Dear members,
With the curtains now officially drawn on the AFL men’s season and the women’s season in full swing, it is a chance for both reflection and anticipation of what lies ahead.
While the conclusion of our men’s season was a disappointing one, the Casey Demons VFL Premiership certainly filled us with great optimism for the future and highlighted the depth of talent on our list. Premierships, at any level, are extremely hard to come by and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mark Corrigan and our entire VFL program on their successful season.
Our women currently sit 4th on the ladder on percentage, with 4 wins and 1 loss and continue to grow in strength as the season progresses. Our next home game is on Sunday October 9th against the Western Bulldogs at Casey Fields, and I encourage as many of you as possible to get along and show your support.
As you might be aware, next month we will be hosting a Special General Meeting (SGM) to consider and vote on proposed amendments to the current Club Constitution. Members would have yesterday received a Notice of SGM which provides the details for those wishing to attend. It also outlines the process for nominating a proxy to vote should you be unable to attend.
We encourage as many of you as possible to attend the meeting or to nominate a proxy with your preferred voting outcome to ensure your voice is heard in this process. If you are wanting to vote in favour of the constitutional reforms and are unable to attend the meeting, a proxy directed to me will be exercised in support of the special resolution. Proxies can be lodged on the Governance page of the club website.
Our Constitution has not been updated for many years and elements like requirements to conduct voting by post, are well out of date. The Board established a Working Group which includes directors, governance experts and club members to review our Constitution and recommend changes in the interests of the club and members. The amendments are fully explained in the Explanatory Materials. The constitutional reforms are being proposed following comprehensive member engagement and have received resoundingly positive feedback. I would like to thank the Working Group for its hard work and recommendations. If supported by you, the members, the changes will ensure our Constitution is contemporary, inclusive and reflective of the club’s commitment to good governance practices.
In addition to the proposed formal changes within the constitution, the Constitution will now include a Preamble that enshrines important aspects of our club’s history which we know are so important to our members. We wanted to create something that captures the rich history of the Melbourne Football Club and sparks a feeling of pride amongst all Melbourne people. I think we have certainly achieved this outcome, and I am excited to be able to share the proposed Preamble with you all.
Please enjoy the below video which brings the Preamble to life, with special thanks to two iconic Melbourne voices; David Neitz and Nathan Jones.
For any of you wanting further information regarding the upcoming SGM, nominating a proxy or the proposed changes, please visit the Governance page on the club’s website.
Lastly, thank you again for your ongoing support of the red and blue. I look forward to seeing many of you at the SGM next month. If you are not able to attend, please consider nominating a proxy so your voice is heard.
Regards,
Kate Roffey
