lawyer info

[Louisa and Josh Finn]

Hi all, this is the information I got from a potential lawyer, Katy Dunlap.  I know of her through my work with Mohonk Consultations...she has helped to run the Hudson River Watershed Alliance conferences for the last couple years. 

She has experience with setting up her own 501c3, and is a very organized and likable person.

As you'll see, it sounds like she would like to help with filling out the paperwork...don't know how far Jason and Ron have gotten on that so far.

 

Let me know if I should pursue this, I haven't checked out other possibilities.   Maybe you'd prefer someone with specific CLT experience?

 

Louisa

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Katy Dunlap

To: Louisa and Josh Finn ; Katy Dunlap

Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:57 PM

Subject: Re: fashion show pics

Hi Louisa,

 

Thanks for the info/links!

 

As a rough estimate, I could help SLSA file the necessary paperwork to become a tax exempt non-profit 501(c)(3) for between $1000 - $1500.  This amount would be in addition to the actual filing fee (ranging from $300 - $750, depending upon SLSA's average annual gross receipts).

 

I would prefer to help SLSA complete the paperwork, but have SLSA submit it. 

Completing the paperwork will take about 20 hours (at $50/hour), but this may require several meetings and further research - specifically on farming CLTs.

Let me know if you need an additional breakdown on numbers.  I have included my personal email address (katydu...@gmail.com) for further communication.

 

Thanks for your consideration,

Katy

On Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 11:29 AM, Louisa and Josh Finn <ljf...@hvi.net> wrote:

Hi Katy,  thanks for getting back to me about this.  SLSA is separate from Regeneration Farm, but was "started" by the farmers there, Kevin Skvorak and Sarah Williford.  It was started when they were farming over near Redhook a year or two ago.  I guess they got as far as creating bylaws and filing paperwork with the state, but that's about it. Now they are attempting to get it going here on this side of the river, with new board members/community involvement.

 

The mission statement is a work in progress....this the latest rendition I've seen:

 

The mission of the Sustainable Land Stewardship Alliance, a community land
trust, is 1) to provide permanently affordable access to agricultural land
and housing, 2) to grow food in environmentally sustainable ways, 3) to
educate growers and the public about regenerative farming practices, and 4)
to create communites of shared support.

 

yes, the goal is to become a 501c3 tax exempt organization, in order to be able to receive funds available for preserving farmland, etc.

 

I think the group would like to fill a niche not currently filled by many of the local land trusts and Open Space Institute, in terms of focusing primarily on keeping farmland affordable.  As I told you, I am being newly educated about all this stuff.  But, Kevin is very knowleadgable and I will happily connect you with him (over email) for more nitty-gritty about the structure of the group.

 

I am including some links that Kevin sent the group to help educate us....I'm not expecting you to exhaust yourself with this, but maybe these will answer some of your questions:  thanks Katy!

 

In any case, here are a few resources for folks who are doing research as well. If anyone has questions about CLT homeownership and lease structures, funding, legal issues etc spending some time on some of these websites can provide answers:

The Institute for Community Economics was a big part of originating and promoting the model, and our bylaws are modeled from their documents, using their handbook:
http://www.iceclt.org/clt/

Burlington Associates is probably the most active organization out there right now in terms of consulting, policy work, etc, which was some of the work done by ICE in the past. A LOT of good resources on their site:
http://burlingtonassociates.com/

The CLT Network provides resources, and has also taken over some of the work previously done by ICE. They are a membership organization of CLT's and organize regular conferences, workshops etc. They also have an email list which is a good place to connect with others involved in clt's elsewhere.
http://www.cltnetwork.org/

Equity Trust is a great organization that has assisted us in the past, and produced the video we watched:
http://www.equitytrust.org/

The Shumacer Society also had an important role in the CLT movement, and have online resources including a list of operating CLT's.
http://www.smallisbeautiful.org/clts.html

As far as CLT's that are focusing on farmland protection, the following may provide some examples we may want to look at.  Check out their mission statements too:

South of the Sound CLT, Washington state
http://www.communityfarmlandtrust.org/

Also in the NW, founded by a large food coop out there:
http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/farmtrust/

Cold Pond CLT is in New Hampshire. It is a small group, but have some good writing and resources on the website:
http://www.coldpondclt.org/

----- Original Message -----

From: Katy Dunlap

To: Louisa and Josh Finn

Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2009 11:07 AM

Subject: Re: fashion show pics

Louisa,

 

I am glad you were able to download the pictures! 

 

I looked at the Regeneration Farm website and found a link to SLSA.  It appears that SLSA already exists as a non-profit corporation under NYS law (incorporated in Red Hook) but is not a tax exempt non-profit under federal law. 

 

Is the goal to make SLSA a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization?  If so, what is the mission of SLSA?  The website does not include the mission. 

 

Or is to develop a seperate community land trust for Regeneration Farms?

 

I guess I am not seeing the connection between Regeneration Farms and SLSA.  Can you help clarify?  I know that you might not have all the details, but a basic overview would be help me determine how much time I would need to devote to the project.

 

Thanks Louisa!

Katy

 

On 1/16/09, Louisa and Josh Finn <ljf...@hvi.net> wrote:

Katy, thank you so much for these photos...they're great and I know we'll be able to use at least a few.  Nice to talk with you on Wednesday and I'll look forward to hearing what you have to say about SLSA.  Look up Regeneration Farm if you can't find anything about SLSA yet.   Louisa

----- Original Message -----

From: Katy Dunlap

To: Louisa and Josh Finn

Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:05 PM

Subject: fashion show pics

 

Hi Louisa:

 

The fashion show pics were too large to send, so I compressed (zipped) them and uploaded them to the site below.  Let me know if you can't download or unzip the folder.  Please ignore the ads (that's what I get for using a free site).

 

http://www.sendspace.com/file/86zszn

I will send you estimates for the SLSA legal work this weekend.

 

Best,

Katy

 

--
Katy Dunlap, Coordinator
Hudson River Watershed Alliance
ph:  845-454-7673 x116
f:     845-454-7953
ka...@hudsonwatershed.org
www.hudsonwatershed.org

112 Little Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
 

--
Katy Dunlap, Coordinator
Hudson River Watershed Alliance
ph:  845-454-7673 x116
f:     845-454-7953
ka...@hudsonwatershed.org
www.hudsonwatershed.org

112 Little Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

--
Katy Dunlap, Coordinator
Hudson River Watershed Alliance
ph:  845-454-7673 x116
f:     845-454-7953
ka...@hudsonwatershed.org
www.hudsonwatershed.org

112 Little Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

[Fay L. Loomis]

Louisa,

Thanks for the info. Pluses for Katy are:  she has experience setting up a 501(c)3, she is likeable and organized. Possible minuses: she charges an hourly fee, rather than a flat fee; she wants SLSA to file the papers; if there is need for followup, it would be additional monies; sounds like she doesn't have experience with a CLT.  With her proposal, it looks like it would initially cost $1300 to $2200. Could be more.

I think it would be helpful to seek out others who might help and see what they propose and then compare offers.

Fay