update from IGC

[jenthompson]

They finally heard back about the ICG's non-profit application for all the chapters. There's still some stuff up in the air, but it doesn't take a psychic to predict that it ain't gonna happen. (you can read the thread about it here) But other than a bunch of misfiled paperwork issues, the real problem is that each chapter has to prove that at

Comments

[sisterofthemoon]

I would agree that if we're not getting anything from the ICG other than the right to call ourselves by their name, we'd be better off keeping the amount of money we send them at home and either using it to bankroll our own events or reducing our dues by that amount. Or if there is some legal hoopla we have to go through to organize or exist as a separate association rather than as part of an umbrella organization (I'm not an accountant or a lawyer and know jack about these things) we could apply the cost toward that

[guen_the_cat]

Hmmmm. I guess it's time for me to pay attention to the threads again.

I think that maybe we ought to think about getting our info together and hashing out a Real Pro/Con list of staying ICG or leaving. It seems we have a Great resource in both Emma and Tommie, so maybe us officers ought to get together with them over e-mail or something to discuss our options and what they Really mean so we can decide whether we think we Can handle going it on our own. I imagine the GBACG may be a good resource too as to how they did it, although their state laws will be different. I think the discussion would be worth it whether we actually decide leave the ICG or not.

I'm curious to know where they got the "language" and "nudity" and "possibly illegal" bit. I mean, I know a lot of costumers can fuzz that line on "indecency", but that's usually for cons that allow it. I didn't get the impression the Costume Con encouraged the near nudity.

[sisterofthemoon]

Ok, update:

I have obtained legal advice on the Guild's behalf, courtesy of my mother who is an attorney. The Legal Advice is thus: We should give the ICG the push and set up on our own. Since we are in Texas, the Guild should form up as an "unincorporated association". This is very easy to do and costs nothing. In other states we would have to incorporate like the ICG has, which is expensive. There are no filing fees or registration costs to become a UA and my mother will prepare any paperwork for free. We only need officers and a bank account, which we have already, and a set of bylaws by which we will run the association. We submit our bylaws and a list of officers to the state, and the state gives us a sales tax number and asks for our taxes. Also, if you're unincorporated the tax rate is lower than that on corporations.

Our guild is not eligible for non-profit status, unless we become educational to get a 501(c)3, or close our events to non-members to get a 501(c)7. I told her we were already perfectly fine with paying our

[guen_the_cat]

I guess that's a question we ought to put to our members. It would be really nice to not have to pay taxes, although the minimal amount of income we have now would be even more minimal taxes, so yeah, unless we grow significantly