How to start a volunteer organization.

An organization is actually an corporation.
And a corporation is "one legal person" and that means that the
corporation then can own things, make deals or be responsible for debt's etc.


When starting a volunteer organization then it should at least be around 7-12 persons
just to make the work more easier. But minimum 3 people is sufficient to start up.


The first meeting:
On the first meeting the group should point out an chairman or a chairwoman.
There should also be a person who checks and writes down all that be said in the meeting.
A cashier is also needed, someone that can handle the money.
You also need a person who is the vote counter.
And if you wish make someone a vice-chairman or a vice-chairwoman.


You need to create bylaws that will dictate how the corporation is run.
( Because the bylaws are the main foundation of the corporation. )
When the first meeting has ended, the following should be on the bylaws:
- Name of the corporation
- The hometown of the corporation
- The corporation's main goal
- Rules for how the corporation should be run
- Year plan
- Year meeting
- Rules for membership, new membership and resignation
- Member fee
- Vote rules
- Who is who ( chairperson, cashier etc. )
- Meeting rules ( So not only 2 members meet and decide thing etc. )
- Rules for changes in the bylaws
- Rules for the resolution of the corporation

Ps:
About the "Rules for changes in the bylaws" You could create a temporary law for that.
Because the corporation is so new. That law should say that the first 1-2 months
could be a little flexible, but definitely not more than that.


The corporation is a corporation when the bylaws has been done and the "who is who" is set.
And a corporation was as i said "one legal person"
A legal person = Corporation can:
- Own things
- Make deals
- Be employer
- Can become bankrupt
- Talk for the corporation with the government


For a non-profit corporation that would be tax free so is there some few rules that the corporation
must have fulfilled. Talk whit your goverment about those rules.


You can read more about starting a volunteer organization here:
nonprofit.about.com - nonprofit basics
nonprofit.about.com - startingsteps