Well, this will be a nice little test of whether it is stress bringing on the neck problems.

My local AAUW branch has to fill out some tax document to "prove" we are a non-profit with less than $25K gross receipts. We were directed to do that using an "e-postcard" system.

The branch president and treasurer first tried in September without success. Finally they called me in. (It is due on Nov. 15 or apparently, Bad Things Happen.)

Turns out that the website is FUBAR. (um, that's FOULED up beyond all recognition, gentle readers). And we may have been dropped off the list of exempted branches. Or maybe not. No one really knows. No one really cares, I guess, as long as WE take care of it and the form gets filed.

I tried e-mailing, I tried CALLING. Had to leave a voice mail. Then I realized I really planned to be working in my lab this afternoon. Had to call BACK and leave a second mail asking them to call the branch president instead.

It's a form 990. The online IRS version is 11 pages long and asks for all manner of information I do not have, and do not have time to find. Supposedly the e-postcard is quick and easy and basically says, "We do not have to file this big scary form because we are little and broke." But apparently I can't file that form because we've been dropped off the list...

it feels like The House That Jack Built, I tell you, trying to get stuff done these days. "This is the form we couldn't submit, because of the list we got dropped off of, because of the computer glitch..."

I could call again but the switchboard person I talked to got VERY snippy with me when I called back asking to be re-connected to leave a second voice mail. ("The person you are trying to talk to is on the FIFTH floor and I am on the FIRST. How was I to know she wasn't at her desk?") I don't like dealing with snippy people. So I won't. But I might go curl up in a corner and cry a little if we don't get this in before Friday and someone from the National calls me up to yell at me.