At our February 21 community council meeting, attendees voted unanimously for the existing board of directors to form an interim board to pursue the formation of a new community council. The new community council will apply for nonprofit 501C4 status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

According to the IRS, a 501c4 is “an organization…operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, if it is primarily engaged in promoting in some way the common good and general welfare of the people of the community. An organization embraced within this section is one which is operated primarily for the purpose of bringing about civic betterments and social improvements.”

Those present at the February meeting were in total agreement that this seemed more in line with what the community wanted to do with their Council. Community members thought that the power to do some lobbying on non-partisan issues that affect the Island — which would be extremely restricted as a 501c3 — would empower the Council to make more tangible changes in the lives of islanders.

For more information on this effort and the transition, please contact Diane Emerson at dianeemerson@yahoo.com