Blazing Swan Special General Meeting

Blazing Swan Special General Meeting

THIS EVENT IS FOR BLAZING SWAN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ONLY.

The business of the meeting includes a summary of the lessons learned from the 2023 Event, and the filling of positions on the Committee.  Please note that lunch and refreshments will be provided from noon, with the official meeting starting at 1:00pm.  We've booked the venue through to 4pm.

For information, the current Committee is as follows:

Chairperson - Pasan Tennakoon (announced intention to resign)
Deputy Chair - Vacant
Treasurer - Paul Castle (announced intention to resign and stand for position of Ordinary Committee Member)
Secretary - John McCann
Ordinary Committee Member - Lena Neumeier (announced intention to resign)
Ordinary Committee Member - Gerard Laumen
Ordinary Committee Member - Vacant

It will be helpful if you click on 'GET TICKETS' to confirm your attendance at the lunch so we can estimate numbers. You DO NOT need a Humanix ticket to gain entry to the Lunch or the SGM.   If you are a Member but unable to attend you can use a remote online connection, or ask someone else (your proxy) to vote on your behalf.  See below for how to use the remote online connection or a proxy vote.

If you're keen to attend and you're not a member, please sign up as a member now!  Membership fees are $50 for one year.  See below for how to sign up and pay for your Membership.

NOT SURE IF YOU ARE A CURRENT MEMBER ?    Ring or text John McCann, the Association Secretary on 0409 905 633

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Special General Meeting Agenda

1:00pm
Instructions about meeting protocols, remote connections and operations of proxies (Secretary)
Meeting open (Chair)
Acknowledgement of Country
Thanks to: (Chair)
Event report. (Chair)
Lessons Learned. (Chair)
Questions and Answers. (Chair and others as appropriate answering)

Break at approx 2:30pm for 20 minutes

Filling of Committee positions (Chair and then Chair-elect)
Any other business (Chair-elect)
Meeting concludes approx 4:00pm (Chair-elect)

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Remote online connection to the Special General Meeting

If you are unable to attend you will be able to connect online to the Meeting. When you use an online connection you are 'at the meeting' and do not need to arrange a proxy (see below). However it is wise to arrange for a standby proxy in case you lose your connection. We STRONGLY recommend that you test your online connection from noon onwards rather than waiting until 1pm.  Please keep your connection on MUTE until you wish to speak.  It will be helpful if you DO NOT activate your video.  Use the 'raise hand' feature in Zoom to get attention, or write something in Chat.  You can also send text messages to 0409 905 633.

Topic: Blazing Swan Special General Meeting
Time: SUNDAY May 21, 2023.  1pm  Connect anytime from Noon onwards
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8523...
Meeting ID: 852 3487 0524
Passcode: 711683
One tap mobile
+61370182005,,85234870524#,,,,*711683# Australia
+61731853730,,85234870524#,,,,*711683# Australia

If you haven’t used Zoom before you might like to join a practice session we are running on Thursday evening at 6pm. Connect anytime between 6pm and 8pm.

Topic: Practice Using Zoom prior to the SGM
Time: THURSDAY May 18, 2023 6pm to 8pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8536...
Meeting ID: 853 6310 4964
Passcode: 007074
One tap mobile
+61370182005,,85363104964#,,,,*007074# Australia
+61731853730,,85363104964#,,,,*007074# Australia

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Using Proxies at the Special General Meeting

Association Members who can not attend the meeting may appoint another Member who is attending the meeting and ask them to be their Proxy. The Proxy can vote on behalf of the person who appointed them. If the Proxy is given specific instructions in writing about how they should vote they must follow those instructions exactly.

The Proxy Appointment Form MUST be signed by the person appointing the Proxy and clearly state who the Proxy is and (if you wish) detail any specific instructions about voting that the Proxy must follow. The completed Proxy Appointment Form MUST be either handed to the Secretary before the Special General Meeting by your Proxy, or emailed to the Secretary AT LEAST 24 hours prior to the Special General Meeting.

No Member (other than a Committee Member) can act as Proxy for more than five other Members. So if you are appointing a Proxy, check in first with them to make sure they are not fully booked up! Committee Members can act as Proxy for an unlimited number of Members BUT ONLY where all those Proxy appointment forms include specific instructions about how the Committee Member must vote.

The appointment of a Proxy is nullified if (while) the person who appointed the Proxy is physically present at the meeting or connected online to the meeting. So you can set up a Proxy 'just in case' and this is especially relevant to people intending to make an online connection - just in case your connection drops out!

Blazing Swan Meetings have been getting better at wrapping up in a reasonable timeframe. But IF you need to leave the meeting after the first hour you can complete a Proxy Appointment Form (with instructions) and leave it with a Committee Member.

If you have given instructions to your Proxy and wish to change them, write a new Proxy Appointment Form. If you are emailing the form remember the 24 hour deadline. If you wish to withdraw a Proxy appointment please email secretary@blazingswan.com.au, or simply turn up at the meeting yourself.

You can request a copy of the Proxy Appointment Form from secretary@blazingswan.com.au  OR ring or text 0409 905 633

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Applying for Blazing Swan Membership

Help set the direction for our community and our events!  Blazing Swan Incorporated is a community driven not-for-profit Association.  It is operated and managed by its members.  Full Association Membership with voting rights is open to any person aged 18 or over who supports the aims of the Association.  Junior Membership (non-voting) is also available for persons under 18 but over 12.

As a Member of Blazing Swan Incorporated you will –

• help set the direction for our community and our events
• enrich our community with your life experience and outlook
• help fund our work going forward
• Get early access to Blazing Swan event tickets.

Applications for Full Association Membership must include details of your name, address, phone number, and email, along with an acknowledgement that you are aged 18 or over.  The application must also include the name of an existing member who will sponsor you and their email address.  You are also asked to provide a copy of your photo ID and arrange payment of the annual fee prior to your application being considered by the Committee.  If your application is not accepted your payment will be refunded. 

You can use the online form here in the Humanitix website (click on GET TICKETS and choose the 'Apply for Association Membership and pay annual fee' option), or go to the Blazing Swan Website and select the Membership form.

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Paying for your Blazing Swan Membership

RENEWING YOUR EXISTING MEMBERSHIP:
You can renew and pay your annual Membership fee by bank transfer to Blazing Swan Incorporated, BSB 086-082, Account Number 94-624-6597 and putting your surname+initial in the payee field.
- OR
You can conveniently renew and pay your Membership fee here in Humanitix.  Click on GET TICKETS and select the option 'Current Association Member renewing Membership by paying annual fee'.  Please note that an additional processing fee of $1.18 applies to the Humanitix option.  

NEW APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP, OR PEOPLE WHOSE MEMBERSHIPS LAPSED MORE THAN A MONTH AGO:
You can go to the Blazing Swan Website and download the membership form and arrange to pay your annual Membership fee by bank transfer to Blazing Swan Incorporated, BSB 086-082, Account Number 94-624-6597 and putting your surname+initial in the payee field.
- OR
You can conveniently apply for membership AND pay your Membership fee here in Humanitix.  Click on GET TICKETS and select the option 'Apply for Association Membership and pay annual fee'.  Please note that an additional processing fee of $1.18 applies to the Humanitix option.

Note also that all Membership applications are considered by the Committee and acceptance is not automatic.  You will be advised of the outcome of your application as soon as possible.  If your application is not accepted your $50 fee will be refunded.

NOT SURE IF YOU ARE A CURRENT MEMBER ?    Ring or text John McCann, the Association Secretary on 0409 905 633

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Information for Blazing Swan Association applicants

Our Code of Conduct provides guidance on the conduct and expectations for ethical behaviour by any member of the Blazing Swan community.  Please take a moment to read it.

https://blazingswan.com.au/cod...

Our Association's Constitution details how Blazing Swan Incorporated operates and the role of its members. 

https://blazingswan.com.au/wp-...

Our Statement of Inclusion:

Blazing Swan Incorporated is committed to providing our membership, volunteers, contractors and event participants with an equal opportunity to be part of a safe community, workplace and Event. We believe in the inherent dignity, worth, unique attributes and human rights of all individuals. We respect people of all ethnicities, ages, abilities, appearances and gender identities and orientations - and all beliefs that share this respectful outlook

We ask our Association Members, volunteers, contractors and Event participants to show this respect to everyone in this community at all times, in person and online. We ask all members of our community to support and defend people who are being discriminated against or persecuted for reasons of their ethnicity, age, abilities, appearance, gender identity or orientation, or for their respectful beliefs.