Email or username:

Password:

Forgot your password?
Top-level
Alex Schroeder

The thought that any long term solution needs more than a dictator for life is what makes me offer the creation of a Swiss association whenever such a thing comes up. People rarely take me up on this. I run a handful of wikis (Emacs Wiki being the best known, I guess); I even run a wiki-of-wikis where people can create their own wikis for their role-playing games (Campaign Wiki). All of these would benefit from some form of long term governance.

4 comments
Alex Schroeder

For the years I ran the "One Page Dungeon Contest" (where people submit entries and win prizes other people have sponsored), I created a 2 person association with my wife. It's a way to limit financial liability, of course. That is often a more tangible benefit rather than the "let's all do the work and get together once a year and have some votes" which sounds more like work than freedom. But still, having the option of changing the leadership is something that works in a society where we can't all be hyper-individuals.

For the years I ran the "One Page Dungeon Contest" (where people submit entries and win prizes other people have sponsored), I created a 2 person association with my wife. It's a way to limit financial liability, of course. That is often a more tangible benefit rather than the "let's all do the work and get together once a year and have some votes" which sounds more like work than freedom. But still, having the option of changing the leadership is something that works in a society where we can't...

Alex Schroeder

The Wikipedia article for Swiss associations gives some context.

«An association can serve as a non-profit organization (NPO) or non-governmental organization (NGO) and this form is used by several Swiss sections of international NGOs such as Amnesty International, and the World Wildlife Fund, by business firms (see below) or by international organizations such as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The form can also be used by political parties and alliances, such as trade unions.»
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_association

The key benefit of a Swiss associations is that it needs just two people and written articles of association. Nothing else. No sending it anywhere, no registration, nothing.

The Wikipedia article for Swiss associations gives some context.

«An association can serve as a non-profit organization (NPO) or non-governmental organization (NGO) and this form is used by several Swiss sections of international NGOs such as Amnesty International, and the World Wildlife Fund, by business firms (see below) or by international organizations such as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The form can also be used by political parties and alliances, such as trade unions.»

Alex Schroeder

To quote the government:

«To start an association, at least two natural persons and/or legal entities are needed. No seed capital is required. It is established following an organizational meeting called to approve the association’s articles of association and to appoint its board members and auditor. The required bodies are the general assembly and the association board (at least one member).

An association is an independent legal entity. Hence, association members are not personally liable for the association’s debt.»

https://www.kmu.admin.ch/kmu/en/home/concrete-know-how/setting-up-sme/starting-business/choosing-legal-structure/associations.html

My take: It is up to your contract partners to recognize that they are dealing with an association with possibly very little liability and act accordingly.

To quote the government:

«To start an association, at least two natural persons and/or legal entities are needed. No seed capital is required. It is established following an organizational meeting called to approve the association’s articles of association and to appoint its board members and auditor. The required bodies are the general assembly and the association board (at least one member).

Go Up