Dear Clubbies
It was great news recently to
hear that the Governor General had presented the RSA's prestigious
Anzac of the Year Award to New Zealand's youngest ever recipients -
Waihi's Rookie lifeguard Will White and his cousin Sergio
Schuler!
The pair of 12 year-olds were
recognised for their courage and selfless commitment in the rescue
of a 32-year-old at Bowentown Beach in Waihi last
December.
I am often humbled by the stories
I hear of heroic endeavours from our members. Well done to
these youngsters.
Board Report: 21 April 2013 (teleconference)
Key points covered included:
Organisational
Sustainability
Clubs will have received communication summarising outcomes of the
proposed organisational changes focused at achieving organisational
sustainability. This remains the single biggest priority for
the organisation.
As I wrote in my last report, over
40 separate responses were received. Most were thorough and
well-articulated. Submitters ranged from individuals and
groups of staff, members, clubs, clusters of clubs and volunteer
committees. The feedback was substantial and reflected the
passion and ownership that the parties feel for their
movement.
The Board met via teleconference
on a number of occasions during the week after Easter to assimilate
feedback. The feedback had some strong themes, which has
strongly shaped final outcomes. Thank you sincerely to those
that contributed.
There is now considerable work
required as staff implement the organisational changes and align
work programmes.
Financials year to
date
Financial results for the nine months to end of March are lower
than the revised budget, with income of $7.7 million, expenses of
$7.2 million and a surplus of $440,000. The lower than
forecasted results are largely due to timing of NZLGB
funding. The surplus has eroded as expected with large
expenditure areas catching up. The final quarter will create
cash flow challenges as there is little income in the 'off season'
but fixed costs continue. These are forecast to stretch
working funds during May and June. The small forecasted
yearend budget surplus reported last month will be a challenge to
achieve as we firm up what income will need to be carried forward
into the 2013/14 year (and therefore can't be included as revenue
in the current year) but this is still dependent on a number
of variable factors. Clubs will once again be provided with a
copy of the main financial reports for their information.
Water Safety NZ Report
The Board discussed
SLSNZ's response to the Martin Jenkins draft report on the sector
leadership role for WSNZ (refer www.watersafety.org.nz). The
primary change being mooted is for WSNZ to take over the role of
the Drowning Prevention Council, and as such move from leadership
of water safety 'education' to leadership of drowning prevention in
totality.
The most controversial recommendation for us is a proposal that
WSNZ take over all of the NZLGB funding for Coastguard and SLSNZ
and the reallocating it back. It is concerning that what
started with the aim of improving a disjoint 'Swim and Survive'
space has now spread to impact vital funding streams for SLSNZ and
Coastguard. This has already been the subject of separate
meetings between sector CEOs and Chairs.
SLSNZ's response will support a more unified structure for the
water safety sector. Naturally it will not support any loss
of control of our funding streams. Further discussions are
planned with sector organisations and central Government before the
report gets to a final stage.
Planning day and
budget 2013/14
The next Board meeting
will be held in conjunction with the Board's annual planning
day. This is a time when the strategic plan for SLSNZ is
reviewed and updated for the year ahead. Staff use the
strategic plan to formulate management plans and
budgets.
Clubs will get the opportunity to have input into the strategic
plan during the next round of Regional Club Chairs Committee
meetings scheduled for May and June. SLSNR have already been
engaged in this process.
AGM and Club
Forum
As communicated in my last report, the AGM date has been set for
Saturday 21st September. It will include a forum
for Club Chairs for which an invite has been circulated to
clubs.
The aim of the forum is:
- To provide a national forum to discuss matters of strategic
importance to all clubs.
- To identify high priority areas for SLSNZ to take into the
2014/15 planning round.
- To raise and discuss any issues that need immediate
attention.
The agenda for the day is:
Time
|
Activity
|
10.30am- 3.00pm
|
Clubs Strategy Forum
|
4.00pm - 5.30pm
|
SLSNZ Annual General Meeting
|
6.30pm - 9.30pm
|
DHL 'In it for Life' Awards and BP Media Awards
|
Important dates leading up to
AGM are:
Date
|
Action
|
Thur 23 May
|
Deadline for SLSNZ to provide clubs with notice of the AGM.
|
Sat 22nd June
|
Deadline for the Board Appointments Panel (BAP) to be convened
and call for applications for AGM vacancies.
|
Mon 22nd July
|
Closing date for applications for Board vacancies.
|
Wed 21st August
|
Deadline for clubs to advise who their delegate will be.
Deadline for members and associate members to advise if they are
attending.
Deadline for any agenda items and motions to be advised.
BAP decisions due to CEO.
Closing date for nominations for President.
|
Fri 30th August
|
Deadline to provide clubs with Agenda and SLSNZ financials and
advised of BAP appointments and recommendations.
|
Thurs 19 September
|
Deadline for postal and electronic votes
|
The following people will have
their terms of office come to an end this AGM:
- Neale Ames (President) - completing the second year of Bob
Harvey's second term.
- Michael Bassett-Foss (elected Board member)
- Brent Warner (elected Board member)
- Geoff Hamilton (appointed Board member completing the second
year of Nicki Nicol's second year)
- Nicky Duggan (co-opted independent Board member appointed for a
one year term in anticipation of two independent Board members able
to be appointed at the 2013 AGM)
Regional Chairs have been asked to submit their Regions
representative to the Board Appointments Panel by 31 May.
Fundraising
The Board received an update on fundraising activity. Funds
continue to be received from the 3rd direct mail
campaign. Lottery 21 opened last week with a mail out to
45,000 addresses. An offer has been made to clubs to
fundraise by selling lottery tickets but there has been very little
uptake to date.
Fundraising activity will undergo
a review after the current lottery and direct mail programme are
completed, and discussions with Coca Cola on the Coca Cola
Christmas in the Park events are concluded. The Board asked
that a fundraising strategy prepared for the next meeting.
High Performance
Strategy
The Board reviewed the strategy documents for the New Zealand Open
Team and the New Zealand Development Team. The New Zealand
Open Team is funded by Sport New Zealand. Like many other
national sporting organisations, the Development Team is a self
funded initiative. The strategy documents were approved
subject to:
- The Open Team budget being realistic, so there is no risk of a
blowout having to be funded by SLSNZ or athletes.
- The Development Team only travelling to Japan and/or Rescue 14
if a full team can be filled from within the Squad from members
willing to pay the full user-pays cost up front.
National Team Manager
Roles
The Board reviewed the recommendation from the selection panel
appointing the New Zealand Open Team Manager role. This role
is pivotal in the preparation for us to defend our world title in
2014. After considerable discussion the Board asked for the
role to be re-advertised to see if it was possible to get a
suitably qualified individual from within the membership. The
selection process for the Development Team Manager's role was
impacted by this decision and to make sure nobody missed out any
opportunities this role was also to be re-advertised and selection
remain running in parallel with the Open Team Manager
recruitment.
Regulations
The Board reviewed Regulations for Health & Safety, Surf
Sport, Intellectual Property and Commercial Partnerships, Region
and Club Chairs Committee and Anti-Doping and approved them in
principle and delegated final signoff to the CEO after he has
incorporated any feedback on drafting changes from Board
Members.
Following feedback from clubs,
the new Member Protection Regulation is being redrafted.
Proposed revisions to the Surf Lifesaving Regulation are being
reviewed to remove duplication with the Patrol Operations
Manual.
Next meeting:
The next meeting of the Board will form part of the strategic
planning process and is scheduled to take place on Sunday
19th May.
Yours in surf
Michael Bassett-Foss
Chairman
Surf Life Saving New Zealand