Recfishwest Constitutional Amendment document for consideration at Special General Meeting

Recfishwest has recently held a strategic planning session to assess its future directions and how best to meet the needs of recreational fishers in the future. The Board of Management has made recommendations for several significant changes to be made to the Constitution of Recfishwest.

These changes will be considered at a Special General Meeting (SGM) convened for the purpose to be held at 5 pm on Wednesday 5th July 2006 in the Board Room of the Waterman's Bay Marine Centre, West Coast Drive (opposite Elvire Street), Waterman.

This notice provides background and advice on the proposed changes. Clause 31.1 of the Constitution states that: "Constitutional amendment motions shall be passed by at least three-fourths majority of votes cast by members present or their proxies." Therefore your vote is important.

PLEASE NOTE: Only financial members are able to vote on these proposed amendments.

At the Special General Meeting there can be no discussion on, or amendment to the proposal and the proposed changes must be passed in their entirety by ¾ of those voting to have effect.

The proposed changes:

Clause 6.1(b) and 6.3.

These clauses give special recognition to the Australian Fishing Tackle Association (Western Australia) and Charter Boat Owners Association of Western Australia. These two groups have an important role to play in the education of anglers and the capacity to reach anglers who frequent tackle stores or use charter boats. This change is necessary to give effect to the changes in Board structure in Clause 12 which is a fundamental change to Recfishwest.

Clause 10 (c) and (d).

These changes merely tidy up changes in the past by inserting the correct clause number and is an inconsequential change to Recfishwest.

Clause 12.1 (b) and 12.1 (d). Also 12.3 and 12.4.

These changes represent a significant change to the current Board of Management and will increase the Board membership by 2, from 11 to 13 members (noting that the Chairman will remain a non-voting member).

Clause 12.1 (b) will provide for one Board position for either the Tackle Association or the Charter Boat Association to be elected to the Board of Management and bring a new expertise to deliberations. This position will be nominated by the Association but voted on by all members for a two year term.

As per 12.4, the unsuccessful candidate will be appointed to a committee of Recfishwest so that they will have a direct involvement in the organisation but not at Board level. The Board did not want to increase the size of the Board to a point where it became unwieldy but recognised the need to broaden its expertise.

After two years, the same process will be followed and the position will be contested and the best candidate from either organisation re-elected.


The Board has asked that this arrangement be formally assessed after three years of operation (half-way through the second term of this position) to determine if further reforms are warranted.

Clause 12.1 (d) will provide one additional Public Board Member who may be a member of a fishing club.

One of the basic tenants of the re-establishment of Recfishwest in 1997 was that the wider recreational fishing community, most of whom do not belong to fishing clubs, would be adequately represented on the Board. As a consequence, Clause 12.1 (c) specifically precludes members of clubs or employees of the Department of Fisheries from becoming Public Board Members.

This has allowed external expertise to become available to the Board but has had consequences, particularly from a succession planning perspective. As a direct result, the Board is seeking to allow one Public Board Member to be a member of a fishing club, in addition to the formal representation which is afforded to the major angling associations. This position will be for a standard two year term and will be voted on by all financial members of Recfishwest. This position will also be formally assessed after three years and a report made to members.

Clause 12.3 is a minor amendment which recognises the process for appointment of the Tackle Association or Charter Boat Association position.

Clause 17.4

Clause 17.4 formally sets a quorum for Board meetings at 50% or greater of members of the Board at Board meetings and is necessary for good governance and is required by the Department of Employment and Consumer Protection. This proposal was endorsed by the Board in October 2005 for formalisation at the first available opportunity.

Clause 28

Clause 28 proposes changes to the signing of cheques and the operations of Recfishwest. Principally this proposes to increase the number of potential signatories to cheques from 4 to 5 and allows office staff to sign cheques up to an amount specified by the Board by formal resolution.

28 (c) specifies that staff of Recfishwest cannot sign cheques for which they are a direct beneficiary.

As Recfishwest has grown in size, operational effectiveness has been impacted upon by requiring a Board signature for all cheques no matter how small. This is compounded when the Executive Director is on leave or business trips.

It is anticipated that this change will allow greater flexibility without affecting accountability or financial responsibility.

This change was supported by the Board at its October 2005 meeting for implementation at the first available opportunity.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Recfishwest office on 9246 3366 or send an e-mail to recfish@recfishwest.org.au



This page last updated on 1 June 2006.