From oil dependence to local resilience

Incorporated Societies

Wondering if any other Transition Town Groups have become an incorporated society.
Grey Lynn 2030 are considering it as an option.
Would keen to hear if others have been through this process.

Tags: 2030, grey, incorporated, lynn, societies

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Kent on August 9, 2010 at 20:30

We in Otaki have become a charitable trust with elections once a year. At last we can report our finances to our members for the last two years, our first AGM is in October after two and a half years of operation. Worth doing for this reason alone!

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Permalink Reply by Deck Hazen on September 27, 2011 at 7:40

Hi Suzanne,

Small planet aye?

- Deck Hazen

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Permalink Reply by Deirdre Kent on September 27, 2011 at 9:43

We found that being informal didn't work. The minute you get money to manage it is important to be accountable and to have transparent processes for making decisions about how to use it. We took five months off to set ourselves up as a trust with democracy. It took five months to untangle the finances, write a pamphlet, get a constitution and register the trust. All worthwhile. We have AGMs and elections now. What a relief from the mess we were in before.

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Permalink Reply by Laurence on February 8, 2012 at 12:43

Hi Suzanne - we are using an Unincorporated Society for our New Economics Party. Its what a lot of sports clubs / associations use (so I am told) Gives us a formal non profit status without the need for 15 trustees. Its enough to start a bank account with Kiwibank - it was their suggestion actually. Info on the Charities Commission website provides useful links on different attributes http://www.charities.govt.nz/setting-up-a-charity/organisational-st....