Phil,
There is good info in your post and I don't think anyone is saying that the
existing players aren't putting in the time or effort.
However if you use membership as a simple measure or where the GFA is at,
it is reasonable to conclude that the sport and the GFA is withering on the
vine and what is being done at the moment isn't really working too well.
I would certainly be a proponent of board member selection being undertaken
directly by the membership in a similar manner to the way it is done in RAA, as
the existing system encourages maintenance of the status quo and good
governance should require all board members to make decisions for the good of
the membership as a whole, and not appear to be beholding to or controlled by
the state associations.
All the robust debate in the world by all of the incumbents can't hide the
fact that the sport is in decline and I doubt that the present system has any
real ability to reverse that, let alone grow the GFA back to strength ...... so
I ask you, what level of national membership will trigger radical change in the
GFA? Is it 2,500 members? Perhaps 2,000? Maybe 1500? Or 1000? How about 500? Or
perhaps those left can all meet in the kitchen at my joint for a departmental
restructure.
Not so long ago, a GFA rep tripped over to Europe to present a paper on
what the GFA is doing to reverse the trend. Head in the sand, or misjudgement
or what?
From where I sit, it must be getting close to the point where some drastic
changes are essential and I know of no decent board that would just allow
itself to wither like this.
Some blame the cost of aircraft and fuel and airport access etc etc etc.
However those costs are comparable for RAA and they are thriving with numerous
new aircraft each year in the $100,000 - $150,000 range. So what is the big
difference between the RAA and the GFA? It is the GFA's Club structure and the
unbelievable ponderous "Instructor" system ...... plus possibly the fact that
most/many glider pilots don't own or want to own their own aircraft. To change
these last 3 items effectively will be the hard part.
Regards Geoff
----- Original Message -----
From: Phil McCann
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] GFA, marketing and democracy in the GFA (was Re:
PDA Programs andothermatters)
It is good to see a discussion on governance. I will try not to be long
winded, (thus incurring JR's acerbic wit) but even in point form this is a huge
topic.
Some points to ponder.
The GFA is not "them", as in a group of overly conservative people inflicting
their wicked way on down trodden glider pilots, it is "us" as in every member
of the organisation.
There is nothing that has been raised in this discussion that has not been
thought through and discussed in detail by those members who volunteer their
time to sit on the Board, the Executive, the range of committees, both regional
and national, necessary to administer our activities. And before someone gets
on the ...there is your problem... band wagon, I suggest they (and everybody
with an interest in gliding) go to
http://www.gfa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=251&Itemid=190
and have read through a couple of years minutes then tell us all which bits are
no longer needed and why. This will also give anyone interested an idea of the
range of issues involved in the administration of a recreational and sporting
activity like gliding.
There is no one right governance model for any organisation and we have the
one we have as a result of development over the life of the organisation. Is
it the best, maybe, possibly not. Does it work, yes, to a greater or lesser
degree. Can it be changed, yes, but only by the development of reasoned
proposals and convincing the membership of the merits of those proposals.
Some comment on the "D" word which often gets an airing when someone doesn't
get what they want. Democracy doesn't mean every individual gets a say in
everything. It is a system of governance whereby the "people" govern
themselves either by direct means (a bit impractical) or they give the
responsibility to freely elected groups such as a board of management. GFA has
a legally established charter which provides for how the Board members are
appointed, and guess what, nobody can appoint themselves. Every position is
appointed by the membership through a known process (If you don't know the
process then there is a bit of homework). If any members are dissatisfied with
the people currently running the show then there are avenues to change the
appointments. Go back and read the last couple of paras of Robert Hart's
earlier post, that says it all. If enough people don't like the way things are
being done and are prepared to do something about it then there will be change.
At the end of the day the majority rules. The current arrangements are the
majority view from the past and therefore should not change until the majority
decide they should.
What's my interest in all this? I am currently the VSA rep on the GFA board,
elected unopposed at a meeting of delegates of all the club's in the Vic/Tas
Region. I would dearly love to be an opposed candidate next time the election
rolls around because it would give the club delegates a choice which can only
be healthy.
Just for the record, all the current Board and Executive members are active
glider pilots who give up large slabs of their time (much of it over weekends
when everyone else is out flying) to ensure that we can all enjoy our gliding
in a safe environment. The Board and Exec members bring a diverse range of
views to the table which ensures that all issues are subject to robust debate.
I would encourage any members of this list who don't agree with how things are
run to get involved, talk to your regional Board rep, or even better still,
nominate for election to the Board.
Cheers
Phil
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