Change of name
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This is a draft proposal for discussion |
Background
Wikimedia UK was incorporated on 27 October 2008 under the name "Wiki UK Limited". At the time, another organisation, Wiki Educational Resources Limited, was recognised by the Foundation as the UK chapter and was entitled to call itself "Wikimedia UK". Therefore the new organisation wasn't able to call itself "Wikimedia UK" from the outset. Wiki Educational Resources is normally referred to as "Wikimedia UK v1.0" with Wiki UK Ltd referred to as "Wikimedia UK v2.0".
On 12 January 2009 the Wikimedia Foundation, with the support of Wikimedia UK v1.0, agreed to terminate the original chapter agreement and signed a new Chapter_Agreement with Wiki UK Ltd. From then on Wiki UK Ltd took the operating name "Wikimedia UK" but retained the legal name "Wiki UK Ltd".
All legal contracts, including the Fundraising Agreements, Bank Accounts and Contracts of Employment refer to the legal name as "Wiki UK Ltd", normally with the suffix "operating as Wiki UK Ltd".
Proposal
I propose that the legal name of the chapter be changed to "Wikimedia UK".
Benefits
This removes an unncessary level of complication and confusion when people are dealing with the chapter. Everyone knows the chapter as "Wikimedia UK", so why not have it as our legal name?
It reduces the risk that cheques are returned if made out to the wrong entity or that contracts are signed without the correct disclosures. Potential partners, donors and supporters find it easier to find information about us from Companies House and the Charity Commission websites.
Process
The chapter is incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales. To change our name we need to:
- Obtain the consent of the Wikimedia Foundation
- Pass a Special Resolution at the next AGM
- File forms NM01 and NE01 at Companies House with a fee of £10 [1]
- The Articles are deemed to be automatically amended. [2]
- Update stationary, website etc. with the new legal name [3]
- Provide the new Certificate of Incorporation to the bank
- Start using the name "Wikimedia UK" for all new contracts
Note that the organisation remains the same as before. The legal entity continues uninterrupted: all contracts of Wiki UK Ltd are automatically contracts of (the new) Wikimedia UK without any further action required. The constitution will otherwise remain unaltered, the chapters' assets and liabilities will remain the same and the board will remain in unchanged.
Changing the name will have no impact on the activities that the chapter may or may not engage in: they remain restricted only by the chapter's Objects clause.