Category Archives: Society Support

Publicize (and Find) Upcoming Events

by Roxanne Lowe

Want to spread the word about your society’s program, workshop, seminar or training class? Or are you looking for a training opportunity? The WSGS website and blog are great ways to publicize and find local (including nearby states and British Columbia) events.

It’s easy to have events posted on the WSGS Events Page and Blog. Just send an email to webmanager@wasgs.org (website) and WSGSBlog@wasgs.org (blog) with the details (who, what, where & when) and/or a flyer. As if by magic, information about the event will be posted in both places for all to see.

Publicize Your Society’s Upcoming Events

by Roxanne Lowe

Want to spread the word about your society’s program, workshop, seminar or training class?

It’s easy to have your event posted on the WSGS Events Page and Blog. Just send an email to webmanager@wasgs.org (website) and WSGSBlog@wasgs.org (blog) with the details (who, what, where & when) and/or flyer. As if by magic, information about your event will be posted for all to see. The website and blog are great ways to maximize exposure to your target audience.

Innovative Grant applications due today!

by Roxanne Lowe

Innovative Grant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Late applications will not be accepted.

The grants, up to $100, are designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Up to five grants will be awarded in 2016.

The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. Additional guidance on the program is here.

For more information, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

Innovative Grant Applications Due on Wednesday

by Roxanne Lowe

Local Societies:

Get your Innovative Grant applications in by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2016. Late applications will not be accepted.

The grants, up to $100, are designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Up to five grants will be awarded in 2016.

The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. Additional guidance on the program is here.

For more information, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

See What You Can Do With an Innovative Grant

by Roxanne Lowe

Last year, the Washington State Genealogical Society announced the creation of the “WSGS Innovative Grant Program.” The grants, up to $100, were designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. Five societies received grants at the 2015 Annual Conference in Ellensburg:

Dead tree slated for removal

Chelan Valley Genealogical Society – Purchase of a computer, solely for genealogical research, at the Chelan Public Library. The computer will have access to Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.

Northeast Washington Genealogical Society – Removal of trees that are endangering the safety of people and protection of grave markers at the Evergreen Cemetery, a local cemetery near Colville.

Skagit Valley Genealogical Society – Purchase of a new laptop computer to be used for society presentations and transcription of documents from the Northwest Regional Archives in Bellingham.

Tri-City Genealogical Society – Funds will support the society’s “Archived Records Contest” which encourages individuals to share records they have obtained by various means other than just downloading an image from the Internet.

Software purchase

WAGS was able to purchase a second FileMaker Pro 12 software program that doubled the access time for dedicated volunteers who work many hours maintaining and improving the WAGS Library collection.

Wenatchee Area Genealogical Society – Purchase specialized computer software to enable more than one volunteer to enter data related to local obituaries, cemetery records, World War I records and more.

The 2016 deadline for submitting a grant proposal is JUNE 1. The simple one-page application and additional information are available here.

Contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition and Special Awards chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com if you have questions.

 

 

Innovative Grant Deadline Nears

by Roxanne Lowe

The deadline for applying for a WSGS Innovative Grant has been extended to June 1, 2016.

The grants, up to $100, are designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. The awards do not have to be repaid — they’re FREE MONEY to support worthy projects. Up to five grants will be awarded in 2016.

Last year’s grant awards were made to:
•Chelan Valley GS for the purchase of a computer at the local library for the exclusive use of accessing Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
•Northeast Washington GS for the removal of diseased trees at a local pioneer cemetery.
•Skagit Valley GS for the purchase of a new computer for society presentations and transcription of documents at the regional archives.
•Tri-City GS for promotion monies to support the society’s “Archives Records Contest” and augmentation of the prize pool.
•Wenatchee Area GS for the purchase of specialized software to manage the society’s extensive genealogical holdings.

The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. Additional guidance on the program is here.

For more information, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

Special Society Awards Deadline Next Week

by Roxanne Lowe

Societies: The deadline for WSGS’s special recognition awards is Saturday, May 1, 2016. Societies are urged and encouraged to submit nominations for Outstanding Communication, Outstanding Project and the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. For more information and nomination information, click on the links below.

•Outstanding Communication – Recognizes the importance of how local genealogical societies or organizations communicate. Includes all forms of communication, including websites, social media, newsletters, lectures, videos, podcasts, etc.
•Outstanding Project – Awarded to local genealogical society or organization in recognition of exceptional genealogical or historical projects implemented during the past year.
•President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement – Recognizes that rare individual, society or organization who has demonstrated exemplary service above and beyond expectations.

There’s also another society support your group may want to consider: the Education Assistance Fund — funding assistance to societies so they can provide quality educational events such as conferences, workshops, seminars and programs.

Questions about any of this? Contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

FREE CASH for Societies!

by Roxanne Lowe

The deadline for applying for a WSGS Innovative Grant has been extended to May 1, 2016.

The grants, up to $100, are designed to support the inventive and creative efforts of WSGS-member societies and organizations. The awards do not have to be repaid — they’re FREE MONEY to support worthy projects. Up to five grants will be awarded in 2016.

Last year’s grant awards were made to:

  • Chelan Valley GS for the purchase of a computer at the local library for the exclusive use of accessing Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  • Northeast Washington GS for the removal of diseased trees at a local pioneer cemetery.
  • Skagit Valley GS for the purchase of a new computer for society presentations and transcription of documents at the regional archives.
  • Tri-City GS for promotion monies to support the society’s “Archives Records Contest” and augmentation of the prize pool.
  • Wenatchee Area GS for the purchase of specialized software to manage the society’s extensive genealogical holdings.

The simple application is only ONE page and is available here. Additional guidance on the program is here.

For more information, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.

 

Keeping your Non Profit Status

by Charles Hansen

Well as a new year brings new officers of your genealogy society what duties are required by the State of Washington and the Internal Revenue Service to keep your non profit status? Which officer will probably be the person that has to deal with the form filing.

First off is the form the State of Washington sends out to collect the fee for a non profit organization. Did you see who it is addressed to? It is addressed to the Registered Agent of the non profit. The Registered Agent is a real person that the state sends correspondence to, and also any legal papers which I hope you will never get. All corporations are required to have a Registered Agent and Non profits are actually a non profit corporation. You can hire a Registered Agent, but I will assume some member of your society will volunteer since all it requires is a Washington mailing address. Since this part requires a fee the treasurer will probably fill in this form and send it back to
the Secretary of State.

The Internal Revenue Service requires all non profits to file a 990 form and they have three different 990 forms. So which one should you file? If your total gross income for the year was less than $50,000 you can file the 990-N or as the IRS calls it the 990 Postcard since it is the size of a large postcard, with only one question, was your income less than $50,000 last year? If your gross income was over $50,000 the next 990 is the 990-EZ form and even though it says 990-EZ it is several pages long and may require an accountant to help you fill it out and file it. The last one is the regular 990 form  if your gross income is over $200,000 and it will require an accountant to help you fill
this one in. These last two can either be filed as a paper form or an accountant will probably be able to E-File it. The 990 Postcard is only filed online and this is where you can find it. Just takes a few minutes for someone to file online, and any officer that is fairly computer literate should be able to file the 990 Postcard. All the 990 forms are due May 15 for calendar year non profits and if the Internal Revenue Service does not receive a 990 form for three years your non profit status with the Internal Revenue Service will expire and you will have to reapply if you want to continue as a non profit.

The Internal Revenue Service has many newsletters to help taxpayers and they have one here just for non profits that you can sign up and get updates on any changes that may affect your non profit status.

Since this is an election year I will give you a warning, none of your societies PAID officers can support any candidate or proposition that will be voted on in an election.

Volunteer officers are allowed to support any one or any proposition, as only PAID officers can not support candidates or propositions. You are not supposed to use any funds from the non profit to support candidates or propositions either.

Links for the article

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_agent

http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/FAQ—Registered-Agents.aspx

https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Annual-Electronic-Filing-Requirement-for-Small-Exempt-Organizations-Form-990-N-e-Postcard

https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Subscribe-to-Exempt-Organization-Update

 

 

 

 

Outstanding Volunteer & Team Nominations Due April 1

by Roxanne Lowe

Attention all Societies & Organizations:

Don’t forget to nominate your Outstanding Volunteer and/or Team for special recognition by WSGS. The deadline to submit your name(s) is April 1. Additional details about the Recognition program are available here.

The Outstanding Volunteer and Outstanding Team Awards are presented each year at the Annual Conference to members nominated by their local society. Societies can nominate no more than two individuals and/or one team. Nomination criteria is left to the individual societies.

Honor those outstanding members and teams that help your organization be successful. If you’ve got questions, contact Roxanne Lowe, WSGS Recognition Chair.