[mellie]

Looking to guage interest from all New York affiliates on getting together for a meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to share ideas on how to recover and move on. We cannot wait for this to play out.

The meeting will be centrally located to make it fair on all and possible for most NYer's to attend. Likely time is late June or early July though definitely subject to change.

To get things going I'll need to know how many are interested. For now simply post a simple yes or no.

The meeting will be a meeting so we will have to find a location. A restauraunt will not work as I don't think it's really a 2 hour dinner thing. If you are in Central NY please let me know. Some good places free or cheap venues like VFW halls, meeting rooms in a friend or spouses work place, home...

If there is a fee involved in getting a meeting place everyone will be asked to contribute. This will be kept simple.

In addition, if you will have child care issues please let me know here or via pm. I think there is an easy solution.

This meeting is for NY affiliates.

[PetsWarehouse.com]

Great idea, a few thoughts.

Requests all networks to send a notice out about the meeting on behalf of the group, that way they have no need to give out email address. Also OPM's may help here to get the word out, I know many of our affiliates don't see ABW.

Report any that fail to cooperate.

The group needs a name to organize under.

Hire a local attorney and accountant (cpa) to attend for a one hour time period. We need to know legally what we can and can not do.

The group can pay them for their time by contributing.

Start a fund under the group name to cover expenses, perhaps each attendee chip in $20 to start it off.

Merchants can contribute also $$$$$$$$

If it is organized right with the cooperation of the networks there could be a voice.

Not sure if you would want to wait, but a meeting could be held at the Summit, but I believe there should be a local meeting in NY first say after the July 4th weekend.



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[Kevin]

I'm in of course.

Thanks for the pointers, Bob.

If we're going to be attempting to collect donations from networks/merchants, etc, we'll need to write a set of goals, and define the organization first. I think we can accomplish that at the first meeting.

[mellie]

Thanks Bob, good advice.

Kevin is right, the first meeting we as affiliates can establish goals and such. I think our first meeting should only be, and needs to be, NY affiliates. We need to find quick actions to take and I think if we pool ideas we will have an easier road.

Of course if individuals would like to sponsor our meeting I would be happy to discuss that with them on a private basis.

[mellie]

I've got a domain registered and will get it set up asap. Of course I am still busy pulling thousands of links so I might not get to it til tomorrow LOL.

[oranges]

Keep me up to date. I'll meet. Although NY State is a big place. Don't make the location so central that no one will meet there. As an expert I can tell you the central part of the state is filled with more cows than affiliates.

[PetsWarehouse.com]

Perhaps around the Tapanzee Bridge area?

[smallaff]

I'm in and I'll even bring the cows!

[Vinny O'Hare]

I think its too late to do anything about it myself.

[smallaff]

"I think its too late to do anything about it myself."

Not so sure about that - the Amazon case has not been decided yet. It has the potential to go the Supreme Court as there are some Constitutional issues related to this law. I realize that could (and probably will) take years.

One of the options we are persuing involves getting in on that case. Nothing concrete yet but maybe a possibility. That is one of the may issues that could be discussed at a NY affiliate meeting.

[Brian - ShareASale]

The details are obviously more complicated ... but if you do organize a meeting, and would like to have an attorney and/or tax specialist from NY in attendance - I will pay for their time. Whoever ends up as the organizer for this meeting can contact me to work out the details on that later.

I'd also love to attend if anyone thought that would be helpful... although, I am not a NY affiliate obviously.

[Kevin]

A most generous offer Brian. Both for the money and for your time.

I'll work with Mel to get this done, and keep you posted.

[mellie]

Extremely generous Brian and will certainly facilitate things.

Not sure if we can change the law but when we can do is more importantly:

Understand the law and make sure others do as well
Work within the laws and survive from an economic standpoint.

In between changing links I am getting the site at least functional and as soon as I have a little template up I will post the url.

[Rexanne]

Proactive is better than sitting around waiting for the hatchet to fall. Kudos to all involved and to Mel who is showing great leadership!

[Andy Rodriguez]

All,

Once a venue has been established, please notify me and i will contribute $1,000 towards the rental, food or whatever you need for the meeting. I may also be available if you want / need me there and if the timing permits.

This affects us all, let's put our money where our mouth is.

[Rhea]

I'm in.

Anything I can do to help? (Keeping in mind that I'm a lousy shepherd of people.)

[Angel Djambazov]

Hi Folks,

Great idea to pull everyone together. I have access to a professional speech writing group out of New York, if there is an opt-ed piece you would like put together I would be happy to facilitate it through them.

[Herb Ô¿Ô¬]

I'm in.

[Rhea]

I realize I'm a tad biased because I live in the Capital District region but if you all want to chase after state reps, make a little noise, and perhaps most importantly chat with the press, then Albany is where we need to be.

[PetsWarehouse.com]

That leg work is great before a law is passed, too late IMO

[Brian - ShareASale]

I disagree with that... if you could possibly manage to get a hold of a legislator that did NOT vote for this law it could be helpful in terms of understanding what kind of debate went into it to see if these consequences were considered.

[loxly]

I agree with Brian, I think NYS expected merchants to just collect the tax and not drop NYS affiliates, which affects NYS in more than one way, all negatively.

[Carolyn - ShareASale]

It is never too late to figure out the best course of action. The observations and decisions made by our New York affiliates will be very valuable to all affiliates if and when other states adopt similar legislation.

[DougNY]

I would like to be included as well.

I'm new to all this so I don't know what I can bring to the table, but I'll do whatever I can to help.

[mellie]

I am glad every is up for this. I will have more info on this topic by tomorrow. Some of you will probably get a pm from me later this evening or tomorrow

Oh and I appreciate the pm's, emails and support thru posts here. All the positive energy and feedback (pro & con) helps us all.