PRESIDENTS UPDATE - A PERIOD OF CHANGE Over the past six years, Ski & Snowboard Australia (“SSA”) has emerged from a debt ridden organisation with little relevance to a financially robust, well managed body with an intimate involvement in the various discipline pathways, particularly at the development and elite levels. During the same period, our athletes have achieved remarkable results with greater breadth and depth than ever before. As has been the case with a large number of other higher profile sports, the Australian Sports Commission (“ASC”) has determined it appropriate to review independently our now outdated constitutional structure. Much of the political noise being experienced at present reflects the inevitable “jockeying for position” by the well meaning factions of our very fragmented sport. Change is inevitable! It is increasingly difficult to be, on the one hand, accountable to the elite sport outcomes expected by our major funder, the ASC and on the other to meet the unrelated but legitimate expectations of a divergent membership base. In short, SSA needs to align its constitutional structure with its operational obligations. I am confident that the review will provide such a forum and thereby shift the focus from the short to the longer term. Below is an update of recent events. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone who you feel maybe be interested. Kind Regards Dean Gosper President Ski & Snowboard Australia

2005 AGM OUTCOMES Readers may be aware that SSA’s AGM was adjourned to 18 July. In summary, the collective meetings achieved the following.   Acceptance of the Presidents Report which is available elsewhere on the website. Click here. Acceptance of the Audited Accounts, a modest surplus of around $65,000. Approval of a modest increase in Membership fees and a major adjustment of Capitation fees, the first since incorporation. The Capitation fee adjustment goes some way to addressing the imbalance between direct membership and indirect membership via state associations. In addition, a motion was passed to replace my chairing of the meeting with John Pinkerton from the ACT. Of our 1,150 members, only about 300 lodged proxies of which nearly half where from Snowsports ACT. I am confident that this had little impact on the outcome of the meeting and even less impact on my commitment as President to your sport. Following considerable debate, including preliminary legal advice that some aspects might be invalid, a complex four-part motion was put by Phillip Teitzel (NSW Ski Association Nominee) from the floor. I understand the intent of the motion was to bring to an end the AGM and provide a method to “freshen up” director nominations for the Board and hold another General Meeting at the end of the domestic season. Legal advice on the implications of the motion has been sought. In the meanwhile, the SSA Board now comprises only three members being Zali Steggall, Hugh Whan and myself. I will be calling a Board Meeting soon, first, to establish a quorum and then to deal with the following.   Election of President and Vice president Appointment of Nominated Directors Legal advice on the above Motions Input from the ASC Casual Vacancies of Elected Director positions Membership register protocols

ASC REVIEW I am delighted with the appointment of the highly respected Kate Costello to conduct an independent Review into the constitutional and governance structure of your sport. Stakeholders are now being approached. As previously suggested, I believe the move to an external and independent process from the original internal approach carries the following benefits.   Criticisms of any recommendations will need to focus on the substance, particularly the impact on sport outcomes, rather than the process. The SSA Board and its members will be freed up to make direct submissions and therefore have greater influence over the recommendations. The recommendations of an independent review will draw stronger endorsement from the ASC giving increased momentum to implementation.

IMMEDIATE FUTURE While I have received a welcomed level of support for the conduct of the Board in recent times, I am also aware of pockets of concern. I suggest that the implications and the complications of a drawn out AGM process are only modest. Our sport should be focusing on the Review and ensuring that well thought out submissions are prepared. It is out of the Review that the true potential of SSA can be achieved. In the meanwhile, the Board, in what ever shape it takes, will be respectful of the Review in terms of the decisions it makes pending an outcome.