MAKING IT EASIER TO GET INVOLVED AT A NATIONAL LEVEL
You may have an opportunity to get involved directly at the national level with the FAIRtax. FAIRtax has a Board of Delegates that meets regularly on Zoom and primarily elects the FAIRtax Board of Directors. The board also meets to discuss other items.
Current requirements for sending a delegate to the Board of Delegates might be overly ambitious, and the Credentials, Organization, Rules, and Structure (“CORS”) Team agrees. Current requirements include having a formal written organization document, a board, and a bank account. Several years ago, many state FAIRtax organizations met these requirements. But COVID and other developments have presented challenges.
So, how do we adapt to the present day? Many non-profit boards appoint themselves. But the CORS Team of Ron Babin, MI, Roger Buchholtz, MI, Doug Opbroek, LA, and Jim Bennett, NJ, rejected this idea and recommended keeping the Board of Delegates to have control over the Board of Directors. When the old Board of Directors turned FAIRtax (Americans for Fair Taxation) over to the grassroots in 2014, the turnover sought to better involve people in the field. FAIRtax is more vibrant when ideas come from there instead of top-down.
The CORS Team is considering relaxing the requirements to join the Board of Delegates. Under the recommendation, anybody in a state who wants to promote the FAIRtax should be eligible to become a delegate. We contemplate one delegate per state where there is no formal state organization. So, if there is more than one activists in a state, that group must decide who their delegate will be.
Delegates have received invitations to the Board of Directors' monthly Zoom meetings. The Board of Directors is not required to invite delegates, but we have found that inviting delegates raises interest and participation. Delegates cannot vote on business at these meetings but can listen and ask to speak. We request that delegates with matters for the agenda notify Jim Bennett in advance.
Delegates have their own monthly Zoom meetings on the third Thursday of the month. Meetings in January, April, July, and October are formal meetings with agendas. The others are informal and unstructured. The informal meetings often give birth to good ideas.
The CORS Team will review the current by-laws to make recommendations to the Board of Directors about the Board of Delegates. We think that if the state organizations gain strength later, we can return to the old requirements of having delegates only from structured state organizations. So, for now, if your state has only you, and you want to be on a FAIRtax national board, this may be your chance. Contact me at Jim.Bennett@FAIRtax.Org or (908) 578-4975.
I would love to hear from you, no matter how you choose to get involved with the FAIRtax.
Current requirements for sending a delegate to the Board of Delegates might be overly ambitious, and the Credentials, Organization, Rules, and Structure (“CORS”) Team agrees. Current requirements include having a formal written organization document, a board, and a bank account. Several years ago, many state FAIRtax organizations met these requirements. But COVID and other developments have presented challenges.
So, how do we adapt to the present day? Many non-profit boards appoint themselves. But the CORS Team of Ron Babin, MI, Roger Buchholtz, MI, Doug Opbroek, LA, and Jim Bennett, NJ, rejected this idea and recommended keeping the Board of Delegates to have control over the Board of Directors. When the old Board of Directors turned FAIRtax (Americans for Fair Taxation) over to the grassroots in 2014, the turnover sought to better involve people in the field. FAIRtax is more vibrant when ideas come from there instead of top-down.
The CORS Team is considering relaxing the requirements to join the Board of Delegates. Under the recommendation, anybody in a state who wants to promote the FAIRtax should be eligible to become a delegate. We contemplate one delegate per state where there is no formal state organization. So, if there is more than one activists in a state, that group must decide who their delegate will be.
Delegates have received invitations to the Board of Directors' monthly Zoom meetings. The Board of Directors is not required to invite delegates, but we have found that inviting delegates raises interest and participation. Delegates cannot vote on business at these meetings but can listen and ask to speak. We request that delegates with matters for the agenda notify Jim Bennett in advance.
Delegates have their own monthly Zoom meetings on the third Thursday of the month. Meetings in January, April, July, and October are formal meetings with agendas. The others are informal and unstructured. The informal meetings often give birth to good ideas.
The CORS Team will review the current by-laws to make recommendations to the Board of Directors about the Board of Delegates. We think that if the state organizations gain strength later, we can return to the old requirements of having delegates only from structured state organizations. So, for now, if your state has only you, and you want to be on a FAIRtax national board, this may be your chance. Contact me at Jim.Bennett@FAIRtax.Org or (908) 578-4975.
I would love to hear from you, no matter how you choose to get involved with the FAIRtax.
Jim Bennett
AFFT Grassroots Coordinator & Secretary🇺🇸 Call For Pictures & WriteUps - When others see your activity, they are inspired, the process snowballs and Representatives, Senators and, yes, even the President start to listen to you and me. Please send your material to me at Jim.Bennett@FAIRtax.org.
🇺🇸 The Official FAIRtax Store - Don’t forget to order your FAIRtax gear from the FAIRtax Store.🇺🇸 We've Got You Covered, If You Let Us Know - If you are planning an event, we have event insurance coverage available for you. Email me the "who-what-where-when" and I will obtain for you a COI. Once the event is underway, it's too late.