[TriLUG] Upcoming vote on TriLUG non-profit status

[Alan Porter]

> However being a 501(c)(3) we got to participate in community
> events,

I sure hope that's not our motivation here.

I am more than happy to have Saturday play dates.  But I don't
think we need the extra accounting headaches to do so (and when
that DOES become a requirement, we can apply for 501(c)3 at that
time).

This is worth underscoring.  It was one of the KEY TAKE-AWAY
ITEMS from the December organizational meeting.

We don't need the corporate structure AT THIS TIME.  However,
people have dreams for the LUG and they like to think of "what
if's".  If something comes up and we need to re-establish a
corporation, then we can re-incorporate AT THAT TIME.


In the meantime, the steering committee and key volunteers are
happy to continue doing what we do:

 - find speakers
 - plan meetings
 - order pizza; buy drinks, ice, cups, napkins
 - set up before meetings
 - battle with the A/V equipment
 - stand up in front of the crowd, MC the meetings
 - actually GIVE a presentation if we have no speaker
 - pass the donation bucket, count heads, record it all
 - tear down after meetings
 - find alternative venues when needed
 - publicize upcoming events
 - maintain twitter, linked in, facebook presence
 - find sponsors, follow up with them
 - keep the web site and wiki up and current
 - maintain membership database
 - make membership cards
 - add shell/email accounts
 - kick the servers when needed
 - upgrade software packages
 - stand by, ready to drive to Sungard if needed
 - document how the hardware is set up
 - rewire the equipment for better access
 - monitor mailman for spam, approve/deny messages
 - hold weekly IRC meetings to stay ahead of the game
 - document our internal process on a wiki
 - keep track of all expenses, email receipts
 - balance our books using gnucash
 - check the PO Box, renew the PO Box
 - open bank accounts (close them, open new ones)
 - manage recruiters - advise them to post to the list
 - remind people to play nice on the mailing list

Go back and read that list.  Don't skim it... read each item.
Your TriLUG volunteers DO all of that stuff... every month...
with consistently awesome meetings.

I hope you will agree that the steering committee and volunteers
are busy enough without the extra burden of trying to revive and
maintain a corporate structure that we no longer utilize.

If the need comes along (and if there are funds to pay for it),
I will be happy to have a lawyer and an accountant hook us up
with a shiny new coporation with all of the proper paperwork,
and written processes to maintain it.  But in the meantime, I
would like to do some Linuxy things instead.


Alan Porter
2009-2011 chair
2008-2009 "PR guy"


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