AFLNZ Board Meeting held at 5.00pm on 26th November 2009 at AUT Akoranga Campus Auckland 5.00pm
Present
Geoff Dickson, Damon Crowe, Robert Vanstam (CEO), Cory Williams, Ian Francis, and Justin Davies, Lachlan Keating via Skype.
Apologies
Byron Roff, GD moved that apologies be accepted CW seconded and passed unanimously.
Minutes of previous meeting
GD noted that the previous minutes required one alteration. “GD stated that an AFL Club should be viewed as a partner and not a sponsor moving forward.” With initialed altered from GD to JD.
DC moved that the minutes of the previous meeting be accepted. CW seconded. Passed unanimously
Business Arising
Nil
Audit and Financials
RV presented financials for the year ending October 31st indicating a loss of $9700. RV stated major differences to budget included a $13,000 unbudgeted investment in Secondary Schools and the inaugural inception of the Hawks Cup.
AFL KiwiKick also incurred a loss of just over $5000 overall which will be offset by the increase in revenue in the programme in term 1 2010. NZ Racing Board Levies had produced $8500 revenue above budgeted levels.
JD mentioned the need to review reporting due to the advent of new programmes that had been initiated since the commencement of the most recent financial year.
RV stated that the Job function utilized by MYOB would still provide a sufficient breakdown of the current year and would be utilized in the annual report.
RV stated that the reporting process would be reviewed to ensure clarity in the reporting structure.
RV presented a working document outlining a Profit and Loss Forecast for the 2010 financial year. JD noted that categories presented in the most recent reporting would be a suitable format to ensure clarity in future financial reporting.
JD asked what could be considered suitable in regards to working capital for AFL New Zealand moving forward.
RV stated that he was comfortable with a working capital of approximately $80,000 considering the increased revenue and expenses due to the ever expanding AFL KiwiKick programme.
RV stated that the current cash surplus had been earmarked and agreed upon by the board for future fulltime staff at a previous meeting.
CW mentioned we should be mindful of our status as a non profit organization and the situation that could see the growth of cash reserves.
RV stated that the new budget had introduced two new areas of expenditure which included High Performance ($20,000 per annum) and Secondary Schools ($20,000 per annum) and any increase in cash reserves would see an immediate increase in the expenditure of these two categories.
GD moved that RV finalise before Christmas, a Cash Flow forecast for the next twelve months to provide Board Members information on our cash reserves over that period. DC seconded. Unanimous.
DC moved that financials be accepted. CW seconded. Passed unanimously.
Discussion and Development
Board succession, planning and development
Appointed Director Process
RV stated that two applications had been received for the position of Appointed Director and both had been forwarded to the AFL. No response had been received from the AFL regarding the position at this stage.
Establishment of an NPC Forum
GD discussed possible formation of an NPC Forum.
The purposes of the proposed NPC Forum are to:
1. Provide input into the structure, scheduling and format of NPC Events.
2. Provide advice as to how NPC events can best contribute to the outcomes of the High Performance Strategy.
RV stated that the newly formed Strategic Plan, would include Organisational deliverables that would include the development of an NPC calendar for Under 20 and Senior levels engaging the support of New Zealands affiliated Leagues. This would tie in with the New Zealand Hawks pathway programme and High Performance deliverable outcomes.
The NPC forum will not have any decision-making authority but will be utilized as an advisory group. The membership would consist of the CEO and a delegate from each of the four leagues.
The board indicated their support for any such initiative.
20010-2012 Strategic Plan
The completed document was circulated prior to the meeting by RV. Vision and mission had been established at the previous meeting.
Outcomes, five pillars of the strategic plan, focus and deliverables were presented by RV. GD moved that, subject to alterations noted by the AFLNZ Board, the plan was accepted and the ‘presentation road show’ to stakeholders will commence in the new year. DC seconded, passed unanimously.
AFL Clubs
GD reported on the AFL New Zealand and Hawthorn FC press conference held at Westpac Stadium on November 11th , and the launch of the HANZ UP! Programme.
GD stated that all speakers, Chris Pelchen Hawthorn FC Football Manager, Geoff Kennett Hawthorn FC president, Dean Warren from the AFL and GD himself gave a good account of the opportunities that lay ahead with the partnership with the conference well attended by AFL New Zealand partners SPARC, the AFL, College Sport, Wellington City Council, Wellington Sport and the New Zealand Media.
RV announced that the “Memorandum of Understanding” signed by Hawthorn and AFL New Zealand to cover the next three years (With two three year options) had already had extended resources applied to the initial agreement with, Hawthorn Player clinics increasing from one annually to quarterly visits as well as an invitation for quarterly meetings to be held in Australia between CEO RV and Hawthorn FC.
SPARC
RV stated that the Active Communities Funding application had been approved to move on to the second stage with a presentation on January 11th 2010 to have funding allocated of $250,000 over the next three years based on the AFL KiwiKick Programme.
Operational
AFL KiwiKick / RV stated that 38 AFL KiwiKick had formulated in the year to date..
Secondary Schools
RV stated that 20 secondary schools had participated in the Hawks Cup with regional finals won by Edgecumbe, Onslow and St Peters Colleges.
High Performance
RV stated that the Senior NPC and NZ Under 20’s matches against VAFA had been very successful.
The New Zealand Hawks Under 16 team had been finalized and were training in preparation for Fiji departing December 10th.
At this stage, no opposition had been finalized to play the New Zealand Senior team in March 2010.
Next NZAFL Board meeting will be held at 5.00pm on 28th of January 2010 at AUT Akorangi.