NAFEA AGM

La Trobe University 25th November 2011

MINUTES

1. Welcome

NAFEA President Cheryl Brown welcomed everyone to the Annual General Meeting and thanked Helen Eyre for organising the 2011 conference in Albury Wodonga.

2. Attendance

Attached.

3. Apologies:

Janeen Thomsett (ECU), Nicola Barr (Griffith), Sue Haydon (UNE)

4. Confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes of the AGM held at University of Tasmania, Launceston on 18 November 2010 were passed by Lesley Veater (Monash) and seconded by Prue Jolley (Deakin)

5. Business arising from the previous minutes.

Frana McKinstry (JCU) mentioned that conference fees had only increased by $50 for non members this year, instead of the $75 put forward at last year’s AGM. Frana asked that the Conference convenor for 2012 to note this for their conference fees in 2012.

6. Reports.

Treasurer’s Report – attached

Treasurer’s report was passed by Lois Sear (Griffith) and seconded by Lisa Uusimaki (CSU Albury)

Chapter Reports

Report by Prue Jolly – Victorian Chapter.

There were no other Chapter Reports presented.

7. Election of Office Bearers

Cheryl Brown declared all positions open. Before the nominations of the Office Bearers were confirmed, Helen Eyre (La Trobe) acknowledged the work done over 5 years by Frana McKinstry (JCU) as the Treasurer for NAFEA. She has done a sterling job and allowed the members to be in a solid financial position moving forward.

The meeting was then closed by Prue Jolley (Deakin).

There were 2 nominations for the position of President

Cheryl Brown (USYD)

Nominated by Lisa Uusimaki (CSU)

Seconded by Prue Jolley (Deakin )

Loretta Woodford (JCU)

Nominated by Jenny Sauer (UNE)

Seconded by Sue Haydon (UNE)

Loretta and Cheryl were asked to leave the room while the members voted.

President – Loretta Woodford (JCU)

Treasurer – Helen Eyre (La Trobe)

Nominated by Loretta Woodford (JCU)

Seconded by Patricia Quayle (JCU)

Secretary – Lois Sear (Griffith)

Nominated by Loretta Woodford (JCU)

Seconded by Beryl Binns (UTAS)

Loretta Woodford (JCU) then re-opened the meeting. She is happy to take on the position and will also maintain the website administrator’s role for the following 12 months. The old website will run until February 2012 but there will be a link to the new website added to ensure that visitors look at the right one (Prue Jolley).

Helen Eyre (LA Trobe) thanked Cheryl for the support and work she has done over the last two years as President.

Chapters

NSW – Maria Bennett (CSU)

Nominated by Lisa Uusimaki (CSU)

Seconded by Patricia Quayle (JCU)

VIC – Prue Jolley (Deakin)

Nominated by Sherri Collins (Victoria Uni)

Seconded by Helen Eyre (La Trobe)

QLD – Wendy Harris (GU) after consultation after the meeting

SA – OPEN

NT - Lorraine Connell (CDU) after consultation after the meeting

TAS – OPEN

ACT - Sarah Ross (Uni Canberra)

Nominated by Marilyn Nothdurft (Uni Canberra)

Seconded by Anne Bolt (Uni Canberra)

WA – Dianne Schwagermann (ECU) after consultation after the meeting

8. Other Business.

·  NAFEA LOGO – The elephant and car graphic originates from the inaugural meeting of NAFEA and some members had considered a revamp of the logo during the previous year. Majority voted that the logo should not be changed and that it should be deleted from the further banners, correspondence and advertising materials.

·  ON LINE PAYMENT SYSTEM - Frana McKinstry (JCU) noted that there is now a possibility of adding payments for conferences and financial membership on the new NAFEA website, for convenience to the Treasurer. There are fees for transactions, plus the Commonwealth Bank merchant account fee. These options do not affect the ability to create a direct debit for payment. Even though there are only about 60 current financial members, it was agreed that NAFEA will absorb the cost to pay the fees for on-line credit card payments.

·  HOW TO BETTER USE NAFEA AS A LOBBY GROUP – Prue Jolly (Deakin). Prue forwarded that it is becoming more important than ever for placement officers to have a voice at the national level. She has been involved with an educational working group in 2010/2011 which has had limited success in that time. The new NAFEA website will be a good place to start conversation threads and new initiatives within elements so that members are kept informed. It was voted that NAFEA will be able to fund some of these activities in the future.

·  FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS –Helen Eyre (La Trobe). Helen proposed that committee members and a member from the organising committee of the current conference should be supported financially by NAFEA to attend conferences, as a “thank you” for service to the organisation. If NAFEA is to grow and flourish in the future, committee members should be encouraged to attend all conferences. Also, funding for conferences may encourage new members to step up to accept executive positions in the future. The members voted to allow a discretionary fund to be held in reserve for the executive committee members and the organising chair of the current year’s conference to access if universities will not fund the conference/flight/accommodation fees. However, all members should apply pressure to universities for recognition for the work we do throughout the year.

·  THANK YOU’s – Marilyn Northdurft (Uni Canberra). Thank you letters should be written from NAFEA to the executive committee and the organising chair of the current year’s conference annually to thank members for their active support throughout the year.

·  NEW WEBSITE – Lois Sear (Griffith). Loretta Woodford (JCU) showed the new website to members. Our annual report is available to the general public but conversation threads and forum discussions will be limited to financial members. An email will be sent to users when a new thread is posted – not for each reply, Loretta Woodford (JCU) to action.

·  10th ANNUAL CONFERENCE – 2012 – Marilyn Northdurft (Uni Canberra). Judy Clark was the inaugural President of NAFEA and worked hard to make the organisation into what it is today. It was voted to offer Judy life membership of NAFEA and invite her to the conference in 2012 which will be funded by NAFEA. Members voted to pay for her flights and accommodation if she accepted.

·  2011 CONFERENCE FEEDBACK – Lois Sear (Griffith). Lois asked that members complete a feedback form for this year’s conference to evaluate members’ feedback. This will help in the organisation of next year’s conference. Lois Sear to action.

·  INCREASE FINANCIAL MEMBERSHIP - Frana McKinstry (JCU) will forward the details to the Secretary of those members who have not paid their dues for this year so that a follow up email can be sent as a reminder. It is important to maintain a broad base of financial members to NAFEA.

9. 2012 Conferences

The 2012 Conference will be supported by Griffith Health and held at Griffith University on the Gold Coast campus, Southport. Dates TBA.

10. The President thanked Helen Eyre (La Trobe) and Dr Rick Churchill for their great efforts in presenting an enjoyable and interesting 2011 conference and for organising the Gala Dinner.

AGM meeting closed at 12.50pm.

Attendance:

NAME / UNIVERSITY
Ray Leung / UOW
Michele Boatswain / UOW
Robyn Lumby / UOW
Rachelle Tan / UOW
Karen Fierravanh / UOW
Susan Evans / University of Newcastle
Gillian Turnbull / University of Newcastle
Sherri Collins / Victoria University
Prue Jolley / Deakin University
Trish Quale / JCU Cairns
Maria Bennet / CSU Dubbo
Liisa Unsimahi / CSU Albury
Marilyn Nothdurft / CSU Albury
Anne Bolt / University Canberra
Sarah Ross / University Canberra
Sue Young / University Canberra
Pamela Desley / Monash University
Loretta Woodford / JCU
Jenny Gromkowski / JCU
Fran McKinstry / JCU
Margaret McBurney / QUT
Fay Harris / University South Australia
Kim Vallance / University New England
Jenny Sauer / University New England
Jillian Fitzgerald / University New England
Anne Drabble / USC
Ros Palmer / USC
Sonya Smith / USC
Lauretta Roebuck / Griffith University
Carol Baldwin / Griffith University
Lois Sear / Griffith University
Susie Patton / Griffith University
Wendy Harris / Griffith University
Ruth Thompson / Griffith University
Hayley Pearce / Griffith University
Vicki Fuller / Griffith University
Karen Robinson / Griffith University
Lesley Caron Veater / Monash
Anne Barker / UTAS
Jane Macleod / UTAS
Paul Price / UON
Natalie Albon / JCU
Alison Kennett / University Melbourne
Odette Bradica / University Melbourne
Michelle Cartledge / LaTrobe (Bundoora)
Jospehine Chu / LaTrobe Bundoora)
Helen Eyre / LaTrobe (Albury)
Cheryl Brown / University of Sydney

H:\Desktop\NAFEA\NAFEA AGM Minutes 2011.doc