Because the WMF may not want a direct connection with the chapters. Take WMF UK or DE for example. They operate on their own, separate from the foundation, and do quite well enough. Operating as an affiliate underneath the WMF brings liability issues that can be avoided by simply having a separate organization. Besides, that's what the chapter creation guide suggests. There's no reason not to create a corporate entity that I can see.
-Dan On May 3, 2008, at 6:20 PM, Pharos wrote:
On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 1:17 PM, Dan Rosenthal swatjester@gmail.com wrote:
Given that the WMF is aware of the issues facing incorporation in different states and the difficulties set up as such, combined with the fact that we already have 3 in development chapters from 3 major metropolitan regions, I'm personally willing to bet that a "one nation one chapter" rule would at the very least have to have an exception for the US and other large countries with dispersed metropolitan centers. Due to the highly sovereign nature of the several states, compared with their massive size difference compared to Europe, I don't see any other choice.
Dan, I don't see why we shouldn't organize as autonomous "affiliates". This will give us the full tax advantages of a non-profit (because of our connection to WMF), without even having to become incorporated.
If we have to vote for chapter seats on the Board or anything else, we can just pool our votes.
Thanks, Pharos
On May 3, 2008, at 10:17 AM, Anthony wrote:
On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 9:37 AM, Gerard Meijssen gerard.meijssen@gmail.com wrote:
Hoi, Countries in Europe have states too. Thanks, GerardM
I don't deny that, though I do wonder if we're using the same sense of the term "state". I don't mean to include mere administrative divisions.
US states have their own laws, their own income and sales taxes, and they each handle incorporation separately. In fact, a corporation which does business in more than one state has to keep separate accounting for each state and file as a foreign corporation in each state apart from the first. There are, as Sebastian questioned, significant legal, if not tax, advantages to having a separate organization in each state.
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