On Sunday 31 May the players in the Vic Closed tournament expressed their views on incorporating the Victorian Veterans Table Tennis Association (Vicvet).
A report will shortly be published.
Vic Vets Proposal
Victorian Veterans Selectors have been experiencing problems over the past year with TTV who are seen to be interfering unnecessarily with selection and seeding criteria and the recent censorship of Nets & Vets.
There are also concerns that the current Veterans Committee has no formal status.
We are therefore interested to get your views as to whether you would prefer a separate Veterans Association (VicVets) to plan and manage Veterans Table Tennis in Victoria – similar to NSW. We would seek to affiliate with TTV as any other Club or Association currently does.
Some of the features of this new Association could be:
- Adopt own Constitution
- Democratically elected Committee (Conduct AGM to elect all Office Bearers)*
- Our own Ratings System
- Our own State Team Selection Criteria
- Registration fees to be used in the interests of vets players
- Open own Bank Account
- Have own Data Base
- Be in Good Standing with TTV
- Organise Veterans Tournament Calendar
- Organise Sponsorship
- Organise 2010 Australian Open Veteran Table Tennis Tournament
- Seek renewal of Veteran Tournament in Dandenong
- Conduct any other suitable activities according to the members wishes
- Set up a players’ support fund
* current Veterans Committee Members would be welcome to nominate for positions.
Please let us have your views:
DO YOU AGREE WITH PROPOSAL? (please circle choice)
YES/NO
Any suggestions or comments?
NAME …………………………………………………………………………………………
ADDRESS…………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
PHONE………………………………………. MOBILE…………………………………….
EMAIL…………………………………………………………………………………. (please print)
DATE of BIRTH……………………
Please see Case de Bondt, Roy Cintolo, Prisca Rosario or Martin Solomons
CURRENT WEBSITE www.ausvet.wordpress.com
Report on Veteran Players’ Survey at the Victorian Closed – 31/5/09
Eight stalwarts of the Victorian Veteran community handed out an enquete to all participants (see above).
Each tended to 14 different players, thus covering all 112 Entries.
These eight passionate table tennis enthusiasts included Martin Solomons, Jim Furness, Prisca Rosario, Buddy Reid, Arlene Verplak, Andrew Beaton, Roy Cintolo and Case de Bondt.
Everyone had the opportunity to study the proposed initiative to set up the Victorian Veterans Table Tennis Association (VicVet Inc.).
For the benefit of those who did not have the chance to peruse this document, it is posted above.
This flyer was presented to the players without any foreknowledge by most of them. It was therefore very encouraging to the initiators to see that the vast majority of players voted “yes” and were in favour.
It was further good to note that there weren’t any “no’s”.
About 12 % of the players prevaricated on the issue one way or another.
Some had their reservations and some posed queries. They did not want to commit themselves and chose to abstain from casting a vote.
Some said “no opinion” and someone wrote “sitting on the fence”.
Undoubtedly the main concern to these undecided players was the question of whether TTV would accept this new entity and grant affiliation to VicVet Inc. within the table tennis family. They further were afraid that this idea could cause a splinter group and dissension within the ranks.
There was good reason for them to be apprehensive, as several Board members had already indicated their opposition to this proposed Veteran Association.
In addition the April issue of Nets & Vets, our veteran newsletter, was censured by the TTV CEO when some matters pertaining to AusVet Inc. were reported on.
The editors, Arlene Verplak and Andrew Beaton sent me the following, and I quote:
| Hi Case, We sent the April edition in for distribution about 3 weeks ago and I just got this in my email today. Thought you might want to know.
Arlene — On Wed, 13/5/09, CEO <ttv.ceo@ttv.com.au> wrote: Good afternoon Arlene, You may be aware that general circulation of the April edition of Nets & Vets had not taken place. As an official publication of TTV, there is some care needed about the contents of the magazine, which may be taken as expressing views representing TTV. There were 2 items that are of concern in the April edition. The first is the front page article concerns Aus Vets and the second concerned the complaints corner. On the matter of Aus Vets, there have been no discussions within TTV or the veterans community generally concerning this proposal and it is felt that it is inappropriate that it appear in an official publication of Table Tennis Victoria, as it could be assumed that TTV supports the concept when this issue has not been addressed by the Board. The concern about the complaints corner is that considerable care needs to be exercised in conducting such a forum, as issues of legal liability can easily arise from what; on the surface appear to be quite innocent comments. I would be grateful if you could re-send the April edition to this address without those 2 items for the time being and the revised newsletter will be immediately circulated. I’m happy to discuss this with you so that we can avoid such a situation occurring again
Kind regards Chris Horwood Chief Executive Officer Table Tennis Victoria
|
This censorship by TTV (rather than a disclaimer which would have saved the editors an enormous amount of time and effort) indicated that the Board appears to frown upon Ausvet Inc. and most likely won’t be impressed if the Victorian Veterans set up their own independent Association.
However this fear is misplaced for the intention of VicVet Inc. is to affiliate and be in Good Standing with the peak body in Victoria (as almost every other incorporated Association is) and of course it intends to affiliate with AusVet Inc., the national body as well.
We intend to meet with the current Veterans Committee and present and discuss all the advantages of incorporation.
It is also envisaged to seek a meeting with TTV and point out that it will be beneficial to all and following ‘World Best Practice’.
Let us focus on the overall benefits of autonomy.
The stronger and more diverse the Vets become, the more they will flourish and the less effort will be required to service us.
There will be more resources to increase Vets numbers.
There will be an expanded programme.
There will be better service to the members.
There will be less work for TTV, less involvement, costs, and more revenue.
As mentioned before it will be a win/win outcome alround and the sport of Table Tennis will be the beneficiary.
The Australian Veterans Table Tennis Association 