In a groundbreaking move, the seven Branches (shareholders) of the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA) resolved last Sunday with the required 6:1 majority to end a governance system that had been in existence since the Federation was formed in the early 1950s.
No longer will the Branches have automatic representation on the National Board, usually through their Chairpersons. Instead, the same Branches will elect an independent skills-based Board from a list of nominations from the general membership of the EFA.
"This is a major reform", said the EFA's Chairman Russell Withers. "We have been working on reform for more than a decade. Now, with the assistance of the Australian Sports Commission and a corporate governance consultant, we have achieved a breakthrough that will surely benefit the Federation." Mr. Withers added that the size of the Board would be reduced from 13 directors to five elected members plus up to two appointed directors.
Franz Venhaus, National CEO of the EFA, commented that "the EFA is entering a new era of governance. These are exciting times. So much work will need to get done to make the reforms effective. We are banking on the goodwill and cooperation of our Branches. I am also looking forward to working with the new Board. Who knows who will be on it?"
The EFA is now calling for nominations of suitably qualified and experienced members to join the new Board, which is expected to have its first meeting in early May. An information pack is available from the EFA web site at www.efanational.com or by calling the National Office on 02 8762 7777.
Editorial comment: The above Media Release heralds enormous change for the Australian Equestrian Federation - change is often frightening and more often than not confronting but if handled with open communication where everyone feels they are being kept informed it will usually go easier - I have no doubt that Franz Venhaus will continue to keep us all well informed as he has certainly proved to be an excellent communicator to date.
My main concern with the changes we are now going to undergo is that if the EFA generla membership continue to be the apathetic mob they have become in the past years then I have doubts that things will improve - in fact I believe they will get infinitely worse than they have been because the "same old people" will again be in power because nobody else "could be bothered to apply" - well my advice to all those who do actually care about their sport and the way it is administered - now is the time to stand up and be counted and be part of the change!
And if the general membership doesn't bother to vote/nominate then all that can be said is that we all have only ourselves to blame when we find our Federation in the clutches of a few self serving people who bothered to rally the votes for themselves - don't let that happen - be proactive and nominate people who you believe would be there for the betterment of our sport - god knows it needs all the help it can get!
