Mardi Gras leadership a done deal

New Mardi Gras members will not get to vote on who will lead the organisation for the next year because of a lack of candidates.

Only seven people have sought election to the eight available board positions at the 14 July AGM, meaning the candidates will be automatically endorsed. Of the seven nominees, only one is not a current member of the board. The vacant position will be filled by a board appointment.

Incumbent NMG chair and returning director Marcus Bourget said he was not concerned by the shortage of nominees, because it was important to note that contributing didn’t require standing for the board.

Some people may be a bit shy doing that. But in terms of our volunteers, on a day-to-day basis it is still very healthy, he said.

But in an attempt to arrest the organisation’s low membership renewal rate, NMG members will be asked to rubber-stamp a proposal for multi-year memberships. Failure to renew can deplete the membership base by up to 50 per cent each October.

The membership renewal is one of four proposed changes to the NMG constitution. As well, members will be asked to vote on three amendments clarifying the organisation’s grievance procedure and the procedure for the removal of a director.

Bourget said there was nothing sinister about the three additional amendments. There haven’t been any grievances in the last 12 months. They’re technical amendments; I’ll be voting for them because they all seem to make sense to me, he said.

The chairman, who last year led the organisation to a $240,000 profit, is also standing for another term in the top job because his passion had withstood the tough few years of late and his team was moving in the right direction.

I really wanted to work with the rest of the team to ensure we made it through those tough years intact with a great festival and financially set up for the future, Bourget said.

We’re working towards a longer-term plan and we’re gradually building those bricks.

Board member Kirk Muddle, who is also seeking re-election at the AGM, said the lack of board nominees could be put down to a lack of understanding about the rejuvenated organisation.

My personal opinion is that people still think we’re old Mardi Gras. They think it’s about fluffing our own nests and on some power trip, he said.

But when was the last time you saw a board member lording it up? It’s the working groups that run the organisation, the board just oversees everything.

I’d severely love if members got more involved than they did. We have a very stagnant group of members.

The New Mardi Gras AGM will take place on 14 July, 11am at Metropolitan Community Church, 96 Crystal Street, Petersham. Details: www.mardigras.org.au.