2012–An Exciting New Year
Here we go again. New Year just started and it’s already March and nearly my next birthday! But I won’t talk about that!
As I said in my recent email, your Board has already been active to ensure things will be happening in 2012.
First, there have been some changes on Executive. I’ve shown a list of the changes below–some new, some well known.
- Wayne Passmore (Club 15) is the new Director of Training. Wayne attended and passed Critics Training in 2010 and has been critiquing in his own club between travelling for work. He’s now based permanently in Perth and volunteered to serve on the Executive. I don’t think he was looking for quite as big a challenge but I know he’ll do well, so welcome Wayne.
- Freeman Ruurd Speelman (Club 34) is now Chairman of Freemen’s Council. Freeman David Price stepped down from this role in January as he’s decided to study law and had to reduce his commitments accordingly, although he’ll still be active in his clubs. Having handed over Director of Training, Ruurd accepted a new challenge. Thanks, Ruurd.
- Marianne McAdam (Club 19), our Vice President, has taken on additional responsibilities as Director, Marketing & Membership. Thanks, Marianne.
- Freeman Ken Holzman (Club 34) has taken on the role of Web Coordinator. Ken is a long time and very active member of Rostrum. Welcome Ken.
Which brings me to the next news–the Rostrum WA website! We’ve decided, after trying a couple of times, not to develop our own website but to move onto the National website. This may have occurred by the time you receive this newsletter, as the National web team are currently in the process of moving all of our content across. Once that’s done, Freeman Sue Hart has agreed to review all the content to make sure it reflects reality in WA. It will then be a case of keeping all the information current and up to date. I don’t believe it’s fair to leave that to one person, ie. Ken, so we’re looking for interested members to share website management. It doesn’t require deep technical knowledge, as the site is designed so that it’s just a question of going into our section and changing content. If you’re interested in helping with the website, please contact me (0433 702 410) or Ken (0407 944 369).
On the same topic, there is provision on the National website for all clubs to create their own pages and maintain their own content. I’d encourage all clubs with their own sites to move onto the National one, so that we can all leverage on, and contribute to, National Rostrum. Similarly, if clubs don’t have a website, please consider adding your club to the mix for the same reasons. You can still publish your web address and direct members and potential members directly to your web page. If you haven’t yet visited the National website, please do so to see what other clubs are doing around Australia. It’s also worth joining to access the members’ only content such as the 2011 conference papers and many other resources.
The first Rostrum event for 2012 was the Dais Reps meeting on Friday 24 February which included a workshop on Club Management -“Running your club for member benefit–The role and expectations of club office bearers”. Members learnt how their club should be run, and got some useful ideas from other clubs.
Next morning new Director of Training Wayne Passmore chaired the first Training Council meeting for the year followed by a workshop with the theme ‘The times, they are a-changing’. One of the topics covered appears on page 4.
Other events in the pipeline include:
- Wednesday 25 April–Anzac Day Breakfast and Debate
Hosted by Club 15, this event has almost become a Rostrum institution. If you haven’t been to one before, I urge you to attend. Details from Club 15.
- Friday 4 May–Dais Reps AGM
This will include a workshop by Freeman Peter Martindale, our newly appointed National Director, Marketing & Membership. Peter has been very active in South Australia and highly successful in relaunching faltering clubs. As well as Dais reps, all club office bearers and other members interested in developing their club are urged to attend.
- Saturday 5 May–Rostrum Autumn Convention. Reserve the day! More details on page 3
- Saturday 6 October–Arthur Garvey Speaker of the Year Final.
Mark the date in your calendar! More details on page 3.
Lots coming up, so make sure you’re involved. Only by member participation will these events succeed and make a difference to Rostrum.
Let’s make2012 a Rostrum year to remember!
Freeman Tony Lightman, President, Rostrum WA
DAIS BOARD 2012
- President: Freeman Tony Lightman (34)
- Vice President: Speaker. Marianne McAdam (19)
- Secretary: Speaker. Rick Staker (11)
- Treasurer: Freeman Terry O’Meara (15)
- Director, Training: Speaker. Wayne Passmore (15)
- Director, Club Development: VACANT
- Director, Marketing & Membership: Speaker. Marianne McAdam (19)
- Chairman, Freemen’s Council Freeman Ruurd Speelman (34)
- Coordinator, AGSOY: Freeman Sue Hart (2230)
- Coordinator, RVOY: Speaker Juliet Park (34)
- Editor, the Informer: Speaker Rose Fogliani (44)
- Membership Officer Speaker. Karen Reid (34)
- Web Coordinator Freeman Ken Holzman (34)
ROSTRUM IN THE COMMUNITY
Jenny Brockis featured on ABC radio–the BIG interview
ABC radio presenter James Lush on the Saturday Breakfast Show interviewed Jenny Brockis, Arthur Garvey Speaker of the Year 2010 and member of Club 34, on 4 February.
Members will recall Jenny’s AGSOY speech on making lifestyle changes to possibly delay the onset of symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, and her presentation at the 2011 Autumn Convention where she explained how the brain works and how to keep it fit and healthy. Jenny, a medical doctor, has now collated the research and her insights in a new book “Brain Fit! How smarter thinking can save your brain”, which was the subject of the interview.
She again used her Rostrum skills a couple of weeks later when she presented a workshop as part of UWA’s Summer Extension programme.
Jenny’s tips for ‘brain fitness’?
She suggests eating a healthy and nutritious diet, making sure you get enough sleep and physical exercise, maintaining social contacts and a positive attitude to life, challenging yourself mentally with new activities, and avoiding stress.
Rose Fogliani, Editor
Rostrum Autumn Convention
Saturday 5 May
Wollaston Convention Centre Mt Claremont
Yes, it is on again! The venue has been booked so please make a note now to set aside Saturday 5 May to make sure that you don’t double book this important event.
Special items of interest to you and your club will be:
- How team building in your club can help it to function more smoothly
- Marketing tips that will help to increase your membership
- How to relaunch your club and keep it going strongly
- An insight into a new approach to Meeting Procedure
The popular Critics Idol will be back and a new ‘Hot Seat’ coaching session will both inform and entertain you.
Club Secretaries–please start planning to have as many of your members attend as possible.
Freeman Terry O’Meara, Coordinator, Convention
South of the River Speaking Competition
Foothills Rostrum Club 11 is calling for Rostrum members to participate in the second South of the River Inter Club Speaking Competition to be held on Wednesday 23 May.
The competition is open to members of metro clubs south of the river as far as Mandurah (11, 15, 17, 21, 50 and 52) who have been in Rostrum for 4 years or less and have not won previously. Contestants will compete for the John Barton Perpetual Trophy. Each club may provide one contestant who will present a six-minute speech on one of three topics, which will be announced to participating clubs four weeks before the event.
One of the aims of the competition is to give newer members experience in competition speaking and confidence to enter the Arthur Garvey Speaker of the Year Competition.
The organisers are also looking for an audience to support the speakers on the night! Tea, coffee and finger food will be supplied at a nominal cost. Soft drinks will be available but BYO alcohol. There will be raffle prizes and a great speaking programme.
Club Secretaries–please RSVP with number of attendees by 16 May torostrumclub11@bigpond.com.
Rick Staker, Club 11
Training Council Workshop
The New General Business
Meeting procedure as described in Take the Chair has been taught in Rostrum since its inception. However, in reality, modern businesses do not use formal meeting procedures, but instead rely on corporate law, the Local Government Act and the like to conduct their business.
The emphasis in real life is on arriving at an outcome or decision about an issue in a way that is effective, efficient and fair: effective in that a decision is reached; efficient in that time is not wasted with pointless, superficial speech or abuse; and fair in that everyone who wants to has the opportunity to speak at least once before anyone can speak for a second time.
A recent Club 11 General Business session illustrates how this new approach might work.
The main motion was “That the club burn incense in the meeting room at every meeting”. The preamble to the motion was that there were insects in the room and that incense would keep them away. This was not part of the motion but was made perfectly clear as the reason for moving the motion; it became important later.
After some debate, it was pointed out that there was not enough information about whether incense would in fact be suitable as an insect deterrent and a procedural motion was moved, “That the motion lie on the table”. This was seconded, put to the vote and carried.
The chairman instructed the secretary to record in the minutes who had moved and seconded the original motion. He then explained that the motion could be raised from the table at anytime in the future.
After a short period of inconsequential stuff, a motion was moved to raise the matter from the table. The motion was correctly worded, “That the motion regarding burning incense originally moved on 8 February be raised from the table”. This was seconded, put to the vote and carried.
The chairman asked the secretary to advise the meeting who the original mover was and that person was given the opportunity to speak (again) to the motion. This would normally be at another meeting. While it is possible to raise a motion from the table later in the same meeting that it was laid on the table, it would normally be at another meeting and the original mover would be offered the right to speak again. If the original mover is not present, the motion can still be raised and debate continues.
There was an amendment, “to remove all words after ‘the’ and replace them with ‘president supply and spray low irritant insect spray in the meeting room before every meeting’ ”. The chairman accepted the amendment.
“I would trust Shakespeare, but I would not trust a committee of Shakespeares.”
William Bateson (1861-1926), Geneticist
A point of order was raised that the amendment changed the words of the motion too much and should not be accepted.
The point of order was not accepted; the chairman explained that although changing that amount of the words of a motion would normally be unacceptable, in this case it was acceptable because the ultimate test of an amendment is not the words, but the INTENT of the original motion. In this case, the INTENT was to deal with the insect problem and the amendment provided an alternative means to do that, hence it was accepted. The fact that ‘president’ was added to the amendment when he did not appear in the original motion does not conflict with the overall intent (to deal with insects).
A motion disagreeing with the chairman’s ruling was moved and seconded. The chairman provided a brief explanation of his ruling and the reason for it. There is no debate on this motion but the chairman is entitled to objectively and briefly explain the ruling. The disagreement motion was lost, that is, the chairman’s ruling was upheld, thus allowing the chairman to accept the amendment.
The chairman then called for a seconder to the amendment, which was debated, put to the vote and lost.
The original motion was then put to the vote and also lost. General Business was closed.
(Throughout the session there was vigorous debate, which has not been included here.)
The question of lying on the table is unusual in a Rostrum meeting, but not in real life so this was a great exercise. The issue of the amendments being more about intent than words was also a significant learning point.
Finally, did the words ‘Club 11’ have to be in the motion? They could have been and perhaps should have been but their absence did not invalidate the motion as the minutes are of Club 11 and, unless otherwise stated, all motions would apply to that club.
Freeman David Price, Clubs 11 and 34
