FND DISTRICT PRESIDENT RSL QLD 2021 AGM DEBRIEF
FND DISTRICT PRESIDENT RSL QLD 2021 AGM DEBRIEF
Dear Members,
I have just returned from Brisbane following attendance at the RSL QLD 2021 Annual General Meeting (State AGM). To ensure that you are kept informed, I thought I would provide a short debrief on the AGM and some comments about the implications.
As you are aware, the State AGM was held 8-9 December 2021 at Brisbane. The Far Northern District was represented by me and 16 Sub-branches. Unfortunately, four of our sub-branches and the Torres Strait Chapter were not able to attend for various reasons. However, our attendance was an excellent turnout.
Issues
Apart from the requirement to hold an AGM annually (although this one was belated due to the Co-Vid restrictions), there were two main reasons for the AGM:
• The vote for the draft RSL QLD Draft Constitution (2021), and
• The election of a RSL QLD State President.
Draft RSL QLD Draft Constitution (2021)
Unfortunately, the draft Constitution did not achieve the 66.7% votes required and was defeated by a very small margin (about 2%). This has some significant implications as the ‘status quo’ will not assist in saving the RSL QLD organisation.
The draft Constitution had three important components:
1. The Member Value Proposition (MVP) which provided a means for changing the composition of membership and allow the membership to grow through bringing in families and RSL supporters.
2. Changes to the RSL QLD Board structure to bring in a merit-based board.
3. Allowing RSL QLD to become a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) that would allow RSL QLD to achieve full charity status and remove the tax burden for the State Branch, District and Sub-branches.
MVP: The defeat of the MVP means that the membership will continue to bleed. From membership modelling that I have seen, if the current membership loss rate continues, the Far Northern District will not exist in 10-15 years. This is due to natural attrition relating to the aging membership and the inability of sub-branches to attract new membership. The ‘poaching’ or transferral of members from other sub-branches within the District or other parts of QLD does not increase membership overall when State and National membership is considered; we need new members.
Following discussions with FND Board members, I will investigate whether the MVP framework around the various types of membership category could be introduced using by-laws – this is possible under the RSL QLD 2015 Constitution.
Merit-based Board: I do not believe that the defeat of the merit-based board will create any major problems. There is a perception that having the District Presidents being both a District President and a RSL QLD Board member is a conflict of interest. This perceived conflict is, and has been, managed very well from my observation since taking on the role of a RSL QLD Board Member – I believe it will continue to be managed with the proper governance and guidance within the current Board until such time it is changed within the Constitution.
PBI: Of concern is the defeat of the Public Benevolent Institution (PBI). RSL QLD (State and District), plus some sub-branches, still pay Goods and Services Tax (GST). As a PBI, this requirement would be negated, and the organisation would be treated as a full charity. Note that Districts and Sub-branches would not automatically be granted PBI status as the wording in the RSL QLD Constitution regarding the RSL Objects require some subtle changes. Further, once the State Constitution has been amended, then the District and Sub-branch constitutions can be amended accordingly.
Overall, I believe that each of the changes outlined above are still required but will now have to be dealt with as individual motions at the next AGM. This will take some time but should be done as soon as possible. The next RSL QLD AGM will occur in June 2022.
A new RSL QLD State President: A new State President, Stephen Day, was elected at the AGM. Stephen who is relatively new to the RSL (he became a member within the last six months). I have met him and believe that he will do his best for RSL QLD members.
You may have received a message from him through email. He reiterated that Veterans must remain the focus of the RSL and acknowledged that we need to ensure that our sub-branches are properly supported. This will require change as the ‘status quo’ will not cut it.
I look forward to working with the incoming President and will continue working with the RSL QLD Board to ensure the best outcomes for veteran support and RSL QLD.
The outgoing RSL QLD State President: It was sad to see Tony Ferris leave. He has worked tirelessly supporting Veterans while in the role of President. While he may have seemed abrupt at times, he was always thinking of how best to support our members. His guidance and leadership in bringing RSL QLD up to a modern organisation was outstanding.
The RSL organisation requires change in the way it seeks members and the way in which it deals with the world. From my perspective, the retention of the ‘status quo’ due to the short-sightedness of some members who fought against change will not help RSL QLD or the RSL generally. Having said that, I hope that the rifts within the membership can be healed soon so that we can move forward into the 21st Century and continue the good work that RSL QLD does for veterans.
Support each other: I would like to remind you to stay safe and well over the Christmas/New Year break with your family and friends. If you know of a veteran who is not as well connected as you, please reach out to him/her and see if they are okay. Don’t forget to do your cyclone preparations and help those that need assistance in getting prepared.
Once again, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2022.
John Maschke
District President
15 December 2021