Growth and Fund-raising Committee:
Our last meeting included a lot of discussion and healthy debate about the need for club growth in order to achieve a higher public profile and more success with our negotiations with QPWS regarding Marine Park permits. After many e-mails and a few long phone discussions with James King, it was proposed that a new committee be established specifically to encourage growth and fund-raising. James, Elisha, and Karl Bowman have volunteered, and James submitted this letter for discussion:

Hello Gents,
Here's what I propose. I think we should register with the GCBF to apply to raise money for a portable office trailer with a new fancy club logo printed on the outside. I'm thinking of a tandem trailer that has potable water, tea and coffee making facilities, solar and battery, LED lighting, some seats and table and roll out annex that we can take to rallies, school fetes, and expos advertising and promoting our club and which also has a functional capacity as a 'club house on wheels'. That way we wouldn't need to lease land wherever we have an event. We could get some flag banners as well for advertising.

I'm not sure of the cost of a portable office but I think this should be our first major purchase if we are able to get funds. There are four rounds per year and we can apply for everyone. I would like to see a dedicated club rescue boat and club car in the future. This would be a good start and make us look like a bigger and more legitimate club. There is a lot of money out there being given away to clubs, we are financially small, haven't applied for grants and will be easier to get to events which benefit the community etc with a portable office. This should increase our chances of receiving funding over the next few rounds.

I read the priorities list and we are about number two (facility improvements) behind organisations receiving funding for declared natural disasters. Facility improvements include construction of demountable buildings, amenities blocks, playgrounds, sheds, lighting or storage facilities. We'd be in with a good chance. My thinking is that these trailers aren't cheap so I'd be requesting the maximum grant of $35,000 and getting one made for that price or finding a second hand one.

I'd be happy to be the first member of a 'sub-committee' and would like to do a webinar course ($97) to assist with this.
Indigogold.com.au
Cheers,
James

Members at the meeting agreed that the concept is good but had differing ideas about purchasing the suggested mobile clubhouse, vehicle, safety boat etc, or a club hovercraft.
Voting was divided as follows:
Mobile office: (2 for / 9 against) There were perceived problems with towing, storage, tow-vehicle, insurance, rego, etc. and suggested more value in purchasing a club ACV/vehicle/safety boat instead (7 for / 4 against).
Gambling fund applications: Voted yes (unanimous), but big discussion about "dual legal identity" (Vic Incorporated vs Qld unincorporated, ABN vs non ABN, etc).

James' committee is authorised to enquire and propose, and justify pros and cons, but not authorised to take action on behalf of the club until each action is approved at the following club meeting.
(Can James phone or Skype into our next meeting on 19/6/18?)
Discussed possibility of using the regional AHF (forum) club to apply for ABN instead of QSH.
Club growth via open days & demonstrations: Yes, unanimous.

James also supplied this information about the proposed fund-raising:
Not-for-profit groups operating in Queensland can apply for grants from $500 to $35,000 through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF). This fund is Queensland's largest one-off grants program, distributing approximately $54 million per year. The fund allocates grants to not-for-profit community groups, to enhance their capacity to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities. The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) Community Benefit Funds Unit (CBFU) administers the GCBF. We invite all eligible organisations to submit grant applications to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund through the GCBF online grants portal. Please watch the tutorial videos below before applying through the grants portal. There are four opportunities for grants each year. The next round closes 31st May 2018 so we need to get a move on to apply for this one. I believe we need to apply as a legal entity so will need Incorporation certificate, ABN and bank account details to register.

Eligibility:
Eligible organisations - All organisations must:

• have not-for-profit objectives
• be community based
• be registered on the GCBF on line portal as a legal entity or sponsored entity prior to submitting an application.

All legal entities must:

• be incorporated or registered by an Act of Parliament - Definition of Act of Parliament (A law enacted as legislation by a national or state Parliament)
• have an active ABN
• have a bank account in the name of the legal entity and submit the Bank Verification Form stamped by the financial institution.
• agree to the terms and conditions of the grant
• if sponsoring an organisation, ensure the sponsored entity has not-for-profit objectives and
• if sponsoring an organisation, agree to accept legal and financial responsibility for the grant.

Organisations must be one of the following:

• A legal entity; or
• A sponsored entity applying through a legal entity; or
• A local Ambulance Committee, Rural Fire Brigade or State Emergency Service Group sponsored by their relevant Government department.

If the OLGR team cannot clearly identify if your organisation is eligible through public registers you may be asked to submit supporting documents such as:

• a Certificate of Incorporation
• a Certificate of Registration against an Act of Parliament and a copy of the constitution to verify not-for-profit objectives
• Letters patent
• Trust Deed
• Shareholder information

Are your requested items eligible? Eligible items
Organisations can apply for any item, except ineligible items. When applying, organisations should also consider the list of 'unlikely to be funded' items and the funding priorities.
Funding priorities
In each round applications are prioritised from 1 (being the highest) to 5 (being the lowest).
The Committee consider funding from all priorities however allocate funding to higher priorities first.
Funding priorities are:

Priority 1
Applications by organisations affected by a declared natural disaster in the last 2 years (see Definitions)

Priority 2
Applications for the purchase of equipment and/or facility improvements (see Definition and details below)

Priority 3
Applications for the purchase of buses, cars, caravans, boats, tractors, trailers, large mowers, motorbikes and similar items

Priority 4
Applications for community events, training, workshops, programs and festivals

Priority 5
Applications by organisations that have received a grant or grants from the GCBF of more than $15,000 in the past two years

Other determining factors:

• financial position of organisation
• age of organisation
• value for money of the grant
• contributions, financially or in-kind, toward the project
• opportunities for the organisation to generate income
• benefits to more than one organisation
• number of applications by the legal entity (if sponsoring)
• geographical location of organisation and benefit to a region
• target group being assisted
• government priorities identified by the Minister

Ineligible items
The following items are ineligible:

• items purchased or committed to purchase before the organisation is notified in writing their application is successful
• grant writer fees
• items purchased from a grant writer or their associated companies (refer to grant writers section)
• contingency costs
• auspice fees
• repayment of debts and loans
• overseas travel costs
• project management fees
• purchase of equipment/service that benefit an individual
• funding for a staff or member social event
• alcohol
• gifts or prizes
• subsidies
• sponsorship

Note: ineligible items cannot be incorporated in contracts or invoices. Unlikely to be funded items
Items unlikely to be funded include

• salaries and wages
• rent and lease costs
• utilities and insurance costs
• administrationexpensessuch as stationery, postage and office supplies
• consumable items such as food, petrol, uniforms
• catering
• internal training not provided by a third party
• prepaid or store cards

So we now have a Growth and Fund-raising Committee consisting of James and Elisha King, and Karl Bowman. Their e-mail addresses are: jamesandking@bigpond.com and hoverhaull@iinet.net.au
Please contact them directly when you have any suggestions or enquiries.

James has been very active with following up our legal options to get some justice with the current permit and insurance situation. He has now taken it beyond QPWS/NPSR/DES and QCAT to the Ombudsman's office.

James now has a copy of our e-mail Bcc list and will distribute relevant information directly to all club members as things evolve. Please ensure that your replies utilise the "Reply All" button in your e-mail program. That way, everyone can follow the thread.