7. 2nd Annual General Meeting of ASCCA

The 2nd AGM was held on 16 November 2000 at the Bowlers Club, 95 York Street, Sydney.

Secretary's Statement: The past year has been one of achievement. From slow, modest beginnings in 1998 ASCCA has grown to the point where we have 35 affiliated clubs representing some 11,000 seniors in NSW, Queensland and Tasmania. Our voice is recognised by 3 tiers of Government - Federal, State and Local, and we are gradually seeing councils accepting their responsibility to seniors and making facilities available for computer clubs.

Councils have for many years provided Senior Citizens Centres and other facilities. But recent audits are disclosing that many facilities are and have for years been underused; that sharing of facilities is both possible and desirable; that reappraisal of existing facilities is merited. As a consequence more councils are making provision for other users, including computer clubs for seniors.

A case in point is Hornsby Shire. Early this year a council facility at Dence Park, Epping became almost empty. The controlling body persuaded Council to repair the floor. The Epping Model Railways Group undertook to refurbish the building, using voluntary labour. Computer Pals for Seniors Epping was formed. It provided some of the voluntary labour and by early August the Club was ready to function in its new premises. Epping Club has 177 members and a waiting list of 50. The club is providing lessons for an average of 130 seniors per week.

Hornsby Shire has recently made premises available for another new club at Hornsby. An inaugural meeting was held last week. That too, will be an immediate success.

During the year Nan Bosler, our President, became ill. Nan has been much more than just our President. She has been a relentless, driving force for ASCCA, responsible for most of the initiatives undertaken by ASCCA. At the same time she won the love and respect of the Committee.

Co-operating with New England University she laid the foundation for indigenous communities to establish computer clubs. She was responsible for our becoming associated with COTA and a variety of other organisations each tackling facets of the needs and welfare of aged persons groups. Nan is an experienced negotiator with Ministers of the Crown, State and Federal. She has an intimate understanding of the interstices of Local Government. She is invaluable to ASCCA.

One would imagine that while recovering from surgery, Nan would be taking it easy. NOT SO. Even though desperately unwell at times, she still knows what is happening with ASCCA and issues a stream of directives. All this notwithstanding that we have for months had her telephone diverted and her family is said to have searched her bed for a mobile.

John Notary and Betty Benjamin undertook the task of researching and preparing the basis for a new constitution. Our present constitution needs revision, having regard to the manner in which ASCCA has evolved.

Revision of the Constitution must be addressed by the incoming committee.

In May we held our third Seminar at the Menzies Hotel, Sydney. Financially it was successful. Its success was largely due to the burden carried by Bernice Shannon organising it. Grateful thanks are due to Bernice.

A recent article published in AGE Pension News was well received throughout Australia. Wal Anderson (our Development Officer) and I were unindated with enquiries. I would have been grateful to the editorial; staff had I been asked "Do you mind if we publish your name and contact particulars?"

Wal and I can testify to the readership of AGE Pension News. Wal was in the throes of family celebrations for his Golden Wedding. I had just moved into a retirement village and had a short stay in hospital when on 26 September, all hell broke loose. I do not know how many calls Wal had. I do know that I took in excess of 270 phone calls and received a similar number of emails. It is plain that the new committee of ASCCA is in for a busy time. There is no place on the committee for status seekers or slackers. Committee work for ASCCA is no sinecure.

At the Committee's October meeting we resolved to avail ourselves of the professional services of a well established secretariat for a trial period of one year at a cost of about $3,500. To offset that cost a donation of $5000 was negotiated by Nan and Bernice.

George Thompson indicated to the last AGM his preparedness to act as a Committee member until a replacement could be found. We were pleased to welcome Maxine Gray as his replacement and co-opted Frank Grosz to our committee, along with Wal Anderson as our Club Development Officer.

Keith Hinchcliffe,
Secretary
16 November 2000

After the reports had been received all positions on the committee were declared vacant and the following the elected to the new committee:

President - Nan Bosler, Vice President - Colin Ward, Secretary - vacant, Treasurer - Colin Ward.
Committee Members: Wal Anderson, Betty Benjamin, Bernice Shannon.