CEO’S MESSAGE
Building a Foundation By Danny Langfield NMEDA CEO
H
appy Fall, everyone. Let me
significant step forward in the growth
or political action committees.
go ahead and get off topic
and maturation of NMEDA as an
Accordingly, a c3 organization is
immediately by saying, WOW
association.
perceived very differently than a
– what a conference. If you have not already, please take a moment and have a look at the conference recap and photos starting on page 34. If Columbus in January hinted at what the Colo might be, October in Charlotte delivered on that promise.
Those of you somewhat familiar with the association world may know
exhibitors, the best education anywhere…it was awesome. It really is something special when the entire auto mobility industry family comes together at the same time in the same place. Conference Director Amy Lane and the rest of us are already plotting to grow and improve the show for ’23 (September 30-October 2 in Kansas City), and I certainly hope you will make plans to be there.
academic and other nonprofit entities.
that it is common for an established,
The formation of a c3 is therefore
well-regarded c6 association to
often intended to create a true,
form a related c3 organization
arm’s-length distance between the
for educational, research and/or
advocacy efforts of the mothership
charitable purposes. I will not drag
and other, unrelated activities in which
The best operators from both NMEDA and ADED, the most progressive
c6, especially among governmental,
the industry would like to engage. In
“
Those of you somewhat familiar with the association world may know that it is common for an established, well-regarded c6 association to form a related c3 organization for educational, research and/or charitable purposes.”
you into the minutia of non-profit IRS
the auto mobility industry’s case, we
On to the topic at hand…several big
tax classifications (you’re welcome!);
are very desirous of aggregating and
ideas were bandied about at the
suffice it to say that a c6 classification
reporting meaningful industry data;
Board’s strategic planning session
allows a nonprofit to unapologetically
not just for our own membership, but
in April—but not all of them made
represent and advocate for the
for our key stakeholders including
it into the final plan, of course. One
best interests of the trade or group
state vocational rehabs, the VA and
major new initiative that did make
for whom it was formed, with the
any number of partner organizations
the cut was the formation of a 501c3
key provision being that a c6 may
in the allied health, academic, and
nonprofit research foundation. This
(and almost always does) engage in
regulatory arenas, among others.
foundation will be controlled by,
lobbying activities on behalf of its
The groundwork for such an
although legally separate from, its
industry. Conversely, a c3 is prohibited
undertaking has been well
501c6 nonprofit parent organization,
from engaging in most traditional
underway for some time. NMEDA’s
NMEDA. Let me tell you why this is a
lobbying activities, including the
move to require all QAP jobs to
contribution of funds to candidates
Oct-Dec 2022
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