JAWUG going membership fee route
Wireless community networks like the Johannesburg Wireless User Group (JAWUG) and the Pretoria Wireless User Group (PTAWUG) are growing in popularity. Previously these ‘WUGs’ typically operated under the radar, but these networks are now becoming more mainstream and are attracting widespread support to extend their reach.
Wireless user groups (WUG) require financial support for maintenance and future growth, and they typically rely on community contributions to grow and support their networks. This is however starting to change.
JAWUG becomes NPO
JAWUG was formally declared a Non-Profit Organisation compliant with the NPO Act No 71 of 1997 on the 4th July 2009. According to JAWUG this was done through the adoption of a constitution after over 2 years of discussion and consultation.
“The NPO was established in order to create a legal body under which JAWUG can continue its community objectives. Some of the benefits include Tax exemptions and a legally accountable body that can handle funds and assets in a transparent manner,” JAWUG said in a statement.
As part of this move by JAWUG it has introduced a membership fee of R 360 per year. “As of the 1st August there were 68 members who had paid membership fees. The fees are not a subscription fee to use the JAWUG network but rather a fee to be part of the club,” said JAWUG. “Members will not be charged for connectivity to the network.”
Money collected through membership fees is currently being used to cover the administrative costs of registering JAWUG with all the required regulatory bodies. This will ultimately remove any doubts about the legal operation of the network.
Once that process has been completed the funds will be used to maintain and improve the current network. Expansion of the network will continue to be funded through member donations and this will now be transparently managed through the ManCom and the Treasurer.
The 1st of August was also the first AGM of the newly formed NPO and the first ManCom was elected. Elected members of the ManCom include founders of the network and members from the current core team.
JAWUG size
JAWUG said that statistics gathered from routers on their network indicate that they have in excess of 200 users actively connected to the network. There are many other users that are temporarily disconnected or in the process of joining, JAWUG said.
The current JAWUG network already covers both greater Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, with various links built or under construction to Pretoria, Potchefstroom and Vereeniging.
JAWUG said that the organization will continue to be community owned and will be run in accordance with Non-Profit regulations. “JAWUG will continue to grow and provide innovative and cost effective ways for members to communicate,” the new NPO concluded.
JAWUG membership fees – comments and views
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