Alembic Charity Gig

[rogertvr]

No-one is going to want my face all over a pic! I was thinking of the instrument on its own, maybe surrounded by pretty flowers or little fluffy kittens...  ;-)
 
Rog

[David Houck]

A couple of thoughts that might be of some help.
 
I don't know about other countries, but if this project is to be based in the US, then a 501(c)(3) charitable organization will need to be set up.  Else proceeds from sales of books or calendars will be taxable.  If a 501(c)(3) is set up, then a number of specific things will need to be addressed such as the naming of a board of directors, specification of the charitable function, etc.
 
If you are going to publish a book or even a calendar of pictures, then presumably you are going to want fairly high quality photographs.  Much of what is currently in the Showcase section probably wouldn't do for such a project.  Thus contributors are going to need to be much better photographers than they apparently are currently, or they will need to hire someone to take pictures for them.  Presumably, if they hire someone, the cost would be deductible by them as a charitable contribution (in the US).
 
The organization will have to pay to have the book actually published.  Presumably for a book of photographs, the paper will be fairly high quality glossy paper.  My guess is that it won't be cheap.  This will have to be financed by cash donations to the organization or by a loan to the organization.  And my guess is that the publisher will want the payment up front.
 
Given the above, a checking account will need to be opened.
 
A business plan will need to be developed.  A budget forecast will need to be prepared to see if the project makes since financially.  It could be that a quality book of glossy photographs worth of the Alembic name will cost more per copy than you could reasonably charge.  And add on to the cost per copy the amount per copy that will be allocated to the charitable purpose.
 
Someone will need to be in charge of the accounting, including the preparation of tax returns and financial statements.
 
Someone will need to be in charge of overseeing the publishing of the book, including collection of photos, layout, and dealing with the publisher.
 
Someone will need to be in charge of sales, including setting up for credit card sales and a web site for web based sales.
 
Someone will need to be in charge of shipping, including packaging, contact with shipping companies and international shipping.
 
And of course the project must have the blessings of Alembic.  I would think that a book about Alembic instruments will reflect on the name and reputation of Alembic no matter the level of involvement of the company in the project.  It probably wouldn't be too long before these things started showing up on Ebay.
 
That's enough for the moment.

[keith_h]

Thank you for volunteering Dave! Just kidding. You do bring up some very good points all of which can be applied to the calendar suggestion too. It will be a lot of work to keep up the IRS forms and certification and to perform the accounting. I had some involvement with this once before for a local group that was building an observatory for the local high school. The IRS requirements, etc took a lot of work and from my perspective took a long time to be approved.    
 
Keith

[David Houck]

An additional thought about 501(c)(3).  In the US there are basically two types of organizations, public charities and private foundations.  My initial thought is that a private foundation would be more appropriate for this project as it is much simpler.

[David Houck]

Keith, I believe there are two or three members of the club that have this type of accounting experience.  If no one else wanted to do it, I would consider it.

[mpisanek]

I have just received an email response from Mica.  The response was VERY positive!  Once again, Alembic have shown that they are a top class company with top class people in it!  
 
We have opened discussions at a very preliminary stage, and are kicking around a few ideas.  The calendar is probobly the most likely one at this point.  
 
One thing that we would like to think about before deciding on the actual project is where any proceeds could go.  It was thought that something to do with music would be a good ides, and I thought that since we are all bass and guitar players, that it would be a good idea to give to a charity that uses or promotes guitar and bass in some way to help underprivilaged or handicapped children.
 
Anybody have any ideas?

[palembic]

I heard about a Music school here in Leuven (Belgium) that mounted a charity CD recording with all the pupils and the goal was to raise enough money to buy study instruments for some Music Schools in -I think- Kosovo. Most of the schools and their materials were destroyed after the civil war in the Balkan some years ago.
 
It do not say that this project is a must do but just the concept could work. I like the idea of music related approach. As you see even the money-giving-thing is here completely abandoned!
 
Paul the bad one

[811952]

I like the thought of Alembics in their natural elements with the owners, with short personal stories of either what the instrument means to me or under what serendipitous circumstances did it enter my life? or how it changed my life or similar.  Otherwise you risk just making a fancy catalogue (which could stand on it's own as well, now that I think about it).  My journalism background makes me want to know the stories behind the instruments.  
 
My story?  Apparently John Entwistle's prototype adjustable nut was tested on my bass (and others most likely) while in the shop for repairs, and Beverly (I don't remember her last name, but she's long since left Alembic) told me that he did actually play it more than a little bit.  Alembic issued me a *loaner* bass (break it and you'll own 2 Alembics) during that time (11 months if I remember correctly), which later became Steve Jay's first Alembic bass..  Cool story?  Definitely.  Eclipsed by a brazillion cooler stories?  Definitely.  I'd love to have them all in a book for the grand kids to read when they inherent Grandpa's Alembic.
 
John

[gare]

After initially reading this the other day I started  thinking. Came up with alot of thoughts Dave brought up (logistics).
And since we are a 'global' community, which organization would be best ?  I'm not really that up on  charitable organizations, but I'd agree with Roger, maybe the Red Cross and/or it's affiliates.
But, if we look back on the events of the past year or so, you couldn't have missed sunamis,hurricanes,earthquakes,etc. And a recent post about the death of a fellow list member. Well, it seems several list members have been affected by these events. Why not look at doing something for them ? It may be a small start, but we all know there will be more in the future (unfortunately). Another example are all the musicians that lost everything in New Orleans, homes, family, instruments.      
Well..just some thoughts anyway
G

[David Houck]

Some things to keep in mind regarding where the proceeds go.  If you give the proceeds to an existing public charity, like the Red Cross or an organization that gives instruments to public schools, that keeps it relatively simple.  If you want to give money or instruments directly to deserving individuals, that raises the level of complexity significantly.  The methods by which such individuals are chosen will have to be detailed in the application for exempt status made to the federal government and to the state government (US, I don't know what's involved in other countries).  And a tax exempt charitable organization can not just up and make a gift to someone in particular; the grantee has to meet certain criteria that the organization sets out in its stated purpose.  For instance, if I have a private charitable foundation, and my neighbor down the street loses his job and the bank is about to foreclose on his house, my organization can't just give him some money unless the organization was specifically set up to make grants to people living on my street who are in danger of losing their homes.  And my organization wouldn't be able to descriminate; if three people on the street met those criteria, I couldn't chose just him because I happened to know him better.  Then there is the matter of self-dealing.  The organization can't make grants to its own members.  Thus if the organization were set up to make grants to people who lose their instruments in house fires, you couldn't make such a gift to someone who was a member of the charitable organization.  The more complex you make this project, the more will be the need to hire an attorney who specialized in charitable organizations.  Because the public has expressed its wish to be protected from unscupulous persons acting as charities, the government has substantial penalties for charitable organizations that don't follow the rules.

[gare]

Good points Dave.
It's a shame good intentions and deeds aren't enough to satisfy everyone. But it's understandable with some of the unscrupulous activities of a few.

[lbpesq]

I nominate the following as potential recipients
 
Phil Lesh's Unbroken Chain Foundation
http://www.phillesh.net/ubc/mission.html
 
the Dead's Rex Foundation  
http://www.rexfoundation.org/rex_home.html
 
and Wavy Gravy's Camp Winnarainbow
http://www.campwinnarainbow.org/
 
Bill ,tgo

[gare]

If the book gets done, it will have to include a mention of Rami's collection.  It has to be one of the large privately owned around.

[rogertvr]

I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned the JEF along the way here.

[richbass939]

I think I would have to agree with Bill, tgo.  Phil and the Dead (let's not forget the other early players, too) have done so much over the years to support Alembic directly and indirectly by getting the attention of so many of us.  I think if Alembicians can pull together some bucks for a good cause it would be appropriate to give those foundations the first look.
I think a calendar is a great idea.  After a couple of years, do a book with the calendar photos and some previously unpublished, bonus photos.  The photos could show where the instruments live.  A few that come to mind are Alan's new red Alembic Akhbar (I guess that's my name vote, Alan) in front of Saddam's palace, Peter's Epic with the Staten Island Ferry and lower Manhattan in the background, a London scene, the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Olde Opry, etc., etc., etc.
Print it and I will buy one.
Rich