imported post
Two updates, the first one being a bit off-topic.
I am now posting as bebog but used to be hittman2. I contacted John and explained that when I first registered I used hittman2 as I have for over 10 years now at any website I sign up as. It is a combination of 2 last names and nothing more. However, with this being a firearms related site, it may be taken wrong as in Hit-man. Some people can be really stupid and I can see now comments from anti's like "yea those gun fanatics even have a member claiming to be a hit-man". With the way I hope the nccdl.org thought will take off and bring in attention, I really needed to change my username before any unwanted negative attention is brought upon OCDO over something like a username. (See, it is somewhat on topic
) He was gracious enough to help me out and I am now bebog (behind every blade of grass)
Now, directly on topic. I looked into filing for a non-profit which I am fairly sure is how vcdl.org is organized. I have started 2 small businesses myself and found that the process is very similar for a non-profit. We must file for the following:
1. An available business name (NCCDL and North Carolina Citizen Defense League are available) We would pick one and file DBA's for any other names.
2. File for articles of incorporation with $60 fee.
3. Must create by-laws which must be kept at the corporation's principle place of business (this brings up a major discussion point at many levels)
4. Create and maintain record books (any CPA's on the forum)\
5. File for EIN (employer identification number) from the feds and the state (basically a taxpayer ID number)
6. Apply for tax exemption status.
7. Apply for solicitation license before soliciting any donations.
There are many smaller details being glossed over but those are the major steps to take in getting state and fed recognition. Like I said before, there are some differences but most of these steps are the same for starting any small business and I have been through it with 2 LLC's.
Some other major details are things like a banking institution, company board, director, place of business (a real biggie from a cost standpoint), and a CPA (a priority must have) and a business lawyer (highly suggested but not a must have at first)
If I may, I would like to suggest the following for comment:
1. Let's start off by contacting the director of VCDL and see if he will give us guidance. What I would love to ask is if he is willing to sit in on a conference call for us all to participate. I have conference services that will handle up to 100 attendants with no charge. We could post the info here on when and how to attend. Dreamer mentioned talking to him this weekend and I am certainly not shy about calling and seeing if we can setup something (Dreamer, what say you? I would like to talk with you first since I don't want us to be coming at him from all directions and overwhelming him.)
2. Depending on how the first contact goes with the VCDL director, I would propose a meeting offering anyone who can to attend and help with setting up the organization. We can discuss mission statements, what we really want to focus our efforts toward as an organization, find out what talents are among us regarding CPA's, anyone with space for rent, attorneys, etc.
3. Depending on that meeting, move forward with officially setting up the organization with state and fed filings.
I will just stop here for now and wait for comments. Does this sound like a good track to take?