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TALESPINNERS - April, 2002
EAA Chapter 174 TALESPINNERS From the President
If you attended the last meeting you know we are considering some changes to our corporate status. It may be necessary to enlist the services of an attorney. At any rate, we will hopefully have more information and a vote at the next meeting. In related business, it was also voted to have the hangar committee do further research into a chapter hangar project. This issue will most likely not be voted on at the next meeting, but there will probably be some discussion. If you have feelings about this one way or the other, please try to be at the next meeting. If we proceed with a project of this magnitude, we will need overwhelming support of the membership. It's a project that would involve considerable effort and time, not by a handful of committee members, but by a majority of the chapter. Please stay informed and make your opinions heard. We had a great turnout for the flyout to Hartzell on March 23rd. I don't have a head count, but someone elsewhere in this newsletter probably does. They have formed a new EAA chapter in Piqua and did an incredible job of taking care of us. Their facilities are topnotch (thanks to Hartzell) and they were very well organized. The food was good, the camaraderie was good, and the tour of the Hartzell factory was truly awesome. As a 'thank-you,' it was decided by as many of the board members as we could organize at the flyout to invite the Piqua chapter to our first fly-in breakfast – our treat. Anyone flying into the Sun-N-Fun flyin that would like to view a video on the procedure, or get a brochure on it, give me a call. If anyone is interested in buying a hangar at Hamilton, give me a call. Here's the deal: A hangar building is being built (construction to start within a month) that will have approximately the same footprint as the T-hangar row I'm in now. This one, however, will be large square or rectangular individual hangars. There is one 50' X 50' hangar still available for $50,000.00. It will be a steel building, insulated, with a large bi-fold door. Plumbing will be stubbed in (at least that's the plan) and there will be a gas line to tap into for heat if desired. The hangar will sit on Butler Co. property with a 60 year lease. It's big enough for at least 3 conventional single engine airplanes or probably 4 RV - sized kitplanes. This won't be available for long so if you're interested let me know. BTW, I'm interested. Scott Hersha
Minutes from the March Chapter Meeting The general membership meeting was called to order by Scott Hersha at 2:00pm. The Treasurer's report indicated there was a checking account balance of $348.21, savings account balance of $1,392.24 and a CD balance of $6,382.59 for a total of $8,123.04. The President's report stated that Mike Griffith and Mike Franzago (the newsletter editors) would maintain the chapter roster information. Members should send corrections of their roster information to them for inclusion in roster revisions. Howard Wells and Gary Collins gave the Technical Advisors' report. They inspected two projects this week and Gary said he was reserving Wednesday evenings for conducting these visits. The newsletter editors indicated they have three articles for next month's edition, but are in need of more material for future newsletters. Dave Robertson donated a copy of "Happy Bottom Riding Club", a story of Pancho Barnes, to the library. Bob Porter indicated that the UC Air Care pilot might be giving us a presentation in April. Under new business we discussed the changes to the Chapter article of incorporation to aid in getting IRS 501(c)(3) status, IRS 501(c)(3) status in general, and the hanger project. Following discussion about modifying the articles of incorporation and Stu Faber's reading of a pertinent IRS letter on this topic, a motion to modify the articles of incorporation was made by Stu Faber, seconded by Bill Thomas, and passed by the membership. Discussion on the IRS 501(c)(3) status was held and a vote on whether to proceed with that application will be held next month. Tom Jenkins lead a discussion of the hanger project and his conversation with Bill Anderson of Eastern Cincinnati aviation. He presented the three options (previously detailed in the Board Meeting minutes) and ECA's reaction to them. We had a general membership discussion and sufficient membership interest was voiced to warrant a motion for the Board to continue investigating the Chapter hanger project. Stu Faber made a motion that the board continue it's investigation, Ken Werremeyer seconded the motion and it was passed by the membership. Steve Marsan, Manager of Reliability Engineering for Comair, gave us a presentation on damage repair and fasteners. Tim Fry, for Secretary Norm Beaudette
Minutes From the March Board Meeting The Board meeting was called to order by Scott Hersha at 1:00pm. Present were Dave Robertson, Scott Hersha, Gary Collins, Stu Faber, Todd Winemiller, Howard Wells, Mike Franzago, Bob Porter and Tom Jenkins. The topics of discussion were the IRS 501(c)(3) status and the building of a chapter hanger. It was generally, but not universally, agreed to proceed forward with the application. Pros for continuing included not wanting to waste our application fee and wanting to make Chapter 174 more attractive to people who might want to make charitable deductions. Cons against continuing included not wanting to proceed until we were sure we "had all our ducks in a row" regarding the completeness of the application and that we had enough evidence of future donations to justify the added cost of continuing with the application process. Tom Jenkins told us of his conversation with Eastern Cincinnati Aviation's Bill Anderson regarding our three hanger proposals. The fist proposal was a single EAA hanger and the second and third proposals were for an EAA hanger attached to a number of T-hangers that individual members would own. ECA rejected the second and third proposals, but left open the possibility that some version of a single EAA hanger might be acceptable. Both the hanger project and the IRS status would be brought forward to the general membership for discussion. The meeting was adjourned at 1:45pm. Tim Fry, for Secretary Norm Beaudette
IMPORTANT: YOUR VOTE IS
ESSENTIAL Notice to Chapter Members Regarding Amendment of Articles of Incorporation A few months ago, the Board of Directors began the process of seeking a letter of recognition from the IRS to be formally recognized as a “501(c)(3)” tax-exempt organization. Among others, a principal motivation for this action is to obtain special tax status that will allow donations to our chapter to be tax-deductible by the donor. The designation also opens up possibilities for government and private grants. It is worth noting that the national organization is itself a 501(c)(3) organization and encourages chapters to follow suit. As part of the process, we must change our Articles of Incorporation to a form that has been carefully prescribed by the IRS. During the March chapter meeting, an unofficial vote of the members present supported proceeding with this action. Our bylaws indicate that such a change requires notification in the newsletter, as well as 50% voting participation (which may be by proxy) in a vote of the membership. This notice serves to inform all members that an official vote will take place at the next chapter meeting, on April 21, 2002. All members are strongly encouraged to vote, in person or by proxy. For any questions you might have, please call Norm Beaudette. The board of directors is in favor of the following amendment to the Articles of Incorporation (replace all current articles with amended articles): Current Articles: ”The purposes for which said corporation is formed is collecting and disseminating useful information for designing, building, displaying, and flying aircraft. Encouraging wise and useful safety measures pertaining to aircraft. ”To organize and maintain a club for the promotion of aircraft activities and social functions for the members of said corporation; laying out, maintaining and owning an airfield; acquiring by purchase, lease, or otherwise, erecting maintaining, holding and owning, [any] and all land, buildings and personal property, appropriate to the accomplishment of the foregoing purpose; and doing any and all things necessary or incident to any thereof.” (Note: The word “any” in brackets above is not part of the original articles.) Amended Articles: ”Experimental Aircraft Association – Talespinners – Chapter 174 is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code). ”No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, directors, officers or any private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of Section 501(c)(3) purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in, (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. ”Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on, (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code) or, (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code). ”Upon dissolution of this organization assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the Federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.” (End of Amended Articles) Please note: A Yes vote gives the Board the authority to proceed at its discretion with the amendment. A No vote denies the Board the authority to proceed with the amendment. In the event of a yes vote, the Board may still decide, at its discretion, to either delay or drop the amendment (and application for recognition). If you do not expect to be at the meeting, please
vote by email or by mail. To vote by email, send a simple
email message to
nbeaudette@earthlink.net. Include your name and a phrase
like either of the ones on the ballot below. To vote by postal mail,
please cut out and mail the ballot below to: Please ensure that your signature appears either on the ballot or on the envelope (which will only be opened at the meeting). --------------------------------------------- (cut here) --------------------------------------------------- Ballot: Amendment of Articles of Incorporation – April 21, 2002 Check one: ____ “I accept the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation” (a yes vote) ____ “I do not accept the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation” (a no vote) Name and Signature _______________________ / ________________________ (see note below) Note: If you would like for your vote to remain confidential, please write your name and signature on the back of the envelope instead. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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