Bus/ Trailer Fund

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Scott's reply sounded like he wants to be Prez

Not to get into the argument, but to ask a question: how much to sponsor a space on the bus?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Wes Eargle wrote:

Scott's reply sounded like he wants to be Prez

Not to get into the argument, but to ask a question: how much to sponsor a space on the bus?

Our "Sponsor the Trailer" effort will be starting shortly. The plan was to try to get donations from the club to pay for the bus, then hit up sponsors for the trailer.

I don't think we need to specify the size available for the prices. Pay more, get bugger banner.

But since we have opened up the subject, here are some sponsors that I am hoping will choose to have their names on the trailer:

Hubcap Heaven & Wheels
Black Forest Industries (do you guys even have any money?)
MM Autowerks
Carbotech
Krause and England
Sports & Compacts
Competition Cages
R&J Exhaust
T Hoff
Carolina Import Works

Who else?

Anyone out there who can help with this? Either by talking to sponsors or helping with getting the graphics / layout done?

Adam Ligon · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 11:31 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

. Pay more, get bugger banner.

OK first what is bugger? You going limey on us

MikeWhitney wrote:

.
Black Forest Industries (do you guys even have any money?)

Ouch, now that's just mean :moon:

MikeWhitney wrote:

.
Anyone out there who can help with this? Either by talking to sponsors or helping with getting the graphics / layout done?

I can probably get the vinyl made for the cost of the materials

Scott Johnson · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 11:57 am

Adam Ligon wrote:

If I was planning to stay in said business then to not but the new vehicle would be dumb.

As I pointed out in 3 yrs the decrease in maintanence costs pay for the new vehicle. That is how smart businesses are run, much like autox'ing you have to actually look ahead not just in front of you :wink:

Now were getting somewhere. I think you have highlighted part of Aaron's point with this.

Lets define a variable, to put things in a business perspective.

Club membership = customers

I don't think I need more than one variable...

How are the customers of your business going to feel if you hit them up for "donations" when they come in for service/parts? Yeah right.

No, if you need that truck, then you put together a good business plan and figure out how to pay for it. That might mean a loan to pay for it (followed by sacrifices for the duration of the loan in order to make payments), or it means you make sacrifices for a few years and pay cash with the savings.

There is inherent risk to both measures.

HOWEVER, in support of Adam:

If we change the variable to:

Club members = investors

we will get a point of view that is entirely different, and is quite consistent with asking for donations. A better bus will ensure we can continue to host kick ass events. The fun of participating in those events, trophies, etc is the return on the investment.

The people that know and love the autocross program now have a way to try and make it better. They also have a *choice* in the matter (a good thing). I'd rather see a request for donations than to raise event prices to cover the expense.

I'm not claiming one way is right and one way is wrong, just that there are two different ways to view the situation.

My 2 cents...

Scott

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Can anyone shed some light on whether a donation to the club is tax deductible? I believe we are a "not for profit" organization, and NOT a "non profit" organization. Which I think means that it is not tax deductible. But I could be wrong

Mike <-- not a lawyer or an accountant. But I do my own taxes

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

I believe contributions are tax deductible only if an org has 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.
501(c)(3) status requires certain conditions be met. Here's a good summary:

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/sergeman/5013c.html

I'd guess we could make a play as an "educational" org. The restrictions on amateur sports orgs with regards to equipment look like they might be prohibitive.

Probably need a tax attorney or CPA to say for sure.

Frank

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

We are not a non-profit organization. Therefore no.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 2:54 pm

Cant you read, we need a CPA, not a internet surfer moonlighting as a Chemist :lol:

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Don't you have snowshoes to buy?

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

Ron Spencer wrote:

Scott Johnson and I started it with $20 each at the last club meeting. Thats not quite going to get it done. Who else is ready to step up to the plate?? That new bus and trailer has a spot for your name.......

Ron

I'm in. Where and to whom shall I send a donation to? I'll send in a check.

Ron Spencer · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 3:53 pm

A couple points

Yes, this request for funds is REAL. We did it for the second trailer we had (the nice single axle white one), for the first bus and now for this one.

Robert Plank is a CPA and can answeer the tax question.

Now, why buy the new bus. Folks, we all elect officers for a reason. They have discussed this at GREAT length and come to this agreement. We should trust their judegement (or, don't elect them!!).

Lets recap some other decisions we have made in the past. Each and every one (I think thats true!) had folks that agreed with it and folks that were strongly against it.

Buy the bus.

Buy the upgraded timer (for many the only timer you have ever seen).

Move registration on line (lots of resistance to this!!)

Move from paper to computer timing and scoring

Put entry limits to our events (took a few years from idea to implementation)

Looking back can anyone say these wer not GOOD changes? But at the time many were against them.

My point is, its EASY to sit on the side lines and play devils advocate. Now, please, I am NOT picking on any one person. I'm just saying that its really easy to say "no that won't work". Its much more work to think through the affects of a change and decide whether it is worth making. That, my friends is what has burned out our fine officer crew this year.

The decision has been made to get the new bus. Prehaps its not ideal (but then its only $3k!!). I think there is only one course of action left. Get behind the idea and pitch in and help! There will be plenty of opportunities for that!!

Ron

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

A random question, where did the money donated by the widow of Gene Miller from the sale of his RX-7 go?

Ron Spencer · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:09 pm

Chris:

I'm betting you can send itto our PO box which is:

POB 3122
Wilson, NC 27895-3122

Make it to THSCC and please include a note sayingits for the bus fund.

Of course if one of our officers reply after this with different directions please follow what they say.

Thanks!

Ron

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:26 pm

Here's a trailer the club might be interested in (from SCCAForums):

EDIT - Did not realize we are now in the market for an enclosed...

Brand New 20 foot open trailer. Tandem axle,dual electric brakes, large tool box and tire rack. Less than 1500 miles on trailer. Comes with Load equalizing hitch. I paid over $3500.00 for trailer and hitch will
let go for $2500.00.
Email me for picture Perry1136@aol.com

Call 908-278-4179

Perry Hutter

It's in NJ, but sounds like a decent deal.

As for the reasoning behind this, I'm done with it. I'll pay my membership, come to the autocrosses, and leave when they're done. My opinion is no longer wanted

- AB

Ron Spencer · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2004 4:42 pm

You know what you said isn't true! Your opinion, as are others, is always welcome. We might disagree but that doesn't mean you weren't heard.

Ron

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