[arrl-odv:23088] 501 ( c ) (3) Clubs vs. HR 4969
Question for you legal beagles: Can a club that has organized under Section 501 ( c ) (3) actually participate in getting its members to write, call or visit on behalf or our position on this or any bill? I've been invited to speak at 3 clubs, on the bill and getting co-sponsors, but I don't want to get cross threaded. What say you Chris et al? 73, Jim Pace, K7CEX
Hi, Jim. Public charities are prohibited from actively supporting or opposing any candidate for public office. However, they may support or oppose legislation as long as the effort - defined in terms of expenditures - is not substantial. It costs clubs little or nothing to get the word out regarding HR-4969 via meetings, reflectors and electronic newsletters. ARRL itself is a public charity, and its legislative efforts are allowed because the expenditures are so small compared with total expenses. There are a couple of quantitative tests available, but I doubt any club would come even remotely close to the thresholds therein. Go talk it up and don't worry about violating any exempt-organization rules (ours or theirs). 73, Marty N6VI (retired CPA) From: arrl-odv [mailto:arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org] On Behalf Of Jim Pace K7CEX NW Division Director Sent: Friday, August 1, 2014 9:28 PM To: ODV Subject: [arrl-odv:23088] 501 ( c ) (3) Clubs vs. HR 4969 Question for you legal beagles: Can a club that has organized under Section 501 ( c ) (3) actually participate in getting its members to write, call or visit on behalf or our position on this or any bill? I've been invited to speak at 3 clubs, on the bill and getting co-sponsors, but I don't want to get cross threaded. What say you Chris et al? 73, Jim Pace, K7CEX
Jim See enclosed. We prepared the one-page document for our West Gulf Division clubs when the question was raised whether, and to what extent, they could support the West Gulf Division's legislative efforts at the Texas and Oklahoma legislatures. 73 *-----------------------------------------------------* ** John Robert Stratton N5AUS Office telephone: 512-445-6262 Cell: 512-426-2028 PO Box 2232 Austin, Texas 78768-2232 *-----------------------------------------------------* On 8/1/14 11:28 PM, Jim Pace K7CEX NW Division Director wrote:
Question for you legal beagles: Can a club that has organized under Section 501 ( c ) (3) actually participate in getting its members to write, call or visit on behalf or our position on this or any bill? I've been invited to speak at 3 clubs, on the bill and getting co-sponsors, but I don't want to get cross threaded. What say you Chris et al? 73, Jim Pace, K7CEX
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Jim, I agree with Marty. 73, Chris W3KD Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 2, 2014, at 12:28 AM, Jim Pace K7CEX NW Division Director <nwdvd@comcast.net> wrote:
Question for you legal beagles: Can a club that has organized under Section 501 ( c ) (3) actually participate in getting its members to write, call or visit on behalf or our position on this or any bill? I've been invited to speak at 3 clubs, on the bill and getting co-sponsors, but I don't want to get cross threaded. What say you Chris et al?
73, Jim Pace, K7CEX _______________________________________________ arrl-odv mailing list arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org http://reflector.arrl.org/mailman/listinfo/arrl-odv
participants (4)
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Chris Imlay -
Jim Pace K7CEX NW Division Director -
JRS -
Marty Woll