[OSGeo-Discuss] [Local-chapters] Legal entities for Local Chapters

Sun Mar 22 10:24:42 PDT 2015

The same in the Netherlands; when organizing local events with more than 100 participants it's getting unpleasant to arrange the finances with your own personal bank account.

we had some discussion about with legal entity type to use: association (with members; in The Netherlands "vereniging") or foundation (without members, in the Netherlands "stichting"). Both have pro's and con's; an association has members, which make the bond with the community a bit tighter. On the other hand, it also required a bit more organisation, such as a yearly member assembly. That's why we choose the simple form (foundation) in the end. But of course, this may vary due to different laws in different countries.

Take into account that creating a formal legal entity probably will cost you some money (just once).

greetings from the Netherlands (although actually from Austria),

Gert-Jan

chairman of the dutch local chapter "Stichting OSGeo.nl"

Van: local-chapters-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:local-chapters-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] Namens Victor Ferreira
Verzonden: zondag 22 maart 2015 14:02
Aan: Jachym Cepicky
CC: discuss at lists.osgeo.org; local-chapters
Onderwerp: Re: [Local-chapters] [OSGeo-Discuss] Legal entities for Local Chapters

In Portugal we felt the need to create one, for one thing, to be able to handle payments and receipts for events we organize.

It also gives us some credibility as a group when talking to companies and government (when we ask for sponsorships for instance).

Victor

On Thu, Mar 19, 2015 at 9:53 AM, Jachym Cepicky <secretary at osgeo.org> wrote:

Just noting:

in Czech ve formed formal legal entity, when we've found out, that "having beer together" is not enough. It has been recognized by local organisations, goverment and copanies..

You form legal entity when you think, it makes sense

and it does not have to consume much time as you might think

J

st 18. 3. 2015 v 22:56 odesílatel Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter at gmail.com> napsal:

On 18/03/2015 8:01 pm, Arnulf Christl wrote:
> Just a few notes from experience: Running a legal entity to organize
> things actually eats up a good chunk of volunteer resources which could
> be better used to actually promote Open Source, organize conferences and
> so on.
+1 I'd argue that local chapters should do their best to avoid creating
a legal entity where possible.

Ask:
* What do you gain by being a legal entity?
* Can you make use of another legal entity instead (eg the OSGeo
Foundation)?

Acknowledge the extra effort required to:
1. Finance a legal entity,
2. Collect finances to feed the legal entity,
3. Expend effort filling all the official requirements of a legal entity.

Of note, the OSGeo Australian/New Zealand chapter are not a legal
entity, and have successfully run the international FOSS4G conference
(with official requirements backed by the OSGeo Foundation)

--
Cameron Shorter,
Software and Data Solutions Manager
LISAsoft
Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009

P +61 2 9009 5000 <tel:%2B61%202%209009%205000> ,  W www.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099 <tel:%2B61%202%209009%205099> 

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