From the Co-chair

As we enter the new year, many will prepare a list of resolutions. While some will relate to "big picture" goals like losing weight or spending more time with family and friends, others involve those nagging little items on our "to do" lists that never seem to get accomplished.

In the world of nonprofit organizations, there are many such items when it comes to regulatory compliance. At best, the failure to get them crossed off keeps the organization from making the most of the opportunities available to it. At worst, it exposes the organization to myriad legal penalties.

In this issue of the Update, we tackle two of these items in the hopes that we can help you cross them off your list. The first pertains to cafeteria plans, one of the most popular employee benefit programs around. The second addresses the critical compliance issue of ensuring that your retirement plan will pass muster in the event that government regulators should knock on your door.

You will also note that Ober|Kaler has authored a new guidebook for executives and board members, The Nonprofit Legal Landscape, which can assist you in developing the legal knowledge base of your organization’s leaders. We are excited about our new publication and are confident that you’ll find it a useful resource.

Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2005!

Tom Hyatt, Co-chair