Jogging The Powerpoles - Koha & Donations

This group is a FREE fitness service provided by Athletics NZ Coach Kerris Browne, Walkers Coach Doris Bragg, and Swim Coach Maxine Parker, and administered through the collective Facebook group known as JOGGING THE POWERPOLES.

We are an Incorporated Society: #50082329

All JTP Koha finances are administered through our Committee Bank Accounts at Westpac.

BANK ACCOUNT:

Jogging The Powerpoles Incorporated

03 0415 0127636 000

We are currently progressing with application to the Charities Services.

PURPOSE:

JTP was initially set up to provide free walking, running, biking, and swimming fitness to those who could not afford to join a sports club, making health and fitness obtainable by all - Kerris strongly believes that health and fitness should not be restricted to the size of one's bank account. It has grown to include all aspects of improving one's fitness and health, including injury-prevention, nutrition, weight loss, and motivational seminars.

Core Purpose:

To be beneficial to the community by improving the health and fitness of the overweight and unfit, through free coach-led walking, running, cycling, swimming and other fitness programs of need.
To be beneficial to the community by improving psychological wellbeing of the community through welcoming overweight, unfit, and slow beginners and participants, and providing an atmosphere of inclusion and encouragement through group sessions, activities, event goals, and referrals to other suitable programs.
To advance education in the areas of health and fitness by providing free technical skill sessions and nutritional and motivational seminars.
The relief of poverty by providing free or discounted access to the above and to relevant gear, products, services, and event entries, to those who are financially-challenged.

Activities and Objectives Include:

Running seasonal programs and beginner intakes, which start with technique, injury-prevention and safety
Providing free nutrition, hydration, gear, and foundation-strength advice and information sessions
Administering a koha system whereby members can attend/take for free, or donate what they can
Encouraging members to be welcoming of all, regardless of age, gender, race, size, speed, or ability
Encouraging leadership amongst members, teaching them how to pass on knowledge and skills
Establishing a core safety mantra of 'never leave anyone behind' with regular safety checks at all sessions
Keeping beginner safety in mind at all times, and designing sessions to include the lesser able
Respectfully and privately establishing those members who could benefit from financial assistance
Setting up a comprehensive network of other clubs/groups and recommended treatment providers who are supportive of beginners, and negotiating cost-effective rates from them
Obtaining discounts for entries to popular events, for members
Encouraging members to provide marshalling at events, in return for income to the group
Obtaining bulk discounts for beneficial group services and activities such as gym memberships, coaching, and nutritional and health advice
Obtaining donated gear, services, and event entries, and offering first to those who are financially-challenged
Purchasing and selling relevant cost-effective or discounted gear, equipment, services, nutrition and hydration products, with small profits used as fundraising for the Core Purpose
Providing such items to financially-challenged members for free, at cost, at a larger discount and/or with ability to repay over time
Loaning out more expensive equipment to financially-challenged members for free, or for a small rental fee and/or bond, and/or allowing them to be purchased and paid off over time
Applying for and obtaining grants, carrying out fundraising activities, and inviting donations and sponsorship
Hiring staff and subcontractors, borrowing and investing money, purchasing, leasing and hiring land, buildings and vehicles, and any other activities to further the charitable purposes of the club

Rules:

The club is goverened by a management committee of between 6-14 officers, elected annually at AGM, with any remaining roles seconded during the term.

All officers must be qualified under the terms of the Charities Act 2005, and all changes in officers must be notified to Charities Services within 3 months.

Decisions of the club will be made by a majority of the standing committee, with the President holding one extra casting vote in the case of split votes.

Officers must declare the nature of any conflicts of interest where their personal interest, duty, or loyalties in a particular manner might conflict with his/her duty to the charitable entity, and must not take part in deliberations or proceedings including decision-making in relation to that conflict of interest matter.

All income, benefit or advantage must be used to advance the charitable purposes of the organisation.

No member of the organisation, or anyone associated with a member, is allowed to take part in, or influence any decision made by the organisation in respect of payments to, or on behalf of, the member or associated person of any income, benefit, or advantage.

All payments made must be for goods and services that advance the charitable purpose and must be reasonable and relative to payments that would be made by unrelated parties.

No shareholders or members shall be entitled to receive any benefit from the organisation by way of dividend or other general payment outside the normal charitable purpose

Any amendment to these rules can be made by an 75% majority of the standing committee, after receiving feedback from the members at large

If a decision is made to wind up or dissolve the organisation and any property remains after settlement of the organisations debts and liabilities, that property must be used to further a charitable purpose or purposes as defined in section 5(1) of the Charities Act 2005.

MEMBERSHIP:

Membership is open to any member of the public who:

Wants to improve their fitness and health
Follows the program, attends the training sessions, or undertakes the foundation work as directed
Includes, welcomes and assists other beginners without prejudice
Promotes and uses the group in a positive and safe manner at all times
Does not use the group for financial gain or commercial purposes, except where allowed as furthuring the charitable purpose:
1. There is a special discounted/free offer specifically for JTP group that is not available elsewhere, and
2. The offer/service has been negotiated and approved by an Admin, or
3. A member has experienced the product/service and highly recommends it, without personal connection

What is KOHA:

For the purposes of our group, 'Koha' is used to mean 'pay what you can afford AND feel that this service is worth'. When you see an event or some gear advertised as 'Koha' that means you can go/take it for free if finances are a struggle for you. Those who can put money in, will, to whatever level fits comfortably within their finances. This is a solid system that has worked well by not publicly identifying the 'poor' or the 'better-offs' in the group.

DONATIONS:

Commercial Donations:

The group actively searches out and welcomes any Commercial Donations and Sponsorship of gear, services, and monetary donations at any time, in return for a shout-out and promotion of their business on our group page. We will distribute those sponsored items either to those in need, or via promotional challenges to get more people to join the training sessions.

Fundraising Activities:

Kerris and the group will undertake activites to raise further funds for the group by:

Volunteering and Marshalling at major events to generate group income
Running seminars and workshops, either by fixed price and/or koha
Buying and selling gear and group services, at the same time endeavouring to provide those gear and services at a discounted rate for the benefit of the group and especially those in active training.

Member Donations:

There has also been substantial support for a confidential donation system whereby those athletes and followers who are financially-able, can donate to a fund that is administered by Kerris, for the benefit of the group as a whole, and especially for sponsorship of those athletes and active members who are financially-challenged when it comes to training for, getting gear for, and entering events that the group may be attending.

Member Donations are Confidential Koha: Anyone is welcome to donate any amount at any time, however there will be no receipts, refunds, undertakings, or expectations of how the donation is to be spent, even if the person donating has left the group - this is entirely up to Kerris and/or Admins.

Donations can be made using the button on the right of the page, or ONLINE through the Purchase & Pay Checkout:

These donations may be spent on activities, gear, nutrition, and services that are of benefit to the group and/or any of it's members.
These donations may be spent on entry fees and/or associated costs of attending events, for those active members who would otherwise financially struggle to attend.
These donations may be spent on any other product or service that Kerris and her Admins and Coaches see fit.
Kerris has undertaken that no personal remuneration or income is derived from this group, and that all JTP coaches are fully unpaid volunteers.

If the group itself is ever disbanded, the balance of funds will firstly be spent on whatever is of health and fitness benefit to remaining members, then will be donated to a related or similar cause to this group and it's goals.

ADMINISTRATION:

The group is coordinated by JTP Committee, current President and Coaching Coordinator is Kerris Browne with the help of Coaches, Pack Leaders and Admins, who communicate regularly through a Messenger Admins Group. Sponsorship of beginners are nominated by members, and Kerris usually manages the smaller ad-hoc sponsorships of gear etc. The Committee decides on Annual Sponsorship recipients and where any wider considerations are required. Larger group decisions are often decided by a Poll to all members, or feedback from the Admins Group.