Community Association Question

[cassa333]

Totally not sure where this goes so it is here!!

This is a bit of an odd one but I was having a discussion with someone today about the definition of a regular user of a community venue and section. It does get a bit complicated at times but I hope I explain it properly.

A community association hires out rooms to hirers (such as Salsa dance) on a regular basis and their attendees are regular users. These hirers and their regular users could go else where with no penalty.

A community association organises regular events/activity (such as monthly children's disco) and the attendees are regular users. If the users go else where or there are not enough attendees to make it financially viable the association stops organising the event/activity.

A community association has 'sections' that consist of members for a particular pastime (such as drama) and these are regular users. The section is a part of the association. If these regular users went elsewhere they could not take the name of the club, any equipment, or any money generated by the section. In effect the section is a part of the business model of the association and cannot up sticks and go elsewhere as hirers can.

So far I have three types of users. Hirers and their users, event/activity users and section member users.

My discussion was around the last group, section member users and the operation of the business (I think)

So.

The section is running well so are left alone.

The section does not have enough members or income to be a viable group. (Sections have to pay a contribution to costs equivalent to hire costs.

From the point of view of the Association: The section members will identify their needs or shortfalls and go to the association for help if needed.nThey should make sure their group is viable in all forms but the Association will help if asked.

From the point of view of the member users: The Association is the owner and they run it on their behalf. They should come to us and find out what is going on.

Ultimately who is responsible for viability? Both the association and section members, the Association or the members?

Thanks

[Zacs-Master]

As the sections are part of the business model of the club, I'd say that, without doubt, the responsibility, ultimately, lies with the association. You talk about points of view but really such eventualities should be covered in the associations constitution (or whatever type of contract governs the assoc), not just left to opinion.

[cassa333]

That is exactly my point Zac.

The trustees seem to think the section members should be doing everything. But as you say, ultimately the aims of the association and business model means they are responsible.

How would it look if the Association didn't support the section and for whatever reason the members were not capable, but still wanted to carry on?

It's akin to me owning a beauty parlour (I don't by the way lol) with a hair dressers, nail bar and beauty therapy service and not bothering to make sure it is running properly.

The Association does have terms of reference for just about everything but it seems the trustees have forgotten the basic aims of the association.

[Zacs-Master]

Seems like a fault with your constitution / governing documents to me. Loopholes like this should be tied up.