Hi all,
I think we should be thinking of this as a three stage process, the
first is getting ready to set up the company (Gordo's 0 to 4), the
second is getting signatures on the AoA and MoA and sending the list
of first directors to companies house (incoporation) and the third is
all the things the new directors need to do in the first month or so
in the run up to the first AGM. We should look at setting a date for
second stage that will act as a deadline for the first tasks, I doubt
December is achievable but mid to late January may be.
As I understand it, it is the directors notified to companies house
will be the first trustees, not the signatories of the articles. The
signatories are the first members and they select the directors
(trustees). What I suggest is that we set up a meeting in January, but
that we script most of the things that need to happen. These are: (1)
People sign the articles and select a some directors. (2) The
directors fill in the forms to incorporate the company. (3) The
directors have the first board meeting and delegate responsibilities
to individuals to (a) register as a charity, (b) open a bank account
and set up some ways of receiving money (e.g. paypal?), (c)
communicate with the foundation to sort out a licence for the logo and
reimbursement for the cost of incorporation. They also need to decide
on membership policies (I would suggest they just move not to accept
new members until the charity is registered so that they can get gift
aid on subscriptions). If some rules about members rights and
responsibilities can be previously arranges then the next step (still
at the same physical meeting but after the board meeting), would be to
get the people who signed the articles to agree to varying the
membership rules (so that, for instance they will need to pay a small
annual subscription set by the AGM or board), IIRC this needs most
members to agree so it may be worth doing early when all the
signatories are in one place.
Once the bank account, charity status and website is up and running
the directors should call the first AGM (maybe charity status takes
too long), at this AGM all directors need to stand down (but can be
reelected by the members, who at this time may be just the signatories
- but may not).
Any views?
Regards,
Andrew(w)
On 12/7/05, Gordon Joly <gordon.joly(a)pobox.com> wrote:
Dear All,
May I ask what is the proposed timeline?
In other words, when will the following happen? Could we set some
deadlines? Have we got past 0) or 1) yet?
0) Agreed name for company (we aim to trade as "Wikimedia UK")
1) Agreed Articles and Memorandum
2) An independent professional review, paid for by the available funds)
3) Agreement to register as an "educational charity" (could depend on 3
above).
4) Names of "First Subscribers" (that is Trustees and Secretary)
5) Incorporation as a company "limited by guarantee".
6) Application to Charities Commission
7) First AGM (Annual General Meeting)
It was suggested that we should aim for the first AGM by April 2006.
Regards,
--
Gordo (aka LoopZilla)
gordon.joly(a)pobox.com
http://pobox.com/~gordo/
http://www.loopzilla.org/
_______________________________________________
Wikimediauk-l mailing list
Wikimediauk-l(a)Wikimedia.org
http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l