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On July 24th ASP's current bank (Byron Bank) will officially 

transition into Chemical Bank. From the information they have 

been sending I see no indication that there will be any major 

changes in how we bank or the fees we could expect. 



However, it is clear to me, as a consequence of PayPal's 

changes in policy due to the post-9/11 security requirements 

for banking, that ASP will soon have to either make our 

accounts the personal property of an individual who would 

use their Social Security Number and personal information 

for the account [and the associated risk for the group,] or 

we are going to have to incorporate as a non-profit organization 

and identify officers, and etc. for our account. 



Normally Al-Anon groups would "get around to it" when the 

time was right. This, in my estimation, is not one of those cases 

where time is of low priority. Because agreeing to incorporate 

will take some time, actually incorporating will take more time, 

and then implementing the account changes even more time, 

I wouldn't be surprised if it wouldn't take us 2-3 months to 

"get around to it" if we start right now. 



Suggestions I have: 



1) Get the business meeting going on incorporation right away. 

    (Anybody out there with the connections/knowledge???) 

2) Outline in that discussion a plan for which ASP office-holders 

    would fill which officer positions in the new ASP Corporation. 

3) Assign someone to do the footwork on what is going to be 

    required for incorporation for this world-wide online entity 

    of ours. 

4) Do all of the above simultaneously, not on a series of discussions. 



There may be more, but the sooner we get this looked at and done 

the fewer worries we could have. After all, if PayPal can freeze our 

accounts until we provide information because we "appear to be 

a non-profit" organization, what would change if our bank decided 

to apply these same regulations to us (as they are probably required 

to do.) No money, no honey. We'd "bee" stuck. 



With the purchase of our locally-owned bank by a State-wide bank 

I loose the personal touch of dealing with our old bank where I've 

kept my banking for decades. From July 24th on ASP will be dealing 

not with folks I've known for many years, but with a corporation 

who doesn't know me from Adam. 



There is a difference between "Projection" and "Planning." 

I believe it is now the time to Plan in order to avoid future problems. 



Jerry H., 

ASP Treasurer 

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