[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] [ARC Members Only] Proxy Form for Tax-exempt Proposal Referendum

Wed Oct 11 12:47:24 EDT 2023

After reading Joe’s note, I feel that he has a lot of good ideas on how to further the cause of tax-exempt status for the club. I reached out to him for help in moving the club forward with a tax-exempt status. This note is to let everyone know that Joe (KT3I) has agreed to chair a committee, as he suggests, to further investigate tax-exempt status for the club over the next two months.  Joe is a longtime member and contributor to the Alexandria Radio Club, and is willing to do the work. The tax-exempt proposal will not be on the agenda at the October meeting. 

73

Don, KI4D

From: Joe Porcelli <porcej at gmail.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 10:20 AM
To: don.ki4d at gmail.com
Cc: Bob Brickner <BBrickner at gbbinc.com>; Kenneth R. van Wyk <ken at vanwyk.org>; Alexandria Radio Club <alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net>; President (W4HFH) <President at w4hfh.org>; Joe Porcelli <porcej at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] [ARC Members Only] Proxy Form for Tax-exempt Proposal Referendum

Howdy folks,

Hope ya’ll are doing well.  I'm now super confused as to what's going on with the proposed changes to the Articles of Incorporation.

After a careful review of Roberts Rules of Order I recommend the following course of action:

*	Strike the vote on the proposed Articles of Incorporation
*	A motion be made to empower a committee to investigate non-profit status with following parameters:

*	The committee members should be named in the meeting and include the president.
*	Defined scope to seeking 501(c)3 or 501(c)7 status (or whatever scope you feel is relevant) 
*	Defined time whatever time frame you feel appropriate (I would suggest between 1 and 3 months)
*	At the end of the allotted time, the committee presents a proposal with accompanying reasoning to the general membership.  That proposal could be one of the following:

*	Status quo - the committee recommends maintaining course with the organization.
*	Seek 501(c)3 status - The committee recommends reincorporating as a 501(c)3 corporation and why

*	The committee should also recommend a path towards reincorporating as a 501(c)3 organization (proposed Articles of Incorporation/bylaws change) or how to go about choosing the same

*	Seek 501(c)7 status - The committee recommends reincorporating as a 501(c)7 corporation and why

*	The committee should also recommend a path towards reincorporating as a 501(c)7 organization (proposed Articles of Incorporation/bylaws change) or how to go about choosing the same

*	Once presented at a general membership meeting, a motion should be made to vote on the committee's proposal.  If the proposal includes changes to the organization's defining documents, then the vote should be scheduled for a future meeting and the documents made available to the general membership for review.  If the committee's proposal is to move forward in some other way (seek legal counsel etc) a review period may or may not be appropriate and the vote could occur straight away.

To be clear, I don't have an issue with the proposed changes to the Articles of Incorporation.  I do however feel the process undertaken thus far is flawed and that the membership should get a seat at a table that decides what our Organization will look like in the future.

Cheers,

Joe, KT3I

On Wed, Oct 11, 2023 at 9:13 AM <don.ki4d at gmail.com <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com> > wrote:

Bob - appreciate your comments.  I have often remembered how we wisely took
a pause to consider your comments about the revisions to the bylaws in
2020-2021 when I was president.  Thanks to you for that. 

I will try to answer your question, which I consider very valid.  At the
outset Sean, I, and others had assumptions that the proposal was a "no
brainer,"  meaning that the assumption was "who could be against tax-exempt
status," so we figured if we did our homework with the board, it would fly
right through with membership.  After all, in taxes and for tax return
preparation, we pay out about one-fourth of our annual income from club
dues; and with tax-exempt status (501(c)(3) we would become eligible for
grants from the ARRL and the City of Alexandria to help fund club equipment
and other needs in the future. The proxies were constructed with that
optimism and 

thought process in mind.  Obviously, that is not the situation we are facing
now with the misleading and alarming information that has been circulated
about the articles.  The tax-exempt status is no longer a "no-brainer" with
some people.. 

So, my advice to everyone is to wait for the outcomes of meetings about the
proposal before voting, while we get to the bottom of things.

73

Don, KI4D

From: Bob Brickner <BBrickner at gbbinc.com <mailto:BBrickner at gbbinc.com> > 
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 8:42 AM
To: don.ki4d at gmail.com <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com> ; 'Kenneth R. van Wyk' <ken at vanwyk.org <mailto:ken at vanwyk.org> >; 'Alexandria
Radio Club' <alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net> >; 'President (W4HFH)'
<President at w4hfh.org <mailto:President at w4hfh.org> >
Subject: Re: [Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] [ARC Members Only] Proxy Form
for Tax-exempt Proposal Referendum

Don, thanks for the update about the process. But I am really confused now.
If the intent is to solicit member input and have a good debate about
issues, and then consider such to redraft the document for another meeting
(maybe two), why are Proxy votes being submitted on the current draft for
Friday night if that is not the final document? Was the process for handling
this proposed revision clearly described to all members and being done in
accordance with the current charter? Thanks, Bob Brickner KM4TZZ

Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef> 

  _____  

From: alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net> 
<mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net> >
<alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net> 
<mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net> > > on behalf of
don.ki4d at gmail.com <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com>  <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com> >  <don.ki4d at gmail.com <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com> 
<mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com <mailto:don.ki4d at gmail.com> > >
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 8:01:00 AM
To: 'Kenneth R. van Wyk' <ken at vanwyk.org <mailto:ken at vanwyk.org>  <mailto:ken at vanwyk.org <mailto:ken at vanwyk.org> > >;
'Alexandria Radio Club' <alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net> 
<mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net> > >; 'President (W4HFH)'
<President at w4hfh.org <mailto:President at w4hfh.org>  <mailto:President at w4hfh.org <mailto:President at w4hfh.org> > >
Subject: Re: [Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] [ARC Members Only] Proxy Form
for Tax-exempt Proposal Referendum 

Thanks, Ken - your concerns are valid.  However, there never was a plan to
put all of the words in the articles "in concrete" and only allow voting on
the existing words; hence, the articles ae still in draft.  That thought
never even occurred to me.  In the corporate and business model, there is an
orderly process that allows for discussions of proposals before voting by
membership, which includes changes if there a consensus.  That is exactly
what we were attempting to do.  There was a preemptive strike on the
proposal with misleading and alarming information before it was released, so
that is where we are now.

I can assure you that all of this will be addressed fully at the meeting on
Friday, and if not, continuing on following meeting(s) until it is done.

Again, thanks for your thoughtful consideration.

73

Don, KI4D 

From: Kenneth R. van Wyk <ken at vanwyk.org <mailto:ken at vanwyk.org>  <mailto:ken at vanwyk.org <mailto:ken at vanwyk.org> > > 
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2023 6:51 AM
To: Alexandria Radio Club <alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net> 
<mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net <mailto:alexandriaradioclub at mailman.qth.net> > >; President (W4HFH)
<President at w4hfh.org <mailto:President at w4hfh.org>  <mailto:President at w4hfh.org <mailto:President at w4hfh.org> > >
Cc: alexandria-radio-club-current-membership at googlegroups.com <mailto:alexandria-radio-club-current-membership at googlegroups.com> 
<mailto:alexandria-radio-club-current-membership at googlegroups.com <mailto:alexandria-radio-club-current-membership at googlegroups.com> > 
Subject: Re: [Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] [ARC Members Only] Proxy Form
for Tax-exempt Proposal Referendum

I believe seeking tax-exempt status for ARC is not just appropriate, but
vital.

I also believe it is worth taking the time to get the words right in such
important documents as an organization's foundational documents.

And, I believe Rick has raised important and valid concerns with the current
wording of the proposed governance documents. I have read through the
currently proposed governance documentation, and I don't believe we're there
yet.

My preference is to see Rick's concerns properly addressed prior to putting
this to a vote. But, if a vote must be taken on the current documentation, I
feel I have no choice but to vote against. I do so with the hopes that
revisions can be made so that our club's tax-exempt status can be achieved.

I am happy to volunteer to assist with document revisions.

Cheers,

Ken van Wyk

Armata Scientia

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