Download presentation - Elderslie Golf Club

Future Management
Why Change ?
There are three good reasons for change
1. The club struggles to get volunteers to join the Committee.
2. Captains and Vice Captains the same scenario as 1 above.
3. The Golf Club is a business, possibly the 2nd largest employer in
and Elderslie. When you consider the statutory legal requirements
be it Employment law or Health &Safety legislation to name two as
examples. There is no denying that we are a business.
Therefore to go forward in the future, we need to recognise these facts.
With a change of leader each year, this is not the most stable way to
run a business.
We are not alone, many golf clubs face the same difficulties but it
is quite clear that we need to change,
Where do we go now ?
There are 5 steps that the club has to take to move forward.
Stage 1
Form a working group to investigate and consider the
options.
Stage 2
Consult the members, it is important to consult the
members, as ultimately it is the Members that make the
decisions.
Stage 3
Review and amend the Constitution
Stage 4
Call a general meeting to present the proposed
amendments to the members for approval.
Stage 5
On approval of the members, implement the agreed
proposals at further General meeting.
Research to find a better way
A working group was formed which included,
Past Captain Campbell Divertie, Past Captain Paul Aland and Past
Ladies Captain Margaret Scott.
Over the last 6 months they have consulted with all the local clubs
within Renfrewshire plus clubs from Glasgow, Ayrshire, Fife and
Dunbartonshire.
The focus of attention was on Clubs with a different management
structure to that of our own. What is the point of spending time with
Clubs that work the same way as we do.
Discussions also took place with Clubs that have gone through the
process of change, some recently and some a while ago.
The questions asked included what lessons did they learn during the
process? What mistakes were made or areas that they could have
done better.
Also at the time, research was carried out on the Clubs’ administration
role, with our secretary’s imminent retirement it was a good opportunity
to investigate this area at the same time.
The initial thoughts were that a Club Manager would be an asset to
assist the General Committee and hence reduce the work load.
However, it became quite apparent that the cost to employ a Club
Manager was beyond our means, in fact clubs similar to ours had tried
with the appointed of a Club Manager only to back track because of the
costs. Our investigations confirmed that the Club Manager Role and the
necessary support staff could easily cost in the region £ 50,000 to
£60,000 per annum in fact some clubs expenditure was up nearer £
90.000.
How can they afford such sums? Easy answer, Visitor income.
The conclusion on this aspect of the club management was to
recommend to the General Committee that existing
Secretary/Treasurer role be split into 2 part time roles.
This would give a good spread of cover within the office through the
day and also assists during holiday periods. This arrangement can be
costed similar to a single role therefore in these difficult financial times it
does not adversely affect the level of member’s subscriptions.
The General Committee are currently active in taking this matter
forward.
Back to the task of finding a better Way
The Captains’ role within the club, is an onerous task, leading all the
issues associated with managing the General Committee, the members
and the golf activities. Attending team matches, representing the club at
various events, the management of the Club staff and attending all Sub
Committee meetings and General Committee meetings. It is little
wonder in this day and age there is not a queue.
The challenge is how can we reduce this onerous task? Yet still retain
the prestige and honour of being Captain and ensure the continuity of
the business of the Golf Club.
Also how can we address the problem of the lack of members wishing
to support the General Committee, ultimately help the Golf Club.
Proposed Structure.
For ease of reference and not to get confused with General Meeting
and General Committee, this can be renamed the Management
Committee, it could easily be called the General Committee.
Focus on the Captains’ Role,
The Captain will be a member of the management committee,
responsible for the all the Golf and Social activities. They will continue
to represent the Club at all events, Chair the General Meetings, Prize
Giving and Burns Supper.
The Captain is the Ambassador of the Club.
They would also be responsible for the membership and disciplinary
matters that arise, hopefully this will not arrive but experience over the
year’s shows that unfortunately some activity in this matter needs to be
addressed.
The Captain will represent the Match & Handicap Convenor and the
Social Convenor at the management committee meetings.
The Vice Captain will also be a member of the management committee
and will represent the Junior Convenor.
This allows the three Convenors to get on with the tasks associated
with these areas. Therefore not required to get involved in all the other
aspects of the business.
The Captain nominates the Vice Captain and both these appointments
are ratified by the members at the Annual General Meeting. These are
annual appointments.
The four Convenors, House, Greens, Finance and a new position of
Marketing Convenor will be part of the Management Board.
These positions will require nomination and approved at an AGM. They
will be elected to serve for a period of three years. Should any
convenor wish to stand down, the management committee will have the
authority to select a suitable replaced until such time that the next
General Meeting can elect a replacement.
Marketing Convenor, for the Club to have a successful future we have
to focus on others areas of income. It is not sustainable to rely wholly
on the members subscriptions to keep this club going.
The positions shown in green (Sub Committee members) will not be
required to attend the management committee meetings. These
members will be involved in the individual tasks associated with each
section. Hopefully the members of each sub-committee will in the future
be members that can go on to become convenors. Captains and
Chairman of the Club
The Chairman and Vice Chairman.
Currently Past Captains have the knowledge and understanding of how
our Golf Club works. In general it is Past Captains although there are
some members who have severed on Committee and have similar
knowledge and experience but for what ever reason have not under
taken the role of Captain. This group would be the persons best placed
to take on the Role of Chairman and Vice Chairman.
How long would they serve in these roles?
Other Clubs appoint the Chairman/Vice Chairman to serve 3 or 4 years
in essence 6 or 8 years. In our opinion this length of time would not
encourage most to take on the role.
To serve for 1 year is too short, similar to what we have now, no
continuity. Therefore the proposal would be 2 years for each role which
would require a 4 year commitment as Vice Chair and ultimately
Chairman.
The Chairman nominates the Vice Chairman and both these
appointments are ratified by the members at the Annual General
Meeting.
The Management Committee will have the authority to Co-opt any
replacement member to carry out the role for the rest of the year with
an appointment being ratified at the next AGM
Consultation Period
Over the next 3 months, this period of time will be used for further
explanation and discussion.
The working Group welcome the views, the thoughts, concerns and any
suggestions of the members.
However, in order to manage this process all representation should be
in writing to the secretary. (Please append name and contact number)
You can be assured that all returns will be considered and although
replies will not be sent out to each individual submission. Where the
working group wish to discuss your views in more detail they will be in
contact with you.
What happens next?
On completion of the Consultation period, the working group will finalise
their proposals. The options will be presented to the General
Committee.
If approved, a review of the constitution will be required to be carried
out. On completion of this task, a General meeting of the members will
be arranged to allow these proposed changes to be presented to the
members. The timescale of when these changes can be implemented
will be agreed at this meeting.
If these proposals are approved, nomination for the various roles will
require to be presented at a further General meeting of the members to
ratify the appointments.
Final reminder
All representation should be in writing to the secretary. (an email
message would be an acceptable means of communication)
(Please append name and contact number).
Elderslie Golf Club
Why Change
?
Elderslie Golf Club
Working Group formed to research alternatives
Stage 1
Considered the options
Stage 2
Consultation with members
Stage 3
Review Constitution
Stage 4
Call a General Meeting to present the
Amendments to the Constitution.
Stage 5
Hopefully Restructure at next AGM (2015)
Elderslie Golf Club
Research to find a better way
Consulted with other Clubs
Focused on Clubs with a different management from EGC
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Past Captains, Captains & Vice Captains
Club Managers
Professionals
Secretaries
Finance Convenors
Lawyers
Scottish Golf Union
Renfrewshire Golf Union
Elderslie Golf Club
Chairman
(Trustee)
Vice
Chairman
(Trustee)
Captain
(Trustee)
Vice
Captain
Junior
Convenor
M&H
Convenor
Social
Convenor
Sub
Committee
Sub
Committee
Sub
Committee
Greens
Convenor
House
Convenor
Sub
Committee
Sub
Committee
Finance
Convenor
Bar
Convenor
Marketing
Convenor
Sub
Committee
Elderslie Golf Club
Consultation Period – 3 months
This is the time for discussion and we welcome the views,
the thoughts & the concerns of all members.
Members of the working group
Campbell Divertie, Paul Aland & Margaret Scott
Details will be posted on the Notice Board and the Web Site
All thoughts, concerns and any suggestion should be
submitted to the Secretary.
Elderslie Golf Club
What happens next ?
After the cosultation period the working group will complete
their proposals and report back to the General Committee.
If approved by the General Committee.
The amendments to the current constitution will require to be
drafted.
An EGM will be called to allow the members to consider these
proposals and hopefully support the changes.
Thereafter the members will have the opportunity to submit
nominations for the various positions.
At the next AGM the members would vote to appoint all the
members into the new management structure.
Elderslie Golf Club
Thank you for your time
There is an opportunity for a small number of questions at
this time.
The consultation period will give the opportunity for full
discussion and debate.
Thank you.