[TriLUG] May 19 - TriLUG Annual Spring Installfest

[Joseph Mack NA3T]

On Wed, 25 Apr 2012, Steve Pinkham wrote:

> Both campaigning for election and lobbying lawmakers for 
> the change of laws are restricted.

it's good to get the facts here. I've never been really 
clear about this.

> "An organization will be regarded as attempting to 
> influence legislation if it contacts, or urges the public 
> to contact, members or employees of a legislative body for 
> the purpose of proposing, supporting, or opposing 
> legislation, or if the organization advocates the adoption 
> or rejection of legislation.

so zero influence on legislation is allowed.

but then you say 20% of your budget on influencing 
legislation is OK

> As I understand (IANAL, YMMV, etc), you can't spend more 
> than 20% of your budget or a large portion of your time in 
> an attempt to influence specific legislation.

however we're safe if we just talk to the public

> Organizations may, however, involve themselves in issues of public
> policy without the activity being considered as lobbying.  For example,
> organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare and distribute
> educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an
> educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status."
>
> http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=163392,00.html


> In summary, we're quite fine unless we become MUCH more explicitly
> political. ;-)

But you're being self referential. We're trying to find out 
what is political.

It sounds like if we don't attempt to educate legislators 
(directly or inspiring others to do the same) then we're not 
being political. We may be able to spend 20% of our budget 
on something (but I'm not clear on what) without being 
political.

Joe

-- 
Joseph Mack NA3T EME(B,D), FM05lw North Carolina
jmack (at) wm7d (dot) net - azimuthal equidistant map
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