[Talk-us] U.S. Local Chapters

Kate maps2wiki at gmail.com
Sat Sep 19 01:29:48 BST 2009


One of the first steps is to draft bylaws or what OSM appears to call
"Draft Rules"

http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/Local_Chapters/United_States/Draft_Rules

http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Step-by-step_chapter_creation_guide

The next step would be to get agreement for the rules, with the OSM
Foundation and our members, as well as some legal advice.
Establishing a board would probably come after that, and then
incorporation.

-Kate

On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 7:54 PM, Kate Chapman <kate at maploser.com> wrote:
> Sounds good, I think that we have to have a board in order to incorporate.
>  That will need to be done when we file we register the non-profit
> corporation.  Also we should probably look into where we want to register.
>
> Kate Chapman
> (via GPS...I mean iPhone)
> On Sep 18, 2009, at 6:56 PM, Sarah Manley <sarah.m.manley at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
> Looks like we are getting off to a good start. We have 15 folks on the wiki,
> and need 20 to start our the chapter. So please spread the word.
>
>  I think it might be helpful for us to break into committees, so to handle
> different aspects of forming, managing and advocating for the chapter.
> Thoughts? It may be best for us to self identify on the wiki with what
> committee we would like to be on, as well as if we have services that could
> be of help (ie lawyer, accountant, experience in forming a non-profit etc).
> If we plan to have an advisory board, we may also want to create a section
> where people can make proposals.
>
> From there we can work on drafting and adopting the draft rules, as well as
> decide on when and where to incorporate. If its helpful, we may want to set
> a time for a conference call to iron out some of the details.
>
> Best,
> Sarah
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 1:56 PM, Sarah Manley <sarah.m.manley at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> As listed by Kate in her second email (and being built out on the wiki:
>> http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Foundation/Local_Chapters/United_States)
>> A local chapter will do more advocacy within their own nation.
>>
>> In the US, if incorporated as a non-profit, the chapter would be able to
>> accept donations without having to pay taxes on them (and provide a tax
>> write off to those who donate to us), be eligible for public and private
>> grants, act as a separate legal entity that owns all data/material donated
>> (which often makes government bodies more willing to share). I know that the
>> OSMF can to that in the UK now, but I have the feeling the US
>> companies/governments would be more comfortable in supporting the project if
>> it had US legal status. (esp if its map data collected with US tax payer
>> money). I think if we want to the US mapper community to grow, this is a way
>> to help as well as formalize the presence here.
>>
>> The cons- more paperwork, money and time.
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 1:03 PM, SteveC <steve at asklater.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Playing devils advocate a bit - what will the chapter do that we can't
>>> or aren't already?
>>>
>>> Does the aura of having an incorporated body somehow change
>>> everything? It certainly didn't with the OSMF, it was more that we
>>> needed a body to hold independent control of things like the domain
>>> names.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 15 Sep 2009, at 19:32, Kate Chapman wrote:
>>>
>>> > Hi all,
>>> >
>>> > I've heard various talk going on about local chapters in various
>>> > places. I did a quick archive search but didn't find that much
>>> > information regarding U.S. chapters.  There seems to be people
>>> > interested, but perhaps working separately.
>>> >
>>> > Let me preface the rest of my email with the statement that I'm not
>>> > a lawyer, but a geonerd.  I have helped establish a non-profit in
>>> > the U.S. that obtained tax-exempt status and I can speak with
>>> > regards to that experience though.
>>> >
>>> > For the group I worked with we already were operating as an L.L.C.
>>> > at the time and moved to incorporate in D.C.  In order to
>>> > incorporate we had to pay a small fee (roughly 100 dollars), have a
>>> > registered agent in the District and have articles of
>>> > incorporation.  The tax-exempt status was far more work and involved
>>> > proof of events we had (in this particular case it was flyers), tax
>>> > records as well as filling out a 27 page IRS form.  If I understand
>>> > things correctly a U.S. Local Chapter could do the same thing, but
>>> > we might need to file paperwork with each state we are active in
>>> > (not totally sure about this, does anyone else have a better idea?).
>>> >
>>> > What are people's thoughts about local chapters or having 1 large
>>> > U.S. chapter?  I can see benefits to both sides.
>>> >
>>> > Advantages:
>>> >
>>> > - I think easily enough possible members
>>> > - Pooling of resources, one set of paper work
>>> >
>>> > Disadvantages:
>>> >
>>> > -Spread out, most work would be remote (maybe not a disadvantage)
>>> > -Where would we be incorporated?
>>> >
>>> > Thoughts?  I've seen in various places such as the wiki a well as
>>> > talking to people that there is interest in some sort of U.S. based
>>> > chapter, but exactly how has to be worked out.
>>> >
>>> > Thanks,
>>> >
>>> > Kate Chapman
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > _______________________________________________
>>> > Talk-us mailing list
>>> > Talk-us at openstreetmap.org
>>> > http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/talk-us
>>>
>>> Yours &c.
>>>
>>> Steve
>>>
>>>
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>>
>
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