Vote one: join New Mardi Gras

Anyone interested in shaping the future of New Mardi Gras has until next week to secure his or her voting rights.

Would-be voters need to apply for membership by Thursday 24 April for postal membership or Saturday 26 April by fax to be eligible to vote at the New Mardi Gras AGM on Saturday 10 May.

New Mardi Gras co-chair Michael Woodhouse told the Star the first two weeks of open membership had seen about 70 people sign up and he was expecting there to be between 300 and 500 members eligible to vote at the AGM.

Nominations for the board’s 10 positions need to be lodged by Monday 5 May.

Woodhouse said a full mail-out to all financial members of the old Mardi Gras members was under way.

While the New Mardi Gras constitution specifies one-year terms, Woodhouse said there had been feedback suggesting two years might be more appropriate. The possibility of two-year terms (after the 2003/2004 season) would be discussed in the future.
Woodhouse said he was still considering standing for a one-year term.

I certainly don’t want to walk away from this organisation, he said.

Information on how to sign up for New Mardi Gras membership is available online at www.mardigras.org.au. Membership until 31 October 2004 costs $5 for under 18s (who are unable to vote at the AGM), $22.50 for concession cardholders and $45 for full membership.