lucia,
we've (community cycles in boulder) have an undogly amount of operating hours, and if i recall correctly, it was not as much of a hassle for us to get an account as i've heard it's been for other shops...
i have heard of smaller operations, those with fewer hours, or unable to get an account directly going to a friendly local retailer and piggybacking your orders onto their orders. someone else has already mentioned the danger of creating competition for local retailers, and at this point in the discussion, i think it warrants another mention.
On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 4:51 PM, MoBo Bicycle Co-op < mobobicyclecoop@gmail.com> wrote:
Josh,
How do community projects get QBP accounts? Every site we run into requires us to have a certain number of operating hours, where we can accept deliveries at our shop. Unfortunately, we are only open eight to ten hours a week. How do you do it?
Lucia MoBo Bicycle Co-op Cincinati, OH
On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 4:51 PM, joshua muir muirjoshua@gmail.com wrote:
I haven't heard any conflicts along such lines other than those with neighboring retailers. The result then is that it gets harder and harder for community projects to get QBP accounts.
As far as taxes are concerned, I am not sure of the specifics. As long as you are covering your costs and not spending money/losing money to support your volunteers' parts habit, I don't suspect there is a problem. It is the mission of most of our project to provide for the safe and affordable repair of bicycles and to encourage mechanical self-reliance etc etc and cheap parts are a big part of this.
josh
On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 1:29 PM, Jonathan Morrison < jonathan@slcbikecollective.org> wrote:
Sadly, with a good lawyer you can do anything you want, sadly even illegal activities. Pretty sad isn't it? Sader still, if you don't have a good lawyer I would play it safe and not do anything that might _force_ you to get a good lawyer.
Smile!
To figure out what to do to play it safe, contact the agency you filed as a "Member owned Co-operative" with such as the California Secretary of State. If you are a 501(c)(3) non-profit than contact the IRS. Calls can be anonymous.
I would also ask established local "member owned cooperatives" what they do.
-- Sincerely,
Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org
Get Addicted to Crank! http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/
The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.
On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 12:40 PM, GetGern@gmail.com wrote:
Hello Bike Friends, Does anyone have solid advice on the legality/Restrictions regarding discounts given to member/volunteers? We are a California regestered incorperated Member owned Co-operative, not a Non-Profit(501c3). We want to give a discount, but I heard it may not be legal. I hope that it is illegal referring to 501c3's. _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit:
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--
Joshua Muir joshua@santacruzhub.org
Frances Cycles -- francescycles.com Handbuilt cycling framesets Touring, Track, Road,Cross, and Cycletrucks for hauling any distance
The Bicycle Church Collective Community Self-Service Cycle Repair 3pm to 7pm everyday except Sunday 703 Pacific Ave (enter on Spruce St) Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 425-2453
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-- MoBo Bicycle Co-op a project of The Village Green Foundation 1415 Knowlton Ave Northside Cincinnati, OH
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