Annual General Meeting
Albinism Fellowship of Australia (AFA) Friday 4th April 2008
Colley Room 1 Stamford Grand Hotel, Glenelg SA
Meeting commenced at 14:15 Australian Central Daylight time
1. Attendees
; Elizabeth Beales ; Philip Latey
; Allen Little ; Melanie Boulton +
Karin
; Panapa Pabiale
; Fiona Collison
; Shari Parker
; Brian Evans
; Gail Penaluna
; Annette Ferguson
; Leonore Scott
; John Gillespie
; Ted Thomas
; Kim Gillespie
; Toni Tiller (Chairperson)
; Erika Webb ; Helene Johanson +
Imogen ; Patricia Woodcroft-
Lee
2. Apologies
a) Michelle Cameron
b) Nirja Leong
c) Rachel Perry
th3. Confirm minutes of Previous Annual General Meeting Sunday 13 May
a) Minutes confirmed by Toni Tiller and seconded by Allen Little
4. Reports
a) President’s Report – Kim Gillespie – See attachment 1
a) Treasurer’s Report – Costas Louras has vacated this position – a
brief financial status report will be given by Kim Gillespie – see
attachment 2
b) Vice President’s Report – Rachel Perry (to be read by Elizabeth
Beales) – See attachment 3
At this point, Rick Guidotti joined the meeting. He is from Positive Exposure (www.positiveexposure.org).
c) Secretary’s Report – Shari Parker - see attachment
d) State reports.
; Western Australian state report – Erika Webb – See
attachment 5
; New South Wales – Kim Gillespie – “We‟ve had a couple of get
togethers in NSW. We are going to have another one after the
conference.”
; Other State reports will be emailed out to members when they are
received.
; Kim Gillespie indicated that we need state / territory
representatives for Tasmania, ACT and NT (NB since the time of
the AGM, the Tasmanian state rep position has been filled)
; Helene Johanson (Queensland state rep) suggested that
Queensland be split into two regions – Northern and Southern to
facilitate geographically logical get togethers – she is working on
this.
5. General business
a) Development of AFA Constitution – Erika Webb – see attachment 6
; If anyone has any problems or amendments to this, please let
Erika Webb know. Erika indicated that it cannot be adopted at this
AGM but will be adopted at a later date
; Ted Thomas gave his congratulations to Erika for her work on the
constitution. He indicated his concern at having one of the
executive being the public officer. As our organisation was
incorporated in NSW, the public officer needs also to come from
NSW. Ted Thomas has expressed his interest as being the public
officer. Kim Gillespie indicated that we might need to call for
expressions of interest for this position.
; Philip Latey sought clarification about whether we are registered
as a not for profit organisation. Kim Gillespie indicated that we
have been registered as such since 2006 and come under the
clubs and associations division
; Shari Parker indicated that we have applied for Charity status but
this has not yet been granted. Kim Gillespie indicated that this
also has to go through the gaming commission. Costas Louras
was following up on the status of this and he has resigned as
treasurer, so the next treasurer will be following up on this issue.
Erika Webb indicated that when / if we do obtain charitable status,
a change in the constitution will be required.
; Kim Gillespie indicated that when we do get charitable status, we
will have a fund raising subcommittee. Our current fundraising
has been internal, with donations from members, one donation
from Transitions Lenses of $100, as well as profit from the
merchandising, DVD and CD-ROM sales.
; MOTION 1 – Proposed by Ted Thomas and seconded by Shari
thParker: “That the AFA adopt the constitution as a draft today, 4
stApril 2008, with any amendments to be finalised by 1 June
2008.”
; Leonore Scott pointed out that if a public officer is nominated,
they must be registered within 30 days, and likewise if the public
officer changes, that also much be registered within 30 days.
b) Development of AFA Strategic plan – Allan Little and Patricia
Woodcroft-Lee - see attachment 7
; Allen Little acknowledged the people who contributed as the
strategic plan was formulated. He indicated that when an idea or
concept is put forward in a discussion list, these are read and
recalled by people who may not necessarily respond. With this in
mind, Allen put in place a profile or suggested strategic plan. This
was sent to Trish (Woodcroft-Lee), who did “an absolute work of
genius on it”. Allen Little publically acknowledged her for her input in
the way the constitution came together. It was a joint collaborative
response.
; Allen stated that the plan requires a commencement and a
conclusion date. It currently takes in a two year period. When Allen
and Trish commenced work on the strategic plan, it was meant to
thrun for 3 years. Allen suggested that it run until 30 June 2010, so
that it is concluded at the end of the financial year in which the next
conference is held (the next conference is due to be held in Sep /
Oct 2009 – the last of the conferences to be held every 18 months,
so we are then holding our conferences in the alternative year to the
NOAH biennial conference).
; Allen pointed out that this plan is dynamic – it will change with time.
It does not say anything new that we do not want, it does say all the
things that the AFA seems to want
; Allen went on to explain that the strategic plan includes the following
areas:
o An overview of AFA
o Strategic drivers
o A vision statement - AFA‟s vision is of a society where all persons
with Albinism will participate fully in the life of their community,
with the same opportunities, rights and responsibilities as other
citizens, and will have the knowledge and freedom to choose and
achieve their personal goals in life
o Our mission statement – To promote an understanding of
Albinism in the Australian community; to provide peer support to
persons with Albinism and to encourage, educate and inform
families and friends of people with Albinism and health and
educational professionals as to how they can best support and
assist them
o Five objectives of the AFA are stated
o Key reporting areas – the areas that the office bearers of AFA will
report to the AFA so that they are accountable. These are the
areas which you look at to evaluate the plan. These are
membership, communication, development and maintenance of
strategic alliances, fundraising, technological developments and
effective advocacy
o Membership – the membership clause in the constitution has now
been expanded to encompass International memberships. Shari
Parker pointed out that there is a sentence under membership
regarding communication with every Australian citizen. Allen Little
and Patrician Woodcroft-Lee indicated that this will need to be
changed to reflect the updated constitution, with a more global
view.
o Allen mentioned about the importance of strategic alliances
between AFA and organisations such as Vision Australia, Guide
Dogs, Albinism Trust in NA, NOAH and Albinism Fellowship of UK.
Patricia Woodcroft-Lee also emphasised the importance of
strategic alliances with non-vision related organisations who
address issues related to albinism, such as public transport (and
the Senior Citizens and Pedestrian Council) – organisations who
want the same outcomes as the AFA.
o Fundraising – this is really critical as we can do little without
money. This needs some time and thought to be devoted to it –
fundraising is all about perception and communication, data
capture and motivation. We need to be innovative. o Patricia Woodcroft-Lee pointed out that the strategic plan is a
broad outline and underneath this, the executive or individual
states may wish to develop action plans or particular strategies.
; MOTION 2 – Proposed by Allen Little and seconded by Ted Thomas: “That, with the amendment to the membership clause to include
International members, that the strategic plan as discussed above
become the draft Strategic plan of the Albinism Fellowship of
stAustralia, with any amendments to be finalised by 1 June 2008.”
c) Development of Annual Budget
; Motion 3 proposed by Shari Parker and seconded by Elizabeth
Beales: “That the treasurer and executive committee prepare an
stannual budget for presentation to the membership prior to 31
October 2008. ”
d) Set membership renewal fees for financial year 08-09
; Shari Parker outlined the current annual fee structure for the
Albinism Fellowship of Australia: Individual membership $30, Family
membership $35, individual professional memberships $35, and
organisational memberships are $50 (the organisation can print the
newsletter and distribute it to its members). About 2/3 of members
currently receive their newsletters via PDF, over the internet via
email, and about 1/3 receive it via hard copy. Shari Parker went on
to point out that the cost of printing the newsletter reflects a
significant cost to the AFA, and thus proposed that the current fees
be left as is if members receive their newsletter and correspondence
via email, but a premium of $5 to be added if members prefer to
receive correspondence via mail.
; Leonore Scott sought clarification about whether this $5 would cover
the additional costs of printing and postage. Kim Gillespie and Shari
Parker indicated that postage is covered with the use of the vision
impaired stamps, and that the additional premium would cover the
additional printing costs.
; Patricia Woodcroft-Lee sought clarification about the fee structure for
unwaged members (those whose only income is government
benefits). Their current annual membership cost is $22 per annum.
Kim Gillespie and Shari Parker confirmed that this would continue at
the same rate regardless of the format in which the newsletter is
received.
; A discussion about postal issues then ensued. Below is the vast majority of quotes from this discussion as far as the Secretary could determine from the recording and her notes. Any queries about the accuracy can be raised with the secretary
(secretary@albinismaustralia.org)
o Leonore Scott: “In South Australia, we are supposed to by law
use the stamp only if it is a Braille copy or a tape that's sent out.”
o Kim Gillespie: “It's actually for visual impairment.”
o Shari Parker: “We have someone who‟s married to a postie here.”
o Erika Webb: “Not according to the World Blind Union who
manage the International Postal concession, as opposed to a
postie. The International postal concession by the World Blind
Union is currently under review.”
o Shari Parker: We‟ve looked it up on the Internet and it does seem
to cover materials for visual impairment also.”
o Erika Webb: “It is materials for the blind and it comes under the
International Postal Concession Agreement of the World Blind
Union.”
o Helene Johanson: “I receive free stuff from NOAH and I‟m not
visually impaired at all, and they send it to me with the same
stamp.....I made enquiries at my local post office, then Kim made
enquiries as well and they told us it was ok in Qld and
NSW...there is a database and they said that.....I think take
advantage until someone says that we can‟t”
o Erika Webb: ”I am just pointing out how it is.”
o Shari Parker: “Can I propose that I clarify that and report back to
the membership if there is an issue?”
o Kim Gillespie: “Helene clarified it and I clarified it. How do we
clarify is the question?””
o Elizabeth Beales: “I‟ll ask Martin to check.”
o Erika Webb: “BCA is currently doing the review through the World
Blind Union of the International Postal Concession. I am not trying
to put a spanner in the works by the way....”
o Allen Little: “Any item adapted for the use of the blind, and
remember the definition of legal blindness, up to 7Kg goes
through regular surface mail for free.”
o Erika Webb: “And they assume that when you talk about material
adapted for the use of the blind that you have changed it from
print to Braille or compact disc.”
o Shari Parker:”and large print?”
o Erika Webb: “No, large print‟s never been listed.”
o Allen Little: ”I‟m sorry. As a former regional chair for the World
Blind Union, I can tell you that large print is acceptable and it was
suggested under the convention because there are numbers of
prints that are used and if things are adapted for people who are
visually impaired.
o Erika Webb: “I understand that.....”
o Annette Ferguson: “I get a large print from Vision Australia and
Guide Dogs.”
o Erika Webb: “Vision Australia is distributing to all sorts of people
with vision impairment/. We are doing one specific group of
people with a vision impairment who all access print, not Braille,
not audio, you‟re only providing print. You are not providing it in
an alternative format, apart from PDF, which is inaccessible for
people who are totally blind.”
o Helene Johanson: “It‟s a relevant concern „cause I know Kim and
I, we discussed this for ages and we went and saw several people
and we just went with it.”
o Erika Webb: “And when you brought it up, I had concerns and I
raised them at the time. I just didn‟t know about this World Blind
Union...”
o Annette Ferguson: “Do we need to do anything about this?”
o Kim Gillespie: “Who do we actually speak to in order to get 100%
clarification?”
o Allen Little: “Marianne Diamond.
o Erika Webb: “Marianne Diamond at Vision Australia.
o Kim Gillespie: “So she actually runs the whole scheme does
she?”
o Erika Webb: “No, she‟s the International relations person at Vision
Australia.”
o Shari Parker: “So Erika, is this only an issue for mail that‟s going
to New Zealand and for our International ones?”
o Erika Webb: “Not it‟s within Australia. As far as I know, you are
breaching the Australian Postal Act.”
o Kim Gillespie: “If it‟s been done, it has been completely
unintentional. We will.....”
o Erika Webb: “I had questions at the time....”
o Kim Gillespie: “I remember you questioning it, and that‟s why
Helene and I went and checked.”
o Allen Little: “Madame Chair, some people at the back are not
getting the chance to make a contribution to get your attention.”
o Kim Gillespie: “Sorry I couldn‟t see. Who wants to talk over
there?”
o Brian Evans: “I was just going to say that if there is an issue about
the distribution, then at the bottom of the large print version, you
can say, „a small print version is available on request.‟ “
o Kim Gillespie: “I am sorry, Brian, can you clarify that a bit. Is that
so we....”
o (said by a female): “That‟s so we know it‟s been adapted.”
o Kim Gillespie: “What I‟ll do...I will contact Marianne Diamond at
Vision Australia. I will discuss it in full, let her know the whole
process and the concerns and what we‟ve done and what we‟ve
been doing so it‟s totally........I mean, I‟ve always thought it was
above board because Helene and I have looked into it with the
actual post offices, but obviously......”
o Erika Webb: “I‟ve always been unhappy about it.”
o Kim Gillespie: “You have. I know that Erika you‟ve always
mentioned......I remember you mentioning in email with the
committee. So I totally acknowledge that.”
o Elizabeth Beales: “I think it was too grey.”
o Kim Gillespie: “It was too grey and that‟s why we investigated it
with actual post offices and they said yeh that‟s fine, but if
Marianne Diamond is the person to speak to, I‟ll give her a call in
the next two weeks, so say by the end of April. I will contact her
by the end of April and I will discuss with her whether we should
be using this, and if we shouldn‟t be using, then I‟ll report back
either way and exactly what she said and if we shouldn‟t using it,
we will stop using it”.
o Helene Johanson: “If she says that we can use it, ask if she can
print an official recognition of that.”
o Leonore Scott: “If you‟re trying to cover your costs, then the $5
extra will just cover what you‟re doing or.....”
o Shari Parker: “It will be an oversized letter, so it would be quite
significantly more, in addition to the printing, it would be postage
on top of that.”
o Leonore Scott: “That‟s why I brought it up. It would be great if it
can be done in the way that you‟ve been doing it......”
o Allen Little: “The other contention that you do have, Kim is that a
lot of, and BCA in particular does this, when they send out their
documents, they send them out on a 3 ? inch floppy, or a CD
ROM. Now a CD ROM can go in anyone‟s computer anywhere in
the world, there‟s no special adaption in it. But that still goes out
as articles for the blind.”
o Shari Parker: “And that can‟t be used by someone who is
completely blind either”