[TriLUG] Upcoming vote on TriLUG non-profit status

[Justis Peters]

On 02/05/2011 01:33 PM, Joseph Mack NA3T wrote:
> On Sat, 5 Feb 2011, Justis Peters wrote:
>> I am not sure what it would take in order to have the expenses of the 
>> LUG be deductible from treasurer's taxable income, but any income 
>> that remains could be taxable at the standard rate.
> When I was the treasurer of NCSA I had similar concerns.
>
> I asked a friend, an accountant, what to do. Full of bonhomie he said 
> "don't worry about it. I manage (his son's) high school track team's 
> finances and I just keep records myself." When I attempted to find out 
> what I was supposed to do, even if I decided not to do it, he just 
> said "There are thousands of clubs, swim teams, sewing circles, just 
> like yours. No-one's ever going to bother with you."
This is probably a legitimate approach. There are thresholds below which 
the IRS simply does not care. They might apply in our case.

One approach would be to operate like many user groups in the area: Use 
space that is donated on a verbal agreement with no receipt, offer food 
only when a sponsor decides to show up with it, and avoid holding any 
income, expenses, or assets. I think that TriLUG has already grown past 
that point, but there are some in both the membership and the steering 
committee who wish that we could keep it that simple.

Kind regards,
Justis