Message from the VRA Chairman
Dear Members,
It is with mixed emotion that I write to you, in this, my first letter to members as the Chairman of the VRA.
On the one hand, I write to you with complete humility for having been provided such a great honour to serve our association, with the support of an incredibly skilled group of councillors. I am excited about the opportunities that our future might offer if we work collaboratively with our members and clubs, to build our sport, promote our values and assure our future.
However, it is with deep regret and disappointment that I also announce the resignation of Nikki Rees as both duly elected Councillor and Executive Officer of the Victorian Rifle Association.
Over the last three years, Nikki has been a breath of fresh air within our association and has served our members with distinction and without any reservation. Nikki provided the Council, our clubs, and members with much more than she could ever be recognised for. Nikki’s determination and administrative excellence will always be remembered with the successful completion of a very delayed and very complex Capital Works project. The output of Nikki’s efforts will for many years be prominently visible and enjoyed by every shooter and visitor to the Wellsford Rifle Range.
Over the coming weeks, the VRA Council will look to fill the vacancy left by Nikki’s resignation in both Council and the office. We are currently in the process of submitting a job advert on Seek.com.au and other recruitment channels. Our focus, however, is squarely on the upcoming Queens, to ensure that the State Championships can be held without any issue. With that in mind, we are approaching the NRAA to assist the VRA through this transition period.
As with any transition, it provides us with an opportunity to reflect on what has been and consider what is still to come. There is little doubt in my mind that our association offers wonderful experiences to compete, form endearing friendships, provide opportunities to grow skills and offers a platform of giving through volunteering and other contributions. I am however confronted at times by what I perceive to be, a culture of negative criticism and verbal abuse creeping into our sport. I cannot conceive our sport prospering if members are not willing to volunteer in a fear of being singled out and criticized.
As a council, we are single-minded in our pursuit to celebrate our volunteers and assist them to prosper. We each have a duty of care to ensure that we grow together by growing each other.
Alongside this focus, is an acceptance that as a council we are continually required to operate and interact with consistency and transparency in our approach to all matters affecting our members.
One such example has been questions raised, regarding the procedural correctness of the most recent councillor election and the ability of an executive officer being duly elected as a councillor to serve on the Council. Although our previous Chairman, Mr Garry Kay, provided context over the review and consideration process that was followed, members were still questioning the validity.
Therefore, during the very first meeting of the new Council in December, a decision was made to seek formal legal opinion. The VRA retained the services of Mr Ian Fullagar from Lex Sportiva, who was referred by Shooting Australia.
Council posed two primary questions to Mr Fullagar:
Matter 1
Question 1:
Has the VRA conducted the most recent councillor elections within the spirit and the definition of the rules within our By-Laws/Constitution?
Notes to Question 1:
The order in which nominees were placed on the ballot, was based on the order in which their biographies were received. All nominees were sent the request at the same time via email and the Council believed that the chance order of the returns would be random enough to satisfy the rule.
Response to Question 1 from Mr Fullagar:
I consider there has been no departure from the rules and by-laws in regard to the conduct of elections. In any event, if it is arguable that there has been some departure from the procedure (a procedural irregularity) it in no way prejudiced the election process nor any candidate in the election nor any voting member’s right or ability to vote.
Matter 2:
Question 2:
Does the election of a member to the Council, who additionally hold a position as a paid employee (Executive Officer) preclude the member from having a vote or serving on the Council?
Notes to Question 2:
One of the elected members also happens to currently be the Executive Officer (EO). Council believed that nothing in the By-Laws would prohibit a member from being elected, regardless of them being a paid employee too. Council additionally believes that should any conflict of interest arise i.e., voting on salaries or other items with direct implication to the EO that they would recuse themselves from the discussion and abstain from the vote.
Response to Question 2 from Mr Fullagar:
With regards to the supplied notes, this is correct. The qualifications for Councillors are set out in rule 31 and this does not appear to preclude an employee from being elected. Note under rule 32.8 that the consent of the Council or the general meeting to the election in this case (given the employee if of VRA holds an office of profit of VRA). It is arguable that the general meeting by electing the employee has consented to the office assuming it was declared, and the meeting elected them in that knowledge.
Rule 32.8 also sets out duties of Councillors. If the employee is an employee of VRA they also have duties to act in the best interests of their employer. Note further under rule 32.9 the employee/Councillor will need to declare their interest in their contract with VRA. In any event, they should make a similar declaration at the first meeting of the new Council. I note VRA’s rules do not appear to have any general policy around conflicts of interest. VRA should develop a council charter in this regard; the guiding principles are a good start.
Action:
VRA Council to review the existing Councillor Code of Conduct to consider any areas of improvement related but not limited to, good governance, conflict of interest and procedural considerations.
Therefore, in layperson terms, the VRA Council have operated within both the spirit and rules of our constitution and by-laws. As a council we acknowledge that decisions will be made that some members may disagree with, however, please bear in mind that each decision made is done with significant consideration to the best interest of our association, clubs, ranges, and members.
Over the last few months, the Executive Officer and Council have been actively supporting clubs to submit their applications to the Round 4 Grants Funding Programme. This initiative could provide significant benefits to clubs to improve their infrastructure and facilities through capital works. The VRA is additionally submitting an application that will hopefully see the Wellsford range with ET capabilities which will be extended to our clubs on leasing arrangements. The final submission date for this program is 16 February 2021.
We are also in the final stages of preparing the beta release of the new look VRA website, online shop, and member management system. The investment in these services represents a significant step-change that will have tremendous benefits to our club administrators and members. Over the coming weeks, various members will be asked to review the beta so that we are able to pick up on any errors or sections that require attention.
In closing, I cannot overstate the fact that our association and clubs are powered by the efforts of volunteers. These people should be thanked and continually recognised for giving selflessly. Without them, we would not be in the fortunate position to freely participate in the sport we love. With that in mind, I ask that if you have any capacity, skill, or time to offer your club, your range, or the association, that you please do so.
I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at a range very soon.
All the best!
Albert van Wyk