RE: [MV] More Demil B.S.
OConnor, Dennis (DOconnor@SIKORSKY.COM)
Wed, 24 Mar 1999 13:20:28 -0500
List,
Sorry if I confused some folks, it was a simplistic explanation I gave based
on the experience of the Connecticut MV club's investigation into getting
museum status a few years back.
Richard: From your description of the Oregon Military Museum as "a
creature of state statute in the hands of the Oregon National Guard" I
interpret that it is the official military museum of the State of Oregon
(please correct me if I'm wrong). That would be very different from a
private non-profit museum that I had in mind when writing. Something created
by a government agency or law is miles ahead of regular individuals.
dirtman42GPW: "some of the clubs we almost qualify anyway, just need to
lease a building and get the paperwork in order." Very true, but having your
IRS status changed is the key.
John: Thanks for pointing out that there are numerous ways to do
this and get stuff and there are strings attached to everything.
My original points were correct and could not cover each case of
where something came from or how it can be handled. Having 501c3 status as a
charitable organization is not the same as a museum and they are not
interchangable. Getting permanent 501c3 status is a 5 year process and has
some hoops to jump through - I know and when we missed an important hoop the
potential fines were outrageous, thank God IRS was nice and chose to waive
the penalties and take care of the problem. The IRS man stated that they are
only really concerned with groups that have substantial budgets ($25,000 and
up per year) and groups that wanted to get gov't surplus with anything
military being a red flag for close watching. In the end we chose to stay as
a "car club" because it was just easier and cheaper than all the cost of
being a museum.
Best Regards to All,
Dennis O'Connor
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