Re: [Staffslug] The Lug

Boo We wouldn't get recognized as a charity simply based on the fact that we are not helping a group in need - and there is a whole whack of paper work involved even if we did. A company, charity with/without a committee is just way too much for a community that sometimes goes a few months rather dead on its feet at this point. A committee would end up having us all on it! (and potentially not showing up!) Function Office is a limited company by guarantee like Nominet, Network Rail or most Student Unions (which is the closest you get to a non-profit company in the UK). We get loads of discounts of everything because of this status but we also have to deal with proving our income to HMRC, regular annual returns to companies house, and filing for a company return which has a fee every year. I created Function Office to be the technological equivalent of a "Student Union" for societies that needed support but were committed to open source/free software usage, ideal for any LUG. And it means the LUG gets the benefit of what we've already organised here in terms of our non-profit status. Function Office hosts (for free) lots of individuals and groups services, here are some of the groups... - www.linux-gamers.net - www.buracs.org.uk - www.mode-7.com - www.newcastlelibdems.org.uk I don't mind extending banking as service, mail redirection (real mail, not e-mail :P), and other non computer things. Steven