Question: Should we set up as an organisation?

[Jo Cook]

Dear All,

As you might recall from the AGM we held back in June after the conference in Nottingham, I raised the question of whether we should set up as a some kind of organisation, so we can start having a bank account and similar. Having looked into this into a little more detail (mainly because this kind of thing is very new to me), I think that in the first instance an "Unincorporated Association" is the best bet, of which "voluntary organisation" is a subset. Here's the official definition: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ctmanual/ctm41305.htm, and some useful information: http://www.netlawman.co.uk/info/unincorporated-associations.php

That way, we can have a bank account but the rest can be quite informal, which is nice. We will, however, need to get a few more committee members etc, even if it's just to be joint signatories on the bank account :-)

I'm opening this up to everyone on the mailing list- is this a good way to go? Are there better ways?

Thanks

Jo

--
-----------------------------------------------------
Joanne Cook
Senior IT Support and Development
Oxford Archaeology (North)
01524 880212
http://thehumanjourney.net


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[Steve Keyworth]

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Jo, I think formalising OSGeo UK would be a good idea.  It might provide it with a bit more traction and allow further activities to take place off the back of it.  As we discussed at the AGI conference in September, it could be as simple as helping to get better representation at events through some simple (even shared) exhibits.  From a commercial perspective, I think there is still a need to answer some basic questions on the use of open source geo (e.g. provision of corporate level support) when trying to use it to compete with establish proprietary vendors.  I haven't managed to look over the incorporation options you've presented, but will do so.

Of course, the big question is then how to put money into the account.....and a basic plan for that should probably form part of the overall strategy.  I think that what you propose here is a good first step.

Steve

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Today's Topics:

   1. Question: Should we set up as an organisation? (Joanne Cook)


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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:33:34 +0000 (GMT)
From: Joanne Cook [hidden email]
Subject: [OSGeo-UK] Question: Should we set up as an organisation?
To: uk [hidden email]
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	[hidden email]
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Dear All,

As you might recall from the AGM we held back in June after the conference in Nottingham, I raised the question of whether we should set up as a some kind of organisation, so we can start having a bank account and similar. Having looked into this into a little more detail (mainly because this kind of thing is very new to me), I think that in the first instance an "Unincorporated Association" is the best bet, of which "voluntary organisation" is a subset. Here's the official definition: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ctmanual/ctm41305.htm, and some useful information: http://www.netlawman.co.uk/info/unincorporated-associations.php

That way, we can have a bank account but the rest can be quite informal, which is nice. We will, however, need to get a few more committee members etc, even if it's just to be joint signatories on the bank account :-)

I'm opening this up to everyone on the mailing list- is this a good way to go? Are there better ways?

Thanks

Jo

  

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[Jonathan Gray]

I wonder if there would be any interest in forming a more formal
partnership with the Open Knowledge Foundation here? I think there are
many overlaps in organisational mission - and it could save on
overhead of setting up new ORG to have OSGeo UK under auspices of OKF.
Committee members could control OS Geo from within OKF as a Working
Group. We could donate hosting, publicity and other useful
infrastructure.

To give a few overlapping interests (off the top of my head..):

  * OKF is currently talking and working closely with Open Street Map
regarding licensing issues;
  * OKF and OS Geo are both interested in making open geodata easier to find;
  * In the past OKF hosted public geodata project;

We are currently looking into doing something similar with Creative Commons UK.

What do people think? It would be amazing to have a stronger
relationship between OKF and OS Geo UK!

Best wishes,

Jonathan

On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 3:33 PM, Joanne Cook <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> As you might recall from the AGM we held back in June after the conference in Nottingham, I raised the question of whether we should set up as a some kind of organisation, so we can start having a bank account and similar. Having looked into this into a little more detail (mainly because this kind of thing is very new to me), I think that in the first instance an "Unincorporated Association" is the best bet, of which "voluntary organisation" is a subset. Here's the official definition: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ctmanual/ctm41305.htm, and some useful information: http://www.netlawman.co.uk/info/unincorporated-associations.php
>
> That way, we can have a bank account but the rest can be quite informal, which is nice. We will, however, need to get a few more committee members etc, even if it's just to be joint signatories on the bank account :-)
>
> I'm opening this up to everyone on the mailing list- is this a good way to go? Are there better ways?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jo
>
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------
> Joanne Cook
> Senior IT Support and Development
> Oxford Archaeology (North)
> 01524 880212
> http://thehumanjourney.net
>
>
> ------
> Files attached to this email may be in ISO 26300 format (OASIS Open Document Format). If you have difficulty opening them, please visit http://iso26300.info for more information.
>
> _______________________________________________
> UK mailing list
> [hidden email]
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/uk
>

--
Jonathan Gray

Community Coordinator
The Open Knowledge Foundation
http://www.okfn.org
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