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MISSION: ISAE exists to support and strengthen association professionals' success
 

It’s that time of year again!  The ISAE STAR (Society's Top Association Recognition) Awards will take place Thursday, December 6th and we need YOUR help.  The STAR awards exist to recognize association activities, suppliers, professionals and programs that are making a difference. 

We want YOUR association, business or employees to “Get STAR Struck” by winning an award this year.

There will be no printed ISAE STAR Awards entry form –it is now available electronically online.  As always, there are two different sets of awards:  the Awards of Excellence and the Individual Achievement Awards. 

The Awards of Excellence are bestowed upon associations for certain projects completed within August 1, 2006 and August 1, 2007.  ISAE STAR Awards Committee has chosen to break the Awards of Excellence out into budget categories once again this year –those organizations with budgets under $500,000 and those with budgets over $500,000.   

The Individual Achievement Awards are given to individual members of ISAE for outstanding work and contributions to the field.

STAR Awards entries are FREE this year!  Submit as many projects or individuals you wish at no charge!  Deadline to submit is September 21, 2007.

Please click here to download an entry form or visit ISAE’s website under “ISAE’S STAR Awards” for more information.
  

Facilitators:  Paul Mannweiler and Michael O’Brien

Legislative efforts can be frustrating for an association.  Everyone expects you to take care of it; no one wants to pay for it.  Come to this session to share with others who understand the issues and can help you form strategies for success.  

Click here to register now!

Come to this interactive session to learn:

• When it is advantageous to start a Political Action Committee (PAC).

• What are the Do’s and Don’ts of a PAC.

• How do your grassroots strategies affect your fundraising efforts.

• Ways to generate interest in your legislative efforts and your PAC.

• Answers to your specific questions.  You are encouraged to take advantage of the interactive format by bringing questions to share with the facilitators and your colleagues.

Are you looking for a new database?  Do you need an economical way to communicate electronically to your members?

ISAE will hold its first Mini-Expo on September 26th at the Hilton Indianapolis North.  The mini-expo will highlight technology geared to associations and non-profits.  Attend to figure out what works, what wastes money and how to stay ahead of your volunteers.  Food stations will be set-up around the booths to allow attendees to mingle with vendors and members alike.  In addition to visiting their book, each vendor will have 5 minutes in the “SPOTLIGHT” to briefly explain how their company can help you.  This unique format allows the event to be free-flowing and beneficial to each attendee’s time constraints.

Thank you to our event sponsor:                              

Watch for additional information via email or click here to register now!

Attention ISAE Technology Vendors:  Looking for a way to access ISAE’s membership?  Then this is the event for you!

Click here for details about becoming a vendor for this event.  The price to exhibit at this event is $50 for members, $100 for non-members.  Please click here to register online.  Be sure to include the phrase “September 29th booth” in the description on your registration.

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association has generously donated (2) suite tickets to the Indianapolis 500!  All you have to do is refer a non-member to ISAE between now and December 1st, 2007.  If that member joins, you will automatically be entered to win the suite tickets, to be drawn at STAR Awards December 6th.  Please be sure to have the new member write your name on their application in the space provided.  We only need 41 more members to reach our goal.  Let’s make it to 500 this year!  Click here to download a membership application.

Chris Fenner
Leadership Development Coordinator
Indiana Farm Bureau, Inc.
225 S. East St.
P.O. Box 1290
Indianapolis, IN  46206
(317) 692-7844
Fax:  (317) 692-7854
cfenner@infarmbureau.org     
Referred by Robert Kraft

Amanda Martinez
Sales Manager
University Place Conference Center and Hotel
850 W. Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 269-9000
Fax:  (317) 274-3878
martinea@iupui.edu

Want to help a colleague learn about the benefits of membership by joining ISAE? 

Click on the link below for a membership application http://www.isae.org/ISAE_Membership_App.pdf  

• Jim and Sally Shewmaker are the proud parents of their second child, Madison Elizabeth, born on July 19th.  Madison weighed 8 lbs. 15 ounces and measured 21 ¾ inches.  You may also know Madison’s grandfather, past ISAE Board member Gary Eberhart, CAE.  Congratulations to the entire family on the new arrival!

• Second Helpings, Inc. has announced Cynthia Hubert as its first Chief Officer.  Hubert’s previous experience includes serving as Development Director at Gennesaret Free Clinic and overseeing business development and donor relationships at Central Indiana Community Foundation.  Second Helpings prepares and distributes up to 3,000 meals daily to 50 social service organizations.

• Brian Ferber, CAE has accepted a position as Director of Operations for Citrix Systems in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  (Brian, we will all be calling you this winter!)

• Peter Smithhisler has been named Executive Vice President of the North-American Interfratnerity Conference.

• Patricia Thompson,formerly the dean of the nursing school at the University of Arkansas, is the new Executive Director at Sigma Theta Tau International.

The early deadline for applications for the December 7, 2007 CAE exam is September 7, 2007.  The CAE Exam fee is $500 for ASAE members ($700 for non-members).  After September 7th, exam applications may be mailed by the extended deadline of October 5th, 2007 for an additional $100.  ISAE will offer study sessions prior to the December exam.  Please notify Laura Frank at the ISAE office if you plan to sit for the December exam.  Be sure to start planning for the exam now!

For more information on the CAE exam, visit the following link to ASAE’s website: CAE Exam Information
  

The Meetings Industry Council (MIC) invites you to their networking event on September 12th.  Get together at a business networking event with members of all Meetings Industry Council groups, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at The Villa Inn, Restaurant & Spa 1456 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis.  To register for the event or to view the invitation, click here.

On June 14, 2007, the IRS released the first major redesign of the Form 990 for tax-exempt organizations since 1979. The new draft 990 consists of a 10-page core form to be completed by each filing organization, along with 15 separate schedules requiring specific information only from organizations engaged in particular activities, such as fundraising, non-cash charitable contributions, loans, tax-exempt bonds, etc. These changes require associations to disclose sensitive information about the association and its relationships.  The IRS will also make all 990 information on the Internet. 

Because this is a federal issue, ASAE has taken the lead.  Hopefully many of you responded to their call for signatures on a letter asking for additional time to comment on these changes.  There is an additional step you can take.  Contact your Congressional Representatives and U.S. Senators and alert them of your concerns.  While Congress does not play a role in proposing the new Form 990, it is appropriate that our federal legislators are aware of our concerns and our request for a delay.

Download the draft redesigned Form 990.  Think about your organization’s ability to provide the information requested as you draft your letter to your legislator or the IRS.

Address to send 990 comments:

Form 990 Redesign
ATTN: SE:T:EO
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20224

In an effort to inform members of the valuable resources available on our members-only section of the ISAE Web site, we will highlight a different document each month. This month, we will review opt-out messages.

Opt-out messages are important in today’s electronic world.  With the introduction of SPAM (unsolicited e-mail, often of a commercial nature, sent indiscriminately to multiple mailing lists, individuals, or newsgroups), it is increasingly important to include an opt-out message in the signature line of all electronic correspondence to ensure the proper people are receiving your messages.  This also gives all recipients the opportunity to “unsubscribe” from your communications.

To view opt-out message samples, log on to the members-only section of the ISAE Web site at www.isae.org/member.  Samples messages can be found in the Marketing & Communications section.

Members are also encouraged to contribute policies.  These can only be accessed by ISAE members.  Forward your policies to Laura Frank at lfrank@isae.org.  

In order to continue the much requested discussion on Indiana Non-Profit Law, each month Synergy will address a question from members pertaining to the current Indiana law.  As always, we encourage you to ask your corporate attorney for clarification.

Q:  Our bylaws currently state our location and the name of our Executive Director.  We have recently moved and hired a new Executive Director.  How do we go about changing our bylaws?  Are we required by law to have this information in our bylaws?

A: IC 23-17-18
Chapter 18. Amendment of Bylaws
IC 23-17-18-1
Amendment or repeal by directors; notice
23-17-18-1 Sec. 1. (a) A board of directors may amend or repeal
a corporation's bylaws unless:
(1) articles of incorporation;
(2) bylaws; or
(3) this article;
provide otherwise, subject to approval required under IC 23-17-17-1.
However, until the directors have been chosen, the incorporators
have power to amend or repeal the bylaws. This section is subject to
the class voting rules under section 2 of this chapter.
(b) The corporation must provide notice of any meeting of
directors at which an amendment is to be approved. The notice must
do the following:
(1) Be in accordance with IC 23-17-19-3.
(2) State that the purpose of the meeting is to consider a
proposed amendment to the bylaws.
(3) Contain or be accompanied by a copy or summary of the
amendment or state the general nature of the amendment.
As added by P.L.179-1991, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.1-1992,
SEC.126; P.L.96-1993, SEC.12.
IC 23-17-18-2
Class voting
23-17-18-2 Sec. 2. (a) The members of a class in a public benefit corporation may vote as a separate voting group on a proposed amendment to the bylaws if the amendment would change the rights of that class as to voting in a manner different than the amendment affects another class or members of another class.
(b) The members of a class in a mutual benefit corporation may vote as a separate voting group on a proposed amendment to the bylaws if the amendment would do the following:
(1) Affect the rights, privileges, preferences, restrictions, or conditions of the class as to voting, dissolution, redemption, or transfer of memberships in a manner different than the amendment would affect another class.
(2) Change the rights, privileges, preferences, restrictions, or conditions of the class as to voting, privileges, preferences, restrictions, or conditions of another class.
(3) Increase or decrease the number of memberships authorized for the class.
(4) Increase the number of memberships authorized for another class.
(5) Effect an exchange, reclassification, or termination of all or part of the memberships of the class.
(6) Authorize a new class of memberships.
(c) The members of a class of a religious corporation may vote as a separate voting group on a proposed amendment to the bylaws only if a class vote is provided for in articles of incorporation or bylaws.
(d) If:
(1) a class is to be divided into at least two (2) classes as approved by the members of each class that would be created by the amendment; and
(2) a class vote is required to approve an amendment to the bylaws; the amendment must be approved by the members of the class by a majority of the votes cast by the class.
(e) A class of members has the voting rights granted by this section although the articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that the class may not vote on the proposed amendment.

As added by P.L.179-1991, SEC.1.

To view Indiana Law related to Non-Profit Corporations, click http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title23/ar17/

E-mail ISAE staff if you have a question for next month’s issue.

ISAE is working to explore possible amendments to the Indiana Non-Profit Act that could benefit Indiana associations and their members.  If you are interested in joining this effort, please email us at info@isae.org.

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