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Location: Process for starting a nonprofit
Discussion: A new nonprofit for TMS and the wiki
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ForestForTreesTMS |
A new nonprofit for TMS and this wiki
Sep 27 2009, 9:58 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 27 2009, 10:02 PM EDT
Hi everyone,(This is the post that I've been waiting a long time to make... ) I have some great news: TMS will soon have its own nonprofit! There is still a tremendous amount to learn about this stuff, but I thought that I would let you all know what is going on. The original impetus for creating the nonprofit came from this wiki. Throughout the life of the wiki, I think that some people have wondered if there was a hidden agenda to make money. The people at this forum trust the wiki because of the work of its members to raise the profile of TMS -- for example, we've organized several free online events, given talks at annual events, and are helping to organize a national TMS conference. However, the average person who doesn't know anything about TMS and finds us through Google may wonder if they can trust us or if we are just using fake claims of easy miracle cures to make money. This is a huge shame, because it seems vitally important to reach that type of person. Learning about TMS could change their lives in a big way. We all know this, right? This idea was driven home to me recently when the Director of Corporate Communications of a large corporation volunteered some of his time to look at the wiki and give us some suggestions (this was through Peg's and my work helping to organize the next TMS conference). He said that concerns about a hidden moneymaking agenda are exactly what we need to worry about. His advice was that we need to make sure that people know that we are not some sort of money making operation and that our only intention is to help other people who are going through what we went through (or what we are still going through). Do you find this valuable?
Keyword tags:
nonprofit
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ForestForTreesTMS |
1. RE: A new nonprofit for TMS and the wiki
Sep 27 2009, 10:00 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 27 2009, 10:01 PM EDT
I think that dispelling these concerns is crucial to the effectiveness of the wiki. Our readers know that we understand them because they know that we have been through exactly what they are going through. However, if they think that we are just spreading the word about TMS for financial gain, that credibility vanishes. Are we saying it because we really believe it, or are we just saying it for the money?It has never been my intention to make money off of the wiki. The best way to make that clear is, I think, to transfer control of the wiki over to a nonprofit organization. It will take a long time, but we hope to achieve full 501(c)(3) status, at the state, national, and even international levels. I have consulted with the other main editors of the wiki (HilaryN, Pandamonium, Matthew, and Peg), and we are all quite excited about the idea. So why do I also call this “a nonprofit for TMS?” This goes back to the actual mission of the wiki. When we created a mission statement for the wiki a little while back, we identified two core missions for it. The first, of course, was to create a wiki, and make information available that otherwise wouldn’t be available. The second core mission "is to become a hub of TMS activism by organizing and mobilizing a community of TMS activists. With multiple mailing lists, regular teleconferences among the main activists, and good relationships with both TMS professionals and TMS activists, we are in a unique position to organize lay-led TMS activism. Examples of this include the wiki itself, our Success Stories - Live Panel, our work organizing the next TMS conference, our "Ideas for Promoting TMS Awareness" page, our support group teleconference, our Q&A with an Expert program, and various services that we have created for TMS professionals." [continues...] Do you find this valuable? |
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ForestForTreesTMS |
2. RE: A new nonprofit for TMS and the wiki
Sep 27 2009, 10:01 PM EDT
| Post edited: Sep 27 2009, 10:24 PM EDT
Therefore, it seems quite natural to make the nonprofit be a general TMS nonprofit rather than just being for the wiki. The more good we can do, the better.In terms of board members, I’ve asked Dr. Schubiner and Dr. Clarke, and they've both agreed. The number of nonprofessional (i.e. just normal people like you and me) people on the board will probably depend on how the nonprofit is structured, and that is still up in the air. However, I've asked HilaryN123, Peghanson, and pandamonium09 to be board members, and everyone has agreed. Since I founded the wiki, it makes sense that I will be a board member as well. For those who don't know, the wiki doesn't sell anything and has no income. It's only expenses are the $20 that I pay every month so that the site can be ad-free and the $20 per month that Matthew has recently been paying for the software that we will use for the TMS Success Stories - Live Panel Event. Eventually, we will want to apply for some grants so that we can expand our operations, but in the short run, I actually even feel a little lucky to make my monthly donation. It feels like I'm doing something very special. I suspect that Matthew feels the same way. We have all greatly appreciated everyone's support on the wiki, and would, of course, love your feedback and advice. It’s vitally important that we get as many viewpoints as possible going forward. In particular, what do you think is the most important thing that we should be working on? Also, if any of you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them. Do you find this valuable? |
pandamonium09 |
3. RE: A new nonprofit for TMS and the wiki
Sep 28 2009, 4:13 AM EDT
Great news Forest. I think it's important to be open and honest about what we are doing and why, and the non-profit status will help enormously.
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HSchubiner |
4. RE: A new nonprofit for TMS and the wiki
Sep 28 2009, 12:52 PM EDT
I agree that "transparency" is the only way to go. It takes money to do things, but we can find support for the wiki through donations and grants. Rob, you have made a great contribution already, but taking the wiki to a new level will be a huge boost for this movement and the health of those suffering from TMS. Howard.
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LisaMorphopoulos |
5. RE: A new nonprofit for TMS and the wiki
Oct 12 2009, 11:31 AM EDT
| Post edited: Oct 12 2009, 11:50 AM EDT
Making the wiki nonprofit should help to dispel concerns about motivations. I, too, was suspicious when I first received the letter from Forest introducing the wiki. I thought, "Who is this guy, what does he want and how did he know that I know about TMS?" People who have recovered from TMS, though, are usually so moved by their experience that it stimulates compassion and activism. When I first visited Dr. Sarno, at the peak of my pain syndrome, he gave me the phone number of one of his former patients. This man generously spent 3 hours talking on the phone with me about TMS. Then, attending the weekly and monthly meetings (which were free) helped me to change the way I thought about pain and the mind-body connection. Support and knowledge are the cure.
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