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Vol. 11, No. 3 - March 2009
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:
Calendar of
Events
:
Speakers
Bureau
: Chapter
Locator
: Resource
Forms
: Labels
and Lists
: Promotional
Materials
: Reference
Papers
: Online
Insurance Form |
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:
Email chapters@eaa.org
: Phone 920-426-4876
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Mar. 27-29, 2009
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Sept. 18-20, 2009
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Oct. 16-18, 2009
: For reservations or more
information: chapters@eaa.org
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March 14, 2009
Dallas, TX
Topic: Sheet
Metal, Composite
Construction, Electrical
Systems & Avionics, Fabric
Covering, Test
Flying Your Project
For detailed information
on SportAir Workshops, including cost, course
descriptions and how to register, go to the web at: www.sportair.com/schedule.html
or call 800-967-5746.
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 As
we get ready to turn the calendar page to March, our
thoughts begin turning toward the flying season. Looking
through all the upcoming events listed in EAA's online
calendar doesn't hurt, either. Many chapters are taking
advantage of this free resource, but there's always room
for more. Log on at www.eaa.org/calendar
and post your local events today. We encourage everything
from monthly chapter meetings to pancake breakfast
fly-ins, Young Eagles rallies, air shows - anything
aviation-related.
This weekend, we welcome
another group of chapter leaders to EAA headquarters for a
Chapter Leaders Academy. Our final winter session is next
month, March 27-29. There are a few spots remaining, if
you’d like to attend. The schedule resumes after
AirVenture with sessions on September 18-20 and October
16-18. Based on positive feedback and support from past
attendees, Chapter Leaders Academy sessions will continue
into 2010. The weekend is packed with informational
sessions, small work groups, idea exchanges, and access to
a wide variety of EAA resources. Plus we set aside some
time for fun, too. Outside of travel costs, the Chapter
Academy is free. Once in Oshkosh, we'll take care of your
housing, food, and program materials. Drop us a line at chapters@eaa.org
to find out more or to sign up.
In this month's issue…you’ll
see an update on the IRS form 990N from our resident tax
expert, Patti Arthur; some handy tips from chapter
members; two featured newsletters; an opportunity to be
part of the new Founders’ Wing; two articles you can
share in your newsletter or on your website - managing
risk, and a link to a NASA video on aircraft icing (a
topic that's made some rather large headlines recently).
Fly Safe!
- Steve Buss,
Manager, EAA
Chapters
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IRS FORM 990N WOES CONTINUE
... BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION!
A Solution For Problems Filing the 990N e-Postcard
By Patti Arthur, Esq., EAA Legal Advisory Council
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Recently, a number of chapters
have had problems filing the 990N e-postcard with the IRS.
Usually the problem stems from the incorrect IRS
assumption that the chapters are part of a "Group
Exemption" and are included in EAA Headquarters' IRS
tax returns.
If you receive an error message while trying to file your
990N e-postcard stating you are ineligible to file, don't
call the help line listed on the website. Instead, call
the IRS Exempt Organization Hotline at 877-829-5500. It
MUST be an officer of the chapter who calls.
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When you are connected to an
IRS agent, explain that you wish to file the 990N
e-postcard and that you received an error message. Also
explain you are not covered under a Group Exemption
Determination Letter. The IRS may ask some questions such
as whether you have filed for tax-exempt recognition, your
average annual gross receipts, and EIN. They may also ask
if you feel you are a social club or a public charity. Do
not under any circumstances fabricate answers or
understate your earnings!
The IRS will adjust the
chapter's account in their records. This adjustment
usually takes about 8 weeks to take effect, after which
you can try to file the 990N again.
If you have any questions
or concerns before you call the help line, call my office
first at 719-539-7050 and we can discuss your situation.
Read Patti's
original article on IRS rules changes that could
impact your chapter.
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| CHAPTER
QUICK TIPS
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| Here
are a couple of tips that showed up in my in box this
past month. I hope they'll be useful. If you have a
quick tip to share, drop me a note at sbuss@eaa.org.
Manage Photos with
Picasa
from Tony Spicer, EAA 536307
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| Over
the last couple of years I've used Google's Picasa to
document the build of my RV-3B. It's free and very easy
to use.
Several weeks ago I had
the idea to use it to document the aircraft and projects
in Chapter 297, and here's
the result. It makes a great pictorial history of
the chapter. Our website (www.eaa297.org) has a link on
the projects page that sends folks to the Picasa link.
Another nifty thing that
can be done with Picasa: I'm going to redo the picture
wall in the chapter clubhouse. I went to the online
photo album and clicked on prints, and it took less than
five minutes to enter the info. In one hour I can go to
the local Walgreen's and pick up 65 5x7 color prints for
$1 each, and then put them in frames ordered
online from Wal-Mart for $1 each.
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| I'm
no "computer geek," so if I figured it out,
anybody can. Visit http://picasa.google.com
to download the free program. Once downloaded, the
program will organize all the photos already on the
computer and install a shortcut on your desktop. It does
this in parallel with whatever photo software was
already on the computer. Download a new photo to your
computer and it automatically goes to both places. There
is an upload button at the bottom of the Picasa page for
uploading photos to the internet. Give it a try!
Timing is everything
from Dick Wetherald EAA 377889
EAA Chapter 9 in Columbus, Ohio, once again got some
ink in the Ohio
State University Airport Newsletter. We adjusted our
newsletter release schedule to be just before that of
the airport's. We send them print-ready material and
sometimes they are in need of content. As a result of
our timing and their need, we have received mention in a
number of their newsletters!
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GAMING, RAFFLES AND
CHAPTERS
Non-Profits and Gaming Activity
By Patti Arthur, Esq., EAA Legal Advisory Council
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If your Chapter conducts
raffles, bingo, pickle jars, or other types of gaming
activities, make sure you are in compliance with all the
applicable state and local laws. Many chapters have
informal raffles for quilts and the like as fund-raisers
or at meetings. Some chapters have more formal affairs,
like bingo.
If that is the case, make a
quick web search for the state, county, and municipality
where your chapter is located and for where the activities
are conducted to determine if you are required to apply
for a license.
Don't assume just because
you are a non-profit that you are exempt. Illinois, for
example, makes it a misdemeanor for non-profits to conduct
raffles without a license, but the decision on whether to
require a license or not is left up to each individual
county or municipality.
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Also, don't assume because you
are a small chapter that no one will find out about your
activity. Violation of a local gaming ordinance could
jeopardize your 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. A few quick
phone calls or a web search will point you in the right
direction and keep you on the right track.
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FEATURED NEWSLETTERS |
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This month we feature two
chapter newsletters. First, The
Taildragger, from EAA Chapter 972 of Longview,
Texas. You'll get a chuckle from The Pres Sez
column by Garnet McClure, chapter president. Also enjoy
the chapter's Young Eagles photos. Next up is CAVU
Skies, the inaugural issue from EAA Chapter 1354
of Greenwood, Indiana. A nice effort for the chapter's
first issue! |
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CHAPTERS INVITED TO
PARTICIPATE IN EAA FOUNDERS' WING
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Progress continues on
construction of the EAA Founders' Wing, a major project
under way in the EAA AirVenture Museum. The Founders’
Wing seeks to preserve the history and culture of EAA from
its earliest days through today, utilizing Paul and Audrey
Poberezny's extensive personal collection of EAA
historical artifacts. Since EAA chapters have played such
an important role in the organization's growth and
development, we are inviting all chapters to donate items
that can be used to create the EAA Chapters Display in the
Founders' Wing. Suggested items include patches (historic
or current), pins, small posters/flyers, or photos.
(Please identify people shown on submitted photos.)
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Items should be relatively
flat and measure no larger than 11x17 inches. Submitted
items will be considered for display, and anything not
used will become part of the permanent collection. (Note:
items cannot be returned.)
Please send your
contributions to Ron Twellman, P. O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI
54903-3086. If you have questions about what types of
items might be appropriate, please contact Ron at rtwellman@eaa.org.
Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2009. The Founders'
Wing is scheduled to be open in time for EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2009 and will host the Chapter Leader's Breakfast
that week, on Saturday, August 1. Learn
more about the Founders' Wing project.
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CHAPTER INSURANCE FORM NOW
ONLINE |
| After
nearly a month of use, the new online EAA Event
Insurance Request Form is getting some good reviews.
EAA's Insurance Administrator Jenni Rosenow reports the
new system is working well. If you have used it, thank
you, and please pass along any suggestions to make it
better.
If you've not used it,
submitting the required information to the Risk
Management Office for chapter events is easier than ever
before.
To use the online form,
visit www.eaa.org/apps/insurance
and enter all the details for your planned event. This
should be completed at least 30 days prior to the event
date in order to ensure that the request will be
processed in time. (EAA's Risk Management Office will
contact you directly if additional information is
required.) The new system will also allow you the
opportunity to print a copy for your records, plus
you'll be prompted to post information about your event
on the EAA
Calendar of Events. |
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FROM THE NEWSLETTERS |
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We receive hundreds of
newsletters each month from EAA chapters, and it's
interesting to learn about what's happening at the local,
grassroots level. Oftentimes we come across some excellent
articles and tips to share, which you can repurpose for
your own newsletters. (When reprinting, please credit the
original source.) For the list of previously featured
articles, click
here.
This month we feature two
articles we hope you'll share with your members. First, in
a follow-up to last month's FAA Safety article about
managing risk, we present part two of Max Trescott's
article (Word
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and second, here's a
link to a video on icing, produced by NASA. Dennis
Teague, Secretary, of EAA Chapter 118, (among others) sent
this to our attention. |
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| CHAPTERS
IN THE NEWS
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- EAA Chapter 83 (Terre
Haute, Indiana) Helps Students "Take
Off."
- EAA Chapter 60
(Beloit, Wisconsin) building a quarter-scale model
of the Curtiss Pusher airplane in honor of the
state's centennial of flight celebration in May - read
the story.
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| EXCLUSIVE
OFFER FOR EAA CHAPTERS
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| Here's
an offer to pass along to your fellow chapter members.
With any merchandise order of $30 or more, you can get
the B-17 Collectible Medallion for only $15. This free
standing medallion is the first in a Limited Edition
Series. Standing 2-3/4” tall by 4-1/4” wide this
medallion tells you all you want to know about the B-17
“Aluminum Overcast.” On the front is a detailed
replica of the B-17. (The special offer is valid through
March 31, 2009 for phone orders only - not available for
online orders.)
Feel free to include this
special offer in your newsletters or on your
website.
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| HOMEBUILT
AIRCRAFT COUNCIL SEEKS MEMBER
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| EAA
is looking for a member willing to serve on the
Homebuilt Aircraft Council. Formed in 1999, the HAC is a
group of volunteers that help EAA staff by providing
advice and counsel on issues relating to the homebuilt
aircraft community. Council members also act as EAA
ambassadors in the field.
Council members are
appointed by EAA President Tom Poberezny and serve in a
volunteer capacity. The council meets annually in
Oshkosh each fall, and holds other meetings as needed.
Successful council
members are active aircraft builders and fliers who are
interested in growing the homebuilt movement. If you
have a passion for the spirit of EAA and homebuilt
aircraft, please apply by completing the online
application form. Additional information or
questions are welcome at HAC@eaa.org.
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| NEWS
FROM CANADA
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| Jack
Dueck, Editor of EAA Bits and Pieces, EAA's
e-newsletter for Canada, filed this
report on festivities marking the country's 100th
anniversary of powered flight - February 23, 1909. EAA
congratulates all our Canadian members on this
magnificent milestone!
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| FROM
THE ARCHIVES
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was doing some research in the Sport Aviation online
archives and came across this article written by
Audrey Poberezny. I've included the link
here, just for fun and I hope she doesn't mind me
sharing the article with everyone. It's an interesting
reflection on the 1961 fly-in. By the way, if you enjoy
history and would like to revisit the past of your
association, spend some time exploring the Sport
Aviation archives!
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MEMORIAL
WALL
Dedicated to those who have loved and supported aviation
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Located
on the edge of Pioneer Airport near the Fergus Chapel,
the EAA Memorial Wall provides a dignified place for
families and friends to remember and honor loved ones
whose support and passion for aviation positively
impacted their lives, and the lives of others. Its
centerpiece is a monument formed of thousands of stones
brought to Oshkosh from EAA members' home states and
countries.
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| Each
year, an annual dedication service is held at AirVenture
to honor the legacy of the EAA Memorial Wall's inductees
from the previous year. This year's ceremony will be
held on the last Sunday of AirVenture, Sunday, August
2nd at 11 a.m. Guests should arrive no later than 10:30
a.m. This heartwarming service includes President Tom
Poberezny's poignant reading of the names in honor, and
includes a breathtaking "missing man"
formation flight overhead along with the playing of
"Taps."
To have your special
tribute recognized during this year's dedication
ceremony at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the order must be
received by Friday, April 10, 2009. With a donation of
$350 or more, you can personalize a two line plaque
inscription with your loved one's name and outstanding
details of their life. Special commemorative paper will
be available before and after the service for guests to
make rubbings of individual inscriptions. Each Memorial
Wall inductee also receives a one-page biography in the
2009 Memorial Wall Registry Album.
To establish a tribute
and honor the legacy of your loved one, or to learn more
about EAA's Memorial Wall, please visit the EAA
website, e-mail development@eaa.org,
or call 800-236-1025.
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