Changes within your GLO - Implications and Relations with Actives

[Tom Earp]

BoodleBoy, there is no Alum dues within LXA IHQ.

On a local level though, we solicit dues as many do in our Chapters.

We use this money to work with the local chapters, give money for scholarships, and send more than the required Rep. to IHQ meetings.

Our IHQ requests donations only to the Educational Funding for some of the above.

Now, if the two bills, one in the House and one in the Senate would allow us as Alums to donate to each chapter with tax deductions, it would certainly help all of us.

[Kevin]

Tom, this ain't legal advice, (if you want to know how to do this for sure, or whether it's feasible in Kansas, contact a lawyah in your area). /end disclaimer

You might want to look into setting up a few entities separate from your alumni association if you're wanting to earmark alum dues to those things. You might even designate x% of your alum dues to go for "educational purposes" meaning that the check gets paid to a chapter educational foundation which you could establish locally as a 501(c)3, getting your alums a little money back on the taxes.

There can be a lot of paperwork associated with these things, but generally, it's all worth it.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Tom, this ain't legal advice, (if you want to know how to do this for sure, or whether it's feasible in Kansas, contact a lawyah in your area). /end disclaimer

You might want to look into setting up a few entities separate from your alumni association if you're wanting to earmark alum dues to those things. You might even designate x% of your alum dues to go for "educational purposes" meaning that the check gets paid to a chapter educational foundation which you could establish locally as a 501(c)3, getting your alums a little money back on the taxes.

There can be a lot of paperwork associated with these things, but generally, it's all worth it.

Yepper, Kevin, We have been looking into the legal asspects for this and have gotten info from Members of other GLOs.

While there may seem to be loop wholes I just wonder what they may be to keep us from doing what We would like to do in the eyes of the IRS?

Do We desearve better, Yes, We do!

[Boodleboy322]

Very interesting stuff Gentlemen. The National Office pointed out that past alumni association dues had accrued over the years and the money wasn't being used. This point justified reducing the dues to an annual $5.00 contribution. That contribution would give the alum a 1 year subscription to the fraternity's national magazine publication. This was one argument that stirred the pot with some alums. Some alums felt that the residual gains could be used to benefit the fraternity for other use in the brotherhood while others said it could be used to promote alumni associations. The caveat is that the other monetary use the additional gains could be used for are already being facilitated by current offices at NHQ. In my opinion there's no such thing as having too much money. Worst case it could be invested into an endowment, scholarship fund, or be put into a Security. I know there's some red tape with the ladder for non-profit organizations. Grrrr.

Currently, our local alumni association is debating whether to keep the past due amount in place and put the extra funds into the association's account. An argument is also in the works that says that we could possibly increase membership in the local association by sticking to the $5.00 magazine contribution alone like NHQ is suggesting. Historically the local association has never had an issue collecting money from any active alumni members. In the past the association would send a percentage to NHQ and put the rest in the local account to be used for our own projects, goals, and donations. One good point about cutting down the local dues to the 5 dollar amount is that it will allow brothers that can't ordinarily attend the monthly meeting to feel included in the membership and have a vote on business when they can attend. They will also be in good standing as an alumni association member. Those brothers can still help out the organization by facilitating projects via the web, conference calling, etc. Both points are valid in my opinion. Our alumni association is a regional organization for brothers living in the Dallas/Ft Worth Area. We have a few active members that pay dues but only show up once a year. These guys live in surrounding states like Oklahoma.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Our next meeting is this Sunday. I will let you all know what we decided to do.

Fraternal Regards,

Boodleboy322

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by Boodleboy322

Very interesting stuff Gentlemen. The National Office pointed out that past alumni association dues had accrued over the years and the money wasn't being used. This point justified reducing the dues to an annual $5.00 contribution. That contribution would give the alum a 1 year subscription to the fraternity's national magazine publication. This was one argument that stirred the pot with some alums. Some alums felt that the residual gains could be used to benefit the fraternity for other use in the brotherhood while others said it could be used to promote alumni associations. The caveat is that the other monetary use the additional gains could be used for are already being facilitated by current offices at NHQ. In my opinion there's no such thing as having too much money. Worst case it could be invested into an endowment, scholarship fund, or be put into a Security. I know there's some red tape with the ladder for non-profit organizations. Grrrr.

Currently, our local alumni association is debating whether to keep the past due amount in place and put the extra funds into the association's account. An argument is also in the works that says that we could possibly increase membership in the local association by sticking to the $5.00 magazine contribution alone like NHQ is suggesting. Historically the local association has never had an issue collecting money from any active alumni members. In the past the association would send a percentage to NHQ and put the rest in the local account to be used for our own projects, goals, and donations. One good point about cutting down the local dues to the 5 dollar amount is that it will allow brothers that can't ordinarily attend the monthly meeting to feel included in the membership and have a vote on business when they can attend. They will also be in good standing as an alumni association member. Those brothers can still help out the organization by facilitating projects via the web, conference calling, etc. Both points are valid in my opinion. Our alumni association is a regional organization for brothers living in the Dallas/Ft Worth Area. We have a few active members that pay dues but only show up once a year. These guys live in surrounding states like Oklahoma.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Our next meeting is this Sunday. I will let you all know what we decided to do.

Fraternal Regards,

Boodleboy322

This is still interesting to me and I really cannot fathom asking for Alumni dues.

As I stated before, we as Alums are asked for donations only.

Our National Magazine has always been free to all initiated members. But, because of the cost of printing and members not giving proper updates for mailing, LXA went to an electronic magazine which has proven to work out nicely and is saving @ $250,000.00 a year or 1 Million every two years.. While it may not sound like much, it is a savings that can go else where more needed. Our Executive Director said in the last one that other organizations have contacted us asking about it.
While I have donated some money over the years to IHQ, most of my donations go to my chapter in many ways for them to spend for what they need.

Still an interesting topic to see how others work.

[Boodleboy322]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Our National Magazine has always been free to all initiated members. But, because of the cost of printing and members not giving proper updates for mailing, LXA went to an electronic magazine which has proven to work out nicely and is saving @ $250,000.00 a year or 1 Million every two years.. While it may not sound like much, it is a savings that can go else where more needed. Our Executive Director said in the last one that other organizations have contacted us asking about it.

Tom - The magazine concept sounds pretty awesome. Does the electronic magazine get emailed to members or is there some type of centralized website with member access to view? How did the really old guys that have never touched a computer react to the change?

Regards,

Boodleboy322

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Boodleboy322

Tom - The magazine concept sounds pretty awesome. Does the electronic magazine get emailed to members or is there some type of centralized website with member access to view?

Lambda Chi Alpha's Cross and Crescent. (Yes, I like to check out the magazines of other orgs.)

By the way, Boodleboy, "The Sinfonian" is also available online in .pdf format, as is "The Red & Black," but since the server at sinfonia.org seems to be experiencing some difficulties in the last few days, I can't pinpoint the URL.

And I guess you know that there is a new electronic newsletter for alumni that is being emailed to all alums for whom Lyrecrest has valid email addresses; it is also available online. I think the first issue was sent out this past Founder's Day.

Tom, I'd be interested, too, about how alums, particularly the older ones, have reacted to the change. Did y'all go completely to an electronic magazine, or is the hard copy still available to those who want it?

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Tom, this ain't legal advice, (if you want to know how to do this for sure, or whether it's feasible in Kansas, contact a lawyah in your area). /end disclaimer

You might want to look into setting up a few entities separate from your alumni association if you're wanting to earmark alum dues to those things. You might even designate x% of your alum dues to go for "educational purposes" meaning that the check gets paid to a chapter educational foundation which you could establish locally as a 501(c)3, getting your alums a little money back on the taxes.

There can be a lot of paperwork associated with these things, but generally, it's all worth it.

Kevin agree with you as we have already done that.

The last House before the IRS closed the so called loop hole was the LX house at the Un. Ks.

Yes, am aware of the Education requirements, but for the money to go for that is very little in housing space. That is Federal but maybe if the Democrates can try and do the right thing it can get changed. We can just hope!