SEAA EGM - Saturday 2nd December 2006 The South of England Athletic Association (SEAA) have an EGM on the 2nd December 2006 which resolves to incorporate England Athletics into its Articles of Association. This means the SEAA will incorporate into its constitution the words "The SEAA is subject to the jurisdictions of England Athletics and UK Athletics". The AAA of England takes its membership via the SEAA (clubs do not affiliate directly to the AAA's), and the SEAA EGM represents another step towards the back door closure of the AAA's. I would therefore ask that clubs vote at the SEAA EGM as follows: Resolution 1 - Create a new wholly owned subsidiary Company to handle competition in the South: PLEASE VOTE YES. This will allow the SEAA to safeguard its assets, and maintain its status as a democratic Association of Clubs, whilst also complying with the UK Athletics requirement that the South create a body with the sole responsibility for organising competition. Resolution 2 - A 75% reduction in SEAA Affiliation Fee: PLEASE VOTE NO. Originally it was intended to transfer the SEAA affiliations to England Athletics, until it was pointed out that this would be illegal under company law, without the approval of an EGM. They had no confidence in clubs agreeing to pass over affiliations to England Athletics, so this is an attempt to do the same thing by the back door. Clubs will never have the luxury of voting on England Athletics affiliation fees! The AAA's prospered without ever levying an affiliation fee onto clubs. Resolutions 3 & 4 - Incorporate "England Athletics" into the SEAA Articles of Association: PLEASE VOTE NO. The England Athletics constitution describes its governance role as being delegated by UK Athletics, to "deliver athletics in England by working with clubs, schools, colleges, universities and local authorities". This failure to recognise a collective voice for clubs under a single umbrella, in the form of the SEAA and the County Associations, represents the establishment of an American style collegiate system, and the demise of clubs as an organised collective. These resolutions could be just as effectively introduced in 3 years time, after England Athletics have proven their worth. Clubs must be cautious about jumping into bed with a partner before they have seen the face. Resolution 5 - ABAC resolution to return funds to the clubs I have a lot of sympathy with this resolution, and do not accept SEAA published comments that the "SEAA does not have sufficient, available funds". Conservative estimates would still leave the SEAA with over œ100,000 in the bank, so it might be necessary to close the office. However until the SEAA implement an open door policy for the clubs, making the office resources available to the membership, I believe the office is a luxury that clubs could do without. The onus is on the Treasurer to come to the EGM with a written statement outlining the costs of closure and clearly showing why œ100,000 of funds would not be sufficient to meet the debts of the Association and cause bankruptcy. If this resolution serves to force the Directors and Officers into honest transparency, I would ask the clubs to vote yes.   Zac - Webmaster