[VFT] Annual General Meetings - What Are They and Why Should I Attend?

Most of you would have heard of an AGM or Annual General Meeting before. Maybe you’ve seen something on the news in relation to a company’s AGM, or maybe your parents mentioned going to one for the local netball or football club when you were at school, some of you may even have been on a board or committee and been involved in running one. For those of you who haven’t been to one before, they’re an important event for an organisation and they’re not as scary as they seem.

There are three key aspects to most AGMs; reporting, questions and elections. The reporting aspect is used for the committee to report back to the membership about the club’s activities, financial position and future direction. The questions aspect allows members to query the committee about anything club related and to raise any concerns that may help the club to define their future direction. The elections allow the membership to select the people who will run the club for the following year.

If you’re like me you might be asking why you’d want to attend the AGM. To be honest, my first thought would be that hearing about the financials of the club sounds boring, I wouldn’t have any questions to ask, and if there isn’t the need for a ballot this year then maybe I should just stay home and sort out my sock drawer. Thankfully I’ve been to some AGMs before and I know there’s more to it than that.

Hearing about the financial position of the club may be boring to many, but it helps us as members to understand the things the club does and how it can keep doing those things. Some of you would have noticed that the club has some new flags. Do you know how much they cost? Do you know where that money came from? Do you know when we’ll need to buy new ones again? If the club didn’t have these flags, it would be pretty hard to perform your role as a flag marshal.

Hearing about the future direction of the club and some of the things the committee helps to organise is also important; but just as important is the chance for you to let the committee know what’s important to you. Is there something you think the club could or should be doing and isn’t? Should the club continue doing some of the activities it already does? Is the 10 days of training the right amount? How about the wet-weather gear subsidies? The club also helps to represent you to Motorsport Australia, are you happy with that representation?

As a member of the club I think it would be safe for me to assume that you have an interest in flagmarshalling and in the continuity and longevity of the club. By coming to the AGM you are demonstrating this interest to the club and especially to the committee. You’re letting the committee know that the many hours they invest in the club is appreciated. You’re ensuring you aren’t just a user of the club’s services, but you’re an active participant in the club.

This article was originally published in The Victorian Flagmarshalling Team Newsletter - January 2025.