Issue Date:  -  Friday, 1 July 2005

Last call: Cat Fanciers and Lazy Men

Time is running out for Golden West cat fanciers and Northam lazy men to come forward.

That is, members of the Northam and Districts Lazy Men’s Association of WA (Inc), established in 1923, and The Golden West Cat Fanciers Association of WA (Inc), established in 1934.

The two clubs are among 8000 sporting and community organisations which face having their incorporation cancelled if they do not contact the Department of Consumer Protection.

Consumer Protection administers the Associations Incorporations Act that allows not-for-profit organisations to become incorporated.

There are 19,000 incorporated associations currently listed on the department’s database which dates back to 1896.

Over the past two years, Consumer Protection has under taken a major clean up of the database to identify inactive associations and get contact details for active associations.

More than 11,000 associations have sent in their contact details and confirmed they are still active.

But time is running out for associations who have not contacted Consumer Protection. If the department has not heard from these associations by the end of this month (July), action will be commenced to cancel their incorporation.

"One of the reasons we want to clean up the database is to free up the names for other organisations," said Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker.

"Although there are many weird and wonderful names on the database, there are other names which associations have sought to use and cannot because the names are already registered.

"If you are a former member of an association which you know is no longer active, please contact us."

A list of incorporated associations facing cancellation is available for viewing at www.docep.wa.gov.au/associations/cleanup or call 1300 79 04 50.

Mr Walker said that if an association’s incorporation is cancelled and it is later shown to be active, their status would be reinstated without legal consequence.

The Gosnells Community Legal Centre have produced an easy to read guide on how to incorporate and run an association called ‘Inc - A Guide for Incorporated Associations’.

The guide covers areas such as:

1. understanding the Associations Incorporations Act;
2. employing staff and using volunteers;
3. understanding taxation, auditing and accounting;
4. preventing discrimination and harassment;
5. fundraising; and
6. dispute resolution and winding up procedures.

The guide is available for purchase from GCLC on 9490 1163. Copies are available for loan through local and regional libraries.

Some of the other associations facing cancellation are:

• Dereck’s Devils Oldies Incorporated
• Devils Creek Bachelor and Spinisters Association Inc
• Doggie Dancers of Australia Incorporated
• Freeloaders Fringe Farmers Federation F.F.F.F Incorporated
• Ghost Town Rollers Coolgardie
• Hidden Veil Bellydancers Inc.
• Jarrah Jerkers Jog Association Incorporated
• Old Gaffers Association of WA Incorporated
• Pirates Hot Rod Club
• Potty Pottery Club Inc
• Red Hot Operator’s and Drivers’ Association, Incorporated
• State Sheep Counting competition of WA (Inc)
• Swag People Incorporated
• Ten Cents A Day Inc
• The Australasian Order of Old Bastards (Kulin Branch) Incorporated.
• The Australian Top Doorslammer Association Inc
• The British Settlers’ Association of Western Australia
• The Heart Throbs Bowling Club (WA) Incorporated
• The K.I.S.S. Club (Keeping it Seriously Silly)
• Clowning Around Incorporated
• Laugh WA
• No Worries Inc