Learn Why BEACON Will Cost Members BIG!
Do Not Risk Our Tax Exempt Status
The idea behind the BEACON program began during my time on the Board and on the Legislative Committee. We called it the Community Outreach Program then. It grew from a belief that our members are strongest when our organization builds real relationships across St. Mary’s County. We envisioned a network of community alliances that could support our members at key moments, especially when our interests naturally aligned with local groups. It was a thoughtful strategy, built on shared goals, mutual respect, and a desire to strengthen the support system around the people who make this organization what it is. But even in those early discussions, we understood the responsibility that came with this idea. We understood that without clear boundaries, community alliances could be misinterpreted as political alliances, and that misunderstanding could put our tax exempt status at risk. That concern was one of the major reasons the program was not implemented at the time.
Now, as BEACON is being rolled out in its current form, the concern that once stopped it has returned. Community alliances can be powerful. They can lift up our members, expand our influence, and bring partners to the table who understand the challenges facing working people. But alliances also require careful judgment. When the president of an organization mixes official duties with public or political groups, the line between community partnership and political involvement can begin to blur. And once that line blurs, the risk grows. The IRS does not look at isolated events. It looks at the total pattern. It looks at where an organization stands, who it chooses to stand beside, and how its actions appear in the public eye.
Our current vice president, Dwayne Hancock, has made it clear in both meetings and conversations that the current trajectory of BEACON places EASMC in jeopardy. He has stated plainly that the way BEACON is being implemented could threaten our tax exempt status if it creates the appearance of political alignment. This is not speculation. It is a real and serious concern supported by IRS standards and by the responsibilities that come with being a tax exempt labor organization. Yet despite these warnings, the president has demonstrated during the Representative Assembly that she is dismissive of this risk. She has brushed aside the concern rather than addressing it with transparency and care. And when leadership dismisses a risk that carries consequences for every member, the entire organization is left exposed.
If BEACON places EASMC alongside groups that take political positions, if our logo appears with organizations that endorse candidates outside of the Apple Ballot, or if our president speaks in an official capacity while standing with groups that promote partisan goals, the IRS can interpret these actions as political activity rather than community alliance building. That interpretation comes with serious consequences. EASMC is a tax exempt labor organization, and that status protects our members, their dues, and the work we do on their behalf. It ensures that our resources are used for representation, contract protection, and the needs of the membership. If BEACON creates the appearance that our organization is supporting political interests or coordinating with partisan groups, the IRS can decide that we are no longer operating within the purpose required for tax exemption. That can lead to penalties, to audits, and in the most serious situations, to the loss of the protections that keep our association functioning.
Our members deserve an organization that builds meaningful community alliances without placing the foundation of our work at risk. We can partner with nonprofits, service groups, and community organizations that support the families we serve and strengthen the role of our members in this county. We can build connections that reflect the values of our membership and honor the work they do. But we must do it with intention, with clarity, and with a commitment to protecting the legal and financial stability of our association. BEACON should strengthen our members. It should not jeopardize the organization they rely on.