Wittenberg

Thanks to all regarding this discussion.  I am formulating options for consideration on how to make reporting easier, by in turn making future transitions easier -- as well as more compliant to existing banking and organizational laws for the Kingdom of Talossa within the economic system of the United States.  As noted on the first line of Talossa.com

"The Kingdom of Talossa is an independent, sovereign nation in North America, which seceded peacefully from the United States in 1979 (but we're not sure the United States noticed)"

X Pol Briga
Burgermeister of Inland Revenue
Burgermeister@talossa.com

I move to accept the homestead application of
Bråneu Excelsio,
that being for https://w3w.co/centurion.beforehand.beverages   a.k.a.    https://w3w.co/grandioso.molino.seré
and surrounding 3 meters as per A13, An Act to secure Homesteads on the Isle of Cézembre
   
What say you, @Dame Litz?

Quote from: King John on March 21, 2023, 09:26:22 AMFWIW, I'd be glad to be the registered agent, for purposes of dealing with the United States, so long as I don't have to handle any of the money.  :-)

-- John R

Thank you, your Majesty
I shall endeavor to collect information for consideration of the government.

xpb

Moving discussion of the status of Talossa as a legal entity here.

The laissez-faire approach to finances is an impediment to the proper functioning of the Kingdom, which rears its ugly head from time to time.

Some method to organize will assist the Treasury in operations and occasional transition.

One way would be to become a fund within a non-profit organization of some type, and another may be to form our own non-profit organization.

In either case Talossa then could reference an Employer Identification Number (EIN) - not that Talossa would have employees, but that designation would be needed under US corporation and taxation laws such that individuals would not be the holders of the Talossan Treasury, but would be identified as officers with access that may change from time to time.  Such an entity would have a registered agent who would need to report yearly on the corporate status, and to receive various government communications.

Moving this from the finance thread to a separate discussion:

It has now been a decade since the US Patent and Trademark Office https://www.uspto.gov/ recognized the Talossa as a trademark.  Although unlikely to be used elsewhere, it would be useful for the Kingdom to claw back the rights to this.

Word Mark   TALOSSA
Goods and Services   (CANCELLED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, providing historical, cultural and political information about an organization in the nature of a fictional nation. FIRST USE: 19791226. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19850701
Standard Characters Claimed   
Mark Drawing Code   (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number   78401395
Filing Date   April 14, 2004
Current Basis   1A
Original Filing Basis   1B
Published for Opposition   March 1, 2005
Registration Number   2955054
Registration Date   May 24, 2005
Owner   (REGISTRANT) Madison, Robert B. INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 8631 North Servite Drive Unit 118 Milwaukee WISCONSIN 53223
Type of Mark   SERVICE MARK
Register   PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator   DEAD
Cancellation Date   January 24, 2013

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on March 20, 2023, 03:48:25 PMPrevious governments only suggested declaring a Registered Agent under Wisconsin law, which would have cost less than $US100.

A registered agent is an appropriate idea.  That typically requires a corporate structure to be a registered agent for.  An EIN is indeed free, but requires a corporate structure to be assigned to.

The larger amounts being proposed were to claw back the previous registered trademark of Talossa, which has lain dormant since 2013.  Smaller amounts would be needed to incorporate (perhaps a couple hundred) but would need agreement as to structure.  The renewal would be $20 per year to file an annual report.

The entire purpose would be to remove individuals from banking or other accounts, and have officers of a corporation elected from time to time to oversee those accounts as part of operations.

Quote from: Ian Plätschisch on March 19, 2023, 12:30:29 PMYou can get an EIN for free, that's what you need to open a bank account in the organization's name.

I really don't think spending $2,000 on establishing a 401cX is worth it

However then it needs to incorporate unless it is a LLC or Subchapter S which leads back to some individual being responsible.  If incorporated, it makes sends to be a 501c8 (not 3 that has higher thresholds to cross).  The cost I am referencing is for the Trademark (TM) work, the corporation would be less expensive.  If not pursuing TM then it also could just be a fund within an existing 501cX structure.

Word Mark   TALOSSA
Goods and Services   (CANCELLED) IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, providing historical, cultural and political information about an organization in the nature of a fictional nation. FIRST USE: 19791226. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19850701
Standard Characters Claimed   
Mark Drawing Code   (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number   78401395
Filing Date   April 14, 2004
Current Basis   1A
Original Filing Basis   1B
Published for Opposition   March 1, 2005
Registration Number   2955054
Registration Date   May 24, 2005
Owner   (REGISTRANT) Madison, Robert B. INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 8631 North Servite Drive Unit 118 Milwaukee WISCONSIN 53223
Type of Mark   SERVICE MARK
Register   PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator   DEAD
Cancellation Date   January 24, 2013

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on March 18, 2023, 03:21:33 PMIf this is a roundabout way of creating an actual Talossan legal entity which can own investments/intellectual property, this is something I've wanted to see for ages but it always ended up in the "too hard" basket.

Not sure about the IP for "Talossa" - I do know an IP lawyer.  My estimate to setup a TM for Talossa would be around $2000, with the https://www.uspto.gov/ but I would happily contribute $500 to that end.  Likely would need to create a 501cX as well as a holding unless it was held by some existing 501cX.  501c3 are charitable and have tax deductibility but are more challenging to establish.  Something like a 503c8 may apply https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/other-non-profits/fraternal-societies

Quote from: Üc R. Tärfâ on March 18, 2023, 07:41:16 AM

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 18, 2023, 07:33:00 AMThat makes sense. We're actually exploring the idea of getting an EIN or registering a 501c3, though. The new burgermeister volunteered and the Seneschal directed us to explore the idea.

@xpb , do you want to tell them what you told me about those possibilities?

Wasn't this already explored in the past?

Quoteand the Seneschal directed us to explore the idea.

When?

I sit on the board of the a Community Foundation.  I manage a scholarship fund there honoring my father and grandfather, as well an Intellectual Competition Fund.  Both instances have funds on deposit that are a permanent endowment that generate income, as well as a current distribution account. 

Accounts there need to have a educational purpose, and Talossa could be proposed as a fund - as a long running virtual nation where there are political and administrative activities that provide a learning experience.  All accounts are overseen by a board, which I also sit upon, however there are many accounts that have their various managers that do not sit on the board and just operate under the organizational umbrella.  There is professional management of the portfolio, and there is a controller and accountant overseeing disbursements as well as tax filings.  The current president of the board is a lawyer.

There may also be similar entities within the Greater Talossan Ares with a similar scope and purpose - is anyone there involved with such an organization?

In some fashion, I believe it would be much better for the treasury not to be attached to any individual.

X Pol Briga
Burgermeister of Inland Revenue

Quote from: Üc R. Tärfâ on March 18, 2023, 02:20:45 AM

Quote from: xpb on March 18, 2023, 12:15:26 AMIs there something wrong with citizens having self determination?  Was not Fiovă founded among those who had similar interests?

That's a curious way to describe why Fiovă came to be...

A group of people decided that they would rather not be part of the Kingdom by self determination.  When they decided to return, Fiovă was established at the culmination of the Reunision of the Talossan people as the home Province for the former citizens.

The proposed addition along the lines of expanded ancestry offers limited flexibility, and where others that wish to relocate that do not have bona fides related to a specific area could instead petition the Crown for relocation.

As it stands, the provinces are being treated as nations in and of themselves based on portions of, or entire other nations.

Quote from: Sir Txec dal Nordselvă, UrB on March 17, 2023, 05:55:32 AM

Quote from: xpb on March 16, 2023, 09:56:25 PMA suggestion on 7.3.
No Talossan citizens may transfer his their provincial citizenship to a different province, except either by physically moving into that province or into the zone corresponding to that province,

or by providing bona fides as to the following:
a) A citizen was born on the territory of the relevant province;
b) The biological mother or biological father of the citizen was born on the territory of the relevant province;
c) One of biological grandparents of a citizen was born on the territory of the relevant province;
d) The citizen has engaged in a minimum of five years education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant province.

So by this logic, if I decided that since my mother was born in Iowa I could transfer to Vuode, and since I was born in Germany, I could transfer to Cezembre, despite the fact I've lived in California and thus Maricopa since 1987?

This is similar to rules adopted by FIFA as to what country a participant may represent in worldwide competition.  As is noted in 7.3.1 The provisions in this section do not apply unless the citizen explicitly consents to being reassigned. Whenever any Talossan wants to move his provincial assignment to the province in whose assigned area he actually lives, he may do so by notifying the Chancery. The move will be officially recognised once the Chancery has validated the request. (49RZ21 49RZ13)

As to the comment

Quote from: Miestră Schivă, UrN on March 17, 2023, 02:43:31 PMProbably the same as mine. People to Provinces should mean just that. We stand by the principle of geographical assignment, otherwise the Provinces will cease to be provinces, they will become "self-sorting clubs" as people tweak the rules to end up in provinces with their friends. Fine, but let's abolish the Senäts if we do that.

Is there something wrong with citizens having self determination?  Was not Fiovă founded among those who had similar interests?

A suggestion on 7.3.
No Talossan citizens may transfer his their provincial citizenship to a different province, except either by physically moving into that province or into the zone corresponding to that province,

or by providing bona fides as to the following:
a) A citizen was born on the territory of the relevant province;
b) The biological mother or biological father of the citizen was born on the territory of the relevant province;
c) One of biological grandparents of a citizen was born on the territory of the relevant province;
d) The citizen has engaged in a minimum of five years education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant province.

Quote from: xpb on March 11, 2023, 08:52:22 PMThe Spring session for l'Etats de Cézembre will commence on the 1st day of Spring, 20 March, 2023

Item already added to the agenda is spreadsheet of claims homestead approval #10 (highlighted) for Bråneu Excelsio

Prior to system outages an attachment was made of a map. The system administration will be consulted to determine if it is appropriate to place again.  The location of the claim in Englis is https://w3w.co/centurion.beforehand.beverages or au français https://w3w.co/grandioso.molino.seré

Other items may be brought forth on the agenda in this thread.

A pdf map of all claims including the latest awaiting approval may be found at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RNf4hZoD0BH_10yWltoOwmQE0ux_t2Dx/view?usp=sharing

Quote from: Baron Alexandreu Davinescu on March 15, 2023, 11:00:57 PMSo anyone can file for a chunk of your province?

Homesteads can be claimed within Zone Interdite the center of which are no closer than 9 meters from the center of an existing claim. 

The government of Cézembre reserves all areas in Zone Autorisée.