On Mon, 14 Sep 2009, William Warren wrote: > right now they don't HAVE to disclose as they do not have > any kind of US based npo that would force them to do so. > We can inquire all we want to but they don't have to answer > anything. 'they' who run a non profit under US law of which I am aware have no general obligation to give the time of day to anyoue -- Feel free to ask at the local Elk's lodge about their back room poker party profits, and I am pretty sure you'll get a tossed out on your ear Similarly, a formal public charity recognized as exempt under section 170 of the US Tax Code, has no such general duty -- there is a right of inspection of their form 990 in certain cases. but that is about it under US federal law State law may and does vary [my legal career started doing oversight, investigation after complaint, and certain nonimal regulation of such entities as a staff attorney for my local state attorney general] -- but geeks think that the law is both obvious and systematically logical and capable of lay comprehension. It is not Lawyers in the US are generally required to graduate at the 4 year college level, then 3 years of law school, and then additional study in preparation for state specific bar examinations, as well as a nationwide multistate section. Even then the field is so broad that functionally one apprentices for 5 to 7 years as an associate, before being considered worthwhile enough to trust with clients without supervision. Intellectual property matters (trademarks at the federal level, patents) have additional testing and admission requirements The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience. The law embodies the story of a nation's development...it cannot be dealt with as if it contained the axioms and corollaries of a book of mathematics. -- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Talk to your lawyer for a quote if you wish to buy legal advice and opinions upon which you may rely, and that he or she will stand behind and warrant ---------------start disclaimer------------------- I_A_AL, but not your lawyer. I offer legal advice and formal opinion only within the confines of a previously established and explicit attorney-client relationship where privilege may be had; and NEVER on a public list server. ----------------end disclaimers ------------------ That said, let me go specific and further as well: As to the project I will in no way purport to 'represent' it as to legal matters, as I lack distance and really can only wear one hat. I tried being the client and the lawyer once 30 years ago as to one non-profit I helped found and sat on the board of, and it just does not work with kind regards, -- Russ herrold