Forum Notes. Constitution Forum Monday 19 July DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club. Attendance: Netball NSW Board:

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1 Attendance: Constitution Forum Monday 19 July DOOLEYS Lidcombe Catholic Club Netball NSW Board: President Vice President Director for Finance Director for Championships and Competitions Director for Technical Services Netball NSW General Manager Representatives: Bankstown Netball Association Baulkham Hills Netball Association Blacktown City Netball Association Blacktown City Netball Association Camden Netball Association Camden Netball Association City of Sydney Netball Association City of Sydney Netball Association Eastwood Ryde Netball Association Eastwood Ryde Netball Association Gosford Netball Association Gosford Netball Association Hills District Netball Association Ku Ring Gai Netball Association Ku Ring Gai Netball Association Ku Ring Gai Netball Association Maitland Netball Association Maitland Netball Association Manly Warringah Netball Association Manly Warringah Netball Association Manly Warringah Netball Association Northern Suburbs Netball Association Penrith Netball Association Port Stephens Netball Association St George Netball Association Sutherland Shire Netball Association Sutherland Shire Netball Association Westlakes Netball Association Wendy Archer AM Rodney Watson John Hahn Lynn Quinn OAM Ruth Havrlant Carolyn Campbell Carol Baiton Jenny Pike Sandra Marks Leonie Marshall Robert Bracken Kerrin Thomas Samantha Dawes Helen Atzemis Anne Doring Di Bills Lynn Simpson Pamela Fitzpatrick Lyn Burgess OAM Kathy Staggs Jo-Anne Perry Jan Troy Barbara Bird Christine Davies Bev Dew Helen Dean Debbie Philipson Toni Field Joy Gillett Michelle Archer Helen Andrews Maria Bettini Vicki Morris Madeline Allen Apologises: Michele Murphy Carol Murphy Jane Hauser Margaret Burke Page 1 of 6

2 Introduction by Wendy Archer AM: Welcome and thanked all for coming, introduced Roland Hassell from Sparke Helmore and Rob Clement from the Australian Sports Commission. Overview: Most have been made aware about the constitution and the review process. The notes are on the website and able to download. Also online are the notes from the last forum held at the 2010 Holden State Championships. We would like a much feedback and questions from the District Association to create a Q&A document which will be available for all to view online. Presentation from Rob Clement Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Overview from the ASC perspective regarding change in Sport over the last 10 years and where sport is heading. Sport is a product, and we are in competition with other sports. 49% of people are active three times a week but only 6% are in organised sport. Netball is changing and it has strengthened its capacity recently. The aim is for Sports to become more professional which in turn allows for the delivery and achievement of outcomes. Change is not negative, and there will always be challenges; this is the reality of it and we will overcome it. No questions from the floor. Wendy Archer AM opens the form floor for questions regarding the draft constitution. Maria Bettini - Sutherland: Raised concerns that she has never received correspondence about the constitution other than the minutes Questioned the forum agenda and its relevance to the associations present The last forum a number of issues (e.g. playing rules) were raised however no communications have been received by the associations Reminder to all associations was given regarding the timeline for them to provide feedback Suggested a future forum may be held if required prior to the November Council Meeting. Page 2 of 6

3 Maria Bettini Sutherland How will the final document and relevant changes be communicated In writing to all associations and it can be discussed at a future forum Confirmed that feedback is to be provided by 8 August 2010 Who is the board consulting, if this forum is that last opportunity to provide feedback or whether future consultation is to take place A number of Regional and Zone meetings are still to take place prior to the next board meeting Carolyn Campbell Netball NSW Stated that both Regional and Zone meetings were planned around making sure that all associations could provide feedback The reason for Roland Hassell attendance at this forum is to give another aspect to the discussion topics Roland Hassell Sparke Helmore Stated the importance of updating and reviewing the constitution periodically as the sport continues to grow and evolve. Rob Clement ASC Discussed the importance of empowering the board to make decisions for the greater good of the game. Also highlighted the importance of member clubs raising concerns on any number of issues and for the board to take them under consideration. It is important to note that some of the board s decision will seem favourable and others will not. Agrees with the comment made by Rob however stated that associations wish to be more involved in the operational matters concerning the running of their competitions and fee structure Page 3 of 6

4 Agrees that strategic planning is the future of Netball, and should be left to the board as suggested by Rob Posed a question regarding certain rights given to life members under the previous constitution which have changed in this new draft constitution, was this due to government policies or was it Roland s recommendation Roland drafted the constitution, but the board made its own changes and decisions and as it stands it was voted on unanimously Asked how does the board plan to implement the fee structure for life members and will Netball NSW reimburse the District Associations so the life members don t have to pay fees John Hahn Netball NSW Clarified that whilst life members now need to be registered at a district level, they will not incur any fees Raised concerns that NMAS is unable to handle life membership The process for updating life members is an operational matter and will be handled by Netball NSW staff. Lynn Quinn OAM Netball NSW Raised a concern about life members now having to register at a district association Once the Netball NSW life membership is awarded it should be ongoing Michelle Archer Port Stephens Stated they pay a fee for their life members indefinitely as a sign of appreciation of the service provided and that ultimately this issue is a district one. Concluded the discussion by stating that the concerns are being minuted and videotaped and that the argument will therefore be considered by the board. Page 4 of 6

5 Helen Andrews St George Asked the possibility of noting someone s membership status and affiliation According to the Secondary Registration policy you are only affiliated with one association which is the first one you register in Rob Clement ASC Clarified that according to the constitution, life members are in their own category and that they remain life members indefinitely Those wishing to nominate for the board are the ones requiring affiliation with a district association. Jan Troy Ku Ring Gai Stated that there is a constitution and policies, not by laws. Policies are set by the board, meaning council do not have a say Is there any provision for the council to approve them Rob Clement ASC Reiterated that staff and the board should run the operational side of netball and that the council should have a say through the forums and meetings held Asked if grading, competitions and fees are the 3 areas the council has asked the board to allow them to have a say in. Board spoke about it last week and is considering all the feedback and comments in preparation for the next board meeting Clarified that the reason for policies to be outside the constitution is because this enables more efficiency of the organisation so that 75% of the vote is not needed for day to day operations John Hahn Netball NSW (on behalf of another association) Could the constitution be written in Plain English Page 5 of 6

6 Vicki Morris Sutherland Asked about the remuneration for board members and the clause that covers it Clause 16.9, states that payment is not prohibited, however it must go on the floor of council for approval Jo-Anne Perry Ku Ring Gai Asked about loans taken out by the board and the implications of corporate law and liability Stated it would be looked into Michelle Archer Port Stephens Thanked the board for their role in changing the constitution as PSNA went through similar process which took months. Maria Bettini Sutherland Commented on the use of the video and asked for an expansion to all council meetings Carolyn Campbell Netball NSW Ensured that the option of a webcast is currently being looked into Suggestion made to read over the constitution and the notes Provide feedback to Carolyn and it will all be put together in a Frequently Asked Questions resource Another forum to take place late August with a marked up copy of the updated document sent to all council members prior to the meeting Thanked everyone for coming Forum Ended. Page 6 of 6