Yes, but gathering/collecting & canvassing for proxy votes is not as easy as
direct voting in person or by other means.
Though I must admit the canvassing for proxies by a person or a group of a
particular view on an issue might prise out more votes than would be usual than
if left solely to the members.
----- Original Message -----
From: rquinn
To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 5:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] GFA Board Term of Office
AGM and SGM have provision for directed proxy voting.
Redmond
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Christopher Mc
Donnell
Sent: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 12:38 PM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] GFA Board Term of Office
Dion said:
"The only problem is, it would be difficult for many of us to be present at
an AGM or anywhere else where a vote would have to be put forward is person, so
perhaps a way of mailing in out vote would be best."
Clause 21 of the Articles of Association provides for electronic/postal
voting, but only "at the discretion of the President". (sigh!)
I would have thought postal/electronic voting would be normal given the
geographical seperation of the members.
From: D S Baker
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] GFA Board Term of Office
In the email from Graeme Wishart which Robert Hart attached, the proposed
resolution says:
A maximum consecutive term for any "board position by a" Board member
shall be five years
"and shall be limited to 8 years consecutive in total"
and shall apply except in special circumstances
and where invited to continue,
such an invitation being approved by at least two thirds majority of
the
Board.
So, what's being said is that a board member may hold one position for up
to five years, but if they've switched positions, up to eight years. While I
think this is fair, perhaps it would be an idea to make it a bit more obvious
that the eight years is a limit on how long one may stay on the board if
they've swapped positions in the previous 5 years.
It also states that an appointed board member is put there by being
approved by at least two thirds majority of the board. As Graeme said,
The intent [of Clause 12 e] of course was to ensure turnover of Board
members and to prevent
featherbedding, stagnation and empire building.
If board members are the only ones allowed to vote for other board members,
then they could well easily keep each other in for as long as possible. Hence,
I'm agreeing with others out there that it should be the GFA members who vote
for board members. The only problem is, it would be difficult for many of us to
be present at an AGM or anywhere else where a vote would have to be put forward
is person, so perhaps a way of mailing in out vote would be best.
Just my thoughts on it is all.
Dion Baker
<timmo> you know what i hate
<timmo> errors that wont go away
<Guilty> So you dislike children too
2009/3/24 Glenn McLean <[email protected]>
Robert,
GFA Board members,- Politicians and nappies should all be changed
regularly--for the same reason.
I do not agree that any terms of office should be extended.
Glenn
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Hart
To: Soaring in Australia
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 9:29 PM
Subject: [Aus-soaring] GFA Board Term of Office
HI folks
You may be aware that the current GFA constitution limits Board member
terms to a maximum of 5 consecutive years. There are quite a number of current
Board members who are approaching that limit.
There is now a proposal to change that limit from 5 years to 8 years - as
noted below, although this will require a change in our articles (which can
only be done at a special GM or AGM).
We need to think about this issue and determine our position.
The arguments for the change are given in the email below. There is
however the other side of the debate.
One of the reasons that it is so difficult to find volunteers is that
those who do join the Board or take on administrative roles fairly rapidly find
the frustrations of the current system too great to bear - and they withdraw.
The experience of quite a number of GQ personnel over quite some time
illustrates this problem.
To extend the term of office of individuals to 8 years would further
cement the position of those holding office who do not have to face the
membership in a direct election (the President, Vice President, Treasurer and
the chairs of the major committees).
I believe that extending the maximum term of office would be acceptable
were the articles changed as follows at the same time:-
1.. the President, Vice President and Treasurer were subject to annual
election by the membership at large.
2.. the Board level voting rights of the chairs of Operations,
Airworthiness, Marketing and Development and Sports were removed. These
positions should be policy advisors to the Board and on the Executive,
actioning the policies set by the Board. They should not, however, be setting
Board policy as this places them in the position of advising on, determining
and actioning policy, which is generally held to be not be desirable.
If these changes were implemented, I do not believe that a limitation of
service would be necessary as the entire Board would be subject to annual
election, a process that would allow the membership to remove those deemed to
have passed their use by date.
Looking forward to an interesting debate! Over to you...
-- Robert Hart [email protected]+61
(0)438 385 533 http://www.hart.wattle.id.au
-------- Original Message --------
Subject:
TERM OF OFFICE
Date:
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:01:46 +0900
From:
Graeme Wishart <[email protected]>
To:
<[email protected]>
Hi Everyone, At our Board meeting on Saturday 28th February the President
listed item 4.5Term of Office on the agenda for discussion. Listed were current
Board members whose term in office would soon create anissue with Clause 12(e)
of our Articles.This circumstance has occurred as a result of the new Board
being recentlyestablished in 2005. The clause states: 12 e) A maximum
consecutive term for any Board member shall be five years and shall apply
except in special circumstances and where invited to continue, such an
invitation being approved by at least two thirds majority of theBoard. This is
an explicit statement that restricts any Board member to a maximumof 5
consecutive years regardless of position.The intent of course was to ensure
turnover of Board members and to preventfeatherbedding, stagnation and empire
building.There is no disagreement with the intent, however the reality is
different. Individual members may come to the Board through more than one route
and bygaining experience undertake several roles resulting in a period
ofcontinuous representation that would preclude them from taking on adifferent
or more senior role on the Board. For example a member may represent a region
for 2 years, take on treasurerfor 2 years, Vice-President for 1 year and then
be precluded from nominatingfor President. That representitive may be the only
person willing tonominate or be the most suitable nomination. Or 3 years as
Chairman of a Department, 2 years as Vice-president and thenalso be
precludedfrom nominating for President, or any other position. In each case
special circumstances may apply, however these "specialcircumstances"will
inevitably become a common occurrence outside the intent of
specialcircumstances. We now have a situation whereby the clause needs to be
amended at the nextAGM to allow freedomand flexibility for members to nominate
for positions on the Board and stillmeet the spirit of the intent of the
clause.The unintended consequences of the current limitation is that it does
notallow a period of training, exposure and familiarisation at the highestlevel
of GFA management. Volunteers are generally in short supply andmembers willing
to commit to management and administrative roles are alwaysin demand. After
discussion at the Board meeting there was general consensus that theclause
needed to be revisedto reflect reality and still meet the spirit of intent.The
only issue to be resolved is the exact wording of the amendment. May we start
with this recommendation and come to a resolution byconsultation.PROPOSAL12 e)
A maximum consecutive term for any "board position by a" Board membershall be
five years "and shall be limited to 8 years consecutive in total" and shall
apply except in special circumstances and where invited to continue, such an
invitation being approved by at least two thirds majority of theBoard. Under
this proposition a Board member could be on the Board for aconsecutive 8 years
in various roles for example:Regional representative member 2 years, Department
chairman 2 years,President 4 years. (or variations and computations thereof)On
this basis there should still be a reasonable turnover of representativesover
the 12 board positions over time. This amendment will need to be advertised in
sufficient time for the nextAGM on 12 Sept 2009.Alterations to Articles and
notice of AGM requires 21 days notice (21 August2009 at the latest)and in
addition Clause 23a) requires a notice to the Secretary with 21signatures (1 +
20). Please return comments to me for compilation. Regards Graeme
-- Robert Hart [email protected]+61
(0)438 385 533 http://www.hart.wattle.id.au
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