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__________________________________________________________________ |
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News Briefs |
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January
2007 |
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As part of our strategic effort
to improve communication between the Society and its
members, the council is committed to keeping members
informed via regular news briefs. These are intended to keep
members updated on council issues, and will not take the
place of the quarterly news letter, which will continue to
be published, as in the past.
As you may well know, the AGM of the Society was held in
Fort Beaufort on 16th November 2006, and some important
decisions were made.
Firstly, a revised constitution for the society was
approved which features a number of changes arising out of
decisions taken at the council bosberaad held in
Bloemfontein during July 2006. The most important of these
concerns is the restructuring of the council to comprise six
members (as opposed to eight previously), with the intention
that the council now focuses primarily on issues of policy
and strategy. To oversee the operational business of the
society, subcommittees of council have been formed to deal
with finance and administration, technical matters,
training, and breed promotion and marketing. A
communications portfolio has also been assigned. |
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The new constitution also
formally recognizes the important role which the clubs play
in the development of the breed and furthering the
objectives of the Society.
Other decisions taken by the AGM concerned financial
matters. As part of the approval of the 2007 budget, it was
agreed that the per capita fee be increased
from R20.00 (exc) to R22.00 (exc). In addition, the fee for
the reinstatement of bulls was agreed to be increased from
R50.00 (exc) to R500.00 (exc), effective from 1 April 2007.
Another significant development of the AGM, saw the
retirement of five of our longer serving council members.
Pat Hobbs, Ben Fyfer, Gerrit Oosthuizen, Mike Greyling and
Freddie Besselaar had indicated prior to the AGM, their
intention to stand down and not submit themselves for
re-election. This constitutes a loss of many years of
collective experience, but we are consoled that they have
all offered to give of their time and wisdom to assist the
new council in taking forward the business of the society.
Three new council members have been elected to replace those
retiring being Stian van As of the Highveld Club, Kevin
Watermeyer of the Karoo Club, and Barry Tapson of the East
Cape Club. |
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The new council is as follows:
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Deon
Richter |
President |
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Barry Tapson
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Vice
President and communications portfolio |
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Giel Van
Niekerk |
Chairperson
Finance and Administration |
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Auvinus
Martens |
Chairperson
Technical |
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Stian van
As |
Chairperson
Training |
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Kevin
Watermeyer |
Chairperson
Breed promotion and marketing |
Elected members of council held a
work session in December to review strategy and to prepare for
the year ahead. The first formal meeting of the council will
take place during the week of 26th February 2007, and
as in the past, club nominees and co-opted representatives will
be invited to attend.
The consensus on policy changes agreed at the July bosberaad,
and ratified at the AGM, sets some serious objectives for the
council to meet during the course of this year. The
implementation of the new governance structure, and the
establishment of the sub-committees, is critical to ensuring
that service to members is maintained and enhanced. The role of
the clubs as important sub-organs of the Society needs to be
clarified in order to optimize the relationship between the
national and regional levels. Our new office, independent of the
Studbook secretariate, requires further management input in
order to meet the growing administrative needs of the society.
Our most immediate challenge, however, is to review the policy
and procedural issues concerning the annual inspection programme.
Of concern here is:
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The shortage of inspectors
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Minimizing disruption to the
personal farming activities of individual inspectors
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Ensuring that inspectors are
fairly recompensed for their efforts
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Ensuring breeder compliance and
cooperation
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Managing the process efficiently
and cost effectively
Members of council are currently
working on this, and it is intended that a revised policy
document be tabled for approval at the February council meeting,
and for immediate implementation thereafter. This process will
include consultation with some of our well experienced senior
inspectors.
During this time of transition, as we implement the new
structures and procedures, we will endeavour to ensure a
consistent service to our members. In turn, we believe that we
can rely on your cooperation in assisting us through this
process.
We wish you and your families all the best for the New Year
ahead. |
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