We have had a number of questions about whether or not a club should be under the AVA's 501(c)(3) group exemption and what are the advantages, disadvantages and restrictions of being under this group exemption. We have prepared a short information sheet to answer these questions. We have included it with this issue of CHECKPOINT. The most important part of this issue is that AVA Policy requires that all clubs and state organizations apply for recognition under the AVA group exemption unless a club or state organization has its own tax-exempt status or is under the direct control of another tax-exempt organization. We may add new clubs or state organization to our group exemption only once a year. Our window of opportunity to make additions to our group exemption is in March of each year. If your club or state organization is not under the AVA group exemption and is not in one of the other two categories, you should submit an application before March 1, 2001. If they receive an application by March 1, 2001, the applicant, if approved by IRS, will come under our group exemption on July 1, 2001. We have also included a copy of the application form with this issue of CHECKPOINT.
The National Executive Council should review and approve a final draft of the first parts of our Strategic Plan at the October meeting. This will include the Vision Statement, the Mission Statement, the Value Statement, the Strategic Goals for 2001 - 2005, and the Strategic Objectives for each of the Strategic Goals. Once the Council has approved these parts of the plan, we will send the draft to your club or state organization for comments and/or recommendations. Please be looking for this document in mid-October. We will be giving you a very short time to provide comments, and it is very important that you return your comments and/or recommendations by the established deadline. This may be an inconvenience for some of you, but I ask your understanding because of the importance of what we are doing and our desire to have the entire plan completed by our Biennial Convention in June 2001.
Thank you for helping us renew The Spirit of Walking all across the United States.
Along the Trail
From Jackie Wilson, Director of Operations--We are staffed just one-deep in each department. Please plan ahead when ordering items or requesting tasks to be performed. "Rush" orders should be the rare exception, not the rule.
- Clubs that are changing a year-round to a seasonal event, must return the stamp to Headquarters, no later than 10 days after the event.
- All outgoing officers should pass along all pertinent materials and information to your successor.
- September is the end of the quarter. Seasonal/YRE reports are due at Headquarters by October 30. They must be submitted even if there has been no participation.
- Wait until three days prior to your event, before calling when you have not received an event stamp.
Director of Finance, Candace Purcell, tells us that she is holding several checks sent in to pay on club accounts. These checks have come from another entity, such as a city government, parks and recreation department, or other type of organization. The checks must be marked with the corresponding club name and number. If you think that your club might have fallen into this category, please contact Candy at once.
From Rob Gale--For most of you, this information on New Balance Athletic Shoe's sponsorship of AVA walking events will seem redundant, for others please pay very close attention:
New Balance will sponsor every sanctioned AVA walking event. Your sponsorship request form (enclosed) must be received at Headquarters no later than eight weeks prior to your event. You will receive an acknowledgment post card. You will receive your certificates and goodies no later than a week before the event.
Please fill out every part of the form, being careful to give a physical address. This is a must. Provide us with a day-time telephone number.
No other shoe or athletic apparel company is allowed to have anything to do with an AVA event. There are no exceptions.
Reuse as many of the trail marking supplies as possible. Use the reorder form (enclosed) for other materials. Please contact me at AVAPR@aol.com if you have any questions. Please do not attempt to contact New Balance directly. I thank you for your help.
Last Updated: 1/17/02
© Copyright 1996 Wendy Bumgardner Clubs may reprint for club use.