hey @franzi6, I'd be super curious about your decision process regarding the Gemeinnützigkeit. For me it's a bit intransparent and I reckon a lot of people will ask about it. Could you write up a somewhat detailed post about it?

sure thing. so, remy, waldo and myself have been working on several questions over the last months. One was, what is the right legal body for kiezburn? we choose the Verein (for insurance, liability and democracy/participation reasons). second question was, do we go for Gemeinnuetzigkeit? we have done a lot of research, talked to lawyers, tax consultants etc and came to the conclusion, doesn't make a lot of sense for us. Yes, there is a tax benefit and that's interesting but to keep (not to gain Gemeinnuetzigkeit) the accounting and bureaucratic effort on yearly base will cost us as much (or more) as we save over the tax benefit. So, not really worth the huzzle for us. This might be different for other communities (depending on members, knowledge, budget, number of receipts etcetc).
Also, this is only a decision for now, with an adjusted Satzung you can always after the founding request Gemeinnuetzigkeit (yeah double in work) but we don't loose the possibility.
I hope that gives some insights... wasn't sure how deep I should go in details (love to nerd out about it if someone thinks taxes are as exciting as I think they are). Let me know if anything isn't clear or isn't making sense. @indecisiveibis

I'm wondering if it makes sense to invite everyone into the Verein. Every member adds bureaucratic overhead and - beyond some point - doesn't add much value. Take Berlin Burners eV for example: They have to call in a Mitgliedervesammlung to make certain decisions and those usually have some required attendance to be able to make a decision. A big Verein could be very hard to move.

Hey Henrik, it might indeed be something to consider to not make it "too big". However, we have been trying to tackle some of those challenges in the Satzung by:
- not requiring any minimum attendance for the general assembly to be able to make decisions
- putting as little requirements for what needs to be decided in a general assembly and the board cannot do themselves, in the Satzung.

But putting it differently:
- a big verein means a lot of support in making our community flourish
- a verein that is open to many, makes for a more inclusive community

I'd love to read over that Satzung! Is it available?

Sure thing! its currently under legal review (lawyers figuring out if we compile with Vereinsrecht) but we probably share it here when he have a pre-final draft. It's mostly a very German document that regulates our necessary (legally speaking) routines as a Verein. @indecisiveibis

I can send out the newsletter - but after decompraiser.

works for me :)

Sounds great! Talking to someone today who can hopefully help us with a location, and planning to print flyers today (unfortuantely likely without a location on it)

Newsletter invitation suggested wording:

Hello Kiez Peeps!

Thank you to those who came out and supported the KB community during Kiez Miez! A huge shout out those who were very involved in organizing such a beautiful event - and for our wonderful hosts at Brigit & Bier.

As many of you know, we are working to build the foundation of a new Verein - Kiez Burn e.V. Please join us Sunday, 25 November 2018 at 14:00h (Location Noize Fabrik: Elsenstr. 52, 12059 Berlin, Germany) to help us elect a new board, and participate in the discussion of where Kiez Burn is going starting next year.

The Agenda will include:
Introduction to the new Verein (why, how, etc)
Current thinking and direction (overview of structures, philosophy/culture, etc)
Proposal for election of the board
Everyone who wants to be on the board speaks
Election

The board will be the "vision guides" for the Kiez Burn community, focusing on important structural problems or opportunities. Three main areas in which the board YOU elect will focus on a sustainable culture, structures that help us grow, and tools for effective organization. The board does not coordinate the Kiez Burn event as such, but is focused on enabling self-organization.

Join us on the 25th and join the discussion on Loomio here: https://www.loomio.org/g/T45gZU9u/kiez-burn-a-new-verein-kiez-burn-e-v-

We look forward to seeing you there!

Some wording changes:

Hello Kiez Peeps!

Thank you to those who came out and supported the KB community during Kiez Miez! A huge shout out those who were very involved in organizing such a beautiful event - and for our wonderful hosts at Brigit & Bier.

As many of you know, we are working to build the foundation of a new Verein - Kiez Burn e.V. Please join us Sunday, 25 November 2018 at 14:00h (Location Noize Fabrik: Elsenstr. 52, 12059 Berlin, Germany) to help us elect a new board, and participate in the discussion of where Kiez Burn is going starting next year.

The Agenda will include:
Introduction to the new Verein (why, how, etc)
Current thinking and direction (overview of structures, philosophy/culture, etc)
Proposal for election of the board
Everyone who wants to be on the board speaks
Election

The board will be the keepers of radical bureaucracy and "vision guides" for the Kiez Burn community, focusing on important structural problems or opportunities. Three main areas in which the board YOU elect will focus on are a sustainable culture, structures that help us grow, and tools for effective organization. The board does not coordinate the Kiez Burn event as such, but is focused on enabling self-organization.

Join us on the 25th and join the discussion on Loomio here: https://www.loomio.org/g/T45gZU9u/kiez-burn-a-new-verein-kiez-burn-e-v-

We look forward to seeing you there!

I like the wording! Just wondering whether we should add to this newsletter also the census, which i believe wasn't yet sent out? and/or add info about the blog HM started on the website? or would you rather send that out separately? I'm shitty with writing, but happy to help with putting the NL into Mailchimp and sending it out...

I can write something about the blog!

Hey folks -wanted to chat about the Agenda fro the assembly. I feel like I have lots of questions that are specific (e.g., Do we "elect" a president, or do we just elect a board and the board decides who among them is president?). I don't want to overburden the meeting with very small details like this without 1) thinking of some of these small questions that might come up; 2) forming some sort of opinion to move things forward. Would you guys think that perhaps starting a google doc (and linking it here) for all these "small things" is appropriate, or should I stick with the loomio thread?

what about putting some of the smaller questions that we could decide on beforehand already up for a decision here in this group?

And what about using the thread beginning here as our calendar? That way it is accessible & editable by all, and we do not create another source yet again?

In my experience - the less things there is to discuss the better. Without clear "this is what we decide yes or no" agenda the meeting might just never end. So I also think it would be great to discuss about it here and then just get the approval in the meeting. I think for the president and the treasurer there is some qualifications (I could imagine german language skills and basic knowledge on finances would help) so those chairs could be voted for separately. The rest could go ask bulk. This is what we did for Lovelies in our last annual meeting.

I agree with all :) So, lets start a question doc and sort most of it out online before. And I very much agree with what Hanna-Maija said, with this size of a meeting etcetc to get the best out of it, it needs to be framed and not too detailed.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WBzIRgO8mivnu3bNoe2DYdhB3hqspJY7ckrDljaZh98/edit?usp=sharing @remyschneider @waldo @hannamaijahelvi here is the questions doc

Also the number of people in the board could be decided here in beforehand. I don't see any value in discussing about that in the meeting.

probably 7

we founded a verein some30 years ago and have been working on a satzung that we wanted 2 presidents, best 1 female and 1 man). I would like the same

What would be the goal of this? Currently we are majority women in the core team and that does not bother me?