VUHC Disciplinary Hearing

Alexandra · #11 (**permalink**) IP: 58.170.200.194 21-11-07, 06:26 PM

Helen Canavan
Executive Director
Underwater Hockey Commission

November 21, 2007

Dear Helen,

The VUHC finds it highly regrettable that this issue has degenerated to disciplinary action.

The VUHC committee wants to make it clear that this is not a personal issue. The fact that it involves a Victorian resident, Mr Henderson, has had no bearing on the actions of the VUHC. The VUHC committee is striving to safeguard the constitutional structure of our organisation and the interests of the members which we represent.

In terms of protecting of our organisational structure, the VUHC is an incorporated body, under Victorian law, and is subject to its own By-laws and Constitution. The VUHC committee does not have the power to change its Constitution. Constitutional amendment can only be carried out via a majority vote of members at a general meeting. The VUHC’s current stance reflects a democratic decision made by our members. An general meeting was convened in November 2001 which voted on a proposal that the VUHC constitution be amended to recognise life membership. The proposal was rejected 27-9.

In terms of representing the interests of our members, in an attempt to maintain transparent governance the correspondence between the VUHC and the AUF regarding this issue has been circulated to current VUHC members. The VUHC has received numerous letters and emails supporting our position. We have not yet received any correspondence opposing our position.

The VUHC has serious concerns regarding the Federal President’s claim that the VUHC "must recognise all grades of [AUF] membership" (letter dated 30 October 2007). This has a number of broad reaching ramifications for all underwater hockey state bodies:

• By this reasoning, any AUF member (be that honourary life or ordinary member) is entitled to universal rights in any state body. They could stand for state team selection, nominate for the executive committee etc. without having to join as a member of the state underwater hockey body.

• Unless a player chooses to pay their state membership and agree to be bound by state rules and regulations, state commissions are powerless to enforce codes of conduct and minimum standards of behaviour upon their members.

• AUF membership does not incorporate an insurance component. This gives rise to a host of liability issues. Who is responsible for fitting the insurance bill for AUF members? If it is a state body, how are they expected to do if they are denied the membership revenue which is used to cover it? The current cost of our membership is already an issue for some as it is.

The VUHC has received an unsigned membership application and $70 from Mr Henderson. Once signed, the VUHC committee will accept Graham’s membership.
Since Mr Henderson’s VUHC membership will be approved the VUHC sees no reason why the AUF would pursue this matter any further.

The VUHC requests UHA support on this issue. Rather than engaging in bureaucratic disputes we should be spending our time on the positive development of our fantastic game.

Yours sincerely,
David Barry-Macaulay
VUHC President

Carbon copied to -

AUF Federal Board;
NSW Underwater Hockey Commission President;
AUF QLD President; AUF QLD UWH Commissioner;
South Australian Underwater Hockey President;
Tasmanian Underwater Hockey Association President;
Western Australian Underwater Hockey;
ACT Underwater Hockey