Chapter Name

Hello Virginia Chapter people!

Something that came up at our last meeting is the idea of giving our club a unique name. Also, since we are taking money at the auction, it is mandatory that we obtain an EIN as a non-profit and account for our money to the Feds. We need a name to get the EIN.

I think we can all agree that we are somewhat based in a region of the state, rather than truly encompassing the entire state (Northern VA has the Potomac Valley Aquarium Society), so I'd like to propose that everyone either comment upon some name suggestions or submit a name yourself to be considered.

We'd like to stick with a somewhat classic format, like PVAS, and here are some suggestions to get started. "Club," "society," or "association" can be used in any of these suggestions if the acronym looks or sounds better with one or the other:

Central Virginia Aquarium Society (CVAS)
Central Virginia and Tidewater Aquarium Society (CVTAS)
Old Dominion Aquarium Association (ODAA)
Virginia Chapter Aquarium Society (VACAS)
Richmond Area Aquarium Society (RAAS)
Central and Eastern Virginia Aquarium Society (CEVAS)


You get the idea!

Please feel free to comment and make suggestions. (Insert plain old classic smiley face here)

USA Fishbox Virginia Chapter.

technically it should be USAFISHBOX.COM
and your chapter use it as a dba virginia chapter.. but that also means KMX has to start reporting all auctions and sales of fish/equipment/etc income to IRS.
now you guys are getting into a very touchy situation... by making irs filings. either as a business or a non profit organization.... but from that point on, records must be kept on the whole organization including all of the chapters and reported annually! then state/local sales taxes if applicable may also come into effect!

KMX lives in TX so they don't have state tax.... VIrginia rapes folks with state tax.... Anytime $ is involved it gets "wierd". You have to be very careful because they want receipts, book keeping records and they can and usually do audit most non-profit. If you're non-profit any money coming in must pretty much go out. Or it will raise red flags....

Also if the money goes out, the first question asked will be.... Who did the money go to? Then they go after that person and audit their tax records.... JFYI

I have an EIN number because I have a contract with the air force to clean and up keep a bunch of fish tanks.... Trust me, I hired a Tax guy to take care of the records because "you don't want to go there." It's even harder according to him for the Tax exempt and the non-profit folks. When you say non-profit, it really has to be non-profit. You'll have to show them that it takes all the $ coming in from auctions or any kind of dues to "run" your organization. It really is a hairy situation!

Virgina Commonwealth Cichlid Association

VCCA?

by naming it something else... it is no longer a part of USAFISHBOX!

What would be the purpose of USA Chapters if we'll calling it something else??

I don't see how naming it something else and then saying it is the virginia chapter of USAFISHBOX is a big deal.

Anywho I like that name Jb. I also like the Central Viginia Aquarium Society (CVAS)

Keelo wrote:

CajunGator wrote:

by naming it something else... it is no longer a part of USAFISHBOX!

I disagree.

There could be other Virginia chapters, is what I want to point out. The Tidewater folks have enough people that they might want to have a club of their own, just like people in the western part of the state, the extreme southern, and northern Virginia areas. "Virginia Chapter" is a broad term.

JB.... so what are we to do with those that do not keep cichlids?...Yea.. it's true.. some folks keep other types of fish!

ornate12 wrote:

What would be the purpose of USA Chapters if we'll calling it something else??

Ok.. I'll chip in my 2 cents on this... I've paid my dues, I've recruited at least two new members to the chapter so:
When I'm in a fish shop or in some remote way encounter a fellow fish keeper I always bring up the USAFISHBOX... When I mention the fact of a Va. Chapter, their interest perks up considerably. I think there is a faction of folks that have a need to connect with people that are in close proximity to them. A chance to actually meet, face to face, those sharing your interest. Being about to say.. "Hey, ya might want to check out the (Virginia 3849378949839458 Fishsite) will have a better chance of getting them to visit. When they do visit, I imagine the Chapter Name would be prominent as well as USAFISHBOX.
The flip side is to convince them to visit USAFISHBOX and seek the Va Chapter.
So it boils down to sales and marketing!
We don't want any distance from USAFB as there is such a wealth of resource that only the Box offers and cannot be replicated by a single chapter.

Good point! I forgot everyone doesn't keep cichids! Well we need to fix that!
JB

LOL.. I know.. .it's hard to believe!... But hey.. I've been following a goldfish post and I might have to set a tank aside for them!... Go figure!..

but the purpose of the chapters is to spread the usafishbox name across the US.... by giving it a completely different name, new members will associate themselves with the new name --- not usafishbox... purpose of the forum is to brand the name "usafishbox" everywhere... so if you give the chapter a new name.... all is lost of the total goal of usafishbox... Then if new name is used, eventually-----> you end up with an entity that doesnt need usafishbox and just goes on their own as a state or regional organization!!!

This is another thing that happened to ACA.... groups broke off and created their own identities and never looked back! Once you start a "bank account" things always seem to change. I like USAFISHBOX Virginia Chapter the most!

page one of thread:

kory:

Quote :

USA Fishbox Virginia Chapter.

CajunGator wrote:

purpose of the forum is to brand the name "usafishbox" everywhere...

Is that the purpose of the forum? I mean, I'm just here for fish talk with fish people. I don't care at all about the name - in either direction.

Here's an analogy that might make some sense!. Unfortunately, I'm a Buffalo Bills fan... I'm not a fan of the NFL but a fan of a team. The NFL allows me to have a team to root for. Why a Bills fan?.. Proximity.. a local team... Do I think the Bills could stand alone? Heck no!.. Do I think a chapter could stand alone, Heck NO!... It's solely a means of generating greater membership to the chapter and the Fishbox!..

CajunGator wrote:

by naming it something else... it is no longer a part of USAFISHBOX!

100%

ornate12 wrote:

What would be the purpose of USA Chapters if we'll calling it something else??

TankGirl wrote:

There could be other Virginia chapters, is what I want to point out. The Tidewater folks have enough people that they might want to have a club of their own, just like people in the western part of the state, the extreme southern, and northern Virginia areas. "Virginia Chapter" is a broad term.

That is very True. We could always name them something else. like

Virgina Tidewater Chapter of USA Fishbox
Southern Virgina Chapter Of USA FIshbox.

I would like to stick with what I had in mind from the start. However I do TOTAL understand what you are saying.

My plan with USA Fishbox is to have this the place where every fish freak comes for there every need!

williemcd wrote:

JB.... so what are we to do with those that do not keep cichlids?...Yea.. it's true.. some folks keep other types of fish!

LOL Nice Bill! Very true.

CajunGator wrote:

but the purpose of the chapters is to spread the usafishbox name across the US.... by giving it a completely different name, new members will associate themselves with the new name --- not usafishbox... purpose of the forum is to brand the name "usafishbox" everywhere... so if you give the chapter a new name.... all is lost of the total goal of usafishbox... Then if new name is used, eventually-----> you end up with an entity that doesnt need usafishbox and just goes on their own as a state or regional organization!!!

CAN NOT AGREE MORE. Well said.

jb1edlover wrote:

This is another thing that happened to ACA.... groups broke off and created their own identities and never looked back! Once you start a "bank account" things always seem to change. I like USAFISHBOX Virginia Chapter the most!

Ryan H wrote:

CajunGator wrote:

purpose of the forum is to brand the name "usafishbox" everywhere...

Is that the purpose of the forum? I mean, I'm just here for fish talk with fish people. I don't care at all about the name - in either direction.

Some people don't and that is just fine. But what I dreamed of while creating all this is USA Fishbox to carry the name proud. We have started 12 other Clubs around the nation with in less then a year of trying. Most of them are still in the baby step process of building but to me that is just soo damnn sweet!

USAfishbox Virgina chapter

USAFB Central Virginia Aquarium Society
Central Virginia Aquarium Society, in association with USA Fish Box.
Central Virginia Aquarium Society. (In affilation with UASFB)

As far as the ENI# goes, It's not like we are running a millon dollars through the club. As long as good records are kept, the money comes in, the money goes out and you get receipts, no one gets paid and at the end of the year you make a lager donation to the Christmas Mother or some other none profit. The little amount of money the club would handle won't raise any IRS issues.

The Va. chapter is not out to rule the fish world. We want to be alittle more than a social club. Every person that comes in my shop, I tell about the Fish Box and tell them about the benefits of the site. I also thell them to check out the Va. chapter to see what we are doing and get current information. We want a name, so that local people will get a feeling or understanding that it's more of a home town club and not something just out there in the www. We are still using USA Fish Box as the place to go and get information and to keep up with what the local club is doing.
We are going to support UASFB 150%, not trying to draw people away.

Central Virginia Aquarium Society. (Va Chapter of the USA Fish Box)

its kind of like fight club lol.