VICTORIAN SEA KAYAK CLUB - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MINUTES

MEETING DATE 7 November 2015 MEETING OPENED AT 4.10 pm

1 / Meeting Opening
Bob welcomed members to the meeting.
2 / Apologies
Peter Treby, Roger Bellchambers, John and Tina Evertze, Paul Snelgrove, Mark Stewart, Tony Chick, Greg Gleason, Gerard O’Reilly, Peter Newman.
3 / Minutes of the VSKC Annual General Meeting 2013
Motion: That the minutes of the VSKC Annual General Meeting held on 8 November 2014 be accepted.
Moved: Tim Pearce Seconded: Julian Smith
4 / Annual Report of the Committee
President Bob Fergie spoke to the Committee’s objectives for 2015:
•  National Sea Kayak Summit
•  Host International Paddling Instructor
•  Increase the VSKC instructor base
•  Ensure succession planning given there are three retirees
•  Promote family friendly events.
National Sea Kayak Summit
The national summit planned for 2015 was cancelled with Victoria being the only state ready to participate in 2015. There is a possibility the Summit maybe held in Tasmania in 2016.
Vic President’s Portfolio
International Paddling Instructor Visit
Nick Cunliffe’s visit and training sessions were well supported by the VSKC membership. Nick’s skill sessions were valued and were regarded as some of the highest level international paddling instruction experienced by the VSKC to date. Future international instructor visits have been suspended as a result of withdrawal of a number of states from the program.
Blue Water Paddling Fest
This year the Paddle Fest has been organised by a sub committee drawing members beyond the Committee. Our special thanks to Steve and Sue Collins and Lachlan Wills the non Committee members who’ve made a significant contribution to the organisation for the weekend Paddle Fest.
Sandy Robson Expedition
The VSKC has continued to support Sandy Robson’s epic retracing of Oscar Speck’s 1932 paddle from Germany to Australia. Sandy is expected to finish with a paddle along the coast of New Guinea before arriving in Australia.
David Golightly’s retirement after 10 years of service on VSKC is honoured with our sincere thanks.
Secretary’s Portfolio
Introduction of VHF Radios
The VSKC has purchased four VHF radios to improve pod communication and on water safety of member trips. Nine trip leaders were subsidised by VSKC to be trained and licensed to use the VHF radios this year.
Strengthening Activities for Families and Children
This year’s Paddle Fest and last year’s Paddle Fest have included an off water excursion suitable for families and young children.
Further Application of the Trybooking System
The Trybooking system has been used more extensively this year to streamline and minimise administrative and financial transactions wherever possible.
Sue Mountford’s retirement after two years of service on the VSKC is honoured with our sincere thanks.
Treasurer’s Portfolio
The VSKC accounts have been managed by Greg Gleason on and off cumulatively representing ten years service. The Club is in a strong financial position.
Greg Gleason’s retirement after nine years service on the VSKC is honoured with our sincere thanks.
Membership and Trips
Membership
VSKC membership numbered 232 for 2015 with an increase in female members and members under thirty years of age. New members’ orientation paddles and mentoring have continued this year. A new members welcome kit will be finalised next year.
Trips
The trips portfolio was separated from the Training Portfolio mid year
in order to strengthen the focus on scheduling trips. This year 131 trips were offered with 94 being held in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port, 11 on the West Coast, 16 on the East Coast, 6 Interstate trips and 8 multi day trips.
Training
There were 68 skill orientation sessions offered this year to VSKC members including those offered by Nick Cunliff. A VSKC level three assessment was conducted during 2015. It concluded in early October with three new level three trip leaders and two new instructors graduating from this year’s programs.
Two off water training events were planned: expedition planning and navigation, and wilderness first aid. The later training session was cancelled as a result of insufficient numbers to proceed.
Pool and beach rolling training continued to be offered this year.
Communications
Extensive work has been completed on the development of the new VSKC website. The new VSKC web address will be www.victorianseakayak.club, and is expected to be completed early next year. A demonstration of the new site was provided to the Paddle Fest.
A monthly email using Mailchimp notifying members of forthcoming events commenced this year and will continue next year. It was noted the monthly email is read by 65.2% of members.
Publications
Three issues of Sea Trek have been published this year in February, June, and November. Considerable work has gone into developing a better technical framework for Sea Trek, including exploring how the technical framework will integrate into the new VSKC website.
There will continue to be a search for more articles and the mentoring of a sub editor for prospective succession planning.
Opportunities Ahead
The President outlined the following initiatives to be completed or undertaken in 2016:
•  completion of a web editing solution for Sea Trek
•  launch of the new VSKC website
•  completion of a new member’s welcome kit
•  Committee succession planning
•  review of the VSKC training model
•  level 1 and 2 training initiatives
•  interstate networking.
Acknowledgements and Thanks
The President completed his talk by acknowledging and thanking the:
Paddle Fest’s key note speakers, Julian Smith and Rob Mercer
trip, workshop and training leaders
commercial display providers
VSKC members and guests
Paddle Fest sub committee
2015 VSKC Committee, especially the retiring legends, David Golightly, Sue Mountford and Greg Gleason.
5 / Financial Report
Motion: That the Financial Reports as presented to this meeting be accepted. Refer attachment 2.
Moved: Andrew Campbell Seconded: Bruce Downes
Motion: That this meeting endorses the Committee recommendation that the VSKC membership fees for 2015/2016 year remain at $80 per member, $95 per family of two members, and $15 per each additional family member.
Moved: Julian Smith Seconded: Neil Brenton
6 / Number of Ordinary Committee Members
Motion: That this meeting endorses the Committee recommendation that there be four Ordinary Committee positions for the 2014/2015 year, that is Publications Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, Membership/Trips Co-ordinator, and Training Coordinator.
Moved: Tim Pearce Seconded: Bill Robinson
7 / Election of the Committee Officers and Members
The Returning Officer, Andrew Campbell, declared all VSKC Committee positions vacant.
The Returning Officer reported he had received one nomination for each of the VSKC Committee positions, accordingly he announced the VSKC Committee Officers and Members elected unopposed are:
President - Bob Fergie
Vice President - Steve Collins
Secretary - Bronwyn Skowronski
Treasurer - Mark Stewart
Training Coordinator - Brandon Stewart
Membership and Trips Coordinator - Richard Rawling
Publications Coordinator - Helmut Heinze
Communications Coordinator - Greg Skowronski
8 / On Notice General Business Motions
The President advised no motions had been received on notice.
The meeting thanked the President for his leadership during 2015.
10 / Meeting Close
4.55 pm

PRESENT: Refer Attachment 1.

VSKC AGM Attendance List - 2014 / Attachment

VSKC AGM Mins 07112015 7