Bye Bye November

MORE SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL START ON JANUARY 1st,  2012  

Classic American Diners

Runs January 1, 2012, through Decmber 31, 2014. Classic American Diners. 20 walks fill the book. The book is $10, and will be available in December of 2011. Historically, a small restaurant owner had a prefab dining car type diner shipped to a site, set up, and went into business. Generally, if it calls itself a "diner" it qualifies. Restaurants without the word "diner" qualify if they are in a traditional diner building, OR serve diner style. Closed diners qualify. Old dining car style diners now used for something else also qualify. What doesn't qualify? Fast food chains, coffee shops, and donut shops are not diners. We will maintain a website with more information, and a Facebook page. The name and location of the diner is the only identification required. Award is a beautiful color patch. Send your check payable to "Twin State Volkssport"  to Carolyn Adams, P. O. Box 757, Wells River VT, 05081. Information available at carri@vtlink.net

Strolling Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014. Complete 20 different sanctioned events where the route is located in or in sight of a color-named place anywhere in the world: any city, county, country, area (like Black Hills), place (like Yellowstone Park), state (like Nevada - known as "The Silver State"), rivers or any body of water, or mountains with the name of a color in it.  Names for any and all shades of colors also qualify. Award is a patch and certificate. Cost is $10. POC: Lois Head, Central Minnesota Volkssports, PO Box 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162. Info: 320-252-7348 or LMHead@StCloudState.edu 

Struttin' Down Main Street

Runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014. Complete 20 different sanctioned events where the route goes for at least one block on the main street of any town in the world. An event counts if, in any language, the word for "main" is in the name of the street, avenue, boulevard, lane, court, circle, row, etc. Participants will be awarded a "Strike up the Band" parade patch and whistle certificate. Books can be ordered now but they will be sent starting on December 10, 2011. Cost is $10. POC: Lois Head, Central Minnesota Volkssports, PO Box 2162, St. Cloud, MN 56302-2162. Info: 320-252-7348 or LMHead@StCloudState.edu

Walking America's Murals

Runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014. Walk 20 qualifying events. A qualifying event is any sanctioned walk that passes a mural of at least 8' x 8' depicting any historical, cultural or local happening on a painted stationary wall or building. Award is a 3' x 4' patch. Books are $10 each: make checks payable to Illinois Trekkers. Send to Walking America's Murals, c/o Debbie Kruep, 220 Clearwater Drive, Belleville, Illinois 62220. For those ordering books before January 2012, the books will be sent out in December. Contact debmarkkruep@yahoo.com


 Ken

Black Friday!

YEAR ROUND EVENT WALK BOXES  -   Start everyone off on the right foot by taking the time to ensure that your Event Walk Boxes are fully stocked with updated maps, brochures and supplies.  You will no doubt leave a lasting impression of what a great organization we are.  Remember, of course, to replace the 2011 event stamp slug with a new 2012 slug.

E-POSTCARDS - Clubs that have been notified by the IRS that their Tax Exempt Status has or is in danger of being automatically been revoked have until December 31, 2011, to file for a Reinstatement of Tax Exemption with the IRS with a reduced filing fee. See IRS Newsletter at the "reinstatement" icon to the AVA December Checkpoint for further information.

CLUB INVENTORY ITEMS  -  Remember to remove outdated materials from your Club inventory of New Walker Packets or anything else that you have on hand for participants to purchase or look through.  Replace the old Starting Point order form with the new 2012 order form.  Remember to remove any mention of the old 1-800 number, old AVA logos and tag lines, also remember that Brazos Walking Sticks is no longer a sponsor. Update any information about the new Event and Distance Rules for stamping IVV Books.


GIFT GIVING – Consider giving Holiday gifts of AVA merchandise from the AVA Web Site Merchandise Store at your AVA events, to an AVA volunteer, or to family and friends. Don’t forget to refresh web pages 2, 3, or 4 if you happen to receive an error message.


A SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAM THAT WILL START ON JANUARY 1st, 2012  -

Works Projects Administration (WPA)

Runs January 1,  2012, through December 31, 2014.  The USA 1935-1943 WPA Award is a 3" x 4" embroidered patch.  Walk 20 YREs or scheduled events that pass anything to do with the WPA; art in a post office, dams, bridges, buildings, park entrances, swimming pools and even sidewalks. The program costs $10. Contact Sharon Snyder at walkingfan@aol.com or Suzi Bentley at schocksinews@aol.com You can also visit www.ava.org/clubs/holyfamilywalkers/wpa_special_program.htm  POC: Sharon Snyder, Holy Family Walkers Volksmarch Club, 1714 NW 49th St., Lawton, OK 73505.

   

Ken

AVA President's Thanksgiving Message

Greetings to All...

Priscilla and I send our warm Thanksgiving Greetings to you and your family on Thanksgiving 2011!

This is a wonderful time to unite with family and friends and to give thanks for the many, many blessings that have been showered upon us. The roots of Thanksgiving go back to the Pilgrims, who recognized that everything they had was a gift from God; thus, their Thanksgiving tradition was established to honor God and thank Him for His blessings and His grace. The first Thanksgiving celebration was wholly a religious experience and it was not until a few years later that it became a festival of food and friendship as the tradition we practice today.

As Americans, we have been blessed with an abundance of riches and opportunities and the unique rights and freedoms that are offered in this great country of ours.  We live in a nation where we can freely celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is appropriate that we take time to pause and give special thanks to the men and women of the armed forces for the extreme sacrifices that they have made to protect us and our way of life in war zones overseas...an immeasurable gift.

It’s a time to celebrate and eat a sumptuous meal (and maybe even overeat a wee bit) and perhaps enjoy some professional and college football. As Dallas Cowboys fans, we’ll be rooting for the “Boys” to stretch their win streak to four.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and cooperation over the past few months.

God bless you, God bless America, God bless the AVA, and Happy Thanksgiving!

heinz

Three Days to Thanksgiving

A SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAM THAT WILL START ON JANUARY 1st, 2012  

Celebrating Golden Cinemas -  Runs January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014. Any sanctioned AVA event in the U.S. that passes a building that currently or historically served as a classic movie theater, defined as being built more than 50 years ago, qualifies. Use an event stamp once per calendar year. Not retroactive. Book costs $10. Direct questions to kitsapwalks@hotmail.com. POC Stephanie Pollard, PO Box 981, Suquamish, WA 98392. Make checks payable to Kitsap Volkssporters. 







FROM OUR AVA FAMILY TO YOURS Happy Thanksgiving!  AVA Headquarters will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25.

Ken

11/12ths!

GINGERBREAD COOKIE WALK -  The theme of this Walk is its attraction.  It is actually sponsored by the Illinois Trekkers, Scott Air Force Base, IL, but its unusualness, coupled with the cooperation the Illinois Trekkers give to Clubs in the South Central Region, warrant you consideration.  Unusual by the fact that you may purchase an empty Gingerbread Cookie Bag for $6.00 at the Start and, while walking your VM, stop at merchant locations and receive as many as 36 different cookies.  Start at the Bank of Belleville, 720 West Main St., Belleville, IL, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. (finish by 3:00 p.m.) on Saturday, December 10th.  POC for this Walk is Deb Kruep at 618-277-0830.

     Some of us will have to miss this event, because we will be walking the Festival of Lights Walk, sponsored by the Wandergruppe Walking Club of Oklahoma City and starting from the Basement of the USAO Student Union Building  in Chickasha, OK (5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.).  Call Ross Kiddie at 405-387-3231 if you would like additional information about this Walk.  The following evening, November 11, the Wichita Skywalkers are sponsoring a Christmas Lights Walk starting from East Heights Methodist Church, 4407 East Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS.  Your information source for this walk is John Wickham at 316-788-5342.    

A SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAM THAT WILL START ON JANUARY 1st, 2012  -

America's Bakeries  -  Runs January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2014. Walk 20 AVA sanctioned Volksmarches that pass a family-owned bakery to earn the Bakery patch. Any sanctioned AVA event that includes a family-owned bakery and whose walk route goes by the bakery will qualify for the Bakeries program. Chains such as Krispy Kreme or Panera Bread, for example, do not qualify nor do pizza restaurants. Books cost $10. Order from GVA, PO Box 7674, Fredericksburg, VA 22404-7674. Contact Kay Collie at sydnakay@yahoo.com

     Ken

SC Region Has Gotten COOLER!!!!!

NOVEMBER 15th REPORTS - Alot of work went into complying with the AVA requirements for rendering Officer and Financial Reports and for providing copies of E-Postcards, but South Central Region Clubs came through again!  Of the nine (9) AVA Regions, ours had the fewest listed with any item deficient.  Three Cubs were reported to have an item (one each) late.  I am sending a copy of the AVA HQ Report by separate message to each of them.  In all, WELL DONE SC Region!

 JACKIE WILSON HOSPITALIZED - Jackie was hospitalized with pneumonia about one week ago at the San Antonio Military Medical Center (new name for Brooke Army Medical Center). The medical staff found that her kidneys had completely shut down and she was having heart failure and it was a very, very tenuious situation, particularly for a patient with Amyloidosis. She is now undergoing blood dialysis. The plan is to transition her to peritoneal dialysis which is the type that can be done at home and then to release her to go home.


   Ken

SC Region is COOL!

Canadian Volkssport Federation Annual Meeting -  The Ottawa Clubs in Canada are hosting the 25th Anniversary of the CVF in 2012.  They hope to provide both a perfect venue for the CVF convention and fantastic trails for those attending.

    

By holding the event on the weekend of 18-21 May 2012, they will provide convention attendees with a spectacular array of things to do and see. This weekend is also part of the National Capital’s Tulip Festival, which celebrates spring, and of course it is a gesture of thanks from the Dutch Royal family for providing exile to them during WW II and in recognition of the significant role played by Canadian troops in the liberation of the Netherlands.

TAW Deadline  -  The deadline for publication submissions to the February/March issue of The American Wanderer  is December 24.  All articles and photographs should be submitted directly to Laurel Parrott, Editor taw@bhi.com or mail to 3526 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412. Be sure to include "TAW" in the subject line if emailing.




AVA National Awards Master List -  The National Awards Master List has been updated as a result of additional awards made at the Convention in Des Moines and is available for for search and research.  Any Volkssporter in South Central Region desiring access to that list or information from it, please feel free to contact me at the address(es) or telephone number(s) shown on the AVA Leadership page.  

    

    Ken

Veterans Day 2011

[T]the 11^th hour, on the 11^th day, of the 11^th month of 2011, we . . . pause to honor America’s Veterans and celebrate their contributions to our way of life. Few have given more to our Nation than the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces in peace and in war. 

Generation after generation—from Bunker Hill and Bennington to Baghdad and Abbottabad—protected, defended, and preserved the principles and ideals that define our democracy.  Across that remarkable sweep of history, today’s America was shaped at Lexington and Concord, Antietam and Gettysburg, in the skies over Midway, on the beaches of Normandy, in winter’s grip at Chosin Reservoir, in the heat of Ia Drang Valley, from the Persian Gulf into Afghanistan and Iraq by those who wore our Nation’s uniforms. Over twenty-two million living Veterans today embody our exceptional character and values as a people—each a line in our Nation’s history, but together many chapters towards today’s future. 

                                                                                                                         -  Eric K. Shinseki

                                                                                                                            Secretary of Veterans Affairs

We have in our number many Veterans, who have served our Nation with honor and through sacrifice.  They continue to serve America by giving of themselves to our organization; the AVA, its Member Clubs, and each of our number truly owe to each of them words of praise and respect.  Not only today, but every day, please recognize and express your respect and thanks for the sacrifices they have made for you!

     Ken

No - Vem - Brr

The AVA Museum Committee  is in need of missing convention items to complete the museum set. Please send only the requested donations below to the AVA Headquarters, Attention: Joanne Forinash. Please call (210).872.2743 before sending your donations, as there is no space for duplicates.

 
                Needed: Convention Patches for 1979, 1981, 1983, 1999 and 2003.      
                  Needed: Conv. Pins for 1979, 1983, 1993, 2001, 2007 and 2009.                 
                     Needed: Convention Event Awards for 2001, 2005 and 2007.

Tater Tours is Planning to Feature South Central Region -         Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri (with stop in Branson for a couple of days of walks and sightseeing)  Approximate Dates: September 27th – October 5th, 2012.  Fly into Tulsa, Oklahoma, and out of St. Louis, Missouri. Walk in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and then onto Ft. Smith and Little Rock Arkansas. Head North to Branson, Missouri, for a couple of days of walking, sightseeing and shows! Stop in Jefferson City, Missouri, for a Capital Walk and then end in St. Louis, home of the ARCH.

Tater Tours Contact Information:

Mary T. Ptacek
             2748 Canarsy Ct.
           Henderson, Nevada  89052

(702) 260-7333

E-Mail Address: mtptacek@msn.com

I will be making contact with Mary to coordinate having as many South Central Region Clubs and Walkers meet the tour group at the locations of the various walks scheduled for our area.  There will be more information available on this subject on future AVA.SCRD Blogs.

Tell Us About A Great Walk You Have Done Recently  -  An exciting, a beautiful, a special event?  A YRE, a traditional event?  Jot down and post a comment concerning it for us.  Feel free to point out what was unusual and good about an event, but don't be afraid to tell us what disturbed you.  Perhaps you have some recommendations that could help improve a YRE.  Your ideas could result in preventing the "failure" and cancellation of that event.   If you choose to post a comment, please recognize that it is subject to being edited for form or content.

Ken

South Central NEWS!

From TAW Production Staff - There has been a decrease in submissions of articles and good photos for The American Wanderer in the past few months. TAW is the AVA's in-house newspaper that promotes Volkssporting to members around the country.  All articles and photos printed in TAW are submitted by Club Members from around the country. There are no paid professional writers on staff at TAW. So it's imperative that the NEC keep reminding Clubs to submit short (under 500 words) articles about upcoming events, as well as good high resolution photos (no more than two) about their events or area. If Club Members are unsure of how to submit, we have guidelines available in PDF format that gives them lots of tips and parameters on submitting to TAW.  We would also like to see Regional Directors submitting a short article about special events coming up in their region that could be directly under the regional heading in TAW. This could be used to promote several events in your Region, or new clubs that have formed, or an area person who's done some exceptional work in promoting our sport in their area. Something that's specific to your Region or an event that you want to promote. This is to remind Clubs to support TAW through their articles and photos. If you've got some questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us! Thanks!

Donna and Laurel, TAW production staff, alamacque@earthlink.net, taw@bhi.com

REMINDER! - 2013 AVA Biennial Convention -  

Orlando, FL, from  April 22nd to April 26th, 2013.

Next National Executive Council Meeting  - The next NEC Meeting will be held at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 5008 Corridor Loop Road, Schertz, Texas, 78154, January 20, 21 and 22 (Sunday, if necessary), 2012.

Ken

Reports Due November 15th

Annual Responsibilities for Filing the IRS 990 (E-Postcard) -

(IRS E-Postcard Technical Assistance – 1 (866) 255-0654)

Every AVA Club which is tax-exempt under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code (AVA Bylaws, Article III, Section 3.1.a) is required to file the appropriate version of the IRS Form 990 every fiscal year.

·      If your gross receipts (i.e., all money received in your tax year) equal or are less than $50,000, you may file a 990-N (short, simple on-line e-postcard). Instructions are below.

·      If your gross receipts equal or exceed $200,000, you must file the lengthy Form 990. We recommend you enlist the help of a knowledgeable tax professional who specializes in tax-exempt organizations.

·      If your gross receipts are in between, you may file the limited Form 990-EZ. We also recommend enlisting a knowledgeable tax professional who specializes in tax-exempt organizations.

To calculate if gross receipts equal or are less than $50,000,

·      If your club has been in existence for 1 year or less and received, or donors have pledged to give, $37,500 or less during the organization's first tax year;

·      If your club has been in existence between 1 and 3 years and averaged $30,000 or less in gross receipts during each of its first 2 tax years; or

·      If your club is at least 3 years old and averaged $50,000 or less in gross receipts for the immediately preceding 3 tax years (including the year for which calculations are being made).

File based on your fiscal year, which should be defined in your bylaws. If you have 501(C)(3) status under the AVA’s group exemption, your fiscal year must be July 1 to June 30.

You must file a 990/990-EZ/990-N not later than the 15^th day of the 5^th month following the end of your fiscal year—in the case of the AVA group exemption that means between July 1 (no sooner because your fiscal year isn’t over yet) and November 15 (for the 990-N the on-line site will lock you out after that date).

If you need your club’s EIN, call AVA Headquarters for it. Under no circumstances, use any other number (DO NOT USE THE AVA's EIN).

If you file the 990-N, read on.

Register in order for filer to file for the first time. (If the filer has filed for your club before, skip to next section.)

·      Go to http://epostcard.form990.org/ and log in as an Exempt Organization with your Employer or Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN).

·      Fill in the form, including a 6-15 character password, and submit. (Save this information to use when future filing.)

·      When instructed, close the browser window.

·      When you receive the confirmation email, use the link to finish activating your account.

File between July 1 and November 15. (If you don’t file by November 15, you must wait until next year.) If your club is required to file a 990 and is not under the AVA’s group exemption, file before the 15^th day of the 5^th month following the end of your fiscal year.

·      Have your ID, password, and EIN/TIN handy.

·      Log in to https://epostcard.form990.org/frmSecurityLogin.Asp?StatusRequired=LoggedIn

·      If you haven’t registered or forgot your password, refer to the Register section above.

·      Page 1:

·      Has your organization terminated or gone out of business? Yes or No.

·      Are your gross receipts normally $50,000 or less? Yes or No. If NO, you must file a Form 990 or 990-EZ. Per the IRS, annual gross receipts (i.e., all money received in your tax year) are considered less than $50,000.

·      Employer identification number (EIN), also known as a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) from your letter from the IRS.

·      Tax year: 7/1/last year-6/30/this year [for those AVA members part of the AVA’s group exemption]. If you are not under the AVA group exemption, use your Fiscal Year.

·      Click Next Page.

·      Page 2: (proof all entries for accuracy; you cannot amend your e-Postcard once submitted; FYI, no punctuation accepted)

·      Enter your club’s name in DBA1 (doing business as); the registration defaults to AVA but the EIN is yours alone.

·      Enter your club’s mailing address and, if you have one, its website.

·      Enter a principal officer’s name (consider using your president) and address.

·      Click Submit.

Print the Congratulations page if you wish. You will receive a confirmation email promptly from the IRS indicating your 990-N e-Postcard was submitted and another within 30 days indicating whether or not your filing was accepted or rejected by the IRS; if rejected, you will receive further instructions.

·      Log out.

Later want to check status and/or print your filing?

·      Return to https://epostcard.form990.org/frmSecurityLogin.Asp?StatusRequired=LoggedIn

·      Under the Quick Menu on the right side of the page, click Edit/View Existing e-Postcard.

·      Log in again to see a status window.

·      In the Action column (far right), click on View to see the status of this year’s request.

·      Toward the upper right, click on View Form 990-N (e-Postcard) to see what you submitted. Print a copy if you wish.

·      Log out.

You must send a copy of the confirmation from the IRS to Candy Purcell at candy@ava.org verifying that you have filed the E-Postcard; AVA must maintain documentation showing that all subordinates have filed the proper 990 paperwork to maintain its tax-exempt status.

Issues

Didn’t receive a letter from the IRS, but have 501(C)(3) status? File anyway.

Don’t have a member with a computer? Use a computer at the local public library. Find someone at a neighboring club or ask your state association president or regional director. Ask a friend. The IRS doesn’t exempt organizations without access to a computer, so definitely find a way.

Don’t file for three consecutive years? The IRS automatically takes away your tax-exempt status, and the AVA can’t do anything about it! If you lose tax-exempt status, you also will lose AVA membership for failing to comply with AVA Bylaws, Article III, 3.1.a. Make a habit of filing annually.

Questions? Contact the IRS E-Postcard Technical Assistance 1-866-255-0654, or contact the AVA Financial Director Candy Purcell at (candy@ava.org or 210-659-2112) or Bob Wright (rwright2@jhu.edu or home phone 703-737-2175 or cell phone 703-615-0757) and be as specific as you can about your problem.

Submitting Club Financial Report -  Go to the "Help for Clubs" icon on the AVA Webpage.  14 Modules are listed on the next page, which is titled "Club Guide to the AVA Website."  Click on Module "14.  Submitting Financial Report."  It provides a 9 page step-by-step guide to completing and printing the report, which must be submitted to AVA Headquarters by November 15th!  Failure to do so may result in a penalty being charged to your Club.

Submitting Club Officer Information - Go to the "Help for Clubs" icon on the AVA Webpage.  14 Modules are listed on the next page, which is titled "Club Guide to the AVA Website."  Click on Module "3. Entering and Editing Officer Information."  It provides a 6 page step-by-step guide to completing any Club Officer changes, which must be submitted to AVA Headquarters by November 15th and can be submitted on-line.  Failure to complete this process in time may result in a penalty being charged to your Club.

Ken