Could use a hand please from state trad org members

[Izzy]

What I am looking for are a few example of your states traditional bowhunting periodicals, monthly, bi monthly, quarterly whatever. We do not have a New York State Traditional Bowhunters org and I dont see why this is.

I am a member of a regional club, the Mohawk Hudson Traditional Archers. Even though theyre mostly a shady bunch of plaid wool wearing, unshaven heathens theyre a lot of fun and we have given to charities.
         

 In the past we had a small mailing from the club but it has gone to email. We usually get together once a month to shoot indoors or out at various locations. There are sometimes club hunts as well. We now have access to a large property with outdoor ranges and a locked gate. No hunting there, "Yet". All together its a cool club that I imagine shares much in common with some state orgs.

          Even if you dont have a newsletter Id like to hear from you to see how your state clubs operate.

          Im not suggesting that I will attempt to pilot a NYS Traditional Bowhunters in the immediate future but you never know. Thanks in advance, hope to hear from some of you.

[Mike Most]

Best info I can give you is TBOT.org for ours, much information on the site.

Good Luck

Izzy, I am the newsletter editor for the Traditional Bowhunters of Texas (TBoT). Go to the website Mike mentioned above and click on the tab on the left for "NEWSLETTER" to see lots of examples of our periodical. We have the full color version on the website and publish a black and white copy that gets mailed out to all members. If you need any more info just PM or email me.

See ya later,

Bisch

[Izzy]

Thats real nice fellas. I like that TBOT site. Very informative, thanks. Maybe we can talk more about it Bisch if you make it for a visit to Salado again.

Originally posted by Izzy:
Thats real nice fellas. I like that TBOT site. Very informative, thanks. Maybe we can talk more about it Bisch if you make it for a visit to Salado again.

Let me know when you guys will be here and I will make a point to come up and visit with you.

see ya soon,

Bisch

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Izzy,

You mentioned to me that you need something to do while in retirement,  sounds like a Noble time investment.

If I can help with written submissions let me know.

[Bud B.]

I'm not a member yet but here's one.

 http://thecta.org/

[kadbow]

Check out the news letters at: colotradarchers.com

[Brad_Gentry]

Izzy,
The United Bowhunters of Illinois is an all trad organization. You can check out back issues of our newsletter at unitedbowhuntersofillinois.org

Brad

[two4hooking]

Here is a link for the Traditional Bowhunters of Maryland website:

 http://www.traditionalbowhuntersofmd.us/

There is a downloadable pdf. of the newsletter available to view on there.

[Stumpkiller]

Good in you, Izzy.  I noted in the past we didn't have a NYS representation in the Organizations section.

Can't think of any group I'd rather be a part of and I'll help as I can; but have no experience with how such organizations get started.  

Charlie Pearsall

[Stumpkiller]

Starting some homework.  I'm club secretary for a non-related local club and can help draft a constitution and by-laws.  I know to do this "upscale" we'd need to be incorporated.  Here are some other tips generic to starting up a not-for-profit organization:

 

Check out the following steps you should take as you move forward:

1.Define your mission and identify who you intend to serve in order to determine whether the mission is consistent with a 501(c)(3) exempt purpose.  Helping people is not necessarily charitable.
2.Determine your core activities and assess whether they are consistent with 501(c)(3).  Core activities must be in furtherance of the organization's exempt purposes.  A primary activity of providing services in competition with for-profits may or may not be consistent with such requirement.
3.Identify what needs you are serving and evaluate whether your mission and activities are best run through a new nonprofit or perhaps through an existing nonprofit or a fiscal sponsorship arrangement.  A new nonprofit should not merely duplicate what is already out there or primarily serve the personal interests of its founder(s).  Do your homework and understand your place in the market and the need to be collaborative and competitive in furthering your mission and acquiring sufficient resources to do so.
4.Assess whether your funding strategy (whether through individual donations, grants, service fees, sales, or other sources) gives you a good chance at sustainability.  While funding is almost never a sure thing, you should take reasonable steps (as if it was your own money) to assure charitable funds are not wasted for lack of consideration about sustainability.
5.Assess whether you have sufficient other resources to create a strong foundation upon which the nonprofit can be organized and operated.  A nonprofit built on a weak base can later jeopardize everything built on top of it.  Critical building blocks include human resources to govern your organization (board of directors), run your charitable programs, take care of the administration and compliance work, and fundraise.  There may be attractive alternatives to starting a nonprofit, such as fiscal sponsorship, if you're weak in the essential, but often downplayed, areas of administration and legal compliance.  
6.Educate yourself and your leadership team on the laws relevant to organizing and operating a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) public charity, including those related to board duties and responsibilities, areas of potential liability, filing requirements, conduct and activity restrictions, charitable solicitations, certain applicable taxes, substantiation and disclosure requirements, employment, intellectual property, and leasing.
7.Draft a business plan.  All of the work in the previous steps should be incorporated into this draft (which should be a work-in-progress, changing as facts and circumstances change), and it should also detail, among other things, a thoughtful SWOT analysis, marketing plan, and a 3-year budget (which you'll need to submit to the IRS in applying for tax-exemption).
8.Draft the governing documents (e.g., articles of incorporation, bylaws, conflict of interest policy) with care.  Governing documents serve as manuals on how to run the nonprofit and should be catered to your organization.  Template and form documents may contain provisions not applicable to your form of entity, may lack many required provisions, and may not address the many decision points available.  Such forms may provide some guidance but they are often a mistake to copy, in whole or in part, unless reviewed by an attorney.
9.Consider where you plan to engage in charitable solicitations and check whether you must register to solicit donations in those states.  This a commonly overlooked requirement.
10.Draft the exemption application(s) with care.  Your completed Form 1023 will be a public document signed under penalty of perjury.  It may be heavily scrutinized by the IRS during the application process and also may face future scrutiny by government authorities, the public, and media, even if the organization is granted tax-exempt status.  Also, remember to check on any state tax exemption requirements.  California, for example, requires even churches to apply for state tax-exempt status or be subject to minimum franchise taxes despite their nonprofit and federal tax-exempt status and regardless of whether they have any revenues.
 

http://managementhelp.org/startingorganizations/start-nonprofit.htm#anchor677527


Two good things come immediately to mind: There is no physical location and unless something were to be done to host shoots it wouldn't require a liability insurance (that's a big component of the club I belong to).

Being a "paper organization" there is no need for a lot of up-front capital.  A host website would be a huge plus and one of the initial board decisions should be a web guru to manage that aspect.

And the best thing would be to get a lawyer interested in stickbows so we can have him do the articles of incorporation pro-bono.  Anyone know a lawyer who bowhunts?    :D

[Biggie Hoffman]

Izzy, I know several guys in the NY Bowhunters or Bowhunters of NY or whatever it's called. While it's not traditionally exclusive, many, if not all of the leaders, are longtime trad guys.
Are you thinking of starting up a new group?

[BeNoIt]

Izzy - I like the idea a lot. It would definitely be nice to have some sort of "local" group that we could do some organized events through.

I have no idea how I could help but if you do proceed with organizing something please include me in any communications and I'll jump in to help where I can.

[dnovo]

Check out the United Bowhunters of Missouri. You can view our newsletter from the website.

[ron w]

Just join New York Bowhunters....already Established and work for the sport!! Become a county rep or volunteer to help, they always can use new blood!!

[Izzy]

First off thank you so much fellas, I knew Id get some valuable input.
     
      I was a member of NY Bowhunters. Had some issues with some of their policies so I didnt renew my membership. Im resilient and my wounds have healed so Ive been thinking about joining them again.
     
      While they (NY Bowhunters) do a ton of good for hunting they are not able to devote all of their material to trad as I would guess  the vast majority are non traditional shooters. While I have nothing negative to say about compound hunters or any type of hunters for that matter, it sure would be nice to have a state representation from longbow and recurve hunters.


       What I first had envisioned is a down to earth, no frills newsletter with some stories on hunters bios, tales of hunts, pictures and conservation and political news. But now that Ive had some conversation with you all and looked over some of the organizations youve mentioned I think a web site would be most cost effective and easier to access.


        Charlie, youve been voted President already and Ill keep you informed of my progress and findings. Lucky me, I know a web guru who just so happens to be a trad fanatic. Im gonna call him, havent spoken to him in a while and see what he has to say.


        Thanks again fellas and to those of you who work in and with your state organizations, my hats off to you. Youve got some great websites out there.