VK3s support WIA reform This review has been edited.Report by Peter Parker VK3YE April 17, 2004 Martin Luther, VK7GN Approximately
sixty VK3s gathered in East Burwood last night to discuss moves towards a
single national WIA. The
meeting, hosted by Melbourne's Eastern and Mountain Districts
Radio Club, featured guest speaker Michael Owen
VK3KI. Michael
is one of the prime movers behind WIA reform, having drafted the proposed
'new WIA' constitution. He has extensive experience in WIA and amateur radio
governance matters, having attained the office of federal president, drafted
the original WIA federal constitution in 1972 and served with the
International Amateur Radio Union. The
current environment that the WIA finds itself in presents both challenges
and opportunities. The challenges include reversing the decline in
membership (more than 50% since 1983) and the amateur population.
Opportunities include possible growth to amateur numbers due to licence
reform and the possibility of taking on administrative functions currently
performed by the ACA. Michael
said that a single national WIA would be better able to meet these
challenges. Michael
explained that the current WIA structure is based on individual members
belonging to one of seven state/territory divisions, which were formed from
1910. Each division is a member of the federal WIA organisation, which was
formed as a seperate company in 1972. The Federal body is responsible for
activities such as national and international representation and AR
magazine, but is answerable only to the divisions, not individual members.
Day to day management of the federal body is by a small executive (appointed
by the Divisions) and federal office, based in Melbourne. In
the current environment, this structure is complex, does not provide
economies of scale and divides authority. It can provide different voices on
the same issue, and is not necessarily representative of amateurs
nationally. The
proposed National WIA will be governed by a single board, elected by members
Australia-wide. There will be no geographic electorates or zones; the board
will effectively be a single multi-member electorate. Directors will serve
two year terms with half coming up for election each year (this differs from
some divisions where members may only get a vote every three years). As a
company, the body will be required to adhere to Australian Corporations Law. Clubs
serve a vital social role at the local level and can provide a channel to
solicit members' opinions. The New WIA will support clubs by making
affiliation free. An
important matter is the transition from the current divisional/federal
structure to the proposed single national body. Advisory Committees (based
on current Divisional Councils) will exist for a period to ensure seamless
operation of services. Their consent will also be sought for matters such as
repeaters, WICEN and use of property assets. Because the situation in every
state or territory is different, there will need to be individual agreements
with each Division. Divisions may continue to exist on-paper, but as
subsidiaries of the single national body. In
relation to drafting the constitution, Michael said that there was a
temptation to prescribe for today's needs or problems. However this could
mean the constitution could become outdated quickly. To prevent this, his
preferred approach was to limit the constitution to provide a framework for
problems to be dealt with. Michael added that a good constitution will not
guarantee effective governance - only people will do this. Michael
indicated that reform was urgent. There have been many (failed) attempts at
WIA reform over the last 25 years. There was also the great risk that able
volunteers, who having become frustrated at the lack of change, have
transferred their interests and activities elsewhere, at huge loss to the
WIA and amateur radio. His experience also was that drawn out negotiations
usually led to a lesser or no agreement. There is also a widespread
expection, amongst both members and non-members, that this time reform WILL
happen and that it could be the WIA's last throw of the dice. Though
we might not agree 100% with everything in the constitution, it was
important to place quibbles aside and support its implementation. The new
constitution is not set in stone, and mechanisms exist for further change
should this be required in the future. The
matter has been adjourned until a special federal convention on 1 May.
Amateurs (both members and non members) who support WIA reform should write
or email their divisional councillors. In the words of one reform-minded VK3
Divisional Councillor, 'I would like to be able to present 100 supportive
emails at the next Council meeting'. If agreement is reached promptly, it
could be possible for the new body to start admitting members as early as
July. After
the talk a question and answer session was held. Topics covered included the
scope of advisory committees, corporate governance, procedure of removing
directors and accountability. An
informal poll was conducted on the audience's attitude towards a single
national WIA and the proposed constitution. All but two attendees raised
their hands in favour. This shows that there is now mainstream support for
change, with a general feeling that this should be sooner rather than later. Let
us hope there is constructive progress rather than mere movement, and that
all WIA Divisions can agree to put aside their differences to build a
stronger national single WIA to which all VK amateurs will wish to belong. The
author would like to thank the EMDRC for their initiative in
convening the meeting and hopes that it strengthens support for change.
Martin
Luther VK7GN |