Message from the President – Project Unity

It is appropriate that we are taking time during this 125th Anniversary Year to celebrate the unique history and stories that are integral to The Brisbane Golf Club. Whilst this history provides us with valued memories of the past, I believe we also need to create our own history that is reflective of a modern and progressive golf club.

I am particularly proud to report that your Club Committee and Ladies’ Committee have agreed for the need to have our Club united under one organisational structure representing all members of our Club.

I often refer to our Club as a “Community”, and therefore the natural progression is to have an integrated Club Committee with Sub-Committees that achieves diverse and inclusive representation. All Members of our Club should feel confident that their interests and voices are heard and respected in this proposed structure.

Over the past six months The Club Committee has worked to create a “Project Unity Model”. This has been extensively discussed with our Ladies Committee, and I am pleased to report that the model now being proposed has the united support of both Committees.

Firstly, allow me to outline the goals of Project Unity.

Project Unity aims to:

1.    Develop a committee structure that supports men and women to work together.

2.    Improve the status of women and women’s golf in the club.

3.    Ensure women’s golf is led by women and men’s golf led by men.

4.    Develop a committee structure in which the Club Committee is better able to comply with governance responsibilities on behalf of all members.

The intent of Project Unity is to bring to life the values in the BGC Strategic Plan 2021-2025. Project Unity also supports Golf Australia’s Vision 2025, addressing gender imbalances at all levels of golf committees and participation.

Before I outline the key features of the Model being proposed, I wish to emphasise again that this Model has the united support of the Club Committee and the Ladies Committee. It is now a time for all Members to peruse this proposal and contribute to constructive discussion over the coming weeks. Once we have received your feedback, we will then advise the best way forward regarding this Project.

The final model and timelines will be completed once all feedback is received and considered. It is certainly possible that minor alterations may occur during the membership engagement process, but I do emphasise that the broad philosophy and structure of Project Unity is to be maintained.

This is indeed the right time for the Club to embrace a Club structure that has a united purpose and representation.

PROJECT UNITY MODEL

Men’s Captain and Women’s Captain

1.     The Women’s Captain to become an office bearer of the Club, working in partnership with the Men’s Captain.

2.     The Women’s Captain to be elected in the Club Committee election process.

3.     The Women’s Captain shall be a member of The Brisbane Golf Club who is required to pay a Capitation Fee to Golf Australia for participation in women’s golf competitions.

4.     The Men’s Captain shall be a member of The Brisbane Golf Club who is required to pay a Capitation Fee to Golf Australia for participation in men’s golf competitions.

5.     The Women’s Captain and Men’s Captain will co-chair the Match Subcommittee.

6.     6-day or Transition members who have been a Club member for 5 years or longer are eligible to upgrade to Full membership to nominate for Captain, prior to the opening of nominations for the Club Committee.

7.     If, at the close of nominations, there is no candidate for Women’s Captain or Men’s Captain, then the positions will be filled as per a casual vacancy (See 22.iv), following the AGM.

8.     If the Women’s Captain or Men’s Captain is a 6 day or Transition member, they are not eligible be a member of the Club Committee. They will become co-chair of the Match Subcommittee.

Vice Captains

9.     The Women’s Vice-Captain and Men’s Vice-Captain will be appointed by the Club Committee, on advice from the Captains.

10.  The Men’s Vice-Captain will no longer be a member of the Club Committee but will be a member of the Match Subcommittee along with the Women’s Vice-Captain.

11.  Vice-Captains who are Full, Senior or Life members are eligible to nominate for General positions on the Club Committee.

Member Engagement Group

12.  The Ladies’ Committee will be reconvened as the Member Engagement Group (MEG) reporting to the Member Services Subcommittee. The MEG will be open to all members of the club to participate – women and men.

13.  The current Ladies’ President will be invited by the Club Committee to be Convener of the MEG.

14.  The Club Committee will invite current Ladies’ Committee to be members of the 2022 MEG. Each year thereafter the members will be co-opted to join the MEG through an informal process.

15.  The President will appoint members from all membership categories to the Club subcommittees.

16.  The Ladies’ Committee By-Laws will be replaced by MEG Terms of Reference.

There are a number of reasons why I would recommend this model to the Membership.

• It will endeavor to embrace and unify both genders under one banner with appropriate representation.
• The Sub-Committee structures will now allow greater participation, communication, efficiencies and co-operation
• All current Golfing and Social Events of Women’s Golf will be preserved and enhanced by sitting under Member Services Sub-Committee
• These changes mirror what is happening in Corporate and Government Sectors and is in keeping with a modern Club respecting the values of our children and grandchildren.
• All members will have equal opportunities and be encouraged to join or participate in sub-committees.
• A number of prestigious golf clubs around Australia have now implemented similar models and many more are considering similar changes in the coming years.

I would like to thank the Ladies’ Committee and their President, Sue Lewandowski. Their tireless work over many years as well as sharing the vision of this proposal is greatly appreciated by the Club Committee.

I recommend Project Unity to the Club membership and I believe that this proposal symbolises a simple and timely message…

“We are all Members of this great Club together and in Unity”.

If you have any questions please contact myself or our CEO, Geoff Kuehner.

Kind regards

Mark Deuble, President