Surf lifesaving changes mooted

Press, 11 April 1979, Page 30

Surf lifesaving changes mooted

Bv

RAY CAIRNS

Always providing there is acceptance fwm the clubs, sweeping changes m rhe administration of Canterbury surf (lifesaving are proposed for It he coming year.

At present there is a delegates-officers system which controls the sport, and the list of officers is indeed a cumbersome one. In addition to • the more normal positions — president. vice-presirients. secretary, treasurer and the honorary functions that befall and auditors — there, are such posts as publicity officer, radio officer., jet boat officer, chief instructor, carnival controller. gear inspector, and/regtstrar Canterbury ’is fortunate that in most 4 cases, it has well qualified people filling these pests at present — though thfis is not necessarily alvaays the case — but the, functions of these posts are surelv that of not officers. The people, chosen are selected for their abilities in specific fields, not as administrators.

Perhaps/it was with this in mind t'r.at the hard core of the district's administrators • has circulated clubs wifh its far-reaching nroposalh. These suggest that meetings of the association should he held six times it year — four of them, rius the annual general meetinc. between July and Ncapember.

The management committee would continue to meet monthly, on the fourth Wednesday; and s u b-committees would meet on the first Wednesday of each month, generally the day after association meetings. The sub-committees would be the truly functioning bodies of the association. but they would be answerable in the first instance to the management committee, and then to the association, the full meetings of delegates and officers.

The proposal — to be considered by club representatives informally within a month or so, and then by a special general meeting — is for the annual meeting to elect only three key officers: president, chairman and secretary, plus the three vicepresidents.

But it would also elect sub-committee conveners, people to respectively head publicity, patrols, competitions, and finance. The conveners Of the planning, and the administration committees would already be appointed by definition: the chairman would head the planning committee, the secretary the administration committee.

The chairmanship, if adopted, is a new post, but such a move has been tried. Three years ago, the South Brighton club proposed the election of an association chairman, to preside at ordinary meetings, but it gained surprisingly little support. The occupant of the post, and the secretary, would be ex officio on all committees. The functions of "the sub-committees are specific and laid down in the recommendations. The patrol committee would deal with paid patrols, appoint

the chief instructor and patrol efficiency committee, administrate die jet boat, awards system, and rescue reports. The competitions committee would make appointments as carnival controller and carnival secretary — as well as the full panel of carnival officials — and oversee arenas and buoys.

It would also organise the various competitions, such as the Shipping Corporation “patroller of the year” and the “surf lifesaver of the year.” but not the W’ales Bank patrol efficency award.

The finance committee would appoint a treasurer, pursue sponsorships, conduct the street day appeal,

and set up a ways and means committee. Publicity would include electronic and written media representatives and a public relations officer. One area sure to cause some little concern is the suggestion that the administration committee would sort out its idea of who should be the council delegate to the national association. There will probably be a strong body of opinion that this is a post of much importance that should rightly be the subject of election at the annual general meeting. There is also the matter of continuity. It has been suggested that a key officer — chairman or secretary — should be the council member; but it has also been suggested in these proposals that there should be a rotation of key posts after three years. The association may deem it wiser to consider that if it has the right man, he should leave him at the Wellington meetings for several years — as, indeed, it did with Allen Lee before his elevation to the national presidency. But generally speaking, these are well thought-out proposals that demand careful consideration. Their implementation should result in an already’ able administration becoming even more efficient and effective.