Robert
Based on the data in your post below, GQ is to be commended on many of
these initiatives. Are the other States moving towards a similar arrangement?
Now, from GQ's experience with your Item 4, can you advise why the GFA
Board should not be directly elected from the membership? I assume that the
Constitution prevents it and the State bodies would oppose it .......... but
apart from those little impediments why wouldn't it work?
Your Item 3 rings alarm bells for me and I contend that it should for all
GFA members. If a State is pushing for "open governance" and this is meeting "
strong resistance at the Board and Executive to inviting the membership into
issues as they arise rather than when a position has already been established"
then surely members should be concerned and voice their support for such an
initiative.
I'm just a concerned member and I expect some of the inner clique to start
their "your just a winger who sits outside the circle and does nothing" line,
as it is done fairly regularly here, however as a member I reckon I have the
right to voice a concern. I hope that the GFA would actively support that right
............ but it appears to me that the existing mechanisms make it quite
difficult or ponderous for a member to do something about it directly. I assume
that such a member would have to start to lobby this at Club level 1st. If
Robert and GQ are having no success in achieving a move to more open
governance, what hope does a dumb little individual member have?
It's time for a change. Not for a complete overthrow of the existing
system, but time for reasonable progressive change and tangibly more open
governance is the area where it should start. Direct election of the board is
the next. And both would bring a breath of fresh air and enthusiasm to the
Federation.
I'm not advocating a purge or any other form of blood-letting, but I do
support a demand for open governance using a sound, proven & transparent
organisational model.
Why not?
Regards Geoff Kidd
PS Robert ...... Is this likely to be discussed or raised at the AGM in
September? If so I'll start to save up for the Avgas to go over.
Robert Hart wrote:
I do not think GQ is a complete waste of time - but then I am involved in it
and so I may be biased (but similarly, uninvolved people may be biased the
other way). Some things that GQ has done over the last few years...
1. Taken a very strong lead in pushing the safety barrow,
particularly in terms of safety management. There's not much (yet)
visible to the general membership yet, but all the talk is
starting to have some impact at the GFA administration level, with
the Ops panel discussing Safety Management Systems at its upcoming
meeting and with a GQ member with significant expertise in this
area as a guest speaker.
2. Rapidly realised the possible impact of FLARM, mandated FLARM for
all GQ competitions and helped clubs fund the acquisition of FLARM
units by loaning funds for their purchase. GQ also purchased a
number of FLARM units for loan to pilots (particularly Juniors)
flying in Qld comps.
3. Pushed (and continues to push) strongly for open governance within
the GFA. I have to admit that this has not yet really had any
significant impact as there remains strong resistance at the Board
and Executive to inviting the membership into issues as they arise
rather than when a position has already been established (at least
to all intents and purposes).
4. Changed its elections to direct election from the membership
rather than through club representative, including the provision
for a postal vote.
5. Provided financial and other support to the Juniors.
6. Provide financial assistance to distant clubs (ie outside SE Qld)
so that they can send representatives to the GQ AGM.
7. Rapidly adopted and implemented the coaching system across the
state, with activities ranging from week long and weekend coaching
sessions to specialist lectures in the city.
As a matter of course, GQ has also for many years done a number of other
things, such as
1. Provided some financial assistance to WA pilots flying in Qld
based competitions.
2. Underwritten any losses from running a particular comp in QLd (eg
resulting from getting rained out or some such).
Finally, let's be clear about democracy - as I've indicated above, the GQ
membership directly elects GQ officers and the committee. This includes the
Board representative. Further, our quarterly meetings are open to all members,
advertised on the mailing list and web site. Upcoming issues are also
frequently discussed on the GQ mailing list.
I am not sure just how more democratic we can get - but if you have any
suggestions please let me know.
I have no idea how other State Associations operate - I am only involved in GQ.
From external observation, however, it does seem to me that a couple of
regional associations are in some strife. However, there is value in the state
associations if they are adequately run as it allows local initiatives to be
run. However, as with the GFA, it requires people to be *involved.*
Over to you!
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