If you would like to attend the monthly board meetings, we will be relocating them to Mitchell's Coffee House at 235 North Kentucky Ave in downtown Lakeland.  Meetings are usually held on the 1st Thursday of each month at 9:00am.

The Board of Directors has for many years been considering changing our Spring for Education event to a 501(c)3 not for profit foundation in order to raise more money to donate to schools in Polk County.  Over the years, we have noticed a marked drop in income for our event, and more and more of the people and companies that donated have told us that they are no longer donating unless we are a 501(c)3. This tax designation allows donors to deduct the donations from their income tax.

In order to become a 501(c)3, we would need to set up a Foundation called: Spring for Education and have it run by a separate Board of Directors. This type of Not for Profit Foundation , cannot participate in political events, so we would need to separate it from the Republican Women's Club. On the other hand, we can create a requirement for the Board of Directors that 60% of the Board be members of the Republican Women's Club of Lakeland, so we would always retain control of the Foundation.

While at the FFRW convention in Orlando last month, I met a Tax Attorney that is a member of the Hillsborough Republican Women's Club. She has offered to help us set up the Foundation and file the forms with the IRS to become a 501(c)3. She will charge us $1275 to complete the paperwork, this includes the IRS fee of $850 to file for the Not for Profit tax status. Your Board of Directors, voted unanimously to go forward with this. We brought the issue to the membership meeting in October and questions were raised. After a long conversation with the tax attorney, I believe we have the answers to all the questions. Below is a list of questions that have been asked and the answers that we can offer. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. We plan on bringing this issue to the membership at the November meeting for a vote.

We are pleased to announce that Kathy Fritz has agreed to become chairman of the Audit Committee!  Thank you, Kathy!  We look forward to working with you!

 

It is once again time for Dues to be paid for the upcoming year. Please fill out an application for renewal so we will have the most up to date information on you for our records. You may go online to our website and renew via Paypal, mail in a check or bring a check to our luncheon.

 

 

Ann Suden will be taking orders for the White House Christmas Ornaments again this year at the November meeting with distribution at the Christmas Party.   New regulations this year:  ordering 25 - 29 ornaments, cost $16.25 ea., free shipping.  Previously, a  10% discount was allowed for that number of orders,  but shipping & handling was charged.

  

 Wish List 

Everyone attending the luncheons must check in with the ladies at the front table.  This includes both members and guests.  We appreciate your assistance with this, as it helps us with our record-keeping.

We can only accept cash or check for luncheon payments at the function!

  

PayPal is now available for making your reservations on our website!  If you prefer to pay for lunch by credit card, this is the way to go.

  

Please be aware that all PayPal transactions will include a $1 handling fee.

Dena welcomed Rep. Melony Bell, Lakeland City Commissioner candidate, Elliot Dorsch, and new members. Dena announced that scheduled speaker, Congressman Dennis Ross, had cancelled because his father had passed away.

Candidate Dorsch spoke for five minutes, and Ruth Coberly of Osceola County spoke on behalf of presidential candidate, Herman Cain. Alex spoke for his candidate, Mitt Romney. Member, Ann Suden, announced the White House ornament catalog was now available to purchase ornaments.

The minutes of the last meeting were made available to members and Terry Capps made a motion to accept the minutes and Michelle Robare seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

The Treasurer's Report was presented by Pat Rideout, Treasurer. After discussion, Lou McCraney made a motion to accept Treasurer's Report and to send out to audit. Rose Spurlock seconded motion. Motion passed unanimously.

First Vice President, Michelle Robare, expressed apologies by Cindy Ross, wife of Congressman Dennis Ross, for his cancellation. The November speaker will be Adam Hasner and Valerie Jorn will give an update on Tri-City wish list.

December will be our Christmas Party and invitations will be sent by email. Prices will be $35.00 for one and $65.00 per couple. Sharon Day, RNC Co-Chairman, is invited to speak in January, and is expected to confirm shortly. In February, Craig Miller will speak. The annual fund raiser is still being firmed up.

Second Vice President, Kay Cobb, gave membership update. There are five new members with two prospects. If anyone joins now, their dues will be for 2012 also. She asked that if members have any changes, to please fill out the information form online.

Old Business: Dena informed members that we will be voting on the By-Laws and Standing Rules in November. Most changes were just restructuring to make information more readable. Alan Sale of addressed the board members regarding the indemnification clause, and he stated that the board and club are protected under the Florida Statutes from being sued. The club will have event insurance and make certain that each venue has insurance. Some of the questions from the floor included: Article 6 changed 75% to 2/3's to remove someone from the board of directors; exemption of treasurer from term limits; president and vice president attending conventions and conferences and since we have 3rd vice president, how many club will pay for and be more specific about room accommodations; paying for lunches for our invited speakers. Cathy Phillips made a motion to move on to the next issue and Lou McCraney seconded it. Dena stated that changes will be emailed to membership before the November meeting for review by members.

Dena informed the members that the board of directors had voted to change our tax status to a 501(c)4 and create a separate corporation or foundation with a separate board of directors for Spring for Education. After consulting a tax attorney, she was informed since paperwork had not been filed for the last three years, the club is not anything right now. She informed the club of the expenses to become a 501(c)3 for our Spring for Education charitable entity, make the club a 501(c)4 and any legal work needed would be a total of $1,275.00, this would be done by Terry Gaffney a Tax Attorney in Tampa, she is a member of the FFRW. This would include setting up a corporation for the Spring for Education event. At this time Kristy Osterholtz made a motion to table the discussion for now and for members to attend the board meetings to get more information. Ann Suden seconded the motion. Dena suggested that since more members attend this luncheon meeting than can attend a morning board meeting, we go ahead and discuss it now. Motion failed to pass.  More questions regarding the tax status and the creation of the required new board of directors for the corporation. Kay Cobb made a motion to allow the board to apply for 501C4 and let the membership know the status. Kathy Fritz seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Lou McCraney made a motion for Dena to do more research and get more information on 501C3. Kim Jones seconded it. Passed unanimously.

Jean Burt presented slate of officers to membership: President, Dena DeCamp; First Vice President, Michelle Robare; Second Vice President, Kay Cobb; Third Vice President, Salena Joseph; Secretary, Gaylene Pope; Correspondence Secretary, Elaine Mitchell; Treasurer, Pat Rideout; Assistance Treasurer, Kim Jones. The vote on slate of officers will be in November and installation will be in January.

There is an online flyer for members to sign up as volunteers for the Republican National Convention in Tampa in 2012. Michelle announced the need for volunteers for breakfast delivery for shut-ins in cooperation with VISTE. Kristy announced a fashion show October 30th to benefit United Women's Club. Kim Jones announced a Popcorn Fund Raiser for Boy Scout Troop 445. Lou McCraney announced PICS in the Park event at Lake Mirror. Carol Goldenhill announced she was still collecting coupons for soldiers.