March 2003 TUG news: 501(c)(3), election, annual conference, TUGboat

[TUG board of directors]

Dear TeX user,

A few notable news items from the TeX Users Group.

1) TUG GOES CHARITABLE!  Our first news item has been in the works for
many years: TUG has finally achieved full tax-exempt charitable status
in the USA, known as 501(c)(3).  This means that membership dues (less
value of received benefits) and additional contributions to TUG are now
tax-deductible, with the usual limitations and exceptions.  Fine print
on our web site and at the bottom of this email.  Donations are happily
accepted via the membership form :).

We will be sending a separate email to all affected TUG members
explaining the details and in a form suitable for tax documentation

Kudos to our president, Mimi Jett, our office manager Robin Laakso, our
lawyer Amy Silliman, and many others for bringing this to fruition.
More information at http://tug.org/tax-exempt.


2) TUG ELECTION RESULTS: One nomination was received for president: Karl
Berry.  The following nominations were received for the TUG board:
Barbara Beeton, Cheryl Ponchin, Kaja Christiansen, Phil Taylor, Ross
Moore, Samuel Rhoads, Stephanie Hogue, Sue DeMeritt.  (In addition,
Arthur Ogawa and Mike Sofka are continuing board members, whose terms
expire in 2005.)

Since there were fewer nominations than board positions, and only one
candidate for president, there will be no actual ballot this year.  The
election results take effect after the 2003 annual meeting.  Candidates'
statements and other info at http://tug.org/election/2003/results.html.

We'd especially like to welcome our new board member, Sam Rhoads.


3) TUG 2003 CONFERENCE: The Silver Anniversary -- 25 years!-- of TeX
The TeX Users Group 24th Annual Meeting and Conference is scheduled for
July 20-24, 2003 at the Outrigger Waikoloa Beach Resort, Big Island,
Hawaii. See http://tug.org/tug2003.

Register by April 19th for special hotel rates:
http://tug.org/tug2003/accommodation.html
For sharing accommodations: http://tug.org/tug2003/sharing.html.

Group travel discount rates may be available for flights via major US
Gateways across the USA, if travel is booked with Protravel International
Inc., agent Gina Robles <grobles at protravelinc.com>.

3a) BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE CLASS on LaTeX: will take place just before
the conference, from July 15-18 at the University of Hawaii at
Hilo. Enrollment is limited to 12. The cost is $275 ($300 after April 1,
so register now!). See https://www.tug.org/tug2003/latexclass.html for
more information and the registration form. If you have any questions
about the class, please email Sue Demeritt at susan.demeritt at tug.org.


4) TUGboat Volume 22 Issue 3 (Sep 2001) was mailed around February 14.
If you were a TUG member in 2001 and haven't received your copy, please
let the office know (office at tug.org), so we can send you a copy right
away :).  23(1), the proceedings for TUG 2002, will be the next issue
mailed.  22(4), the last issue for the 2001 membership year, is also in
process.  Back issues of TUGboat are available from the TUG office.


For reference, this newsletter is available online at
http://tug.org/news/2003/03.txt.

Respectfully submitted,
the TUG board (board at tug.org)


Postscript: here is the full text from our lawyer for the tax-exempt
announcement.

TUG has achieved tax-exempt charitable status in the United States,
meaning that it is now a 501(c)(3) organization.  This means that
membership payments and additional contributions will now qualify for
income tax charitable deduction, subject to certain limitations
regarding the value of your membership benefits and materials.

Please see http://tug.org/tax-exempt/ for details.