A short time ago, I left the Mississippi state Capitol building. The the Legislature is working overtime on the state's FY2005 budget.

While hanging out in the hallways and galleries over the last two months, I have encountered legislative representatives of the trial lawyers; doctors; podiatrists; chiropractors; architects; bankers; poultry producers; forestry association; forest products manufacturers; highway contractors; paving contractors; retail gasoline dealers; wholesale gasoline dealers; nurses; hospitals; home health care providers; day care operators; hotel and motel operators; rental car companies; paycheck advance companies; beer and spirits distributors; beer and spirits retailers; registered professional engineers; telephone companies; electric power associations; cable TV; ISP and other internet purveyors; cattlemen; catfish farmers; auto insurance agents; health insurance agents; casino operators; bildors; realtors; railroads; motor carriers; trash & garbage haulers; paper manufacturers; conservationists; rail-trail advocates; and the list goes on and on.

My points are -- (1) this list of lobbyists is pretty typical of the serious political system participants in almost any state; (2) historical preservationists of any stripe were absent; (3) I will bet a Royal Red shrimp dinner at Mobile's Original Oyster House that there is not a single railroad preservation group in the country that has a registered state legislative representative.

And those of us dedicated to railroad preservation often complain that we get "left out" in public policy development. When looking at the list above, all I can say is "little wonder."

Face it. In some areas, we are NOT serious players.

amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

> conservationists; rail-trail advocates
Face it. In some areas, we are NOT serious
players. <

They seem like probable tax-exempt groups!
Many of the insiders at RR preservation
organizations I belong to say that you will lose
your tax exempt status if you talk to
legislators. It might be mistaken for lobying or
influencing legislation. This must only apply to
rail organizations, since politicians even sit on
the boards of art museums and ship preservation
groups!

104577.651@compuserve.com

In Maryland, we formed the Maryland Association of History Museums in order to coordinate advocacy efforts with the General Assembly and other state elected officials. This fledgling group is miles behind the arts crowd in terms of visibility and effectiveness, but it is a start in that direction.

Re: tax-exempt status, members of National Capital Trolley Museum have been roaming the halls in the state capital for about 10 years seeking funding for our building campaign. As long as we are advocating for our own interests, we are fine. It is if and when we would decide to go advocate for other issues that we might begin to raise eyebrows (Amtrak, specific candidates, and unrelated issues such as the environment, etc. come to mind as no-nos).

Wesley

National Capital Trolley Museum

See link below to our State Association. Representatives from two ARM affiliates located in Maryland serve on the board of this group.

Wesley

Maryland Assn of History Museums

> Many of the insiders at RR preservation
> organizations I belong to say that you will
> lose
> your tax exempt status if you talk to
> legislators.

My esteemed colleague, Mr. Paulsen, has got it right concerning when and why the IRS might pull a tax emempt 501(c)3 designation.

If those "insiders" are correct, how do the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy or the Sierra Club or any one of thousands of politically active (and effective) special interest groups make any headway on their agendas?

The whole issue of lobbying and legislative relations ought to make a good ARM or TRAIN seminar topic (along with the always thorny issues of volunteer recruitment and member replenishment!).


amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

Art,

This reminds me of the argument I got from a person I ran into early in my railway preservation volunteer work who claimed that because "we are a non-profit, we cannot earn money".

Well, it just ain't so.

I quote below from the IRS' own web site about non-profit educational organizations:

To be tax-exempt as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes set forth in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and none of the earnings of the organization may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate at all in campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Two things here are important: You cannot attempt to influence legislation AS A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF YOUR ACTIVIITIES and you cannot participate in campaigns.

In other words, yes, you need to call your legislators, invite them onto your boards, tell them what you need but just make sure that your mission stays true and you don't start hosting Senator X's campaign train gratis.

Otherwise, pickup the phone, email, show up, do whatever you have to do.

Wrinnbo@aol.com

"If those "insiders" are correct,
how do the Rails-To-Trails Conservancy or
the Sierra Club or any one of thousands of
politically active (and effective) special
interest groups make any headway on their
agendas? "

They are lobbying in support of their mission and goals. This is OK. They are supported financially by those who would benefit from their respective agendas.

Wesley

What is a royal red shrimp dinner? I hate shrimp so what other things are on the menu? We do, so you owe me a dinner. No details here but we have them!


irss@eriecoast.com

>
> They are lobbying in support of their
> mission and goals. This is OK. They are
> supported financially by those who would
> benefit from their respective agendas.

> Wesley

Not exactly. 501c3 and regs allow lobbying only as an insubstantial part of activities and NO direct intervention in elections.

That having been said the EO division of the IRS could be a lot more aggressive. Remember Al Gore's regular stops @ inner city churches? They should've been nailed right there. Won't happen because even the IRS doesn't want to be called "racist" by Jesse Jackson and IRS Commisdsioners don't like to p-off the potential boss.

I'm working on an article about 501c3's and will submit it when the State Board informs me I can put "CPA" after my name.


superheater@rrmail.com

One of the (many) things the URHS group in NJ did wrong was get in bed with one party. They even named one of their cars after a (then) powerful Republican state senator. They never imagined that the Democrats would win the statehouse - and one of the most brutally partisan ones at that. They are persona non grata in Trenton, and their blatant political lobbying may well be the final nail in the NJ RR museum concept.

If you choose to dabble in politics, at least try to engage both sides.

pr55@libertyone.net

>There are ways of participating in the political process without lobbying and supporting candidates. It's called being a good citizen and letting legislators and other elected officials know your concerns.

Another good method is to get involved with your state tourism department as an active member. Go to conferences and make yourself heard on issues which impact tourist venues. As the directors of these departments are usually political appointees, your message to them will get heard farther up the legislative ladder. Because tourism is economic development and a very large industry in most states, you can have a voice.

Peace,

Jack

East Troy Electric Railroad
jftrolley@aol.com