<html><P>Hi Rufin,</P>
<P>It would seem reasonable that there be some contract with National; however, I do not recall that this had ever occurred. In any event, it would have been recorded in the minutes of our Board meetings.</P>
<P>Mike M.<BR><BR>---------- Original Message ----------<BR>From: "Rufin Van Bossuyt" <rufin@charter.net><BR>To: <masschestnutorchards@masschestnut.org>, "'Yvonne Federowicz'" <Yvonne_Federowicz@brown.edu>, <kendra@acf.org><BR>Cc: 'meghan Jordan' <meghan@acf.org><BR>Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] RI Status in MA Chapter?<BR>Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 18:34:39 -0500<BR><BR>If I recall correctly, we as a chapter have a legal agreement with TACF- <BR>National setting us up as a chapter. Not sure where this document would be <BR>at present.<BR>Maybe Susan could shed some light on it.<BR><BR>Rufin<BR>----- Original Message ----- <BR>From: "Mirick, John O." <jmirick@mirickoconnell.com><BR>To: "'Yvonne Federowicz'" <Yvonne_Federowicz@brown.edu>; <kendra@acf.org>; <BR><masschestnutorchards@masschestnut.org><BR>Cc: "'meghan Jordan'" <meghan@acf.org><BR>Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 4:51 PM<BR>Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] RI Status in MA Chapter?<BR><BR><BR>I pulled our Articles of Incorporation. Let me give a more specific <BR>response.<BR><BR><BR>Our official name is "The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Chestnut <BR>Foundation, Corp."<BR><BR>We can vote to change the name to "The Massachusetts-Rhode Island Chapter of <BR>the American Chestnut Foundation, Corp." and then file a change of name <BR>certificate with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (I think that there's a <BR>$100 filing fee). To comply with statute and by-laws, for a name change we <BR>need to give notice to the board that the name change will be on the agenda. <BR>Adoption of name change requires majority vote.<BR><BR><BR>Our purpose is assist in the work of the American Chestnut Foundation in <BR>bringing about a revival and a renewal of the American chestnut tree as a <BR>prominent part of the forests of the United States of America......<BR><BR>There is no geographic restriction in the purpose clause. So we can work to <BR>accomplish our purpose in Rhode Island as well as in Massachusetts, without <BR>any need to revise our Articles of Incorporation.<BR><BR><BR>As currently written, the by-laws limit us to 17 directors, elected for 2 <BR>year terms. With a formal expansion to include Rhode Island, we might want <BR>a larger number. The Board can increase the number of directors (again, <BR>requires notice and majority vote).<BR><BR>Personally, I'd like to see us move to 3 year terms which helps to insure <BR>continuity. With Rhode Island formally included, perhaps we should be <BR>considering 21 directors, which would mean 7 positions to be filled (or <BR>continued) each year.<BR><BR><BR>John<BR><BR><BR><BR>JOHN O. MIRICK | Partner<BR>Mirick, O'Connell, DeMallie & Lougee, LLP<BR>100 Front Street | Worcester | MA | 01608-1477<BR>Main: 508.791.8500<BR>Direct Dial: 508.860.1550<BR>Direct Fax: 508.983.6279<BR>jmirick@mirickoconnell.com<BR><BR>Please visit our website:<BR>www.mirickoconnell.com<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Mirick, John O.<BR>Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 12:26 PM<BR>To: 'Yvonne Federowicz'; 'kendra@acf.org'; <BR>'masschestnutorchards@masschestnut.org'<BR>Cc: 'meghan Jordan'<BR>Subject: RE: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] RI Status in MA Chapter?<BR><BR>A change of name is a mildly complicated formality. I think that our <BR>articles of organization as currently stated allow us to encompass <BR>activities in RI.<BR><BR>Let's discuss at January Board meeting.<BR><BR>John<BR><BR>Sent by Good Messaging (www.good.com)<BR><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Yvonne Federowicz [mailto:Yvonne_Federowicz@brown.edu]<BR>Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:33 AM Eastern Standard Time<BR>To: kendra@acf.org; masschestnutorchards@masschestnut.org<BR>Cc: 'meghan Jordan'; Mirick, John O.<BR>Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] RI Status in MA Chapter?<BR><BR>Hi Kendra, Meghan and members,<BR><BR>We have brought up our need to change our paperwork to include RI. It seems <BR>fairly official but not in writing (yet) -does anyone else have comments on <BR>this?<BR><BR>Perhaps we can ask John Mirick if there is any trouble with simply changing <BR>the name and a few lines in our MA-based charter to make the inclusion, and <BR>if we can skip doing anything official with RI government?<BR><BR><BR>Thanks, Yvonne<BR><BR><BR><BR>On 1/6/10 11:11 AM, "Kendra Gurney" <kendra@acf.org> wrote:<BR><BR><BR><BR>Hi Folks -<BR><BR>TACF staff are looking to update some of our "standard" publications, like <BR>the membership brochure, and I was wondering - how "official" is the RI <BR>inclusion in the MA chapter? Has there been any change to the chapter's <BR>by-laws or name to officially include RI within the MA chapter? I ask <BR>because we do have 2 joint chapters, VT/NH and the Carolinas, and if the MA <BR>chapter should be listed as MA/RI we would want to make that change in our <BR>documents. I know functionally RI is a part of the MA chapter, but wasn't <BR>sure if that inclusion needs to be mentioned in the chapter name or not. <BR>Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR><BR>Kendra<BR><BR>Kendra Gurney<BR>The American Chestnut Foundation®<BR>New England Regional Science Coordinator<BR>USFS Northern Research Station<BR>705 Spear Street<BR>South Burlington, VT 05403<BR>Tel: 802.951.6771 x1350 Fax: 802.951.6368<BR>Cell: 802.999.8706<BR>Kendra@acf.org <mailto:Kendra@acf.org> or kgurney@uvm.edu <kgurney@uvm.edu><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>________________________________<BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>MassChestnutOrchards mailing list<BR>MassChestnutOrchards@masschestnut.org<BR>http://mrsgale.fates.org/mailman/listinfo/masschestnutorchards<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>******************************************************************<BR><BR>DISCLAIMER REGARDING TAX ADVICE - IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE:<BR><BR>To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you <BR>that any federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any <BR>attachments) is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose <BR>of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, <BR>marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter <BR>communicated to you.<BR><BR><BR>******************************************************************<BR><BR>The information contained in this electronic message is legally privileged <BR>and confidential under applicable law, and is intended only for the use of <BR>the individual or entity named above. 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