by Ray Small, Publisher and Editor
HARDWICK – After much planning and preparation, the Gazette is making progress in its transition from a commercial operation to a nonprofit organization.
The first milestones in the process are recruiting a board of directors, filling board roles, and agreeing on the wording of the organization’s bylaws.
The current board members live in Hardwick, Greensboro, and Craftsbury. The board has chosen its chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer. A draft of the bylaws is under review. If all goes according to plan, the bylaws will be approved on November 5.
Once the bylaws are set, we can register the nonprofit with the State of Vermont and apply for nonprofit status with the IRS.
Gazette staff and outside consultants are working on related administrative and financial tasks, including opening bank accounts, changing addresses, and updating the website.
It is my hope that we will have the nonprofit up and running before the end of the year. We may be able to launch earlier, but a lot of details need to be sorted before that happens. I’m working under the principle that “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is.” (The internet attributes this quote to people ranging from Albert Einstein to Yogi Berra.)
I will provide updates on the process as we hit future planning milestones. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to contact me at [email protected].
