RDU Expansion

This was sent to Aivmid as he showed an interest combined with his profession has offered to do a lot of the legal stuff at no cost

G'day mate;

Bad luck you can't make it, but you'll get to see plenty of pictures as I have scored our own dedicated photographer for the event.

With the expansion idea the first thing I really need to know is what is the best way to go about this?

I have been told an incorporated club, whilst others have said to get RDU listed as a registered charity.

I realise either way committee members of each, will have to have a clean slate to be signatories of a trust account.

If you have the time, and the contacts I would mind know the best way to move forward, but above all I want the RDU - Rockets Down Under to remain a fund raiser for the Make A Wish Foundation.

The last thing I want to see is have the RDU be high jacked for self interest with people claiming a wage or payment for their appointed positions.

Any help will be greatly appreciated thanks Marty

RDU - Expansion Aivmid reply

Hi Marty

To some extent it depends on how big the thing is likely to get. On the basis that it will never be really big, then the most appropriate way to go would be to incorporate as an association. If it is envisaged that the thing gets bigger, then it would be better, although more expensive, to register a company limited by guarantee (such things have to be not for profit).

There may be some issues about the group operating in multiple states of Australia, I'd have to check this as it used to be that meant you'd need a company. I think they've sorted that out recently and an incorporated association can operate across the states.

An incorporated association has to have a constitution,much the same as a company. In the constitution goes the groups objects, and can include that any money raised goes to x charity.

Either way it would not qualify as a registered charity.

But dependent on its objects it can do two things..the first is register for income tax exemption, so money raised is not taxable (relatively easy) and the second is apply for tax deductibility status (relatively difficult). The latter is so that donors to the group get a tax deduction for their donation.

My firm is currently doing a pro bono job for CRABS (cancer research advocate bikers..check out their web site). That group raises money for the cancer council and Can Assist (they've raised and donated $80,000 just from the Bermagui group by raffles and running a bike show- great group of hard working blokes). We're trying to get tax deductibility status for the group which is nowadays pretty hard, but if it can happen then you attract bigger and more donors. We had to do the same thing for CRABs, that is, set them up as an incorporated association and draft a constitution that will satisfy the tax office for both income tax exemption and hopefully deductible gift recipient status.

The other reason why you need to incorporate one way or the other is to protect the group organizers from personal liability ie getting sued for some sucker tripping over an electric lead at one of your functions. I'm a newby to the site, don't know if Hervey Bay is your first function or you've had them in the past. But if you've got any intention of organizing events of any description, incorporation is a must. As is public liability insurance.

When you have a constitution controlling where your money goes, then the thing is relatively unhijackable. The constitution would normally provide that officers can be reimbursed expenses, and employees can be hired if agreed by the Board, but above and beyond legitimate expenses all income has to go to the charity or charities that you desire.

I'm not sure on the status of Make a Wish, it may effect whether RDU could actually obtain DGR status. I can investigate hat easily subject to what follows.

I think the first thing to do is get a consensus amongst those interested whether they see RDU moving forward and continuing to fund raise. If they are, then consensus on where they'd like to money to go. After you get that, then I could give some formal advice on the best procedure, and would be more than happy to get it set up without charge.

Good on you for all the work you've done on this. The CRABs guys are a real example of how a small group of people can make a big difference- I'm sure RDU can do likewise. (only problem with the CRABs is that they're 90% HD riders and they give me grief about my Rocket)

ANyway, talk to the boys (and girls) and certainly feel free to be in contact if we can help.

Cheers
Andrew

Marty, I'm sorry you feel you've ruined it before it has even started.

What i said today is " all everyone i've spoken to wants is a chance to hang out , talk bikes and get to know each other " ... i am happy to support your fund-raising cause , evident i think by the effort i've put into obtaining items for our auction. Im sure all the Owners will also support your chosen cause . Pretty sure the funds raised at our auction will far exceed the gold coins from visitors entries.

For me and Catherine, the raising of funds was always secondary to getting to know the members of the forum and spending time together.

All i pointed out to you was that none of the blokes i've spoken to have wanted a 'carnival' .. I think that is something you may have assumed everyone wanted. Like i said had you have asked, I think you would have got a similar response from other members - and perhaps there would not have been these misunderstandings.

Marty I appreciate the effort you have put into getting this thing off the ground . I offered my assistance and feel i've contributed as well. All i want is for the focus to be on the Owners attending , making sure they have an enjoyable get-together and that the weekend is a memorable one for all that come along.

Marty I think I can speak for everyone when I say the time and effort u and Cathy have put into this is very mutch appreciated and that u are doing a fantastic job Also the contributions and donations trophys ect that Tomcat has organized is fantastic . I must admit though I misunderstood things a little though . To me I always thought this was primarily a get together for all the captains to meet in person have a ride a drink and a laugh and talk all things bikes and then secondarily we would raise some funds for the great cause make a wish foundation which I think is an Awesome cause and am glad it was the charity chosen but I always was under the impression that was secondary to our get together . I hope no body takes offence to this but that was always what it was about to me. Mitch

Well put TC. Marty, I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you've done to get this thing happening. I was talking to Ponters the other day and said that you've stepped up and actually done things where others, including me, had been talking about it. But like TC, I had something like a get together in mind. That doesn't mean I'm not happy with what you've made of it and the last thing I want is for you to feel that we're not 100% behind you.

I guess what I'm concerned about is that we don't bite off too much with this first event. It will be great to get 20, 30 or more of us together in one place and if we can do some good at the same time that's terrific. But we don't even know yet if this thing will work. The notion of a carnival never occurred to me. We can give it a go but it shouldn't be the main game; not first up.

Put simply, if I was primarily wanting to donate money to Make a Wish I wouldn't be spending $500 flying Amanda up there, $300 on accommodation plus another couple of hundred and 6 days travelling getting there and back myself. I'd just donate that money instead. Not really sure about a carnival either. We're going to be pretty buggered by the time we get there and I'm looking forward to sitting back and enjoying the company and the things HB has to offer before turning round and heading home. I felt I'd be up for a group ride or 2 and real happy to look over the bikes and show mine off.

Please don't take this the wrong way. We're with you, OK, and share your vision about helping others and showing bikes in a good light, and I'm really looking forward to catching up. But I don't want to see what should be an opportunity to finally meet all these guys turn into something that we didn't really want or expect or something we don't see repeated.

I just miss understood I always thought it was primarily get together secondly fund raiser my fault for not asking the question but it's only really been recently that I've realized different . So I've never raised the topic .

That's why I was originally mistifyed about not having a drink fri night . I certainly won't be drinking alot Sat night I'll be riding home on Sunday . But I just go with the flow and am happy to do what everyone else wants . To me I'm just glad to get away and meet all the other captains

Evil Mitch said:

That's why I was originally mistifyed about not having a drink fri night . I certainly won't be drinking alot Sat night I'll be riding home on Sunday . But I just go with the flow and am happy to do what everyone else wants . To me I'm just glad to get away and meet all the other captains

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Don't worry Mitch A good time will be had by all, the main thing I'm concerned about is just 6 hours max on Saturday, done to much to look like an idiot now.

Marty, I'll be in on whatever is happening. No way I'd let you down.
What exactly is happening over the 6 hours?