Post by Valerie on Nov 4, 2010 16:22:01 GMT -8
• Wait, what? Why is there an NPO now?
Because no individual was willing to risk the financial liability of signing the lease for the B&GC, the NPO called Northwest Organization for Theatrical Roleplay, or NOTR, was formed so you can all play in a warm place with restrooms in the wintertime, and no one has to take a personal risk.
• Is the NOTR the same as ECC? Is this now, or will this become a way for people who aren’t on staff to get their way in a game?
From a legal perspective ECC does not exist as a group or organization - it’s just a collection of individuals. So at this time NOTR is the legal identity of ECC. This is for banking, taxes and other legal purposes. From a player perspective NOTR is not running games, making rules calls, or electing staff, and so remains separate for all things game related.
Because it’s important that these two things remain separate, both now and in the future, it is written into the bylaws of NOTR that it cannot interfere with the rules of conduct, game rules, or the election or appointment of game officials.
The ONLY places where NOTR can take action regarding the games are in these three circumstances:
1) If somebody violates the law, we reserve the right to ask them to leave and turn them over to the appropriate law enforcement representatives.
2) If somebody does something which violates the lease or agreement we have with a space where games are being played, we reserve the right to ask them to leave the space.
3) If somebody holds both a position with NOTR (currently Kaine, Mark or Sarah) and is also a storyteller or PA at the same time, they have as much say over setting the rules of conduct, game rules, and who the other storytellers/PAs/so on are as that position allows them - no more, no less.
• Is NOTR handling all the money for game now?
Currently NOTR is ONLY handling the donations and rent for the BGC. As players and eventually as members of NOTR (see below) you will be able to ask for further financial shelter on issues including providing snacks, paying for the website or fundraising for events, but it will be YOUR choice.
• How do we know where the money is going?
As with last year, there will be post made every week showing how we’re doing on making rent for the month. Members may also ask to view records kept by the NOTR secretary/treasurer.
• Do I have to pay to play?
No. EC remains free. Donations are voluntary. You MIGHT have to pay a Membership fee to become a voting member of NOTR because we need to abide by the IRS rules on membership to qualify for Tax Exempt Status. Otherwise, we may have to pay taxes on your donations, which just wastes 15% of your money. Updates as soon as we find the numbers.
• What is a voting Member of NOTR?
All players will have the opportunity to become Members of NOTR. Qualification for and rights of membership are outlined in the bylaws. Membership is NOT required to play in EC games. The main role of Members is to vote at the annual meeting for the Board of Directors. Other matters may be brought to member votes as defined in the bylaws.
• What are the other roles in NOTR?
The Board of Directors elects and directs officers (President, VP and Sec/Treasurer), steers the NPO in accordance with the wishes of the Members (you elect the board after all), and are sort of the general managers of the NPO.
The Officers run the daily grind of the NPO, in this case, implementing schedules, fundraisers, keeping records and communicating the goings on of the NPO to the Members via newsletters and other updates.
• I keep seeing this “bylaws” word all over the place - what are bylaws?
Bylaws are the rules that govern how an organization operates. Most of the contents of the bylaws are there to comply with WA state law for running a business, and the rest are there to make sure that NOTR and EC remain separate.
• Can we see these bylaws in full?
Sure! But they are written in legalese and really long because they have to comply with IRS standards. We’re currently working on a simplified translation and once this is ready, this post will be updated with a link to both the full and simplified versions.
• How is the fact that NOTR exists and is handling the paperwork going to change things for me?
That depends wholly on your level of involvement. If you don’t care about how NOTR runs and just want to show up and RP, you can still drop your donation anonymously (by sphere) to the collector of the night and carry on as usual.
If you wish to become a voting Member of NOTR, you will need to meet the membership qualifications, which will require you to sign up at the collections table in addition to at your sphere, and (depending on IRS demands) may require you to allocate a portion of your donation as membership dues, making that portion a matter of public record. And you will be expected to participate in the annual meetings (scheduled conveniently at 9pm on a Saturday in March, hoping to finish the meeting between games when many people are available).
Receipts will be available for donations, and we can take checks made out to “Northwest Organization for Theatrical Roleplay”.
• You didn’t answer my question! Help!
If you’d like to know something that hasn’t been addressed, please email us at nwortp@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you. Questions and answers from email may be posted on the boards as needed.
Thank you!
Sarah Bennett, Kaine Chandler, and Mark Bailey
Board of Directors, Northwest Organization for Theatrical Roleplay
Because no individual was willing to risk the financial liability of signing the lease for the B&GC, the NPO called Northwest Organization for Theatrical Roleplay, or NOTR, was formed so you can all play in a warm place with restrooms in the wintertime, and no one has to take a personal risk.
• Is the NOTR the same as ECC? Is this now, or will this become a way for people who aren’t on staff to get their way in a game?
From a legal perspective ECC does not exist as a group or organization - it’s just a collection of individuals. So at this time NOTR is the legal identity of ECC. This is for banking, taxes and other legal purposes. From a player perspective NOTR is not running games, making rules calls, or electing staff, and so remains separate for all things game related.
Because it’s important that these two things remain separate, both now and in the future, it is written into the bylaws of NOTR that it cannot interfere with the rules of conduct, game rules, or the election or appointment of game officials.
The ONLY places where NOTR can take action regarding the games are in these three circumstances:
1) If somebody violates the law, we reserve the right to ask them to leave and turn them over to the appropriate law enforcement representatives.
2) If somebody does something which violates the lease or agreement we have with a space where games are being played, we reserve the right to ask them to leave the space.
3) If somebody holds both a position with NOTR (currently Kaine, Mark or Sarah) and is also a storyteller or PA at the same time, they have as much say over setting the rules of conduct, game rules, and who the other storytellers/PAs/so on are as that position allows them - no more, no less.
• Is NOTR handling all the money for game now?
Currently NOTR is ONLY handling the donations and rent for the BGC. As players and eventually as members of NOTR (see below) you will be able to ask for further financial shelter on issues including providing snacks, paying for the website or fundraising for events, but it will be YOUR choice.
• How do we know where the money is going?
As with last year, there will be post made every week showing how we’re doing on making rent for the month. Members may also ask to view records kept by the NOTR secretary/treasurer.
• Do I have to pay to play?
No. EC remains free. Donations are voluntary. You MIGHT have to pay a Membership fee to become a voting member of NOTR because we need to abide by the IRS rules on membership to qualify for Tax Exempt Status. Otherwise, we may have to pay taxes on your donations, which just wastes 15% of your money. Updates as soon as we find the numbers.
• What is a voting Member of NOTR?
All players will have the opportunity to become Members of NOTR. Qualification for and rights of membership are outlined in the bylaws. Membership is NOT required to play in EC games. The main role of Members is to vote at the annual meeting for the Board of Directors. Other matters may be brought to member votes as defined in the bylaws.
• What are the other roles in NOTR?
The Board of Directors elects and directs officers (President, VP and Sec/Treasurer), steers the NPO in accordance with the wishes of the Members (you elect the board after all), and are sort of the general managers of the NPO.
The Officers run the daily grind of the NPO, in this case, implementing schedules, fundraisers, keeping records and communicating the goings on of the NPO to the Members via newsletters and other updates.
• I keep seeing this “bylaws” word all over the place - what are bylaws?
Bylaws are the rules that govern how an organization operates. Most of the contents of the bylaws are there to comply with WA state law for running a business, and the rest are there to make sure that NOTR and EC remain separate.
• Can we see these bylaws in full?
Sure! But they are written in legalese and really long because they have to comply with IRS standards. We’re currently working on a simplified translation and once this is ready, this post will be updated with a link to both the full and simplified versions.
• How is the fact that NOTR exists and is handling the paperwork going to change things for me?
That depends wholly on your level of involvement. If you don’t care about how NOTR runs and just want to show up and RP, you can still drop your donation anonymously (by sphere) to the collector of the night and carry on as usual.
If you wish to become a voting Member of NOTR, you will need to meet the membership qualifications, which will require you to sign up at the collections table in addition to at your sphere, and (depending on IRS demands) may require you to allocate a portion of your donation as membership dues, making that portion a matter of public record. And you will be expected to participate in the annual meetings (scheduled conveniently at 9pm on a Saturday in March, hoping to finish the meeting between games when many people are available).
Receipts will be available for donations, and we can take checks made out to “Northwest Organization for Theatrical Roleplay”.
• You didn’t answer my question! Help!
If you’d like to know something that hasn’t been addressed, please email us at nwortp@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you. Questions and answers from email may be posted on the boards as needed.
Thank you!
Sarah Bennett, Kaine Chandler, and Mark Bailey
Board of Directors, Northwest Organization for Theatrical Roleplay
