Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Happy Sadie Hawkins Day!

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Do You Have Anything Past Due? - To ensure that your Club receives all future event stamps, please submit to AVA Headquarters any past due reports of any nature (including participation reports, officer updates, financial reports, etc.) stamps and monies owed.

TAW DeadlineThe June/July issue of The American Wanderer deadline is April 25.  All articles and photographs should be submitted directly to Laurel Parrott, Editor taw@bhi.com or by "snail mail" to: 3526 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412. Be sure to include "TAW" in the subject line if emailing.
NEC MeetingThe next AVA NEC Meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida, on July 6 to 7, 2012. The NEC Meeting following that will be held in Schertz, Texas, on January 18 to 19, 2013.  AVA Headquarters will provide more details once available.
E-Postcard Information – Worth Repeating -  The good news is that many of South Central Region Clubs have properly filed e-postcards and maintained their non-profit status. During the weekend of January 28 & 29, 2012, Gus Glaser, a recently-retired IRS tax attorney specializing in non-profit organizations, researched each AVA Club by tax ID number to determine which Clubs were in compliance, those not in compliance, and other issues relating to our tax status.  AVA is very fortunate to have such a professional willing to volunteer in this effort. Below is a summary of what Gus found.

Many Clubs are in compliance but have not sent proof of compliance to AVA, so AVA’s records show these clubs as not being in compliance.

 When filing the e-postcard, some Clubs are not putting the Club name in the portion of the e-postcard called dba.  Instead e-postcards are being filed with an individual’s name or no name at all.  Often the Club address is not used, which causes the Club name and address not to be in the IRS data base, therefore not in compliance.

Clubs are not filing using the proper legal name of the Club. The proper name for a Club is the name the Club used when receiving their tax ID number. Many e-postcards have been filed under a Club’s tax ID number using various versions of a Club name or no name, causing non-compliance.

Clubs have intermittently filed one year then skipped years, causing the IRS to revoke their non-profit status.

WHAT YOUR CLUB NEEDS TO DO RIGHT NOW:If your club has filed the e-postcards, you must send the proof for each year you filed since 2007 to AVA Headquarters immediately; every AVA Club is required by the IRS to be in compliance, but the IRS does not notify AVA when you file. If the IRS has revoked your Club’s status and you did file e-postcards as required, AVA will take this up with the IRS on behalf of your Club once we have proof from you that you filed.
 
If you are dealing with the IRS now because your Club has already had it's non-profit status revoked because you did not file as required, you need to send copies of any documents you have sent to the IRS for proof to AVA that you are working to have your status reinstated. A form 1023 has to be filed with the IRS along with a filing fee of $100.00. The form 1023 and instructions can be found on the irs.gov web site. Seek out someone in your Club or a professional who can help you submit the necessary forms.  See the IRS document, "AUTOMATIC REVOCATION OF TAX-EXEMPT STATUS," a copy of which is attached to the March Checkpoint  or can be obtained from me.

    Ken

Sunday, February 12, 2012

You Would Think It Was February Out There - It's COLD!!!!!

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HOLY FAMILY WALKERS, LAWTON, OKLAHOMAIf you haven't already, you should access the AVA Website, view the color photo on the webpage, and read briefly about the program George and Sharon Snyder and participating Club Members have established for ISD (International Student Division) officers and their families, stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for training.  Walking is now among the social activities in which officer students from a number of countries get to share while in the United States.  Good work and good diplomacy Holy Family Walkers!


TAW APRIL/MAY ISSUE DEADLINE - The deadline for the April/May issue of The American Wanderer is Saturday, February 25. If you know of anyone who should be writing for this issue pass this on to them. Remember, when submitting articles to put TAW and your region in the email subject line.


Ken

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

FEBRUARY!

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     It is already February!  So much has happened in January that (1) I haven't posted to this communication tool, and (2) a significant amount of information waits to be communicated to you.  Let me then get started passing on some of that information:

 AVA CHECKPOINT ARTICLE - IRS E-POSTCARD ACTION - All AVA Club Members should be aware of and become familiar with the IRS annual reporting requirements for non-profit organizations.  Take the time to peruse the Checkpoint Article and attachment on this subject; it is vitally important to your Club and, ultimately, to the AVA and to YOU!  If you have any questions after reading the subject Checkpoint Article, please feel free to contact me at AVA.SCRD@hotmail.com.

TAW DEADLINE - The April/May issue of The American Wanderer articles/photographs deadline is February 25th.  Submissions should be made to Laurel Parrott, TAW Editor at 3526 Humboldt Ave. North, Minneapolis, MN 55412 or by e-mail at taw@bhi.com.  Be sure to include "TAW" in the subject line if e-mailing.

NEW AVA MARKETING DIRECTOR -  Welcome Chuck Blische, the new AVA Marketing Director, whose job is fundraising, public relations, and marketing.  Chuck's first day at AVA National HQ was Monday, January 30th.  His e-mail address is marketing@ava.org.

NEC MEETINGS - The next AVA NEC Meeting will be in Orlando, Florida, on July 6 - 7, 2012.  The following AVA NEC Meeting is scheduled for January 18 - 19, 2013.

   Ken

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Happy NEW YEAR!

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     No resolutions here; as I have done at this time for many past years, I wish all a Happy New Year, coupled with the Prayer that each of us is able to experience remarkable blessings in the year to come and for many years to follow!

     I hope to see each of you NEXT YEAR - in 2012!


   Ken

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Its Beginning to Look Alot Like CHRISTMAS!

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     That I've only begun to get into the Christmas Spirit and it is already December 22nd is probably not unusual; in 1976, I did all of my Christmas shopping after I got off work on Christmas Eve.  But this message isn't about old Scrooge, but about the wonderful gift that is Christmas, about the warm feeling with which I am always blessed by Christmas Day.  New arrivals to the cast of my Christmas Spirit have been each of you.  Having learned to better know each of you during 2011 has in itself been a wonderful gift.  I wish each of you a warm and wonderful Christmas Season filled with blessings in the nature of the First Christmas and the promise of the miracles in your life like those that were brought to us by the One whose birthday we now celebrate!



     GOD BLESS YOU one and all!


    Ken

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Not Alot But Important for Planning 2012!

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     The Chickasha, Oklahoma, Festival of Lights Walk was gorgeous; the weather was unseasonably mild and the lights were like every year - gorgeous!  Thanks to the Wandergruppe Walking Club for your fine hospitality and great chili and cornbread selection - Yummmm!



     Although it had rained Sunday afternoon, it stopped for the Christmas Lights Night Volksmarch in Wichita, Kansas.  It is easy to see why the venue for that walk has been selected - plenty of Christmas lights and other decorations in clean, well-maintained neighborhoods comprised of traditional two-story homes.  Couple all of that with the Christmas celebration activities at East Heights United Methodist Church and it resultd in an event one should not miss!



     Now start planning to attend these Christmas Lights Walks in 2012.  You might take a group from your Club and make it a weekend adventure.  One thing is certain - you will enjoy the spirit of the season.  MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

  
Ken

    

Friday, December 9, 2011

December and More!

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     Back in Oklahoma and have been met with a mound of work, much of it quite disturbing.  Please forgive the lapse in reading "Great SC Blog."  This weekend I will be at the Chickasha, Oklahoma, Festival of Lights on Saturday evening and the Wichita, Kansas, Christmas Lights Night Volksmarch on Sunday evening.  I hope to see as many of you as possible there! 

Seasonal and Traditional Event Stamps -  If you do not receive your Event Stamps or have other issues regarding your Events email Events@ava.org with specific details of the YR number, Club, and/or the direct mailing address to the person who needs the stamp in hand. 





TAW Deadline - The February/March issue of The American Wanderer deadline is, December 25. 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.

Headquarters Holiday Closings - Monday, December 26, 2011, and Monday, January 2, 2012, the AVA Headquarters will be closed. Wishing all AVA Clubs and fellow Volkssporters a Joyous and Happy Holiday Season from our AVA family to yours.

     Ken