AGM 13 Sept 2008

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF UNIMA  AUSTRALIA INC. 2008 will be held on on Saturday 13th September at 2.00 p.m. Victorian College of the Arts  in the Puppetry Studio in the Performing Arts Building next to the new MTC recital Hall in Dodds Street.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO  OUR RULES.
Instead of our current two dates a year for annual subscriptions, it is proposed that we have only one        annual subscription date; July 1st each year.

It is proposed to change rule 4. (12). to:

“The annual subscription is payable in advance each year on the 1st of July. Any new members joining
before the the annual subscription date may be charged a reduced subscription fee at the discretion of
The Committee.”

It is proposed that this will take effect in 2009 and members who currently pay on 1st of January need
only pay for the first 6 months  and then pay the annual fee on the 1st of July.

PROPOSED ADDITION TO OUR RULES.
The Committee proposes we join the Register of Cultural Organisations, (ROCO), allowing us to set up a
Tax deductible public donations fund. The following wording is that recommended by the Federal Arts Dept. and is proposed for inclusion in our rules.

“Clauses relating to a Public Fund.
The Association will establish and maintain a public fund.

Donations will be deposited into the public fund listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations. These monies will be kept separate from other funds of the Association and will only be used to further the principal purpose of the Association. Investment of monies in this fund will be made in accordance with the guidelines for public funds as specified by the Australian Taxation Office.

The fund will be administered by a management committee or a subcommittee of the management committee, the majority of whom, because of their tenure of some public office or their professional standing, have an underlying community responsibility, as distinct from obligations solely in regard to the cultural objectives of UNIMA Australia Inc.

No monies/assets in this fund will be distributed to members or office bearers of the Association, except as reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the fund or proper remuneration for
administrative services.

The department responsible for the administration of the Register of Cultural Organisations will be notified of any proposed amendments or alterations to provisions of the public fund, to assess the effect of any amendments on the public fund’s continuing Deductible Gift Recipient status.

Receipts for gifts to the public fund must state:
The name of the public fund and that the receipt is for a gift made to the public fund;
The Australian Business Number of the company;
The fact that the receipt is for a gift; and any other matter required to be included on the receipt pursuant of the requirements of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 .

Winding-up clause.
If upon the winding-up or dissolution of the public fund listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations, there remains after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, any property or funds, the property or funds shall not be paid to or distributed among its members, but shall be given or transferred to some other fund, authority or institution having objects similar to the objects of this public fund, and whose rules shall prohibit the distribution if its or their income among its or their members, such fund, authority or institution to be eligible for tax deductibility of donations under Subdivision 30-B, section 30-100, of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 and listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations maintained under the Act”.

This will be in addition to the existing Winding-up Clause in our rules; 35. 

HAVE YOUR SAY:
The Management Committee of UNIMA Australia Inc. is offering this following proposal for your responses. The way you respond will determine whether we go ahead with it or not.

The committee proposes to publish one, annual Australian Puppetry  “year book” in the same size and format as Special issue “35”, instead of 3 issues of “Australian Puppeteer”. UNIMA OZ  and UP-DATES would be expanded to include all other information.

ALSO:
Do you think it is a good idea to exempt the editors of Australian Puppeteer from annual subscriptions for
the year they are active as editors?

If you want your contact details known to other members, please send your name, preferred contact method and state/ town to; Richard Hart, Secretary, dreampuppets@netspace.net.au 03 9570 2568 or P.O Box 121,Oakleigh Vic. 3166. This can be for the website or as a separate UNIMA OZ list via email.

OUR NEW COMMITTEE  from 13th of September, 2008.
President: Jennie Pfeiffer.
Secretary: Sue Giles
Treasurer:  Michael Agar in lieu of an assistant.
Committee: Annie Forbes, Sean Manners, Richard Hart.

Tags: puppetry, puppets, unima australia, unima,  australia