Undercurrent, a new nonprofit

We’ve made a change at Undercurrent that may be of interest to you — especially if you feel as passionate as I do about reef preservation.

Last year I converted Undercurrent to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, with the approval of the IRS. Our new bylaws say, “this Corporation shall educate and inform scuba divers about health and safety issues and diving opportunities, while supporting conservation and animal welfare projects.”

Converting to a nonprofit has no practical effect on the publication, but it means that after normal expenses, whatever profit remains will go to charitable causes. In December, we gave our first contribution, $1125, to Seacology, an effective organization saving coral reefs (www.seacology.org). If I discover a project of special interest to Undercurrent subscribers — e.g., a marine park that needs a boat engine to chase down dynamite fishermen — I may even ask you for a tax-deductible contribution. Because contributions to foreign charities may not be tax-deductible, if, in your travels, you see a foreign project or activity that you would like to support and tax-deductibility is an incentive, we may be able to help.

I foresee no changes in our editorial policy. The Web has created competitive sources that affect all print publications, so we have developed our Web Site with eight years of issues and chapbooks, for those who want that research capability. But the print edition carries us, and as long as there’s a breath of air left in my aluminum 80 — and I just had it topped off — we’ll continue to tell it like it is.

Thanks for your support. Without you, there would be no Undercurrent.

Ben Davison