[Ubuntu-US] Accounting Question

[Chris Rohde]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why does it seem this is bringing up
much more animosity than is necessary?

I for one am generally against the idea, but all I wanted to do was to
provide a bit of guidance just in case it went through (I have been
unable to follow many meetings given my ridiculous schedule).

While it is most definitely possible, and not a bad idea in theory, the
in-fighting that would ensue would be terrible, not unlike what seems to
be cropping up now, and this seems to be mostly aftershocks, which is
sad to say what I hope for, since I haven't done anything yet to draw
the fire :-P

Anyway like I said in a previous email, this topic is one that evidently
does need to be addressed, if only because some people have shown an
interest in it and at the very least those teams that wish to pursue
this option need to be given some sort of guideline for accounting for a
nonprofit.



Aaron Toponce wrote:
> This has been discussed on and on and on.  Here are the reasons why this
> is not appropriate for this project:
> 
> 1) As a state-run LoCo team, they have the opportunity if they wish to
> go after that status.  It is up to that individual team, and not this
> mentoring project, to look for financial help/protection.
> 
> 2) 501c3 status from a national standpoint doesn't make a lot of sense
> anyway.  Each state has different laws concerning how funds can be
> distributed and handled within the organization.  Creating a national
> blanket would only create problems internally and complicate matters
> between teams.
> 
> 3) The mentoring project is about getting approved LoCo teams in each
> state.  Not about providing legal protection.  Not about providing tax
> breaks.  If someone or some team wants 501c3 protection, this project is
> not the channel to go through.  Canonical would be the appropriate means
> of getting something like that accomplished.
> 
> If a new team, say a US Legal Team or US Tax Team needs to be created
> within Ubuntu, then great.  It will not be a part of this project.  We
> are about states helping states.  We are about recruiting members.  We
> are about advocacy.  We are about install fests.  We are about community
> involvement.  We are not about financial help.  We are not about tax
> breaks.  We are not about legal protection.
> 
> However, I see no need for such a blanket.  For several years, LUGs and
> SIGs have operated just fine without any of this.  I understand that
> there have been isolated incidents where investors would not help fund
> an install fest, because the LUG/SIG did not have that status.  However,
> these cases are the extreme minority.  I have yet to hear of any LUG/SIG
> needing legal help.
> 
> So, again, if a state wants it, that state can get it.  If a new Ubuntu
> team should be created, then great.  However, there will be no
> accounting or legal team or council in the US Teams Mentoring Project.
> 
> Thanks,
> --
>                        _

> Aaron Toponce         ( )  ASCII Ribbon Campaign
> www.aarontoponce.org   X   www.asciiribbon.org
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> 
>