SAPCA AGM: Tuesday 19 May 2009
Election of SAPCA Chairman and Vice-Chairman

The Association’s Twelfth Annual General Meeting will be held at SAPCA’s offices at 11.00 am on Tuesday 19 May 2009. The formal Notice of the AGM is attached.

As you will see under items 5 and 6 of the Notice, the AGM is due to elect both a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. I am very pleased to inform you that our current Vice-Chairman, Tony Hession (Blakedown Sport and Play Ltd) will stand for election as the new Chairman and that he has been nominated by the Board of Directors. Also, Eric Page (Courtstall Services Ltd) will stand as the new Vice-Chairman, and he has also been nominated by the Board. Eric is currently Chairman of the Tennis Court Division (and an existing Board member) but is standing down from that role. Members are of course invited to nominate other candidates for the two positions, and any nominations should reach the SAPCA office by Friday 1 May. Should more than one candidate be nominated for either position, then a ballot (or ballots) will be held at the AGM.

For the benefit of newer members, the current structure of the Board of Directors is as follows:
• SAPCA Chairman
• SAPCA Vice-Chairman
• Immediate Past Chairman
• Two representatives of the Tennis Court Division
• One representative of the Pitch Division
• One representative of the Track Division
• One representative of the Natural Sportsturf Division
• One representative of the Play Surfaces Division
• One representative of the Ancillary Contractors Division (currently vacant)
• Two representatives of the Manufacturers & Suppliers Group
• One representative of the Professional Services Group

The term of office for the SAPCA Chairman is two years, whereas for the Vice-Chairman it has always been one year. Other Board members are also elected for a period of two years, from the date of the AGM, and at the forthcoming meetings of the different membership sections, elections will be held for these positions. We will be writing to each group and division separately to confirm the agendas and arrangements, including details of which of the current office holders are standing for re-election. At the AGM all fee-paying members are entitled to vote. There is a weighted voting system through which each member company votes according to the level of its financial contribution to the Association. At group and division meetings each eligible member has one vote.

Members are invited to arrive at Federation House for the AGM from 10.30 am onwards, when refreshments will be available. Once the business of the AGM has been completed, and the Meeting formally closed, we will continue with an informal meeting throughout the day until 4.00 pm to include several sessions that will be of interest to members. A buffet lunch will be provided.

The meeting will include a report to members on several important areas of the Association’s work, including the presentation of a comprehensive survey of members that will be undertaken in May/June as part of a Membership Review. The Review will encompass SAPCA’s membership structure, membership criteria, member benefits and services, as well as funding from annual membership fees and levies.

The full programme for the day will be confirmed very shortly. Should anyone need further information or would like to discuss any aspects of the AGM or elections, then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Chris Trickey