WSGS members received a link via email with their election ballot on Dec. 17. Your vote is important to us, so if you did not receive the link, please check your alternate email or Spam folder. If you still can’t find it, please email Info@wasgs.org.

Offices on the ballot include Vice President and Treasurer. Polls close at 11:59 p.m. 24 Dec 2022. Your vote shows support to WSGS. There is also an opportunity to share ideas or suggestions to improve our organization. We appreciate you taking the time to vote.

Many tax-exempt organizations must file information returns by May 16, 2022

Even though organizations like charities and foundations may be tax-exempt, the IRS still requires them to file certain information every year. For many of these exempt organizations, the deadline to file their 2021 information return is Monday, May 16, 2022.

Here are the forms they may need to file, depending on the size and type of organization:

• Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax
• Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax
• Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Nonexempt Charitable Trust Treated as a Private Foundation
• Form 990-N, Electronic Notice, e-Postcard, for Tax-Exempt Organizations Not Required to File Form 990 or Form 990-EZ
• Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return
• Form 4720, Return of Certain Excise Taxes Under Chapters 41 and 42 of the Internal Revenue Code

Mandatory electronic filing
Tax-exempt organizations must file their forms electronically. E-filing reduces processing time, making compliance with reporting requirements easier.

Here are a few things organizations should know about filing:

• Organizations can e-file most returns through an IRS Authorized e-File Provider.
• However, organizations filing Form 990-N must e-file through the Form 990-N, e-Postcard, page on IRS.gov.
• The IRS will reject incomplete or incorrect returns. Organizations should check that they’re using the right return, have fully completed it and don’t have missing schedules.
• The IRS has a series of pre-recorded online workshops for exempt organizations. For organizations filling out one of the Form 990 series, the Form 990 Overview Course may be helpful.

At their 18 Feb 2022 meeting, the WSGS Board approved a change to the bylaws allowing all Board members, regardless of election status, to vote. The change must be approved by the WSGS membership to become official.

Currently, the president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and past president are the only members allowed to vote on board matters, while appointed chairs of the standing committees (web master, blog master and Pioneer Certificate program) are expected to attend and participate in Board business, but not allowed to vote. After a discussion about the value of all those who participate on the Board, the Board voted unanimously to allow chairs of standing committees to vote.

All WSGS members received an email with a link to vote on the bylaws change on 20 Mar 2022. If you are a member of WSGS and need a reminder email, please email Info@wasgs.org and put “Bylaws Link” in the Subject Line. Balloting will close at 11:59 p.m., 20 Apr 2022.

The proposed change affects Articles V and VI:

ARTICLE V. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers, and the immediate past president and heads of the Standing Committees. The Board shall:

1. Conduct the business of the Society, referring major decisions and unusual expenses to the membership for approval or ratification.
2. Meet at least three (3) times a year, the dates and places to be determined by the Board members.
3. Potential Board of Directors Conflicts of Interest shall be addressed annually.

Section 2. Members of the Board are expected to attend all meetings, called by the President or three members of the board.

Section 3. All elected Board Members shall be current members of the Society.

Section 4. Notice of all board meetings shall be given to each member not fewer than five (5) days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE VI. STANDING COMMITTEES AND APPOINTED POSITIONS

Section 1. The Standing Committees will be: Web master, Blog master, and Pioneer Certificate.

Section 2. The heads of Standing Committees or other Appointed Positions are expected to attend meetings of the Board of Directors and contribute to the deliberations, but are non-voting members of the Board.