NATIONAL WIA NEGOTIATING TEAM   
The President Introduced Wally VK6KZ and Robyn VK6XRE, nominating them as co-opted members of Council to form a team to negotiate the Transition Agreement (otherwise known as the Collateral Agreement) with the National WIA.

The Chair was passed to Wally VK6KZ as negotiating sub-committee chairman, who then tabled copies of a draft hand out entitled “The Future of the Wireless Institute of Australia Western Australian Division.”, Wally spoke to it after a brief delay whilst Council quickly read the document.

Much discussion ensued over the next two hours. Some of the points noted are as follows:

The Division was a member of Federal (which is now defunct) and currently still exists in it’s own right
The Division could;
(a)    Continue as a subsidiary of the National body, but fully under the control of the National Directors. (to what purpose?) and in fact could a (WA) Incorporated body become a subsidiary of a (VIC) Company? OR
(b)     Remain as an entity in own right as a club. (to what purpose?).OR
(c)     Wind-up. OR
(d)     Do nothing (will eventually loose membership and be forced to wind-up.

Any decision will require 75% of financial members to agree which will require a postal ballot (and the mail out to contain written advice on the options, and pros and cons.)

WA INCORPORATION ACT requires an Association to have no fewer than six members. If the Division retains the status quo or changes to a club how would it retain it’s membership, the National body is asking members to resign from divisions and join the National body. Would the current members pay both the increased (in WA) National subs AND a Division or club subscription, and for what perceived benefit?

The National proposal to replace the Divisions with Advisory Committees was discussed. The Divisional Councils to become advisory committees for the first three years, then they become zone advisors (not based on state geography) elected by the zone membership and approved by the Directors. The only power the committees would have is to gather sufficient member proxies in order to change anything.

The Council was then asked if they were happy to become Advisory Committee Members?  After some dissent this question was postponed until later when other problems had been resolved, and decisions made.

Council has been elected by members, and remain until (the end of their term) or they resign provided the entity remains.

The essential continuation of the current Personal Accident and Public Liability Insurance policies which cover the Division, and the following clubs (at no cost to the clubs) under the various options was discussed;
•    The West Australian Repeater Group Inc. (WARG),
•    The West Australian VHF Group Inc.,
•    The Northern Corridor Radio Group Inc. (NCRG),
•    The Amateur Radio Society of North West Australia,
•    The Hills Amateur Radio Group Inc.,
•    The Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network Inc.(WICEN).

National have conditionally offered to maintain the existing policies for a period of not less than three years

The question was asked “If the WA Divisional name (Incorporated in 1927) was to disappear, would anyone grieve? there was no reply.

The status of our assets was discussed, $60,000 is not a negligible sum!
What we do with it is up to our members if we become a subsidiary this will mean “asset stripping”
Some of the things the WA Division administer and/or finance now were discussed and how to protect them in the agreement so that National will honour them:
•    The Roleystone Mast agreement (License granted by the Owners) This Requires Public Liability Insurance
•    The Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance Policies
•    Grants to WA Clubs
•    West Australian Technical Advisory Committee (WESTAC)
•    Newswest Sunday Broadcast
•    VK6 Web Page
•    International HF Beacon  VK6RBP
•    Hugh Spence Memorial suspense account (for DX projects)
•    The Ex WAADCA suspense account (for VK6BBS Bulletin Board Maintenance)
•    Zone 29 award
•    Educational and exam subsidy (classroom rental paid and course underwritten)
•    Funds for Annual Conference of WA Clubs
•    The possibilities and options of assigning the Roleystone Mast agreement to the Repeater group (if WARG will accept the responsibility, and the Mast Owner allows it) this will require legal fees and stamp duty to assign.
Noted that the National WIA in the absence of the Division will require the “Advisory Committee” to arrange volunteers for the various requirements, such as Broadcast, Web site, Exams, Education, Conferences etc. and to liaise with local clubs, much the same duties as the Division covers now.
Discussion on terminology re Terminate, Wind-up, Liquidate.
The Treasurer asked how this would run without a bank account?
The chairman asked if Council were happy for division to become a subsidiary company. The feeling was Not at this stage, more to be thrashed out first.
The question was asked, Does a member of the Advisory Committee have to be a member of the National WIA?
Discussion on wording of the motion(s) to be taken to a Special General Meeting, logistics of holding the meeting, mail out, 28 days notice of meeting
Wally VK6KZ has now to complete the unfinished items (issues 2, 3 & 5) on the hand-out and E-mail it to Councillors prior to the continued meeting in one week.
Focus to be on:
•    Item 2 - Mail out and to encourage members to join the National body.
•    Item 3 - Motions and explanatory notes.
•    Item 5 - Follow up on required changes to Implementation Agreement.
Short discussion on possible changes to and the documentation between VK6LZ and Michael Owen re the last draft of the WA Implementation Agreement. Action VK6LZ to E-mail copies to VK6XRE and VK6KZ. (Noted that this has been available on the VK6 Web site for some time).
Wally discussed interstate differences re funding for licensing and maintenance (including parts) for repeaters and beacons where this is currently financed by some of the other Divisions contrary to the situation in WA, he suggested the possibility of funding WARG and VHF group for this. WARG committee members present saw dangers and were not impressed. This proposal would need to be discussed with WARG members. Possibility of payment of licenses was discussed. The nature of the beasts made budgeting difficult, how do you budget for lightening damage or sudden site fees for example.
Short discussion on how to dispose of divisional assets.
End part 1