Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation
'WO Heritage Net''
Preserving Army Warrant Officer
History
A Publicly Supported
501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Corporation
About Us and Foundation History
Over the years, based on suggestions from the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA) membership, research by staff and volunteers, and the ever increasing demand for support which frequently translates to increased funding requirements, USAWOA looked for ways to improve
the efforts to insure the Warrant Officer Corps heritage and history is properly maintained and presented to the public. It was concluded that the best way to do this is to create a separate foundation. During the summer of 2003,
CW5 Franklin D. Meeks, then National President of USAWOA, caused the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation to be set up.
Why did we create a foundation?
We felt this action was necessary due to the USAWOA federal tax categorization. The Internal Revenue Service determined that USAWOA is a “Not for profit, Social Welfare Organization.” The precise IRS categorization is “501 (c) (4).” This category was assigned at the time of founding.
We sought to clarify the “tax deductibility” question for present and potential financial donors. The 1972 IRS tax category designation letter for USAWOA clearly states that: “As a social welfare organization, contributions to you are not deductible by donors. You should advise your contributors to that effect.”
Therefore, we took action to establish charitable, education organization to replace the current USAWOA "Museum Fund" program. The Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation will administer the museum fund. The IRS categorizes charitable organizations as “501 (c) (3)” and gifts to these organizations are fully (and generally unquestionably) tax-deductible.
While the foundation is structured to be a stand-alone entity, we can accept and hope for financial support from both individuals and from corporate organizations. The foundation cannot succeed or even exist for very long without this critical support. This new approach to what was the USAWOA excellent effort in the past will hopefully result in increased donations and encourage corporations to also donate.
Here’s where we are with these actions
On May 29, 2003, USAWOA President CW5 Frank Meeks appointed the initial Directors of the Foundation. They were CW5 (Retired) Dave Welsh, Incorporator; CW4 (Retired) Ron Whalen, Registered Agent, and CW4 (Retired) Carl Burnett, Director. The appointed Directors elected two additional Directors who were CW4 (Retired) Cletus McKeown and CW5 (Retired) Tom Piatti.
The decision was made to convert the Warrant Officer Museum Fund to the “Warrant Officer Heritage Foundation.” Thereby, we hope to provide a much broader appeal to potential donors as well as broader latitude for the utilization of funds derived.
On July 9, 2003 the Commonwealth of Virginia approved the request to incorporate the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation.
On September 12, 2003, the Internal Revenue Service assigned the Foundation an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
On October 23, 2003 the Directors held an organizational meeting during which they elected replacement directors for CW4 (Retired) Cletus McKeown who had passed away and CW4 (Retired) Carl Burnett who was unable to serve due to conflicting business pressures. CW5 (Retired) Richard Markle and CW3 (Retired) Alfred Cox were elected as replacements. The Foundation Bylaws were approved and Foundation officers were elected. See current Foundation Officers.
On March 19, 2004 the IRS issued a Ruling granting the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation Non-Profit Status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Advance Ruling covers the Foundation and donors from July 8, 2003 (the date of Incorporation in the Commonwealth of Virginia) until December 31, 2007, at which time a final determination will be rendered . As a publicly supported organization, all grants, donations, and bequests to the Foundation are tax deductible.
On March 21, 2005 several Foundation Directors met with Army Historical Foundation (AHF) and National Museum of the U.S. Army (NMUSA). AHF representatives presented an overview of the AHF and their involvement with the NMUSA project. The Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation presented a briefing on the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation (WOHF) it's structure and goals. BG (Ret) Abrahams, AHF Executive Director, presented the WOHF with a copy of U.S. ARMY A COMPLETE HISTORY. This almost 1,000 page book published by AHF is a chronological and pictorial history of the Army 1607 through 2004. It contains the birth of the Army WO Corps in 1918, 1/2 page reproductions of the "LET GO!" and "The Quiet Professional" prints by Don Stivers, plus a full, 9 1/2" wide by 13" long concise History of the Army Warrant Officer. Discussion then followed between all parties and it became that mutual cooperation was in the best interest of both Foundations. In addition, on 21 March the Foundation Directors met with the NMUSA Museum Contents Coordinator. They were briefed on the concept plan for the museum an tentative layout. Foundation assistance was solicited in obtaining Warrant Officer unique historical items for the Museum. The possibility of obtaining oral biographies of historically significant Warrant Officers was also discussed. Both the AHF and NMUSA representatives also spoke about the Memorial Garden planned for the Museum grounds. This Memorial Garden could become the site for the Memorial to Fallen Warrant Officer, the erection and placing of which is a Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation goal.
On October 12, 2005 the manuscript for a Warrant Officer History Book was submitted to the printer . - see Cover and Table of Contents and more information on the History Book Project.
October 2005 marked the 2nd Annual Board meeting of the Warrant
Officers Heritage Foundation. The Board meeting was held in Tucson, AZ in conjunction with the USAWOA AMM.
Directors present in person or by teleconference were Dave Welsh Chairman & President, Dick Markle Vice Chairman & Vice President, Tom Piatti Director & Secretary, Ron Whalen Director & Treasurer, and Al Cox Director & Asst. Treasurer. During the meeting Dave Welsh Chairman & President made a motion to reorganize the BOD to expand the Board to seven members so that BOD membership would constitute a simple majority for oversight of the Corporate Officers who would also remain Board members. This would incorporate the current trend to insure oversight by external directors. The motion passed unanimously and the following were elected: Dick Markle Chairman, Al Cox Vice Chairman, Dave Welsh Director & President, Tom Piatti Director & Secretary, and Ron Whalen Director & Treasurer, with two directors position vacant. Chairman Markle then appointed the Board as a whole as a search committee.
See the Minutes of the Meeting.
In December 2005 the Board of Directors met in Executive Session to discuss nominees for the two vacant directors and some issues that came up during the USAWOA AMM in October regarding the WO History Book Project. CW5 (Ret) Donald "Woody" Woodruff and CW2 (Ret) Ben Gottfried were nominated and elected to fill the two vacant Directors positions effective January 1, 2006.
In June 2006 a letter was sent to each USAWOA Life member outlining the Foundation's goals, objectives, and progress to date. This letter also solicited financial support.
On September 22, 2006 proofing of "WARRANT The legacy of leadership as a Warrant Officer" history book, it's covers, and dust jacket was completed and the book was certified for printing. Date for completion of printing and distribution is yet to be determined - see Cover and Table of Contents and more information on the History Book Project.
On October 14, 2006 the 3rd Annual Board Meeting of the
Foundation was held in Chestertown, MD. Operations since the 2nd Annual
Meeting were reviewed and plans were reviewed for the upcoming 12 months.
See the Minutes of the Meeting
for details.
In October 2006 at the 34th USAWOA Annual Meeting of the Members in St. Petersburg, FL, the attendees individually donated $1,660 to the Foundation for which we are very grateful.
In December 2006 WARRANT - The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant Officer history book was released - see more.
On September , 2007
the 4th Annual Board of Directors Meeting of the Foundation was held on
Chincoteague, VA. Nominations and elections were held and all Board Members
and Corporate Officers were reelected. CW4 (Ret) Donald E. Hess, USAWOA
President Emeritus, as presented with the designation a Foundation Historian
Emeritus and Advisor. The Board also directed that a program be developed by
the Corporate Officers to recognize major donations by individuals and
organizations. See
the Minutes of the Meeting
for details.
In October 2007 at the 35th USAWOA Annual Meeting of the
Members in San Antonio, TX, USAWOA National President CW4 (Ret) Roy Valiant
accepted two copies of WARRANT The Legacy of Leadership as a Warrant
Officer on behalf of the U. S. Army Warrant Officers Association and
Individual attendees and USAWOA Chapters donated a total of $1,000 plus
pledges of a total of $600 were received. We remain grateful for the support
of USAWOA, it's Chapters and Members.
In April 2008
the Internal Revenue Service issued a letter classifying the Warrant Officers
Heritage Foundation as a public charity. We received an Advance Ruling in
March 2004 treating the Foundation as a non-profit public charity for the
first five-years. With this final ruling all past and future donations
continue to be tax-deductible - see IRS
Letter.
Although we are an independent foundation, we are grateful to USAWOA for causing the creation of the Foundation, and for their
providing limited office space, bookkeeping, mail handling and phone call answering during our early years.
Compensation: All Directors, Officers, Staff and volunteers serve without compensation of any kind.
The Foundation Office of Record is located at: Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation, c/o USAWOA,462 Herndon Pkwy, Suite 207, Herndon, Virginia 20170-5235.
Questions about the Warrant Officers Heritage Foundation may be sent by to us,
or to the Foundation President at 757-336-6869, cell phone 757-999-2022.
All
Donations, Grants, and Bequests to the Foundation are Tax Deductible
Make a Donation
to the Foundation by Credit Card or Check
All
donations at this time go towards building a Memorial to Fallen Warrant
Officers
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