[wellylug] Very Important: Meeting of 13th Feb 2005

[Phillip Hutchings]

On 15/02/2006, at 10:33 PM, Jethro carr wrote:

> incorporation scares me. Too much hassle (and cost!) for too little
> benefits.

There are many benefits to incorporation. The major one is the club  
becoming a legal entity. If the club has assets or runs up debts then  
the club would be responsible, not the members. However, it does mean  
a formal charter is needed, as well as a membership register, a  
treasurer, a secretary, a president and an executive. Proper voting  
would have to be addressed and people would have to do their roles.

I don't recall club registration being expensive, you don't need  
lawyers, all you need is enough people and the appropriate documents.  
$2k would result in far fewer registrations.

Accounting isn't much hassle, non-profit clubs are many times easier  
than  companies, I could do it easily. I'd probably have to check my  
7th form notes occasionally, but it'd be easy. Plus it's a good  
excuse to hack something up on Linux ;)

If WellyLUG itself will hold assets or debt - eg if membership and  
meeting fees are needed - then incorporation is the way to go, more  
security for members and more accountability. If it's still informal  
with a free or donation-on-attendance meeting place then there's no  
point, there's no money to worry about.

Personally I think we should use Autocracy via IRC as the government  
method. Join #wellylug on irc.nzwired.net and propose your idea, if  
someone kicks you then it's rejected :P


--
Phillip Hutchings
phillip.hutchings at sitharus.com
http://www.sitharus.com/


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