Minutes Annual Meeting 2010

Draft Minutes:

Sydney Community College Limited
Inaugural Annual Meeting
Date: 25/08/10 6:30 PM

Attending

Jenifer OConner, Janet Egan, Jaynzee Tolaram, Charles Beelaerts, Garry Traynor, Roger Morris (Chair), Frances Howat, Colin Asimus, Amir Eghlimi, Colleen Harris, Grahame Kite, Elen McLoughlin, Marguerite Young, Jane Sampson, Jana Stone, Tony Brown, Margaret Bailey.

Apologies

Sarah Treloar, Uttam Mukherjee, Wai Ying Chan, Carole Strong, Janet Heinz, Matthew Smith, Robert Price, Catherine Hockings, Nicolas Rasmussen, Alan Tilley, Traci Pham, Marie-Therese Barbaux, Kirsty Young, John McIntyre, Dominic Tam, Brett Smout.

Welcome/Apologies

The Chairman Dr Roger Morris welcomed all to the meeting and read the apologies which were noted.

Minutes of Previous Annual Meeting

It was noted that this was the inaugural meeting of the Company Limited and therefore no previous minutes existed.

Reports

President

The president spoke to his written report mentioning that the year past had been particularly difficult for the college and that it had also been difficult for the adult and community education sector as a whole. Dr Morris noted that Sydney Community College had spent a significant amount of time reorganising to take into account the challenging times ahead. Dr Morris thanked the staff and the Board for the very significant efforts made during 2009. He also thanked the many students who continued to attend the College classes in uncertain times. Finally, Dr Morris paid special thanks to THE retiring Board Member[s] Jane Sampson who had served on the Board for a period of 5 years. Dr Morris commended her efforts and wise counsel.

Principal

The Principal presented his report as a review of the past an analysis of the present and a view of the future. The Principal noted that a mistake in the creation of the Company Limited had caused some issues that were important to resolve prior to holding the first annual meeting.

The Principal noted that the Board had initiated much of the restructuring of the College including the segmenting of the College into stand-alone business units.

The Principal noted that the biggest single investment the College had undertaken was the refurbishment of the Tennis Centre in Camperdown. The Principal noted that the long-term objective of the Centre was to provide the College with a solid income stream. He also noted that as the lease was a twenty-year involvement, it was likely that the College would easily realise its aims.

The Principal went on to explain the future of the College in terms of the development of the Short Course Programme, the Sydney Centre for Social Inclusion and the Sydney Centre for Workplace Training. He noted that the Sydney Centre for Social Inclusion had been successful in attracting programme funds in excess of $400K p.a and was continuing to build on past success. The Sydney Centre for Workplace Training was developing partnerships and a business plan that would see a launch of services from early 2011.

The Principal then took several questions from the floor.

Finances

The College Bursar (Jim OSullivan) presented the Annual Accounts noting that the accounts outlined both the activities of the Incorporated Association and the Company limited. The Bursar noted that the Association had traded for a second year at a deficit but that this deficit was lower than the previous year. The Bursars took several questionS from the floor.

Resolution

250810.1 It is resolved that the reports be accepted.
Moved: McLoughlin/Stone. Carried

Election

The Chair determined that nominations for the three vacant Board position were closed and that as four nominations had been received, an election would take place.
The nominees were: Charles Beerleats, Frances Howat, Jenifer OConner and Dominic Tan. The Chair drew members attention to the Candidates information handouts and the Ballot paper. He asked that the meeting appoint the College Principal, in his role of Company Secretary, as returning officer to be assisted by the College Bursar. The meeting agreed and the Principal then outlined the voting procedure before calling on each of the candidates present to speak to the meeting. In alphabetical order, each then did. The meeting voted. The results were then tallied and announced. The successful candidates were:

Charles Beerleats, Frances Howat, Jenifer O’Conner.
The meeting welcomed the new Board members.

There being no other business, the Chairman thanked all attending and invited members to stay on for the refreshments.