EVERYBODY PLEASE READ! Important organizational announcement

[rogerperk]

Not sure what I'm supposed to do here. The entire first page doesn't show so if there are instruction I don't know what they are but here I am... send me!

Ahhh!!! RTFP! Got it.

[VB]

Not sure what I'm supposed to do here. The entire first page doesn't show so if there are instruction I don't know what they are but here I am... send me!

This sis from the first post in this thread -

EVERYBODY PLEASE READ! Important organizational announcement

As many of you are aware, since the inception of APO one of the goals of the website creator has been to use the site in a charitable means. In order to further this goal, as well as maintain a level of liability protection, a non-profit association was formed under provisions of the Texas Business Organizations Code, effective March 10, 2010. The impact of this change will vary in scope, and the purpose of this announcement is to inform you of the impending changes and address the questions that you will surely have. I am sure that I will not be able to think of and address all of the questions that you will come up with, so at the conclusion of this announcement please feel free to ask anything that may be on your mind.

What does this mean for ArmyParatrooper.org?

With permission from the owner, The Paratrooper Association (TPA) will use the armyparatrooper.org domain as its internet presence.

Is this just fluffy B.S.? What does this really mean?

Organizing as a non-profit association is recognized by provisions of the IRS code and laws of the State of Texas as a separate business entity. This allows certain benefits and flexibility under the law from both charitable and liability perspectives. Additionally, there is now a Board of Directors that will guide the direction of the Association. The Board members are Chris Allison, Jim Sullivan, and Michael Allison.

How will I be affected? Should I freak out because the APO as I know it will be changing?

No. Relax Francis, it’ll be fine. Firstly, APO will continue to function as it currently exists. The leadership team you have come to know on the forums as Administrators, Moderators, etc. will continue in their roles for the most part. However, some of them will now have formal titles as Officers, staff members, and employees of the Association like you would find at any company. Secondly, as an individual, you will not be affected. Although the Association organizing documents provides for membership in the Association, the Board of Directors has decided at this time not to include any members. Let me break this into two parts – the website itself and the community forums.

The website overall: First, you will begin to notice some changes on the homepage of APO including the name of the website and publishing of documents such as the Articles of Association, Bylaws, Association Organizational chart (chain of command), biographies of the Board of Directors and Association Officers, and some other administrative items that signal the change of the organization. You will also notice that the messages on the pages will begin to take on a certain charitable “flavor”, explaining the charitable mission, encouraging participation, etc. Some of you probably didn’t even know there ARE other parts to the website besides the forums. J

The community forums: Although there will be some minor changes, the forums will remain intact and operate as normal. Although they will be used in part to conduct business of the Association, they remain separate from the Association itself. In other words, unless noted otherwise, posts, threads, etc. will not constitute the opinion, stance, etc. of the Association itself. The most severe change you will notice is a shift in the content policy of the forums, mainly having to do with the public side. However, the fundamental atmosphere will not be altered.

What are some of the programs that TPA plans on undertaking?

The foremost mission of the Association is to continue providing for the fellowship of Paratroopers. There are many ideas for charitable activities, but one of the first that is planned for implementation is the full financial funding of the two major annual reunions that take place (The Sizzler and the Texas Gathering). Of course this depends on the generosity of the members of APO (in terms of both time and financially). Down the road, some of the other ideas that the Board of Directors is considering are:

· Establishment of a scholarship fund
· Facilitation of informal counseling for combat veterans
· Donation of funds to other established non-profit veteran organizations (e.g. Wounded Warrior Project)

Can I become an Officer or other member of the Association?

To further the mission of the Association we will need to lean heavily on people that are willing to lend their time and expertise. There will be some roles that will need to be filled within TPA and our hope is that some of you will be willing to donate some of your time. More on that will be coming in the future.

Will I get paid as an Officer or other staff member of the Association?

TPA offers a generous compensation package – just ask the Admins and Mods. TPA is prepared to compensate Officers and other staff members of the Association with a hearty boot in the ass. In other words, shut the hell up! J


Will my donations to the site be tax deductible?

At some point in the future, yes. Unfortunately, the federal government imposes a fairly hefty fee to apply for tax exempt status. Therefore, currently the donations made to The Paratrooper Association will not be tax deductible; however, as soon as financially feasible the Board of Directors will apply to the IRS for 501(c)(3) [tax exempt] status.




If you have any questions or comments, let ‘em rip.

Yours in brotherhood,



Chris Allison
Executive Director
The Paratrooper Association


P.S.

E.S.F.

[Commando58]

Hoo-Ahh! Airborne!

[kevinohio]

I was in the 2/504th Bravo comapny at Bragg from 1983 until 1987. would love too see if anyone one else was that at that time.

Kevin ***********

[Skyshark]

I was in the 2/504th Bravo comapny at Bragg from 1983 until 1987. would love too see if anyone one else was that at that time.

Kevin ************

I would as well. I would also love to see people follow the proper instructions that are laid out in detail when they join the site. For example, your first post needs to be an introduction post in the introduction thread. Thank you.

[VB]

I was in the 2/504th Bravo comapny at Bragg from 1983 until 1987. would love too see if anyone one else was that at that time.

Kevin ***********

I would as well. I would also love to see people follow the proper instructions that are laid out in detail when they join the site. For example, your first post needs to be an introduction post in the introduction thread. Thank you.

Now you see what happens when you're not from the 508th?

[Ops NCO]

Now you see what happens when you're not from the 508th?

[Jeff82]

Had he been in the 325 he'd a been squared away.

[Gravedigger]

So where is the important organizational announcement?

[CAL]

So where is the important organizational announcement?

When attempting to find more details pertaining to the subject line of a thread, I use the technique of looking at the first post. I cant guarantee it, but I have a high degree of success using that method. Let me know if it works.

[VB]

When attempting to find more details pertaining to the subject line of a thread, I use the technique of looking at the first post. I cant guarantee it, but I have a high degree of success using that method. Let me know if it works.

Not only that but this was ask before and I quoted the whole first post and it's on this page!

[Airborne Batman]

This is my 1st time here but my beret is still in my side pocket. Maybe it's a little faded but I'm proud of it and when I leave this world it goes with me.

[Airborne Batman]

Now you see what happens when you're not from the 508th?

I had a break in service. My first tour in the Army was in Germany as a Postal Clerk. I was bored believe me. I ETS'ed after my 1st tour feeling empty. When I came back in I got a contract for comunications, Airborne and Ft. Bragg. Yeahhh! I was in HHC 2 BDE 82 ABN DIV in SEP'80 to SEP'84. It was great. All great things seem to come to an end as they say but I still feel like I'm there, like I'm stuck in time. July 12,'83 1800 hrs in full combat equipment over Sicily DZ we exited a C130. As I was preparing to land a jumper above my grabbed my lines forcing "both" directional openings in the rear of my parachute to open. I came down the last 200 feet I'm told in a hurry. Got a few marks on my head, fractured the hip, broke my leg where I had to wear a full leg cast, broke my back in 3 places. fractured an ankel, crushed a heal, temporary shut down a kidney, in other words, a less than perfect jump. Supposedly I died in the Black Hawk helicopter and died again in Womack. The ABN Chaplin picked up my wife and everybody getting ready to read my Last Rites. The "Great JumpMaster" had other plans for me. I have more from my experience but this is just my introduction. Thank you.

[Jeff82]

Your intro needs to go in the "Introductions" section.

[RH]

I had a break in service. My first tour in the Army was in Germany as a Postal Clerk. I was bored believe me. I ETS'ed after my 1st tour feeling empty. When I came back in I got a contract for comunications, Airborne and Ft. Bragg. Yeahhh! I was in HHC 2 BDE 82 ABN DIV in SEP'80 to SEP'84. It was great. All great things seem to come to an end as they say but I still feel like I'm there, like I'm stuck in time. July 12,'83 1800 hrs in full combat equipment over Sicily DZ we exited a C130. As I was preparing to land a jumper above my grabbed my lines forcing "both" directional openings in the rear of my parachute to open. I came down the last 200 feet I'm told in a hurry. Got a few marks on my head, fractured the hip, broke my leg where I had to wear a full leg cast, broke my back in 3 places. fractured an ankel, crushed a heal, temporary shut down a kidney, in other words, a less than perfect jump. Supposedly I died in the Black Hawk helicopter and died again in Womack. The ABN Chaplin picked up my wife and everybody getting ready to read my Last Rites. The "Great JumpMaster" had other plans for me. I have more from my experience but this is just my introduction. Thank you.