Forming a Sasquatch Group

[wiiawiwb]

We've all heard of the BFRO and so has the public as a result of Finding Bigfoot. I've always wondered how many folks who go out in the field regularly and do research have formed their own group and formally named it. There's the GCBRO who has their own website.

 

There are good reasons to form a group and there are also some detriments to doing so. In forming a group, you'll need to:

 

1) Form an entity presumably as a corporation or LLC.

2) Apply for tax-exempt status with the IRS either as a public charity under 501(c)(3) or as a social club under 501(c)(7). 

3) Get a Federal ID #.

4) File annual tax returns with the IRS (and maybe the state is formed in).

 

The benefits of creating a formal organization are:

 

1) To protect the members personally in the event there is an accident, death, or other unforeseen financial/legal problem.

2) Create an entity that the public can reach out to when they have an encounter.

3) Provide an organization that someone who has an interest in bigfooting can become a member of.

4) Protect a name if that's important.

 

There are obviously downsides to having a group and becoming an organization:

 

1) Cost to form an entity and file each year

2) More structure is involved, such as meetings, directors, etc, so the informal, loosey-goosey manner of operating is gone.

 

What are you folks doing out there? Are you forming formal groups within which to do fieldwork? Going it solo? Going out informally with a few friends with no group or name involved?

 

[BC witness]

Informal group, with 4or 5 regulars and several occasional additions. One member is a published author on the subject, he and one other member each have websites, and we all belong to another local forum so we can stay in contact with other regional interest groups and individuals. It has worked well for quite a few years now.