Andrew, I get what you're saying, but in terms of what Justin was asking about, the IAP is not an organization. There is no 'governing body', no official filings with the government. I think he was asking about the 'filing status' of the IAP, and there is none from what I understand. The IAP is recognized by many of our vendors as being a powerful community of like-minded individuals that can influence the purchasing of products, and perhaps that might be enough to persuade some vendors into giving discounts.
From Wikipedia=
The .org TLD is mostly associated with non-profit organizations. In addition to its wide use in the charitable field, it is often used by the open-source movement, as opposed to the .com domains used mostly by companies.
This is how I've always associated .org websites, even though it's not required to be a non-profit for registration of a .org name, most people just assume it's some sort of non-profit.
I guess the thing I don't get is why is it called the International Association of Penturners? If we are truly an association, and we have a .org name, then somewhere we should be registered as a non-profit. It may also go a long way towards establishing a presence in the world among manufacturers.
For example, I am a member of a professional organization that is registered as a non-profit, has a .org website, and has no formal structure of president, vice president, etc. We are bound as a group of like minded individuals where no one has any more say in any event than anyone else.
We do pay an annual due, but that is soley for the upkeep of the website, and to promote our cause via guest speakers, quarterly meetings, and a scholarship fund.
IAP is one of the most generous groups of individuals, always willing to help out anyone in need with donations, or in any other way. Like it or not, there is a formal organizational structure here, and people do have titles (Jeff=Admin=Presidente, Curtis=Head Moderator=Vice Presidente, etc...), so I just don't understand what the big deal is in making it a true "association"?
I guess I'd just like to put my time and effort to good use into making IAP great. Why should we be a subset of the AAW like some have suggested? Why should pen turning be the butt end of a joke to "real" woodturners?
To me, pen turning is much more than just turning wood. Pen turning is more about function, form and style. Sure a natural edged bowl may be niced to look at, but it ain't all that useful right? Everyone needs a finely crafted writing instrument, but not everyone needs a wooden vase to hold fake flowers.
It's just my opinion and I haven't turned a pen on my own equipment yet, but I'd like to hear other opinions on the matter.