Wikimedia UK v1.0/Membership

I'm currently starting to write the board resolution that will set up the bylaws for members of the UK chapter. My current thinking is that we should keep the bylaws as simple as possible and simply require that members subscibe to the Articles and Memoranda of Assoceation, agree that we can contact them by email to an address that they nominate (to make calling the AGM easy) and agree to pay an annual subscription.

I have two questions:

What membership fee would people be happy to pay?

How should the subscription be varied? If we write a figure into the bylaws then I think we would need a special general meeting of that class of members to change it. Two options I can think of - the board sets the fee subject to review of the AGM or the AGM is given the power to set the fee.

What do you mean by "how should the subscription be varied"? Do you mean: "should there be different classes of membership, and, if so, what should they be and how much should they pay"? Cormaggio ^@ 23:03, 22 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I think Andrew is referring to changes to the subscription over time (to account for inflation, changing needs, etc.). The board making a recommendation to the AGM would seem reasonable, although charity law might mean the board deciding would be better. Whouk 14:30, 23 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry. After about 9pm on a weeknight my brain ceases to function. Whouk has the right question. Andreww 19:35, 23 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Ok. But what about different classes of membership? We discussed this vaguely before, eg. junior membership with non-voting rights. (Though I notice that it is coming up to 9pm :-)) Cormaggio ^@ 20:26, 23 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm thinking the initial class of membership will be for real people over 18 years of age. We can create a class of membership for other organisations if we need to at a later date (the MoA and AoA allow that). I don't think people under 18 years old can be members of a limited company incorporated in England (correct me if I am wrong on that) so they cannot be members of WER ltd. My rather vague plan to get around that is to have members ask to join the company (and accept the fact that it may cost them up to one pound if it goes bankrupt) as well as a chapter. We may then, at some later date, be able to allow under 18's to join the chapter but not the company. I don't know if this is possible (and I don't know if we want to have a junior membership) but I do want to avoid preventing us from having a junior membership in the future. I think that in order to do this all I need is the correct wording on the membership application form. Andreww 18:50, 28 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I would like there to be a way of allowing for junior membership - we already have at least one potential member who cannot be a full member because he is 16. Could you get around this on the form by having a box with a line saying "If you are under 18, please tick here"? This doesn't mean that we are guaranteeing junior membership (though we will if we can), and we can simply reject the application if we can't accept them. Cormaggio ^@ 22:53, 28 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, on Wikimedia Italia membership is for over 18 years + we have collaborator status for under-18 (with no membership fee). Cruccone 00:44, 5 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Membership fee edit

What fee would you be happy with paying?

Dunno, £20? Cormaggio ^@ 23:03, 22 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Suggest a minimum of £20 p.a. or £5 per month direct debit for those that can afford it, in either case these would be minimum to make viable in relation to collection costs. (Assuming volunteer time only). Charity should be properly formed with regular board meetings, proper trust bank accounts (not paypal) with multiple signatories, etc. Charity Commission likely to take a dim view of cash balances being held without proper investment so we need to get this right from the start. The English charitable company may be established as a subsidiary of the US Foundation to enable US citizens resident in the UK to gain Gift Aid on gifts to the UK charity without the UK tax saved then being reclaimed by the US tax authorities. This need not affect the independence of the UK board if properly structured and there are a lot of well off Americans in London! Dooley 03:39, 4 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Many organisations have reduced rates for students and the unemployed. E.g. an organization I am a member of charges £1 a month for students and has a progressive scale up to £10 a month for those on high salaries. A similar system would seem like a good idea as students generally have more time for volunteer work than those in full-time jobs. (And of course students eventually get jobs.) --cfp 17:24, 17 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Another idea would be to allow "societies" to affiliate to the charity as well as individuals. For example, there are amnesty societies at many UK universities. Students pay a fee to the society (generally less than the standard rate) which in turn pays part of that fee to the parent body. I'm not sure how things like voting work. Certainly the society has more than one vote, but probably less than its number of members. --cfp 17:05, 4 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

On Wikimedia Italia the subscription fee is 25€ p.a. (~ £17), so i daresay something in the range 15-20 quid should be ok. Cruccone 00:42, 5 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Benefits of membership edit

Could someone point me towards the page that explains the benefits of Wikimedia UK membership please? Thanks, --Rebroad 14:07, 2 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

As a guarantor member you have a legal right to vote at AGM's. As a supporting member you just get the warm glow of knowing you're contributing to a good cause. This is explained on Wikimedia UK v2.0--cfp 14:47, 2 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]