About Us
Copyright © 2009 American Foundation for Furthering Ideas that Rekindle the Miracle of 1776 .All Rights Reserved.
AFFIRM1776’s Constitution specifies its three objectives and purposes which are:
"(1) Promotion of dialog and critical study of ideas which can help the nation better build on and/or return to
the greatest and most lasting of those concepts used by our nation’s founders beginning in 1776; and
sponsoring public activities of the best of these."e
s
“(2) Recognition of, honoring and assisting the many veteran’s of our nation’s armed forces, law enforcement,
security and first-responder organizations who have served the United States of America’s governments and
citizens throughout our history; and thereby contributed – often at great personal sacrifice – to the
advancement of freedom in this country and the world.”
“(3) Advancement of the public’s knowledge of and respect for the proper care and display of the nations
emblems – especially its flag.”
The Preamble to AFFIRM1776’s Constitution provides what is probably the most succinct discussion
of the organization’s plans and goals. It is quoted below (with italics added for emphasis only):
“With the strong conviction that the wisdom and insight of the founders of the
United States of America was and continues to be responsible for producing one
of the most well conceived nations in the history of our world, and that the personal
devotion and sacrifices of individual patriots since that time to the present has
contributed immeasurably to maintaining and prospering this nation; AFFIRM1776
is dedicated to keeping that wisdom and insight alive for continual, nonpartisan
comparison with subsequent political and other developments, proposals and
ideas in American life; to honoring all our patriots and in assisting in appropriate
ways any such individuals whose sacrifice has created or helped create a need for
personal or family aid; and to promoting our national sense of pride through programs
that teach respect for our country's emblems - especially its flag."
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AFFIRM1776 was incorporated as a “Domestic Non-Profit Corporation” in the State of Georgia
on
January 2, 2007.
Its Certificate of Incorporation is listed under Control No. 0701140 from the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State.
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AFFIRM1776 was granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States
effective on January 2, 2007 by letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated September 26, 2007. AFFIRM1776 was
specifically determined to be a “Public Charity”, and contributions to it are tax-deductible "under section 170 of the Code".
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AFFIRM1776’s Constitution
Preamble
With the strong conviction that the wisdom and insight of the founders of the United States of America was and continues to be responsible for producing one of the most well conceived nations in the history of our world, and that the personal devotion and sacrifices of individual patriots since that time to the present has contributed immeasurably to maintaining and prospering this nation; AFFIRM1776 is dedicated to keeping that wisdom and insight alive for continual, nonpartisan comparison with subsequent political and other developments, proposals and ideas in American life; to honoring all our patriots and in assisting in appropriate ways any such individuals whose sacrifice has created or helped create a need for personal or family aid; and to promoting our national sense of pride through programs that teach respect for our country’s emblems – especially its flag.
Article I – Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be American Foundation for Furthering Ideas that Rekindle the Miracle of 1776. It shall also be known and referred
to throughout this document as AFFIRM1776.
Article II - Objects
Section 1. The objects and purposes of AFFIRM1776 shall be to promote the principles and policies as set forth in the foregoing preamble. Its primary objects
shall be:
(a) Promotion of dialog and critical study of ideas which can help the nation better build on and/or return to the greatest and most lasting of those
concepts used by our nation’s founders beginning in 1776; and sponsoring public activities of the best of these.
(b) Recognition of, honoring and assisting the many veterans of our nation’s armed forces, law enforcement, security and first-responder organizations
who have served the United States of America’s governments and citizens throughout our history; and thereby contributed - often at great personal
sacrifice - to the advancement of freedom in this country and the world.
(c) Advancement of the public’s knowledge of and respect for the proper care and display of the nation’s emblems – especially its flag.
Section 2. Additional objects may exist or come into existence as they may be identified and determined by AFFIRM1776 to be legally and ethically consistent
with the foregoing preamble.
Article III - Nature
Section 1. AFFIRM1776 is organized as a non-profit, limited-liability foundation.
Section 2. This organization shall be absolutely non-partisan and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the
candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment. No candidate for nomination or election to, and no incumbent or any remunerated
public official or staff member may hold a voting membership or any appointive remunerated office in AFFIRM1776. No registered or unregistered
lobbyist, their agents, employees, business associates or immediate family members may hold a membership or any remunerated office in AFFIRM1776.
Section 3. Any product or service of AFFIRM1776 shall always be equally available to all individuals, groups and political parties so long as none of them make
any exclusive claim on any such product or service.
Article IV – Organizational Stages
Section 1. AFFIRM1776 shall be organized and operate in three distinct startup stages, and subsequently a fourth ongoing stage. These stages are defined as the
Initial stage; the Organizing stage; the Board of Advisors stage; and the Perpetual stage.
Section 2. The Initial stage shall consist of that period of time from application for corporate status until the date established jointly by the Executive Director and
the Finance Officer as the beginning of operations. The Initial stage may not exceed a period of two full calendar years.
Section 3. The Organizing stage shall consist of that period of time from the beginning of operations date until the formal naming of no less than five members to
the Board of Advisors as described by Article VI, Section 2 following.
Section 4. The Board of Advisors stage shall consist of that period of time from the date when no less than five members have been formally named to the Board
of Advisors until the formal establishment of a Board of Directors as described by Article VI, Sections 3 and 4 following.
Section 5. The Perpetual stage shall consist of that period of time from the date of the formal establishment of a Board of Directors into perpetuity as applicable to
AFFIRM1776.
Article V – Membership
Section 1. Membership shall be open to individuals and business organizations, except that no governmental organization, and no political party or other
organization which is primarily engaged in promoting any politically partisan activities or ideals may be a member of AFFIRM 1776. All decisions
regarding eligibility, ineligibility and proposed changes thereto shall be solely and completely at the discretion of AFFIRM1776.
Section 2. Individual membership with voting privileges shall be available to citizens of the United States of America, except that no individual who is actively
engaged in any partisan political party or other such organization may be a voting member of AFFIRM1776. Each such member shall be entitled to one
vote per individual.
Section 3. Associate membership shall be available to citizens not otherwise eligible for individual membership and to any business or organization headquartered
and controlled in the United States of America, except that no governmental, quasi-governmental or other organization actively engaged in any politically
partisan efforts may be a member of AFFIRM1776. No voting privilege shall exist for any associate member.
Section 4. In the event that any individual who is a voting member in good standing becomes ineligible for any reason, their membership shall be immediately
reclassified to an associate member or terminated, and may not be reinstated until two years following the elimination of all conditions upon which the
change or termination was based.
Article VI – Officers, Advisors and Directors
Section 1. From the time of initial establishment until the beginning of operations, an Executive Director and President (hereinafter referred to as the Executive
Director) shall be responsible for the executive and administrative affairs of AFFIRM1776, except that any such executive and administrative duties
specifically delegated by the Executive Director may be assigned to a Secretary and Vice President (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary). During this
time, the Secretary or a Finance Officer and Vice President (hereinafter referred to as the Finance Officer) shall be responsible for the financial affairs of
AFFIRM1776.
Section 2. Within the first two years following the beginning of operations, the Executive Director shall make every good faith effort to establish and maintain a
Board of Advisors consisting of at least five citizens and/or academic-types recognized for their interest in and knowledge of United States of America’s
governmental theory and history, but who have minimal or no allegiance to any political party or organization. The Board of Advisors shall serve
individually and as a group as consultants to the Executive Director on matters relating to any or all of AFFIRM1776’s purposes.
Section 3. On the tenth anniversary of the beginning of operations, the Board of Directors shall assume full responsibility for directing and supervising the officers
established by Section 1 above. This Board of Directors shall be limited to twelve voting members and include the immediate-past Executive Director, the
then-current Executive Director and the then-current Finance Officer. At this time the Directors’ terms of office shall be established on a one-year
staggered basis with four individuals to be replaced or reappointed to a new three-year term each year thereafter.
Section 4. Upon the recommendation of the greater of at least five or no less than three-fourths of the Board of Advisors, and at the discretion of the Executive
Director, the provisions of Section 3 immediately above may be advanced in time, except that such advancement shall not occur prior to the fourth
anniversary of the beginning of operations.
Section 5. All officers and members of the Board of Advisors or Board of Directors shall be a voting member in good standing during their tenure. In the event of a
resignation, death or failure to remain a member in good standing, an officer or member of the Board of Directors shall be replaced at the earliest possible
time.
Article VII – Finances
Section 1. Operations should be conducted only with funds contributed by supporting individuals and private, non-governmental organizations, from the sale of
products and services developed by AFFIRM1776 and from such other sources as may be legally and ethically appropriate and consistent with the objects
of AFFIRM1776. Assets should be purchased and maintained in like manner, except that donated funds and assets may be accepted only where no
obligation by AFFIRM1776 is created or implied. No governmental funds or grants and no commercially-sponsored advertising may be sought or
accepted.
Section 2. Following the third anniversary of the beginning of operations no less than 76% of all funds should be directly devoted to one or more of AFFIRM1776’s
primary purposes.
Article VIII – Amendments
Section 1. Until the establishment of the Board of Directors as set forth in Article VI, amendments may be proposed to Articles V and VII only. Such amendments
may not affect any other parts of this Constitution, and shall only be proposed by the Executive Director and approved by the greater of at least five and
no less than three-fourths of the Board of Advisors.
Section 2. Upon the establishment of the Board of Directors as set forth in Article VI, amendments to any part of this Constitution and its By-Laws may be proposed
by the Board of Directors. Approval of such proposals shall require an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the voting-eligible membership of
AFFIRM1776 as of December 31 of the prior calendar year.
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AFFIRM1776’s By-Laws
Article 1 – Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be American Foundation for Furthering Ideas that Rekindle the Miracle of 1776, Inc. It shall also be known as
AFFIRM1776, Inc. and shall be a corporation under the laws of the State of Georgia.
Article II – Objects
Section 1. The objects of this organization shall be as set forth in its Constitution.
Article III – Nature
Section 1. AFFIRM1776 is organized as a non-profit, limited-liability foundation, and under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States of America 1986 Internal Revenue
Code.
Article IV – Membership
Section 1. Membership shall be open to individuals and organizations as prescribed in Sections 2 through 4 immediately following, except that no governmental
organization, political party or other organization which is primarily engaged in promoting politically partisan activities or ideals may be a member of
AFFIRM1776. All decisions regarding eligibility, ineligibility and proposed changes thereto shall be solely and completely at the discretion of
AFFIRM1776, except that prior affiliations with partisan political parties, organizations or activities shall never be a basis for current ineligibility or change
in eligibility.
Section 2. Individual voting membership shall be available to citizens of the United States of America who submit an appropriate application and demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the Executive Director and the Board of Advisors or Board of Directors their independence from political parties and activities, and who pay
and maintain their annual dues or pay their one-time lifetime dues. Except in the case of a person who is independent of political parties and organizations,
no individual who is elected or appointed to any governmental or quasi-governmental position or who is actively engaged in any partisan political party or
other such organization may be a voting member of AFFIRM1776.
Section 3. Associate non-voting membership shall be available to citizens not otherwise eligible for voting membership and to any organization headquartered and
controlled in the United States of America who submits an appropriate application, and who pays and maintains their annual dues or pays their one-time
lifetime dues, except that no governmental, quasi-governmental or other organization who is actively engaged in any politically partisan efforts may be a
member of AFFIRM1776.
Section 4. In the event that any individual who is a voting member in good standing becomes ineligible for any reason, their membership shall be immediately
reclassified to an associate member or terminated, and may not be reinstated until two years following the elimination of all conditions upon which the
change or termination was based.
Article V – Officers, Advisors and Directors
Section 1. The executive and administrative affairs of AFFIRM1776 , except as otherwise provided in Sections 5 and 6, shall be under the supervision and
management of an Executive Director and President (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Director) who shall be appointed for an initial term of ten
years from the beginning of operations.
Section 2. The financial affairs of AFFIRM1776 shall be under the supervision and management of a Finance Officer and Vice President (hereinafter referred to as
the Finance Officer) who shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Executive Director. Upon commencement of the Board of Advisors stage as
defined by the Constitution, the Finance Officer must be confirmed by the Board of Advisors; and in the event of the need for the appointment of a new
Finance Officer, such individual must be nominated by the Executive Director and confirmed by the Board of Advisors.
Section 3. Any executive and administrative duties specifically needing to be delegated by the Executive Director, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution
and these By-Laws, shall be under the supervision and management of a Secretary and Vice President (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) and other
Vice Presidents who shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Executive Director. Upon commencement of the Board of Advisors stage as
defined by the Constitution, the Secretary and any additional officers must be confirmed by the Board of Advisors; and in the event of the need for the
appointment of a new Secretary or other Vice President, such individual must be nominated by the Executive Director and confirmed by the Board of
Advisors.
Section 4. Within the first two years of beginning of operations, the Executive Director shall establish a Board of Advisors consisting of at least five citizens and/or
academic-types recognized for their interest in and knowledge of United States of America’s governmental theory and history, but who have minimal or
no allegiance to any political party or organization. The Board of Advisors shall serve individually and as a group as consultants to the Executive Director
and Finance Officer on matters relating to any or all of AFFIRM1776’s purposes. On the next January 1 after the Board of Advisors is constituted with at
least five members, it shall assume full responsibility for approving all compensation levels and structures for its members and AFFIRM1776 officers, and
it shall also establish a fully functioning Audit Committee with regard to AFFIRM1776 financial policies, practices and procedures.
Section 5. On the tenth anniversary of the beginning of operations, the Board of Advisors shall be dissolved in favor of a Board of Directors with full responsibility
for directing and supervising the officers established by Sections 1, 2 and 3 above. This Board of Directors shall be limited to twelve voting members and
include the immediate-past Executive Director, the then-current Executive Director and the then-current Finance Officer. At this time the Directors’
terms of office shall be established on a one-year staggered basis with four individuals to be replaced or reappointed to a new three-year term each year
thereafter. Also, at least three months prior to the change to a Board of Directors, the then Board of Advisors must nominate and approve the names of
the forthcoming Board of Directors and their initial terms in office; as well as the Executive Director and the Finance Officer who will hold those offices
upon formal establishment of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Upon establishment of the initial Board of Directors, subsequent nominations will be the responsibility of this body. Approval of such nominations will
then be determined by a majority of votes cast by members in each instance.
Section 7. Upon the recommendation of the greater of at least five or no less than three-fourths of the Board of Advisors, and at the discretion of the Executive
Director, the provisions of Section 5 immediately above may be advanced in time, except that such advancement shall not occur prior to the fourth
anniversary of beginning of operations.
Section 8. All officers and members of the Board of Advisors or Board of Directors shall be and remain a member in good standing during their tenure. In the event
of a resignation, death or failure to remain a member in good standing, an officer or member of the Board of Directors shall be replaced at the earliest
practical time.
Article VI – Finances
Section 1. Operations should be conducted only with funds contributed by supporting individuals and private, non-governmental organizations, from the sale of
products and services developed by AFFIRM1776 and from such other sources as may be legally and ethically appropriate and consistent with the objects
of AFFIRM1776. Assets should be purchased and maintained in like manner, except that donated funds and assets may be accepted only where no
obligation by AFFIRM1776 is created or implied. No governmental funds or grants and no commercially-sponsored advertising may be sought or
accepted.
Section 2. Beginning on January 1 following the third anniversary of the beginning of operations no less than 76% of all monetary contributions should be directly
devoted to one or more of AFFIRM1776’s primary purposes. Common costs (administrative, office and blog/website expenses) shall be minimized to
allow the above directly devoted funds to be used at an even higher percentage level whenever possible. Common costs for executive and/or direct
managerial wages and expenses shall not exceed 6% of all such income after the after the above date.
Section 3. If debt costs are incurred after January 1 following the third anniversary of the beginning of operations, they shall be paid entirely from the above
common costs, except for any relatively smaller debt that is specifically identified with a defined operation or program.
Article VII – Initial Programs
Section 1. Immediately upon application for corporate status and/or tax-exempt status, the Executive Director and the Financial Officer shall be responsible for
placing in effect strong procedures and practices to insure that AFFIRM1776 must not be or become affiliated with or otherwise identified in any way
with any political party. Instead, any product or service of AFFIRM1776 must always be equally available to all individuals, groups and political parties so
long as none of them claim these as exclusively theirs.
Section 2. Within the first year after application for corporate status and/or tax-exempt status, the Executive Director shall be responsible for establishing and
maintaining a permanent blog/website for AFFIRM1776’s purposes. Finances permitting as determined jointly by the Executive Director and the Finance
Officer, this should include a permanent Webmaster retained or hired for this purpose.
Section 3. Within the first year after application for corporate status and/or tax-exempt status, the Executive Director shall be responsible for establishing and
maintaining appropriate data bases for AFFIRM1776’s purposes. At a minimum these should include appropriate data on:
- Government, academic, media and other officials, associates and persons that may be contacted, consulted or advised on various subjects and
initiatives undertaken by AFFIRM1776 in fulfilling its purposes.
- Persons and organizations that are or may be interested in and/or potential members or contributors to any of AFFIRM1776’s purposes, programs,
products or services
. - Security measures designed to realistically protect the above data for AFFIRM1776’s purposes and to allow commitments against any personal
privacy invasions to the above persons and organizations.
