PRESIDENT'S PERSECTIVE

It was said to me just last week, by someone who should know, that Australians "traditionally do not associate well”. He went on to explain the statement; that the Australian culture does not usually lend itself to the formation of successful associations, and that associations that are formed are too often run by a few dedicated people, while the rest of the membership is content to sit back and accept the “running” without practicing their democratic right of input. That was said as a backhanded compliment to the ASSG. Because our Guild is incorporated as an Association, and, by the evidence of our actions, we are a successful one.

This is a very interesting statement to me. Because from my viewpoint, as a soon to be retired president of a committee of dedicated people, we run the risk of being pretty typical of the Australian syndrome. Month after month we have asked, via this Newslet- ter, for input from the members, for ideas, for feedback on opinions, for original articles. Some have come in, but by and large, the results have been underwhelming.

Now I don’t mean this to be read as an accusation. It is merely a fact. And only by studying the facts can a committee attempt to run the kind of association which its members desire.

So it seems to me that we are an association which is happy to let its elected committee make key policy decisions. That’s alright, it is quite normal, if, and only if, the members are happy about who is elected onto that committee, and what their agenda are. It would appear that the membership have been happy enough with the present committee. If payment of membership dues are any criterion, we have had a very quick and high percentage response this financial year; and that is heartening.

This committee has attempted to make the Guild more proactive than in the past. To become more involved in the mechanics of changing the way sound is perceived within the film & TV industry. But, be aware, we have only started to set the wheels in motion. We have applied to SPAA to have a presentation at their conference. They have shown interest, but we have not done it yet. We have had one meeting to discuss the possibilities of a mentorship program to change the attitudes of future producers/directors. We have not done it yet. All this committee has done has been to offer some directions in which the Guild can go if it so wishes.

The Annual General Meeting

Discuss Some Business

Under the rules, our present Honorary Secretary, Ross Boyer, has to mail each one of you an agenda of business to be discussed at the meeting. And he has to do this at least 14 days before the meeting. Any member desiring to bring any business before the meeting must give notice in writing to him before he makes up that final agenda. No business, other than that included on the written notice, will be discussed at the meeting. So, if you have something which you think is important enough to discuss at the AGM, put it in writing and get it to Ross Boyer, c/- the Guild address, in time for him to collate the information and return the final notice. (i.e. by Awards night).

Change some Rules

Included in this postage you will find notice of some Special Resolutions to amend the rules of our Association. We are going to attempt to streamline the administration of the Guild. We think that this is necessary because the numbers of our membership have grown far beyond what the original rules were written to administer. If these Special Resolutions are voted in at the AGM, the tasks of the Secretary and the Treasurer of your next committee will be made simpler.

Elect a New Committee

But a new committee is to be elected at the next Annual General Meeting, to be held at Havana Joe’s upstairs area on Saturday, November 6. And the people who govern that committee, and the rules by which they govern, are to be agreed to at that meeting.

To this elected committee will go the tasks of leading our Guild in whatever directions the general membership chooses. Or, in the absence of direction from the membership, whatever directions they, the new committee, deem the most appropriate. It is the most important meeting that the Guild holds each year.

Needless to say, the most efficient way to ensure that the new committee makes the best decisions is to be a part of that committee.

But if this is not your style, if you are not a “committee type”, that is ok too, just be aware that the AGM is your chance to have a say in who does run the Guild, and how they run it.

Be Financial to Vote

It is also essential that you be a financial full member to vote at the AGM. So if you are not already financial, bring your cheque-book, and your invoice, to the meeting. We also accept Bankcard, Visa, Mastercard and American Express ……. No excuse.

Reply Paid Envelope

We have attempted to make it easy for you to return this information to us this time, by including with this postage a return paid envelope. And most of the information we want you to post back to us relates to the Awards.

So we need these forms returned by September 25, at the latest.

Why not use the one envelope to return all the information to us? This would ensure that the Secretary receives any information he needs in plenty of time to prepare a notice for the AGM. As it was stated in the last Newsletter, the easiest way to make a nomination for Committee involvement is to nominate yourself, because a valid nomination requires the signature of the nominee.

I will personally be very interested to see what sort of response we get to this post-out.

The Guild is in your hands.

Rosco.