Radio Free Registry

[merbesfield]

Guys, Please refrain from further national political or satirical statements. There are plenty of other outlets for that.
Thank you!
Justin

Yes sir

[S.J.Szabo]

Mr.Erbesfield:

More succinctly, any issue with the IRS would be due to the Trustme's efforts to screw up that bowling ball. The rules for non-profits are simple enough, if you choose to follow them. The Club Leadership has pointedly chosen not to, and for a very long time. Think "on-going conspiracy to evade taxes" sounds like everything's hunky-dory going in?

[merbesfield]

Could I get an update on the law suit? And is the IRS involved yet or is that just speculation?

[Bill Sampson]

Could I get an update on the law suit? And is the IRS involved yet or is that just speculation?

Mark:

There has been no change in the law suit since my last post here:
http://porsche356abcgt.com/forum/13-Open-Topic-Forum/7000-Porsche-356-Registry-Litigation-Update.html

It is in hurry up and wait mode.

I have no knowledge about IRS involvement one way or the other.


Bill

[DG58INNM]

Justin, my apologies. It's raining cats and dogs (rare in my neck of the woods). I'm stuck indoors and bored. Guess that clouded my judgement. I'll try not to fan the flames again.

DG

[JTR70]

Please no more statements on your National political positions!! I've got guys emailing me who are chomping at the bit to trade barbs with your statements. If you keep this up its going to get ugly real quick and short-circuit your efforts to constructively discuss your concerns with the registry.
Thank you! Justin

[356JAGER]

DELETED

[S.J.Szabo]

Mr.Erbesfield:

There is no way to know what travails the Leadership are attempting to control; communiques from those rarefied climes are non-existent for the rank-and-file Membership and aren't They spending a lot of Insurance money to keep Their business under wraps?

But the fact remains that if and when the IRS takes an interest, it seems clear to anyone who understands English that it will not be pretty.

But that is the point here: read the regs and then ask yourself "Is the Club being run in even general compliance with the letter and the spirit of the applicable code and regulation of the IRS and the State of Ohio?" And when the answer is "NO", ask "Hasn't the long line of Leadership knowingly exposed the Club to enormous risk that could easily destroy its viability, if not its very existance?"

When the answer is "YES", you might then wonder to yourself "Why? This isn't what we trusted Them to do." After that, its just more questions.

[JTR70]

Thank you David, I appreciate it!

Hey Joel, No, there was never any chance of locking or deleting this discussion. I still believe its best to try and stay "hands-off" and to let you Adult Men hash it out amongst yourselves. I really did hesitate to interfere with Mark and David's right to speak their mind but it reached critical mass so quick that I had no choice but to pour some water on it. I am still committed to my original philosophy of open discussion but Race, Religion, and Politics will do nothing but cause trouble. Besides this is just a car forum and I want you to have fun and enjoy your visits here; not get pissed off.
Thanks again Guys!
Justin

[bbspdstr]

Well put, Justin...and thank you again.
It must be remembered that those who control any site control the discussion on it. Here's the historical recap:

1) The Registry site disallowed an online conversation about how the club's business is handled, tossed guys off and out, drove others away. Lots of concern, lots of questions yet to be answered. The more some members wanted to know, the tighter the blinds were drawn. Now there is a lawsuit attempting to open those blinds.

(Personally, I feel that should not need to be the only way to get information about club business, but I was shunned when I tried the polite way. Honest questions became described as 'attacks' and 'accusations.' To me, that gave the appearance of impropriety, especially in a simple car club...but this is now a road well traveled....we are here and Steve Heinrichs is still pursuing his legal approach.)

2) Everett Barnes allowed as much he and/or his moderators could tolerate on the Samba until a convenient break of the last elections.

3) We who really care about the Registry have almost Biblically wandered through a communal communication desert here to Justin's oasis.

So, to put it crudely, let's not piss in the only watering hole we have. Go behind any dune...there is plenty of sand (just ask Bill Sampson)...just watch out for those Registry members who still have their heads in it....

The car club politics of the Registry are amazingly similar to our Federal and State politics, but I doubt we participating here could discuss a way to make an impact on those other politics like we can here concerning a simple car club that is supposed to be run for fun, but alsosupposed to be run (by a few 'representatives') like a serious business. No one wants a lawsuit, silent trustees, lack of openness and friendliness...we just want to get back to the FUN the Registry has been for all.... until recently. Now it's fun for a few, not much fun for others....and merely a (fun) magazine for the vast majority.

As for "adult male".....my 94 year old mother still asks what I want to be when I grow up.....and I still reply; "play with cars!"

[bbspdstr]

Hey, another idea for Justin: How about if you could find some higher profile (Registry?) individuals to start a "guest" section for some 356 discussion. Specifically oriented, a-political, but another 'draw' here to your visually oriented site?

There is already a 4-cam interest, the Samba seems to be keen on the very early 356s in a more technical fashion due to the cross-over to VW, etc.etc.

However, with a pinch of this or that, this stew could become a...dare I say..."club."

Here's a first suggestion, because to me it's the first thing anyone should get as a tool when they are interested in the 356 or any Porsche, 'tribute' car, one-off, etc.
"What are the best books to have or is online resourcing the best way to get educated in things Porsche?"

[Bill Sampson]

. . . . . . .
As for "adult male".....my 94 year old mother still asks what I want to be when I grow up.....and I still reply; "play with cars!"

Good for you Bruce. Your other remarks, by the way, were spot on as usual. When I grow up I'm going to be a hedonist.


Bill

[Bill Sampson]

On September 5, 2013, the editor of the 356 Registry sent an email to the membership that stated in part:

"Registering" a 356
In spite of the name chosen by the founders almost 40 years ago, the main focus of 356 Registry has never been to register or compile a list of the cars. The Chassis / Engine / Transmission number database has been an informal adjunct to other club business and a useful tool for members, especially since it has been online at our website. The list, however, is by no means complete or exhaustive, since it is and has always been a voluntary effort; members can list their own cars into the database so that others may use the information for reference, or as a record for future owners.
Because the issue of privacy has become more important over the last several years, access to the database has been changed and a "terms of use" agreement has been made a part of access privileges. Use of the database will be discussed in detail in the near future, but key items are: material is intellectual property owned by Porsche 356 Registry, Inc and is for personal use of Registry members. Users may not distribute or re-publish any of the material.
Please note that any personal information (ownership, names, address, etc.) should be added ONLY by that person, on a voluntary basis. Do not submit personal information about anyone else. Also note that NO ONE is authorized by the club to solicit or gather such information, or to distribute same.
Eric Cherneff and Joe Johnson have worked very hard to streamline the database and strike a balance between usefulness and privacy. If you have questions, please contact them through the database page on our web site.

[Emphasis added.]

Rosemary and I were surprised that the Porsche 356 Registry, Inc., a non-existent corporation, claims that our information which we willingly shared with what was represented at the time to be a public database has now been acquired by that non-existent corporation. Those of you who contributed information about your 356s over the years may wish to ponder the claims made by the representatives of that non-existent entity.

We do not object to the desire for privacy although the same folks said the database was public at the beginning, but, we do object to the completely unfounded and incorrect property claims by a bogus entity.


Bill

[356JAGER]

DELETED

[JTR70]

Due to a technical glitch Steve Heinrichs is having he asked me to post this response for him:


I wanted to add some comments to this thread regarding recent developments concerning the Registry. I am not commenting on the litigation which continues to move along and evolve.

Recent days have seen much discussing of confidentiality, public information, intellectual property and, now, an announcement of a required agreement as to access. I hope that current Registry members and those considering membership will consider these matters carefully, particularly since it has now been announced that the Registry never has been a Registry.

The membership application for the Registry is something that should be read by all. It is useful to go back to earlier issues of the magazine and look at previous ones. Think about promises, or lack thereof, of confidentiality.

In any event, one could ask how confidential (or is/was it public) information becomes intellectual property (owned by anyone). Equally bewildering---how does your chassis number become the intellectual property of the Registry just because the leadership says so?

Did anyone in a leadership position vet any of this with Porsche (PCNA or PAG)? Are we to believe that Porsche numbers are now owned by the Registry?

How and why is all of this coming up at this time just a few months before the elections?

Can anyone be serious as to the "terms of access" agreement as it is described? If you "agree" then obtain access and then tell someone that you noticed a chassis number residing in Georgia-----then that violates the rules? Then, what happens?

So, food for thought as the elections come up. Is this the leadership we want?

This is the leadership that promised an audit (presumably for the year ended 8-31-12; the last year actually ended a week ago). They delivered only tax return numbers and, then, flipped the comparative two year columns---not hard to do of course---but then used the wrong tax numbers to explain a dues increase. Then, the flip was noted but noting said regarding the explanation. All along----no information at all as to the then current and now over, fiscal year. Leadership also promised minutes but has produced none. Yep, volunteers--I get that--but it is not that tough.

Steve Heinrichs