Club Affiliation Fee voted in
at Bowls WA AGM A major change in the funding model for bowls in WA has been approved by clubs at the Annual General Meeting. The required change in the Constitution needed 75% of clubs who voted to support the Board to enact the change. After combining the postal votes received by country clubs and the metropolitan clubs by a show of hands, 76.13% of clubs voted in favour – a wafer thin margin.
The change will now see a single Club Affiliation Fee introduced, rather than the previous requirement of capitating individual club members, which will provide clubs with a simple understanding of playing rights and far less administrative requirements. The change will be effective immediately and in place for the 2016/17 season.
CEO Ken Pride noted that “clubs will over the next few weeks receive their affiliation fee for the coming season. This will be based on the total capitation fee paid in 2015/16 (to the 30th April) plus a 3% increase for this year”. He added however “ the Board was very disappointed in the general apathy shown by clubs, given this was a very important change for the sport in WA”.
Only 33 out of 66 metro clubs attended the AGM to cast their vote, with 76 country clubs from 141 forwarding their postal vote. A further seven country clubs votes were either late in reaching Bowls WA, or ineligible due to their lack of signing of the voting slip – all of these were therefore not considered. So a total of 109 from 207 clubs voting was most disappointing.
The change brings WA into line with the model introduced by Bowls Australia, Bowls Victoria and shortly Bowls NSW (men), with other states and territories considering their move.
