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From: scratch@hpb.cis.pitt.edu (Steven J. Owens)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Big Brother: A simple solution
Message-ID: <113549@unix.cis.pitt.edu>
Date: 10 Apr 91 08:12:08 GMT
References: <sean.670445667@s.ms.uky.edu> <10768@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>
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Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh -- Panther Amateur Radio Club
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In article <10768@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> randolph@cognito.Eng.Sun.COM (Randolph Fritz) writes:
>Sean, currently small non-profits (annual revenues less than
>$5,000/year, which describes most BBSs) are simply ignored by the IRS.
>It takes about a year, and quite a bit of paperwork, to get recognized
>as non-profit by the IRS; that's if you're some type of organization
>they understand, which probably isn't the case for BBSs.

	Hm... this brings up a thought... what about setting up some sort
of umbrella organization for BBSes.  To belong the BBS MUST be non-profit,
and then organization files for non-profit status?  I know absolutely
nothing about tax law, accounting, etc, just a random thought that occurred
to me.  Is this feasible/possible?  If so, it might make a lot of sense for
a variety of similar purposes, banding together for mutual benefit and self-
protection much as other special interest groups do...

Steven J. Owens    |   Scratch@Pittvms    |   Scratch@hpb.cis.pitt.edu

"We talk often - and sometimes rather glibly - of freedom of speech, freedom
 of expression, freedom of the press.  But are these things really free?  Or
 are they borrowed with the promise that they are ours to use as long as we
 treat them as the precious, complex, and fragile things they are?"

	-  Charles Marshall, vice-chairman of AT&T