Hi All,
On thing that most forget to mention about the RAA is the number of
ex glider pilots in there ranks. Ask them about gliding and more often
than not they say they love gliding but can do without the hassle and by
the hassle they don't mean the all day thing and helping out (go to any
of their club days and they are there just as long doing jobs around the
place).
regards,
Arie
Geoff Kidd wrote:
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 <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*To:* Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
<mailto:aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net>
*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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