpose of promoting and supporting the use of Linux and related
Free and Open Source programs in the Triangle area."

Such a statement has also been part of the FAQ for years.

Even the front page to TriLUG.org still links to the Articles of
Incorporation as a 501(c)(3) (hold your mouse over the link to the AoI
or view the HTML source for the front page, grepping for "501(c)(3)").

So it's not so much that TriLUG never was a 501(c)(3) but somewhere
along the line someone dropped the ball & stopped filing paperwork with
the IRS & the state to maintain the LUG's status.

We talked about this a bit on #trilug and the current SC is showing
initiative to find an attorney to resolve this matter.