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* This group has completed it\'s objectives and has been closed. [1]
* Goal [2]
* Members [3]
* Mailing List [4]
* Minutes of meetings [5]
* Structure
* Some Ideas
* Non-Incorporated Association (Club)
* Incorporated Associations: [6]
* Co-operatives: [7]
* De-centralised / Guided Anarchy [8]
* Further Information [9]
* Conclusion [10]
-------------------------
THIS GROUP HAS COMPLETED IT\'S OBJECTIVES AND HAS BEEN CLOSED.
GOAL
To propose, in consultation with the Melbourne Wireless community, a
suitable constitution to provide the desired level of structure for
the group to grow and sustain a community-operated wireless broadband
network or networks in Victoria.
MEMBERS
Clae [11]
TysonClugg [12]
Dwayne [13]
DavidArnold [14]
StevenHaigh [15]
TonyLangdon [16]
DarrenDreis [17]
Steven [18]
DrewUlricksen [19]
MAILING LIST
closed.
WGStructure is intended to be the working group of interested parties
discussed at the Melbourne Wireless meeting of 12/4/02... we forgot to
take the names of interested parties.
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MINUTES OF MEETINGS
WGS160502 [20] WGS300502 [21]
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STRUCTURE
SOME IDEAS
Non-Incorporated Association (Club)
Incorporated Association
Co-operative
Decentralised/ Guided Anarchy
-------------------------
NON-INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION (CLUB)
A club can hold a bank account in its own name, and enter into
contracts. Where it differs from an Incorporated Association is in the
level of protection offered to members and directors. It's a bit of
grey area.
from this [22] Tasmanian Government pamphlet:
"Incorporation is not Obligatory
Some persons are under the impression that it is obligatory for
associations to be incorporated. As long as persons are not
associating for the purpose of profit any number may form an
association without there arising any obligation to incorporate the
association."
-------------------------
Use one of the publically available recommended constitutions
provided by the Victorian Department of Consumer Affairs, with
adaptions as the group sees fit.
from: http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairsite.nsf/pages/of_asso
INCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS:
Incorporated Associations [23] are usually small bodies of people,
clubs, etc that wish to gain legal status ( wish to purchase property
in the name of the club, sue and be sued, etc ). Incorporation offers
some protection for the organisations office holders from the debt and
liabilities incurred by the association as long as the association
does not trade or make a profit for its members. Incorporation is
voluntary, and once incorporated the Act provides a standard for
operation.
from this [24] Department of Justice pamphlet:
The main reason for incorporation is the protection of members and of
committee members of an incorporated association, since the
Associations Incorporation Act 1981 (the Act) provides that a member
or an officer of the association shall not be liable to contribute
towards the payment of debts and liabilities of the association nor
the costs, charges and expenses of winding up the association,
provided the association does not trade or does not secure profit for
its members.
Guide to Incorporated Associations [25] (pdf),
Model Rules [26] (pdf) and the
Forms [27]
-------------------------
CO-OPERATIVES:
A co-operative [28] is a voluntary association of people formed to
meet common economic, social and cultural needs. Co-operatives are
based on the values of self help, self responsibility, democracy,
equality, and equity.
A cooperative [29] is a user owned and controlled business in which
benefits are distributed according to a member’s use of it. Three
principles distinguish cooperatives from general corporations:
user-owner
user-control
user-benefits
A Co-operative [30] is a body with legal status (it can purchase
property, sue and be sued etc) that is formed and controlled by
members for the common interests of the members. Co-operatives for a
specific purpose such as running a kindergarten or producing a service
eg: a wine club. Hence, Co-operatives are a more formal type of
incorporation than associations and are more related to the conduct of
a business activity though the main purpose is not profit for its
members as with a company, but to advance the Co-operatives
activities.
In Australia names such as Dairy Farmers, Malanda Milk, Caboolture
Yoghurt and SAFCOL - all co-operatives [31] - have become household
names. Other common forms of
co-operatives include credit unions [32], Friendly Societies, workers
co-operatives, most university bookshops, news agencies such as ANCOL,
food co-ops, and, of course, rental housing co-operatives.
It has been estimated that in Australia today there are over 6,000
co-operatives with assets valued at more than $35 million and an
annual turn over of $16 billion. In NSW co-operatives contribute some
$600 million annually to the economy, with most of that contribution
being reinvested or otherwise remaining in the region where it was
generated.
Some examples of co-ops [33]
A history of co-ops [34]
-------------------------
DE-CENTRALISED / GUIDED ANARCHY
This model would be somewhat similar to the relationship between the
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the "Internet". A working
group would sit to define a standard or code of practise for nodes
wishing to become a part of the melbwireless network. This group would
own no assets, and would not be responsible for the day to day running
of the network. Individuals or groups wishing to connect would remain
responsible for their own assets and behaviour. The working group
would be elected by members/users.
Tyson Clugg has proposed that the GNU Public License (GPL [35]) could
be adapted for this form of structure.
-------------------------
FURTHER INFORMATION
Community.gov.au [36] has links to useful resources and guides to
starting a community group.
Australian Taxation Office guide for non profit groups [37]
-------------------------
CONCLUSION
This working group [38] has not come to final conclusion yet. A
formal announcement will be made before conclusion of this group.
-------------------------
Back to WorkingGroups [39]
Links:
------
[1]
http://melbournewireless.org.au/#this_group_has_completed_it_s_objectives_and_has_been_closed_
[2] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#goal
[3] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#members
[4] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#mailing_list
[5] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#minutes_of_meetings
[6] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#incorporated_associations_
[7] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#co_operatives_
[8] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#de_centralised___guided_anarchy
[9] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#further_information
[10] http://melbournewireless.org.au/#conclusion
[11] mailto:clae@tpg.com.au
[12] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?TysonClugg
[13] mailto:dwayne@pobox.com
[14] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DavidArnold
[15] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?StevenHaigh
[16] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?TonyLangdon
[17] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DarrenDreis
[18] mailto:sanderso@pacificaccess.com.au
[19] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?DrewUlricksen
[20] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WGS160502
[21] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WGS300502
[22] http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/breg/as_info_2.htm
[23]
http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairsite.nsf/pages/of_asso_assoc
[24]
http://www.business.channel.vic.gov.au/4A25690E00102B5F/BCView/3D1CB5B7DA269A984A25690E0015DE55?OpenDocument
[25]
http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairattach.nsf/Images/assocdoc//assocdoc.pdf
[26]
http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairattach.nsf/Images/assocmodel//assocmodel.pdf
[27]
http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairsite.nsf/pages/of_asso_assoc_fees
[28]
http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/getting_organised/setting_up/coops.html
[29] http://www.ncoopc.com/cooperatives/indexb.html
[30]
http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/cbav/fairsite.nsf/pages/of_asso_coop
[31] http://www.arch.asn.au/history.html
[32] http://www.cu.net.au/presentation/
[33] http://www.coop/founders/Default.asp
[34] http://www.arch.asn.au/history.html
[35] http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
[36]
http://www.community.gov.au/Internet/MFMC/Community.nsf/pages/section?opendocument&Section=Forming%20an%20Organisation&index1=4&index2=5
[37]
http://www.ato.gov.au/content.asp?doc=/content/Businesses/13727.htm&bn=AS/NP/SN/SN01/A
[38] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WorkingGroups
[39] http://melbournewireless.org.au/?WorkingGroups
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