Starting a car club

[katwoman]

Am starting a not for profit car club. ( vintage, veteran, classic) and want to know in English, how to go about it. I have an application for association incorporation, but that's about my limited knowledge. Any help, please.

[MudRunnerTD]

Hi Kat, there is a fair bit written about it online. If you are going to incorporate it then you will need to have an AGM, a constitution and will require to be audited.

I was going to post s link to something so typed "starting a car club" into google and OMG!!! There is ship loads of info.

Are you going to try to qualify to support Club Rego?

[the evil twin]

Hiya Cobber,

i've done that sort of thing several times and it varies from state to state a little.

First step is incorporation so you are 100% on the money there.
You have to have a club first to incorporate but to protect yourself and other members you need as few as possible in the first weeks until you get your certificate.
So best way to do it is get two or three other people to be members.
Sit down and sort out your objectives of the Club (in simple short sentences in plain english).
Check if the name/s you want are already registered or not.

Use the Constitution tools that you usually get with your incorporation package to frame your Conny.
Keep your Conny as short and as simple as possible (it costs money to change it).
In your Conny have a paragraph along the lines of "The club shall make any Bylaws as may be necessary from time to time for the running of the Club in accordance with the Objectives"

Have all of your "operational" rules in a seperate instrument called, Bylaws, Standing Orders or whatever because these can be changed by the members at a meeting.
These rules have the same powers as the Conny but are things that will be constantly changing or need to be flexible.

The Conny will be the Objectives, membership eligibility (keep that basic), voting rights, rights of appeal, Committee makeup, Club financial year etc as per the Tools. Your Committee may be simply a Chair and a Sec/Treasurer or more.

Standing Orders will be things like, Fees structure, meeting structure, Club runs and trips, honorary membership, adresses and notices and how they are served on members, Club mags, Sub-committees casual or standing etc etc

As soon as you are incorporated (and insured) then you and the original few take on all the members waiting in the wings.

Most States let you appoint the first Committee and waive elections in the first year so the Club has some stability

[the evil twin]

Hi Kat, there is a fair bit written about it online. If you are going to incorporate it then you will need to have an AGM, a constitution and will require to be audited.

I was going to post s link to something so typed "starting a car club" into google and OMG!!! There is ship loads of info.

Are you going to try to qualify to support Club Rego?

Most States no longer require NFP's below certain levels of turnover and members to be audited which makes it a lot easier

[katwoman]

Thanks guys. MR, I did the google thing, and as you say there is so much info it was hard to sort truth from fiction. It was suggested to me to put it up here, cos no doubt some one would know better than me. As always there is. ET has summed it up quicker and easier than google did in the hours I spent there. Now we just need to decide on a name. Cos no-one can agree. Besides, if you can't get the info on any subject here it doesn't exist. Right ?
And yes, I'll be applying for club reg eventually.

[liftlid]

start with the consumer affairs web site they have the info you need then go from there

[TimE]

............... and check out the Tax Office site.

My Club classes itself as a "sporting" club, thus avoiding any tax on our income. Check some info from the ATO here

This may not be an issue initially, but if the Club grows and has fund raisers watch out, Hockey will have his hand in your pockets!

[the evil twin]

Good points from liftlid and timE.

The "fill in the blanks" Conny tool you get with your Incorporation Kit allows for 'Not For Profit' bodies corporate.
Essentially there will be a clause that says "no member /s get any money, shares dividends etc other than reimbursements for expenses incurred" and/or "all monies shall be expended for the purposes of the Club objectives" or similar.

That makes you an NFP so therefore no income taxes etc and allows you to fundraise.
An ABN is not required but is optional.
You can get an ABN if you wish which is usually more hassle than it's worth unless you get a big Club with lots of turnover.

The whole process is very simple if you just fill in the blanks and will cost maybe 200 dollars or so.
The Gov't fees are usually 100 to 150 depending on the state/territory and you will need to advertise in Public Notices of a Newspaper (use the local rag) your intention to lodge an application for Incorporation so that will be another 50 or so.

Usually the biggest hassle with things like Car Clubs is finding a name that is OK as there will be lots of defunct Clubs from previously that are still registered.
The registrar in your state will have a search for you as part of the process.

[katwoman]

I don't plan having it get big. The bigger the more politics. I'm thinking of capping it at 15-20 members for at least a couple if years.

[mudnut]

I don't plan having it get big. The bigger the more politics. I'm thinking of capping it at 15-20 members for at least a couple if years.

How did you get on with all of this, Kat? My Old Trol is almost eligible for club reg. We also have an EB Falcon that is also long-in-the-tooth.