New SGLBA board uncontested

Tonight’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association (SGLBA) AGM went smoothly, with all of its officers re-elected unopposed, while an election for directors did not go ahead after a seventh candidate dropped out at the last minute.

Paul Lee-Maynard returns as SGLBA President and Mark Haines returns as Vice-President – as does Bill Wang as Finance Director and Alister Wong as SGLBA Secretary.

After Lemons with a Twist Director Mary Shalala reconsidered a decision to stand for election, James Forbes, Amanda Keeling were return to the board, joined by new directors Ricky Jackson, Vanessa Wenham, Peter Venero, and Cody Hanish.

Outgoing directors Matthew Thompson, Jason Snadon and Ramtin Sohrabian did not stand again.

At the AGM SGLBA members also voted on a number of changes to its articles of association which were passed unopposed by members after questions from the floor.

The SGLBA board also reported back on some of the things they had achieved as a result of the de-registering of the Association in 2010.

SGLBA has achieved Fair Trade Reporting Compliance and established a new sub-committee to monitor and review current policies and compliance related reporting practices.

SGLBA Finance Director Bill Wang reported that the Association had also determined that it needs to pay tax in relation to money paid to the association by non-SGLBA members at its events.

Members also voted to appoint an auditor at the AGM who will now audit the organisation every two years going forward.

The association reported a profit of $4,651.00 after expenditure and disbursements in 2011 – an improvement on a 2010 profit of $317.00 – leaving the organisation with a total equity of $74,893.00.

At the end of the AGM, outgoing director Matthew Thompson was presented with a gift from the board for his service to SGLBA as Membership Director.