[TriLUG] TriLUG non-profit status?

[Steve Litt via TriLUG]

Maryam Abkar via TriLUG said on Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:17:30 -0400

>Hello everyone,
>
>once upon a time TriLUG was registered as a non-profit, if anyone
>knows the details of who registered us as such, whether that's still
>active/if we are able to cheaply reactivate it, please let us know!
>
>-Maryam A.

Be careful what you wish for Maryam. For several years I was an
Executive Committee member and for one year president of LEAP (Linux
Enthusiasts and Professionals) in Orlando. LEAP was 501.c3 with
accounting, reports, mandatory elections, charter, etc. I know that's
not TriLUG's situation, but it sounds like what you had was a North
Carolina little brother of 501.c3.

We had to ask for dues of $35/year, and you'd be surprised how many
folks didn't want to pay, so we had a lot of free riders because we
weren't about to offer anything special to members (As I remember
501.c3 forbids that, but even if it didn't, we just couldn't in good
conscience do that).

Anyway, in 2004 a competing, disorganized LUG called GoLUG (Greater
Orlando Linux User Group) formed, with no dues, no bank account, no
constitution or official officers, and slowly over the next few years
people left LEAP for GoLUG. The end came for LEAP when they couldn't
get a quorum to elect officers. 

LEAP continued as an Installfest Only illegal entity for almost a
decade, but the Installfests stopped. GoLUG still exists as a
virtual LUG. LEAP's charitable organization worked to its competitive
disadvantage.

I left out A LOT of details that are probably best forgotten, so it's
not a direct parallel to TriLUG's situation. Nevertheless, adopting an
official business organization brings costs and risks along with its
benefits and opportunities.

SteveT

Steve Litt 

http://444domains.com