BOARD TALK!!…..

Following elections at this year’s AGM, your new Board met for the first time, here is a brief insight into our discussions.

Following normal formalities (including conflicts of interest, approval of minutes, review of matters arising, child protection, risk management) Raymond McHugh was formally welcomed to the Board as a co-opted Member with a specific remit for marketing and communications.  In addition to being Managing Director of his own graphic design company Raymond has several other business interests (all of which are recorded in the Register of Interests) and has, for the last two years, been active in helping promote and arrange Glasgow District volleyball.

Jim BerrymanPresident Jim Berryman then outline his vision for taking our sport and the Board forward over the next two years, aligning this with the Strategic Plan and emphasising the need for quality enhancement in all that we do and the continuing professionalism of Board engagement.  There was agreement to the Board taking a more collective, active and visible role as volleyball ambassadors.  Jim will also seek to enhance our standing with external stakeholders, agreeing to take this forward with the support of Malcolm Dingwall-Smith (volleyball Partnership Manager at sportscotland).

In order to enhance operational arrangements the Board will reach early agreement on its annual meeting schedule and align this with the other work streams across the Association.  The Board also agreed to attend a “Governance Away-Day” within the next few months to agree on how best it can operate within its current framework, to assess whether any formal amendment is required to this framework and to agree on how best it can appoint a Director to the role left vacant following the AGM.  This would also provide an opportunity for networking and continuing professional development of Board members.

Board composition was then discussed. The Board agreed to the appointment of Mel Coutts as Interim Vice President until our next AGM, leaving a vacancy for a Board Director.  The process for the filling of this vacant role would be agreed at the Away-Day, but an initial assessment of skills has identified a gap in financial and accountancy expertise, this is likely to influence the next Board appointment.  Jim Berryman will continue to operate as Director of Finance in the meantime and Steve Scott was appointed as General Secretary for the next two years.

Discussions then focussed on the AGM feedback, approval of the methodology and funding taking forward the new Membership Scheme, an update from Margaret Ann and Jim on progress at BVF Board and a report by the CEO on the depth and breadth of activity that she and the SVA staff had been engaged in over recent months.

SVA BOARD
23 JUNE 2010