Carole Rishel on tue 16 sep 97
Hi all!
Well, I tried to find the answer to my question in the archives - but - alas,
I couldn't find anything under my search criteria. I'm sure I was asking for
the wrong thing ---- anyway...
We have formed an artists' co-op here in Texas. We were originally under the
local assn for the arts, but they have decided to pull out and now we're on
our own. Does anyone have any info on how title(?) is held, tax info, etc
for a co-op situation? Or does anyone know who I can contact to get this
info? All the paperwork is geared toward a proprietorship rather than the
many owners you'd find in a co-op.
TIA
Carole Rishel
Bastrop, TX
CaroleER@aol.com
Many Mused on wed 17 sep 97
>any info on how title(?) is held, tax info, etc
>for a co-op situation?
try volunteer lawyers for the arts.
Mary
James Dapogny on wed 17 sep 97
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi all!
>
>Well, I tried to find the answer to my question in the archives - but - alas,
>I couldn't find anything under my search criteria. I'm sure I was asking for
>the wrong thing ---- anyway...
>We have formed an artists' co-op here in Texas. We were originally under the
>local assn for the arts, but they have decided to pull out and now we're on
>our own. Does anyone have any info on how title(?) is held, tax info, etc
>for a co-op situation? Or does anyone know who I can contact to get this
>info? All the paperwork is geared toward a proprietorship rather than the
>many owners you'd find in a co-op.
>
>TIA
>Carole Rishel
>Bastrop, TX
>CaroleER@aol.com
To: CLAYARTDISCUSSION
From: jdapogny@umich.edu (Gail Dapogny)
Subject: potters' guilds
Hi Carole,
I am involved in a guild and will try to tell you information that might
help. Our Potters Guild (Ann Arbor) is 47 years old, and I know that our
guild has served as a prototype for quite a number of newer ones.
In a nutshell: Basically, we have 40 members (not all active) and our
membership is by invitation -- space limitations play a large role of
course; otherwise we are always looking at talent, creativity, spirit of
cooperativeness (since we are a cooperative), and general "fit" within the
group.
Interested people apply to become students (we have a 1-2 year waiting
list); once in, they can continue for 4 terms (18 weeks each) if they are
making pots, fitting in, etc. Once a year, qualified advanced potters are
eligible to apply for our "adjunct" membership by presenting a show (in
our building) of their pots and filling out a form. This adjunct membership
is a two-year membership and includes some requirements such as learning
to stack kilns and fire bisque, as well as showing growth in making pots.
Later, they are eligible to apply for permanent membership which requires
3/4 positive vote of membership.
We own our building which includes a general working room with a number of
wheels and slab tables, glazing space including spray booth,individual
shelf area, wet room which also includes our pugger and dry mixer, an
additional room for storage of materials for clay-making and glazes, and a
kiln room which includes two gas kilns and one electic.
We have a tried and many-times-modified-and-tested point system which
basically means that we all have to earn every cubic inch we fire in the
glaze kiln. There are various and assorted point allotments for different
tasks involved in making the guild work. Everybody has to do assigned
weekend cleaning (3 to a weekend) including general surface cleaning, clay
trap, bathroom, and wet-vacing. Most of the regulars work on the kiln,
stacking, firing, etc as needed.
Also everyone has to make clay and this is figured by the number of cubic
inches each person fires. I make a lot of pots, so I usually have to make
clay about 17-18 times a year!
We have 3 clay bodies (stoneware, white stoneware, and porcelain) and
rotate these.
Our dues (over $300) permit firing 40,000 cubic inches a year; those of us
firing more than this (not uncommon) has to pay overlimit point fees at a
hefty fee.
We have two sales a year (December and June) at our facility. In addition,
those members who really like to suffer the heat and hard work can be in
our collective display at the art fair. At all of these sales, our
commission to the guild is set at the end of the sale when expenses, sales
tax,etc. have been added up and figured in.
Re credit cards: we accept credit cardsat our sales but do not use a phone
hookup on the street. We do the inputting back at the guild several times
a day as needed.
We are incorporated and non-profit. We have an outside accountant (besides
our member-treasurer and other members who work on the books) who oversees
everything financial. I'm sorry I can't tell you details about our
financial situation because I don't really remember the details. I do know
that we have a checking account, building and equipment account, and a CD.
Possibly another savings account also. 1099s are sent out to all selling
members. If I find out anything else that might help, I will contact you
again.
I hope this has been of some help. All for now, Gail Dapogny in Ann Arbor
Rick Sherman on thu 18 sep 97
----------------------original message----------------------------
We have formed an artists' co-op here in Texas. We were originally
under the local assn for the arts, but they have decided to pull out
and now we're on our own. Does anyone have any info on how title(?)
is held, tax info, etc for a co-op situation? Or does anyone know who
I can contact to get this info? All the paperwork is geared toward a
proprietorship rather than the many owners you'd find in a co-op.
TIA
Carole Rishel
Bastrop, TX
CaroleER@aol.com
----------------------------reply-------------------------------------
Hello Carol: If you are gearing toward a proprietorship in a coop,
you have the choice of direct ownership as a for-profit organizations
which may be incorporated or not - simply a business. Or, you can form
a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, a 501(c)3. A mutually held
coop, like a guild is a 501(c)4 and does not have the tax deduction
advantages as a 501(c)3.
I will be gone until Saturday but may be able to help you with some of
the details if you contact me directly. Have done work in forming
nonprofits and stategic planning, etc.
If Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is in your area, they give pro bono
service but with limits on time. To find them you can call their head
office in NY, (202) 319-2787. Also find out it there is a Support
Center or Nonprofit Development Center in your area. These
organizations give training and advice for all nonprofits. Best way to
find out is to ask other charitable organizations nearby and one will
know the best contact.
Good luck,
Rick Sherman
California Crafts Network
Dysteve on tue 30 sep 97
Here's how we do it in our co-op in Central PA. The bank set us up as an
"Association of Professionals", like doctors, etc., and we all keep in our
file folders a copy of our sales tax license. We all pay our own sales tax
every quarter, and the store doesn't have to handle any of it since the tax
is included in our prices. Our treasurer signs all the bank papers, as
well as the phone bill. It's worked out well for us for 3 1/2 years.
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