[Aqualist] Invitation to AQUA Special Resolution Meeting

[Caroline Mather]

Dear AQUA community,

We invite all AQUA members to attend a meeting to pass a Special Resolution to modify the Constitution which will be held at 2pm AEST on Wednesday 15th October. This is required for AQUA to proceed with charity status and allow for tax deductible donations.

As you might be aware from our last General Meeting, the committee has been working hard behind the scenes to update the legal structure of AQUA to comply with latest regulatory changes, and to provide the pathway towards obtaining charity and DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) status. Some of the legal changes have already been implemented, and were necessary to comply with regulations, and, in the light of these changes, we have been obtained a preliminary approval as a charity by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC). The next step is to obtain DGR Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

  Benefits to AQUA:
*             Legal structure in compliance with regulations by ATO, Consumer Affairs Victoria, ACNC and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)
*             Cementation of AQUA's non-for-profit status, which means we don't pay GST
*             Charity and DGR status will allow us to create a 'Gift Fund'
*             AQUA will be eligible to issue tax deductible invoices for donations and gifts to the Fund, and
*             Hopefully, this will increase the number and size of philanthropic donations to AQUA

The ATO has confirmed that our activities comply with the requirements as a DGR, however, modifications to our constitution will be required to:
*              Implement the Gift Fund and its purpose in the constitution
*              Clearly avoid misuse of donations to this Fund
*              Implement regulations to the use of Gift Fund assets in case AQUA is dissolved, or loses its DGR status.

These changes mainly address issues of money-laundering, and will be a requirement to obtain DGR status.

We will share a draft version of the required modifications shortly.

Teams Meeting Link: AQUA Special Resolution Meeting | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NjM2NmI2M2ItMzczYi00ZmYyLWIzZTUtMTg0NWRkYWU4ZTI4%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2205894af0-cb28-46d8-8716-74cdb46e2226%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22df9331b3-66af-44c0-af67-ace1c3ce7152%22%7d>

We ask that our members attend the meeting OR provide a proxy (Email caroline.mather at uwa.edu.au<mailto:caroline.mather at uwa.edu.au>) so we can reach a quorum.

On behalf of Alex Francke (Treasurer) and Tim Barrows (President),

AQUA Secretary
Dr Caroline Mather
Lecturer
The University of Western Australia
M087 School of Agriculture and Environment
+61 8 6488 6863  *  caroline.mather at uwa.edu.au<mailto:caroline.mather at uwa.edu.au>
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We acknowledge we are situated on Noongar land, and that Noongar people remain the spiritual and cultural custodians of their land, and continue to practise their values, languages, beliefs and knowledge. We pay our respects to the traditional owners of the lands on which we live and work across Western Australia and Australia.