The Number and the Parade

We never thought we’d see this day come. Today we received the official letter from the IRS designating the Crossville Skatepark Association a public charity. Our IRS number is 405299031 and is good until 2009. YEAH! This means that businesses and individuals can make a donation of either assets, property or cash and have it be tax deductible. So, if anyone wants to start the ball rolling with your tax deductible donation, you can click the button below and donate:

In other news: My family and I dropped by the Old School Customs skate event in Cookeville on Sunday. Wow. There were a bunch of skaters there! And they all had helmets on! Met Rob Correll and Co. as well. Really good folks who want to see the Upper Cumberland region get a place to skate. We’re with them! Their company, Old School Customs is even going to build/bring from ramps over for us to skate a demo at the Christmas Parade this year.

Which brings me to the annual Christmas Parade. Haven’t filled out the application yet, but this year we plan to have a big showing. We’d like everyone who skates/blades/bikes to come out there and be in the parade with us. The theme this year is “A Storybook Christmas”. I think we’ll be Snow White and the 70+ dwarf skaters/bikers/bladers. This is a very important event for raising awareness of skating in the community and with local officials. Let’s have a strong showing.

Meetings: We’re changing our meeting days to Saturdays. Please let everyone know. We’ll meet every other week. Our next meeting will be in November 12 at 1pm at the temporary park at the Cumberland Worship Center. Please pass the word.

Keep the hope alive,

- Frank

WE GOT IT!!!!

Well, sort of. I called our case manager at the IRS, and he’s recommending our case for 501C3 non-profit approval. There is the possibility that it still may be reviewed, but he’s going to stamp it, close the case and send us the go ahead letter by Oct 14. After a 10 month wait for determination, I view this as nothing short of Divine intervention. YEAH!!!!!

Here is what 501C3 status means for us:

- We can now apply for State and Federal and Foundation grants (like Tony Hawk's) for funds. Big bucks available here.

- We’ll have to keep tight track of the money coming in and learn/follow federal non-profit guidelines. Anyone know a lawyer who might be willing to donate some legal time advising us? Or a good accountant for that matter.

- We'll need to kick-start our education programs...i.e. demonstrations, teaching sessions, etc. for those in the local area. This is our main mission...to teach folks how to skate safely and well.

So, what’s next? Well, we’ll meet this Friday, Oct 7 at 5pm at the temporary park at Cumberland Worship Center. Here is what were going to do:

- Decide what to do with the temporary park.
- Plan fundraising activities for the next month.
- Work on a strategy to meet with local officials to present our facility needs.

I’d like to have as many parents/adults there as possible. Skatepark board members please come as well. I look seeing you skate, blade and bike in a world class skatepark in Crossville in the near future.

- Frank