Re: Content, Donations, Sponsor, Other projects

[MJ Ray]

Davi Leal <address@hidden> wrote:
> Donations would need a treasurer, and the association being incorporated, as 
> exposed initially by John Darrington at the #gnuherds IRC channel. Being 
> incorporated has others advantages too. Read below and let know the list what 
> you think.

Donations, and even charitable status, do not need the association to
be incorporated in England.  However, it may still be desirable.  In
England, you are probably looking at corporation administration fees
of a few hundred pounds a year.  Is it worth it?  When would it become
worth it?

>   With regards to incorporation, I'd not give anything
>   more than moral support to an organisation which
>   didn't legally exist.
>   I mean if you were collecting membership fees, in
>   whose pocket would they go?

Into the association's pocket.  I have helped an unincorporated
association to open a bank account in its own name before.

>   The association will not collect membership fees. It
>   is 'gratis'. [...]

Ack.

>   Well I'm not familiar with Spanish law, but most
>   countries insist that an incorporated association has
>   a "executive" (usually 3+ people) who can make
>   decisions on behalf of the association.

Sorry, but I don't think that's right: can someone prove it?

AFAIK, most countries insist only that an incorporated association has
a defined way of making decisions and gives you (usually nasty)
default ways, but you could do almost every decision by unanimity if
you wanted. (It's another discussion whether that's a good idea...)
Most banks insist on delegating power to order bank transactions to a
few people.

I'd strongly prefer some sort of cooperative or collective structure,
but it's not a blocker if that's not possible.
http://www.ica.coop/coop/principles.html
http://www.co-opnet.coop/viewtopic.php?t=452

Regards,
-- 
MJ Ray - see/vidu http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html
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