Fueling Collaboration: The Founding of IASH
International Association for Stability, Handling, and Use of Liquid Fuels (IASH) is the world's foremost international organization devoted to all technical aspects of the stability, handling and use of liquid fuels produced from petroleum and other non-petroleum based sources.
Challenge:
A group of principals and technical experts in the liquid fuels industry had been meeting and sharing best practices for the betterment of the industry and consumers of liquid fuels. They had established that there was a need to collaborate more often but needed to guidance to formally establish and organize the group.
Solution:
ACI analyzed the market and presented a business case for the establishment of a non-profit association to serve this burgeoning community. Included in the solution was state incorporation, filing for tax exempt status with the federal government, trade marking of their logo and all the other activities necessary to establish a legitimate tax-exempt entity. Since they had been operating informally, historical records were incomplete regarding collected dues, their published newsletter and previous meetings Establishing the organization as a non-profit association would resolve these and other tax and compliance issues.
Results:
ACI successfully established IASH as a recognized and federally tax exempt 501 (6) non-profit organization. ACI filed for and successfully recovered back taxes and penalties resulting from the operation of this organization as a for-profit business entity. A board was seated and bylaws were established to ensure orderly leadership succession in future years. The organization is now operating profitably, regularly publishing newsletters and conference proceedings and conducting successful conferences domestically and internationally.