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2011 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING |
MINUTES OF THE 28th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NORTH
HARBOUR RUGBY REFEREES ASSOCIATION (Inc) HELD ON 10 OCTOBER
2011 IN THE ASB NORTH LOUNGE, NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM, ALBANY
The President, Graeme Marston, called the meeting to order at 7.05pm.
41 members attended including 8 Life Members.
He then welcomed invited guest Brett Hollister, NHRA CEO and welcomed all Life Members, Foundation members and Ordinary members of the Association. The President presented a framed Life Member certificate to Riley Bell.
The President then called for a moment’s silence to honour an ex-member, Henry Wilcox, who passed away during 2011.
He then invited Brett Hollister to talk on behalf of NHRU.
Mr Hollister thanked referees for all they do and mentioned how proud NHRU is of our referees’ achievements. He also expressed thanks for NHRU staff and all others associated with RWC. He noted how thrilling it had been to view a full North Harbour Stadium and hoped that in time Auckland as a super city can continue to develop North Harbour Stadium to look as it does for RWC. A large part of his talk was regarding funding for NHRU’s ongoing commitments and the challenges facing the Union. A drop in funding from gaming income is forecast and he noted that all 5 franchises are expecting to lose money this year. He emphasised that it is the bottom end of the rugby tier that makes the game so successful and noted player levies for 2012 as a necessary measure. He emphasised that he is supportive of a player levy for referees and that there would be ongoing discussions with Chairman, Mr James Slater. He was frustrated at the inconsistent performance of the ITM Cup and finishing 13th place was not good enough. He is however excited about measures the coaching staff are putting in place. He then took questions from the floor.
APOLOGIES:
J Morgan, Chairman Board of Directors, NHRU; M Marcroft, M Mayerhofler, D Henderson, NHRU Ops staff.
J Slater, Chairman NHRRA. C Piggott, M Ward, D Wedderburn, S Clarke, R Garrett, D Morrison, T Simmons, D Goodison, J Paterson, P Greenstreet, A Thompson.
Moved: R Bell/C Frazerhurst that the apologies be accepted. Carried
MINUTES of the 2010 AGM were tabled for ratification.
Moved: P Barratt/P Goldfinch that the Minutes of the 27th AGM be passed as a true and accurate record. Carried
There were no matters arising from those Minutes.
REPORTS
The Secretary noted that the reports were now all posted on the website and that J Harland would be speaking to the C&D report.
G Marston spoke to the room as retiring President in 2011 and emphasized that in the time he has spent as a member of other associations, his time with North Harbour was the most enjoyable because of the camaraderie of the members and structure of the organisation. He noted that work commitments had made him less available than he would have liked however he has enjoyed the opportunity to have been President.
Moved: I Leslie/W Skelton that the President’s Report be accepted. Carried
The President noted that the Chairman had forwarded an apology due to family commitments. The President asked if there was any clarification required and there was none.
Moved: B Coles/J Harland that the Chairman’s Report be accepted. Carried
Reports electronically distributed for members’ perusal:
J Harland noted that as his report had just been posted on the website and also as it is his last season as Manager C&D he would like to address the meeting and read his report.
There were no matters arising from the reports.
Moved: C Frazerhurst/G Moonie that these reports be accepted. Carried
PRESENTATION OF ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF NHRRA:
B Capper presented a projected display of the annual accounts and a précis of the financial position highlighting the following areas:
- Possible threats with the loss of sponsors
- Loss of G Dorreen as a sponsor
- Identified that a player levy would fill the financial gap left from the Dorreen Trust departure
- Advised that there would be little expenditure on apparel in the 2012 season which would allow the bank accounts to reflect their 2010 position
- Advised that the accounts presented will be passed to the auditor in the next month
- Advised he will recommend election of a new auditor
- Recommended that the membership fee of $40 be continued and that the accounts will absorb the cost in the change of the GST rate.
He then took questions from the floor.
Moved: I Leslie/D Dryden that the financial statement as presented be accepted subject to audit. Carried
ELECTION OF OFFICERS 2011/`12
As the President, Mr G Marston, has completed the second of his 2 year term Mr Marston steps down and a new President is to be elected. There was one nomination forwarded for Mr Warren Skelton. He thanked Mr Skelton for accepting the nomination and advised the room that the President’s position would be handed over after Item 9, General Business.
The President announced that nominations had been received for the following officers:
J Harland did not seek re-election to the C&D portfolio. The President thanked him for his services and advised that one nomination for the C&D portfolio had been received for Chris Farrington.
As there were no further nominations for the following offices no election was required.
Moved: G Marston/P Goldfinch that the above nominations be accepted. Carried
Moved: B Coles/G Marston that Mr Greg Woodd of Simpson Western Lawyers be elected. Carried
B Capper advised that he had sought the services of Grant Thornton as Auditor and he would conduct the work pro bono. NHRRA thanks Mr Kent Durbin for his support as Honorary Auditer.
Moved: D Meade/N Putter that Mr Grant Thornton be elected. Carried
NOTICES OF MOTION
No Notices of Motion have been tabled.
SETTING OF MEMBERS’ ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR 2011/12 SEASON
The Financial Controller’s recommendation that the subs be retained at $40.00 per member for the 2011/12 season was put to the floor and voted on.
Moved: B Capper/D Drydin that this subscription be accepted. Carried
GENERAL BUSINESS
D Dryden noted that the Constitution required subs to be paid and suggested that if these were not paid by a particular date then the referee should not be appointed games. He noted that he thought this date was set as the end of April. A question arose from the floor as to the validity of a referee’s insurance cover with NZRU if subscriptions had not been paid. After perusal of the Constitution, D Meade clarified the issue by noting that as a member of the Association the NZRU insurance applied irrespective of the date of subs payment. Although April was a suggested date by D Dryden, a resolution was not put to the floor that this should be accepted as a formal date.
Secretary’s note: As this issue has been raised at previous AGM’s it may be prudent for the Management Committee to discuss the issues surrounding a pay-by date and to make recommendations to the membership for the 2012 season.
Further clarification was requested from the floor regarding the legal position of refereeing NHRU sanctioned games and it was confirmed by Mr B Hollister that any NHRU/NZRU appointment was a sanctioned game irrespective of who referees the fixture. This covered the question of a referee at a venue being asked to cover for the appointed referee who had not turned up.
The President requested that standing orders be suspended as guest speaker Steve Walsh was present and had offered to lead a Q&A session.
The President welcomed Steve to the meeting and formally presented him as the first Honorary Member of NHRRA. Steve thanked the Association and noted that he was extremely humbled with the honour and pleased to be still considered as a NHRRA referee.
Steve spoke briefly of his path to his 4th RWC and noted how much he was enjoying refereeing. He hoped he had one more World Cup in his career and noted that as with all dream jobs an alternative will soon have to be found. He then took questions from the floor and at the conclusion of that the President thanked him for his attendance at this AGM and presented him with a small apparel gift. Steve was also presented with a 2007 Level II Examination Certificate from NZRU.
Standing orders were resumed and under General Business the following were presented:
- NZRU Long Service Certificates
- NHRRA Long Service Pins
- NZRU Level I Exam Certificates
- NZRU Level II Exam Certificates
PRESIDENT HAND OVER
The outgoing President, Mr Marston, noted that as one nomination had been received for Mr Warren Skelton as President, he was duly elected. Mr Marston then welcomed Mr Skelton to the position of President and the hand over was completed.
Mr Skelton then made a brief statement and thanked Mr Marston for his term as President and concluded the business of the meeting at 8.35pm.
Members were asked to remain until the Management Committee could meet and elect a Chairman.
Jim Kane
Secretary NHRRA
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