<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Hello Elizabeth,<div>The Friends of Michigan Libraries, www.foml.org should also be able to assist you with your questions.</div><div><br></div><div>Pat Orr, Past President</div><div>Friends of Michigan Libraries </div><div>www.foml.org</div><div><br></div><div><br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPad</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Apr 27, 2023, at 3:35 PM, Membiela, Clare (MDE) via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hello Elizabeth:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">As a Non-profit Michigan corporation, and a 501©(3) entity, the friends group is a separate entity from the library.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A corporation is governed by its articles of incorporation and its bylaws. The library board has no input or control over a friends group.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Unless the bylaws or articles of incorporation state differently, as long as the company complies with the annual reporting requirements for Michigan Nonprofit corporations and with the IRS annual reporting
requirements for 501(c)(3) entities, it is considered a legally active organization.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In Michigan a charity such as a friends group must also register with the Attorney General under the Charitable Organizations and Solicitations Act
<a href="https://www.michigan.gov/ag/about/charitable-trust">https://www.michigan.gov/ag/about/charitable-trust</a> in order to legally solicit donations. (the friends group may be exempt from annual reporting to the AG if they meet certain criteria).<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">A check of the IRS online entity system shows the friends of Harper Woods as being in good standing as a 501(c)(3):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/">https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/">https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">General information regarding 501(c)(3) entities can be found:<br>
<a href="https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-501c3-organizations">https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/exemption-requirements-501c3-organizations</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The Michigan Corporation look up maintained by the Department for Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) shows the friends as a non-profit corporation in good standing (you can also pull the company filings
such as articles of incorporation here):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?token=nBxILn58HwVtv4JMRDwTm1cWblopjmzIgq3FCQzRMH7Z0mRAdeXC1KT64KiXTBzJnaATOHRBXiqL1OhvBrrSymohLHRmMeqxKiia/pzNwTUPoR2+CIVASps1P+Z6hu6yvuJbCO/HEWlJBHWvLrx6h47JLvm1TIxP85NwmHaLIS5t7qU3G6i7TRz+IRY+zhoDwSUVOqD03fou2TF9C+tGoaoI+gkjtLItMtjXKAHGFc8mATMh9D14BHGfi7mcFBiS8MOI0yq9zWdkIJ9xPu+vu8ifjfslLib9+6Tslbemi7OWlDOcWU2XBLUtuxiVu2ffqYM6PS+m+iFjz0bdAlnF+2L1rQeu456K">https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?token=nBxILn58HwVtv4JMRDwTm1cWblopjmzIgq3FCQzRMH7Z0mRAdeXC1KT64KiXTBzJnaATOHRBXiqL1OhvBrrSymohLHRmMeqxKiia/pzNwTUPoR2+CIVASps1P+Z6hu6yvuJbCO/HEWlJBHWvLrx6h47JLvm1TIxP85NwmHaLIS5t7qU3G6i7TRz+IRY+zhoDwSUVOqD03fou2TF9C+tGoaoI+gkjtLItMtjXKAHGFc8mATMh9D14BHGfi7mcFBiS8MOI0yq9zWdkIJ9xPu+vu8ifjfslLib9+6Tslbemi7OWlDOcWU2XBLUtuxiVu2ffqYM6PS+m+iFjz0bdAlnF+2L1rQeu456K</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Gen link for LARA corp search site<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/SearchApi/Search/Search">https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/SearchApi/Search/Search</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Money raised by the friends belongs to the friends and not to the library. Unless there is a written agreement between the two entities that specifies expectations, the friends bylaws and articles of incorporation
would be the guidance here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">If there are issues relating to the operation of the friends group, this is a matter for the library board to discuss with their attorney for advice and assistance, since depending on the exact situation,
there could be several legal issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I hope this is helpful,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Clare<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Library Law Consultant<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:MembielaC@michigan.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">MembielaC@michigan.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">517-335-8132<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">The research and resources above are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue
or problem.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Edwardian Script ITC";color:black">“</span><span style="font-size:22.0pt;font-family:"Edwardian Script ITC";color:black">The dissemination of ideas can accomplish nothing if otherwise willing addressees
are not free to receive and consider them. It would be a barren marketplace of ideas that had only sellers and no buyers.”
</span><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT",serif">Lamont v. Postmaster General</span></i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif">, 381 U.S. 301</span><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">.</span></i><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Michigan’s <a href="https://www.michigan.gov/mde/resources/michigan-top-10-strategic-education-plan">
<span style="color:blue">Top 10 Strategic Education Plan</span></a> provides focused direction to drive educational achievement in support of all learners.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><div><image001.jpg></div><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Elizabeth Campion via Michlib-l<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 27, 2023 3:00 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Michlib-l@mcls.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Michlib-l] Resources for working with challenging Friends Group<o:p></o:p></p>
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<strong><span style="font-family:"sans-serif 10pt",serif;color:black">CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to
<a href="mailto:abuse@michigan.gov"><span style="font-weight:normal">abuse@michigan.gov</span></a></span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I'm looking for information on the requirements of a Friends of the Library Group to be deemed active. I realize some groups have bylaws that require regular meetings, treasurer's reports, etc. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But what if a group does not have bylaws. As a 501(c)3 are they required to have regular meetings? What if they don't?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">What if a group is raising money through used book sales in the library but has not given any of the proceeds to the library in years? <o:p></o:p></p>
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What other requirements might there be for a group to maintain its status. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you, <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Elizabeth Campion, President<br>
Board of Trustees<br>
Harper Woods Public Library<o:p></o:p></p>
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