This is a new section which will be added to over the next few months, dealing with the nuts & bolts of running a club. What does the President/Chairperson do, and how should a meeting be run? click here to see everything (and maybe more than) you ever wanted to know What does the Secretary do? Click here for the Secretary's job.... What does the Treasurer do? (still to come - check back soon) What is involved in Incorporation and when is it worthwhile (still to come - check back soon) If you have any other topic relevant to running a club that you want covered, email here and we'll see what we can do! In the meantime, here is something to go on with> |
HELP! Occasionally the National Committee hears this cry from a Club. It may stem from a minor dissent between two members or be a more serious, even criminal, offence. More often than not, the request for us to intercede is made anonymously. Whilst the Committee is very sympathetic (if the truth be known, we've each experienced similar situations in our own clubs!) there really is very little we can do. Almost every Club problem needs to be sorted out by the Club itself. At all costs, the NZRC wants to avoid a National Committee that points a big finger and dictates "Thou Shalt Not...." One of the big attractions of NZRC is the freedom the members have to run their Clubs their way. Other than enforcing the Consitution, which is a legal requirement, and the Competition Rules, which ensure fair play in rivalry, the National Committee does not impose its authority on the Clubs. The only exception may be where all parties are agreed that the National Committee act as a mediator, and, if appropriate, all parties are agreed that the National Committee's decision is final. However, we strongly urge Clubs to try and resolve any disagreements themselves, unless there are legal infringements to be considered. The problem may be a bad clash of personalities or some dissatisfaction over the way the Club is being managed, continuing disagreements over the type of events being organised or even a crimial offence. Doubtless the discussions will have been many and a number of differing views expressed. Yet there comes a time when the issue has to be brought to a conclusion. A recommended course of action would be: |
Hold a club meeting for everyone to have their input if they choose. It is important that all Club Members are given this opportunity. This may become heated so an impartial but firm Chairperson will be needed. If this meeting can resolve the problem within 30 minutes, all well and good. If not, the members should elect their respective spokespersons and impartial mediators. This would be two representatives from each side, plus each side would select an impartial mediator. These six people would then be responsible for resolving the issue. At this time, these six people should agree on a venue, time and length of the next meeting. This will be a closed meeting. The reason and date for all meetings must be made known to all Club Members, even if the meeting is itself closed. Do not hold any secret meetings. The outcome of each meeting must be made known to all Club Members. |
It is important, yet quite difficult, to achieve a balance in these situtations. Everyone must be allowed to express their opinion (politely, of course!) but long-winded arguments which make no progress must be avoided. They simply feed the big ugly beast causing disharmony. To the authors of the anonymous letters we have received requesting our intervention, I'm sorry if you feel abandoned and frustrated. It was not possible for us to reply, for obvious reasons. |
RUNNING A CLUB |
This is a new section which will be added to over the next few months, dealing with the nuts & bolts of running a club. What does the President/Chairperson do, and how should a meeting be run? click here to see everything (and maybe more than) you ever wanted to know What does the Secretary do? Click here for the Secretary's job.... What does the Treasurer do? (still to come - check back soon) What is involved in Incorporation and when is it worthwhile (still to come - check back soon) If you have any other topic relevant to running a club that you want covered, email here and we'll see what we can do! In the meantime, here is something to go on with> |
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