While I appreciate John's intent and enthusiasm, I would urge caution.  I am not a lawyer and would like to get a legal opinion to corroborate or disavow the following.

Under IRS 501(c)(3) regulations according to the IRS: "Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office."

We need to be very careful not to endanger the ARRL's 501(c)(3) status.  John's email may broach the prohibition.

And yes, as a board president of another 501(c)(3), I may be hypersensitive.

Art

On 10/14/2023 9:54 PM, John Robert Stratton wrote:

All

    We have a 10.20.23 in-person meeting with Sen. Ted Cruz at his Houston office. We will have multiple, local AR reps in the meeting, including at least one elected office holder. The purpose of the meeting is to persuade Sen.Cruz to be our lead Senate sponsor.

    We also have a 10.24.23 dinner in DC with Cong. Bill Johnson and one other Congressman.

    It would be beneficial to our cause if we were to tender contributions to their campaigns. I will be tendering contributions to both.

    We are advised that $250 and up are reasonable contributions. If you can't hit that mark, any contribution would be beneficial. These contributions MUST be individual, non-corporate donations — and NO — any contribution cannot be reimbursed from your Director's budget. No contribution is too small.

    If you wish to contribute to either Johnson or Cruz, you may make your check payable to "Bill Johnson Campaign" or "Ted Cruz Campaign" and send them to me. I will see to it that our lobbyists deliver your donations along with mine to the appropriate campaign person.

_______________________________________

 

John Robert Stratton

N5AUS

Director

West Gulf Division

Office:             512-445-6262

Cell:                512-426-2028

P.O. Box 2232

Austin, Texas 78768-2232

 

_______________________________________

_______________________________________________
arrl-odv mailing list
arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org
https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv

-- 
Arthur I. Zygielbaum, K0AIZ
ARRL Midwest Division Director
Member, Executive Committee
Member, Programs and Services Committee
Member, ARRL Foundation Board
ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio®

_______________________________________________
arrl-odv mailing list
arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org
https://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv