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Annual General Meeting

September 27, 2009

Windsurfing SA Annual General Meeting
Venue: 7.30 pm, Tuesday 15th Sept, 2009 at
Kingston House, 5 Cameron Ave. Kingston Park
PDF version

1. Welcome
The meeting was chaired by Richard Upton and opened at 7.45 pm.

2. Apologies
Apologies were received by Russell Hunt, Peter Boerma, Darren Zub and Kim Symonds.

3. Financial Report
A report was given by John Rohde.  The Windsurfing SA bank account has approximately $1,500 but this is before payment of affiliation and insurance fees for the year.  Current Windsurfing SA assets comprise 2 large inflatable marker buoys, and a first aid kit.

4. Election of Executive and Committee
Nomination received for Executive Positions were:
 President: Chris Dimond
 Secretary: Richard Upton
 Treasurer: John Rohde
These positions were elected unopposed.
 
The position of Vice-President was left vacant.
 
The position of AWA Representative remained John Rohde, elected unopposed.  John was thanked for his contribution to AWA and WSA over the years.
 
Discipline Representatives were elected unopposed:
 Slalom: Chris Dimond
 Wave: Russell Hunt
 Development: Chris Hale
 
The following committee members were elected unopposed:
 Martin Sellars
 Tony Murray
 Tim Hemer
 Dave Lane
 Darren Zub
 Vikki Collis
 Kym Symonds
 Johnnie Sellars (Kite Liaison)

5. Appoint Public Officer
Martin Sellars was elected unopposed.

6. General Business.
6.1 Discussion of changes to the constitution
The new committee discussed the current constitution of Windsurfing SA, and it was agreed that constitution should be disseminated with a view to updating the constitution at a special meeting.  Items for consideration included changing all references of the sport to “windsurfing”, and size of the committee and quorum.
 
6.2 Discussion of Windsurfing SA events and calendar
The recent State Wave Titles was discussed, and it was agreed that the event was a real cracker.  11 new members for Windsurfing SA signed up.  Thanks were proffered to all involved.  Possible goals for next year included an event T-shirt and a Perpetual Trophy.
 
The Slalom events were discussed, with the recognition that the ideal wind direction for slalom at the Murray River Mouth is SE-SW.  It was decided that if an event fails to be held in a calendar month, the event is abandoned, with the event for the new month proceeding as planned.  Chris D has prepared documents for running the events.

The Seacliff-Semaphore Open Ocean Marathon was discussed.  An escort boat may be available through Vikki and Martie’s Dive Club.  Other support boats may be available by negotiation with SLSC or yacht clubs?  Discussion of holding the events with kites as well seemed in favour, with the idea to maximize media exposure.  A sub-committee was formed to help prepare for this event:
 
 Marty Sellars
 Dave Lane
 Chris Dimond
 Richard Upton.

The Bay and Back Training Run was discussed as a way to get sailors ready for the Seacliff-Semaphore Open Ocean Marathon.  The committee is in favour of promoting this as an unsupervised
event.

7. Other Business
Richard Upton reported that he had bought a first aid kit for Windsurfing SA, and requested re-imbursement from the Treasurer.

The topic of Office and Recreation grants was discussed, and it was agreed that Windsurfing SA should apply for one of these.  The possibility of applying for a grant for a WSA trailer with novice/intermediate equipment was discussed, and not felt necessary.  Potential items for purchase included – a BBQ, an Esky, WSA flags and banners for events.

Discussion ensued about getting newbie’s into the sport.  It was generally agreed that newbie’s be encouraged to take formal lessons.  However, it was acknowledged that there was a gap between finishing lessons and short-boarding where there was a deficiency of organised activities for intermediate sailors.  It was resolved that a role of WSA would be to fill this gap.

John Rohde presented an email from Neil McKenzie of the Brighton and Seacliff Yacht Club, expressing a desire for the BYSC to become a hub for windsurfing again.  Tony Murray agreed to investigate Neil’s ideas and discuss options.

The need for an updated logo was discussed, and Dave Lane agreed to investigate.

Chris Hale requested an A4 page summarising the activities of WSA for presenting to potential sponsors.  Richard Upton agreed to investigate.

8. Close Meeting
The meeting was closed at 8.57 pm
Minutes taken by Richard Upton
PDF version

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Strategic Plan/Budget for AWA

April 4, 2009

AWA LogoAt last months Annual General Meeting, Western Australia requested that:
“Affiliation fees be reduced from $3 to $1 per member with a maximum of $200, to allow the states to put more back into the sport at a state level.”

The members at the meeting felt that this change wasn’t appropriate. The ongoing funds surplus is chiefly generated by insurance payments for more members than quoted for the policy. We need to keep that surplus in case the insurer decides to recover an additional levy for that insurance period.

But, there are some surplus funds and they will be re-distributed in the form of a grant for national events.

Strategic Plan/Budget for AWA Expenditure
the AWA Committee generally agreed that

  • the AWA was more involved/effective at improvements driven from top (National) down, and that efforts /expenditure direct from AWA was similarly more effective focused on these Top and middle level activities
  • grass roots/entry level activities and expenditure were more effectively/efficiently handled at state and local level
  • the AWA should target/budget/plan for some modest income (either fee or insurance based) ~ around $3,000/year at current rates/levels
  • this money should be re-used to develop/improve the “National” impetus, through support of supplementary funding to (certain specified) expenses within a defined range of National Championships (etc)

General discussion on that was 3-4 classes or disciplines per year, with a general cap on funding of (say) $1,000 per event/discipline, which in turn would be made up of (capped) funding of certain specified individual sub expenses (eg : race officer or director travel expenses, say capped to $300 per event). General underlying principle being this AWA funding to ONLY be available for use in defined expenses aimed at the goal of ongoing improvement in a National event quality (etc) – rather than simply provided as “general expenses” income to local organisers of National events.

Based on this discussion and WA’s question re expenditure or cost cutting to improve entry level activity by state/s

  • AWA revenue NOT allocated under the Nationals allocations could be made available (perhaps on an annual end of year basis or similar) for States to apply to AWA for funding for use (by states) in State driven “development of sport program/s”.
  • That’s to say, a national pool of “surplus” income may exist at the end of each AWA year. Rather than simply continue to stockpile further “profits”, that revenue is made available for EQUITABLE distribution to those states who wish to commit to structured “development of sport” program/s – and are prepared to commit to match the AWA funding with funding from within their home state/s.

A very simple definition/qualification/application/approval process would suffice, and the key factor would/could be that any AWA funding to the states under this program MUST be matched by the (applying) state/s on (say ) a ” 1 for 1 ” basis.

  • i.e. $1 from AWA towards program MUST be matched by $1 contributed by state to same program/event
  • a $1 AWA contribution : $2 State contribution might be even better ratio This initiative may be much easier in practice than it may sound at first. It clears the way to reasonable (re) use of funding in all respects, removes (implied) stigma of AWA “profiteering”. Most importantly, opens the resource for (equitable) use by those States WHO ACTUALLY WANT TO DO SOMETHING.

Constructive feedback welcome…

Full Minutes of AWA Annual General Meeting 2009

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Sail number cull

November 25, 2008

Stage #1 of the AUS sail number list cull has been completed
see http://www.windsurfing.org/sailnumbers.htm 
all numbers belonging to sailors who have been unfinancial for a few years, have been removed from the list. Removed numbers may be available for reallocation.

Stage #2 is the retirement of all non AUS numbers
- KA numbers
- Other non AUS numbers

Are you for/against Stage 2 going ahead. Please leave a comment (mentioning your number too).

Posted in discussion, misc | 4 Comments »

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RSX retained for 2012

November 16, 2008

It’s very hard to change the status quo. So, despite the intense lobbying of the Formula Windsurfing Org (and IWA) for the Formula One Design, the RSX will be sailed at the 2012 Olympics.

It’s not a time for the RSX fraternity to gloat, but to put more effort into growing the class. Does it exist only because it is the “Olympic Windsurfer”?

The FOD/FWOD is not dead-in-the-water, but needs the momentum of numbers, ISAF international class status and a strong following to be built ready for the next round of decision making.

The final decision for the 2016 Olympics is likely to be made in 2012, but FOD will need to have a noticable presence by late 2010 to be considered a serious contender. To be a serious contender, formula fleets should be mostly “One Design” (FOD) – state and national windsurfing bodies should encourage that scenario.

Or is a longboard still the best option??

Last minute lobbying with comments (Nov 2008):
Why FOD is right for 2012 (Ceri Williams)
Fact not Fiction (Allison Shreeve)

The longboard view:
The Longboard Windsurfing Journal

Posted in One Design, discussion, olympics | 1 Comment »

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Not time to change Olympic board

November 4, 2008

Says Neil Pryde.

At this weeks ISAF meeting amongst the agenda items is a proposal to switch windsurfing boards for the 2012 London Olympic Games from the existing Neil Pryde RS:X to a new Starboard built Formula board.

Read more:
http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Not-time-to-change-Olympic-windsurfer-says-Pryde/50457 

Posted in One Design, discussion, olympics | Leave a Comment »

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Olympic Board – Debate Continues

September 27, 2008

Whilst I (Rory Ramsden) admire Svein’s zeal for promoting Olympic windsurfing, I have 16 years of experience in managing both IMCO and now the RS:X classes. This has lead me to the following conclusions.

See more @ http://windsurfingnz.org/node/1796

Previous Posts on this subject:
2008/09/15: Press release: Formula OD
2008/06/05: 2012 Olympic board – RSX or FWOD

Posted in One Design, discussion, olympics | Leave a Comment »

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