At 04:23 PM 8/20/2003 -0500, you wrote: >Well, the Wright County Historical & Genealogical Society is a Friend of the >MOGenWeb Project, specifically the Wright County division thereof. > >So, since it is incorporated non-profit and since the information on the >site is FREE access, I fail to see any difference in WCHS soliciting >"donations" and "Friends of IAGenWeb" soliciting funds. FOIAGW is going at >it the "right way?" If I've read correctly, they are "in the process" of >getting their non-profit status established. > >Shucks! WCH&GS already has been able to accept gifts and give receipts for >contributions (thus making them tax deductible) because of its doing things >THE RIGHT WAY! Nothing was accepted until ALL the legal work was done. >Seems to me that is MORE RIGHT! > >And, no money has ever been accepted because of the information on the >website because of a promise given to Megan Z. who was NC of the Project and >SC of MO at the time I was given the site. Now, it appears that there's a >new Sheriff in town and the laws seem to have changed. > >If what Friends of IAGenWeb is doing and is planning on doing is okay bylaws >wise......as we have been told......then, what's fair for one is fair for >all. > >So, let the Free For All begin! > >Phyllis What IAGenWeb is doing is hardly a free for all. We have a logo/link on most of our pages that says: "Space for the IAGenWeb Pages is provided by Friend of IAGenWeb. Thanks." The link goes to the Friends of IAGenWeb pages. If people choose to click on the link, they are given the opportunity to find out about the Friends and to make a donation if they want to. It is very low key. In fact, the plans of Friends are to secure corporate sponsorship once we have our not-for-profit status. The links are there primarily for the information they provide. It is far to passive an approach for effective fund-raising. Gee, maybe we should try "Pledge Weeks." ;=} -Isaiah