group, societies, and associations...

[BjornBee]

As example, there is the EAS (eastern apicultural society - I think thats right?), you have the American Beekeeping Federation, the American Honey producers Association, and so on.

What makes a society a society, and a federation a federation? Whats the difference between a beekeeping group, and a beekeeping association?

Is there legal ramifications? Is there guidelines or rules to when one is proper to use, and when not?

Can anyone explain for a club (oh boy there's another one) the following...

Association

Group

Society

Club

Federation

Thank you.

[randydrivesabus]

i don't think there is any legal difference in the name but there may be in the way they are organized irregardlous of the name.

[Walliebee]

I don't know the legal stuff.

Association- an organized body of people who have an interest, activity, or purpose in common

Group- a number of persons or things ranged or considered together as being related in some way

Society- A group of humans broadly distinguished from other groups by mutual interests, participation in characteristic relationships, shared institutions, and a common culture

Club- a group of people organized for a common purpose, especially a group that meets regularly

Federation- an organization formed by merging several groups or parties

[Barry]

Can anyone explain for a club (oh boy there's another one) the following...

Association

Group

Society

Club

Federation

Thank you.

Association: a group of people organized for a joint purpose

Group: a number of people who work together or share certain beliefs

Society: an organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity

Club: an association or organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity

Federation: an organization or group within which smaller divisions have some degree of internal autonomy

Thank You: a polite expression used when acknowledging a gift, service, or compliment, or accepting or refusing an offer

[Jim Fischer]

It is Christmas party season, so I've been drinking lots of Eggnog,
and juggling a tiny little plate and a glass to shake hands a lot
lately at parties thrown by all the groups that call me a "member"
(or, more to the point, "generous donor"). This experience, which
will continue to drag on for the next 3 weeks or so, has clearly
illustrated the differences between the various collective nouns
that collections of people use to describe themselves.

I list them pretty much in order, from smaller to larger:

Club - The least egotistical group designation. The term "club" is used
to differentiate the group from a street gang, random bar brawl, or riot.
Hard liquor is often available at meetings of "clubs", and it is not unusual
for unattached women of adult age to be in attendance.

Group - Tends to designate a collection of people who share a specific
narrow-focus purpose, such as the "Group of Eight Nations" (which bully
all the other 186 countries on the planet), or the "Blue Man Group",
who paint themselves blue, and play percussion. But a group DOES stuff.

Society - Starting to get into some serious ego here, a society usually
has a "noble cause", such as saving something or preserving something.
Clubs go out drinking, groups have wine and cheese parties, societies
hold teas for charity.

Association - Mostly larger, these people "associate" with each other,
but don't necessarily like each other much. Expect lots of motions
to overturn prior motions, and at least one copy of "Roberts Rules of Order"
to be floating around.

Federation - These are big groups. Really big.
Like "The Federation" in Star Trek. Everyone was in "the federation"
except the Klingons and Romulans. (I'm talking the old-skool series
here - Kirk, Spock, and Scotty.) The dead give away here is that you
can bump into people who don't speak your language very well, and you
don't speak theirs very well, either.

[BjornBee]

Thanks.

Do all associations incorporate, or file non-profit, charitable or other peperwork? Can you file something to protect an associations name without all the tax and other legal concerns that may go along with incorporation, etc.?

[MapMan]

Also, don't forget:

Alliance, affiliation, band, brotherhood, bunch, circle, clan, clique, coalition, company, community, confederation, congress, cooperative, crew, crowd, faction, family, federation, fellowship, fraternity, gang, guild, league, lodge, mob, order, organization, partnership, rat pack, ring, set, society, syndicate, tribe, troupe, union...



MM

[Dan Williamson]

I think ego plays a big role.... I mean "Society" certainly connotates lifting the pinky while sipping your drink.

[randydrivesabus]

if your organization wants to open a bank account of any kind you would need to formally organize. many become Corps to protect the officers from liability.

[Grant]

Aside from Mr. Fischer's perceptive analysis (makes me begin to wonder about the groups I belong to, or those who tolerate my membership and those who want my dues), I sense the post asks something more legal. I'll share my experience.

I was "elected" the treasurer of my kid's swim club. I went to the bank with the outgoing treasurer to have my name entered on the signature card and the statements delivered to my home address. I was told I needed to register a fictious name, that the old treasurer had merely entered her social security number for the account many years ago, and that this transfer was not legal any more. I could not even register a DBA account unless it was solely mine and then I was liable for any tax consequences. The swim club only has their own by-laws. We are not incorporated or tax exempt on any level. And we've never had to be.

Fortunately, this measly account didn't draw any interest interest so there was no tax liability, but until I had a fictious name registered, the account was not valid with my name on the account. This banker sent me to the state offices in Cape Girardeau. These are new rules thanks to 9/11

The only thing the state could do was give me a form and told me I needed a CPA and a lawyer. They said don't expect anything for 2 months. If I filed on-line it would take six weeks. I put this project on the back burner under a low simmer.

While at my bank, I happened to ask how one goes about opening a bank account for a special interest club, say...like my kid's swim team. The lady at the bank called the IRS, and over the phone filled out form SS-4, got me a fictious name registered, a federal I.D. "EIN" number and set me up with a free checking account that only needed $100 to open. And she didn't even charge me to notarize my signature.

The next day we closed the old account at the other bank and transfered the money (less my original $100).

My thought is if you're getting serious about setting up an organization, the banks and the IRS have some strict guidelines as to what constitutes a "club"

Grant
Jackson, MO

[BjornBee]

Thank you for the replies thus far,

Hope this helps....

This will be hypothetical of course. So if this sounds good to someone, go for it.

Say I want to set up a website. One tailored towards a group like "Friends of TBH Beekeeping". The site is dedicated to beekeepers who keep bees in some specified manner, say like TBH's. A site that gives information on what TBH's are, a list of beekeepers who participate as a "member' of the site, and adheres to a minimum standard of guidelines. No membership fees. No money collected. No bank accounts. Just a membership based on voluntarily participating in the club, etc.

So you register the domain name. Ok, then what? How would you protect yourself from the next guy coming along and starting a club called the same thing. Is this something to consider or worry about?

Do you have to be an incorporated entity, or file a fictitious name, etc.

For an Internet association, and much of the dealings happening via electronic transmission, etc., would you need more than a website and domain name?

I think the real concern is building something, and having someone steal the concept or idea, and then be forced to lose what was worked for.

Comments?

[randydrivesabus]

corporate names are not nationally protected...only state protected. but your domain name would be yours. the way to keep someone from stealing your idea is to make your product better than theirs.
o...btw....if you take in any money (I'm thinking of Grant's post) you are required to report it on your tax return. unless someone gifted it or lent it to you.

[Robert Hawkins]

If it's beekeeper related, i would investigate forming a guild. Check the history of guilds to see why. Anyone else wanting to start one can do so. And eventually, the rancor dies down and the two can merge.

Hawk

[berkshire bee]

And guild brings to mind the days of highly skilled craftsmen and women. I think it just has a nice ring to it.

[randydrivesabus]

like the lollipop guild.

[Troy]

You asked: "How would you protect yourself from the next guy coming along and starting a club called the same thing. Is this something to consider or worry about?"

As Randydrives a bus said - names are only protected at the state level IF and only if you register with the state.

I believe that the only way to protect against someone starting a club and calling it the same thing in another state is to register your name as a trademark with the patent and trademark office. even that would not protect the name from use by someone else with an entirely different purpose.

Reference the old PETA battle. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) finally won a battle to get the domain name wrested from a group that had the name registered first. They were the (PETA) People Eating Tasty Animals. It was particularly distasteful to the Animal rights group, but I'm sure the recipe web site folks were just as outraged that they were forced to give up the name that they rightfully registered first.

The lesson there is that being first is helpful, but doesn't always win the day.