The Catenian Association

Restructure CommissionPhase 2 Report

John Rayer, David Cawdery, Jim Quinn, Phil Roberts, David Rowley.

Introduction

Review Committee appointed by Grand Council Operations Committee to look in detail at the Report

Committee distilled key points into a presentation for the February meeting of Grand Council

The presentation contained a precis of the facts in the Report together with matters for Grand Council to consider as suggested by the Review Committee

Background to the Restructure Commission

Hinsley Hall – Grand Council Strategy Conference 2008

Growing proportion of Non-UK Brothers

Self-government sought in Australia

Pressure for representation

Economic pressures/efficient governance

Commission Terms of Reference

Phase 1- approval by Grand Council to explore further the

Federal route

The Report What does it contain?

the primary bits which have to be decided/agreed before anything else.

the “detailed” or secondary bits then follow

the “implementation” bits that set out the timetable for the first two

The Commission’s ProposalsThe ‘Primary Bits’

The ‘Primary Bits’Proposed Future Structure

An International Council

International Development Areas

National Councils

Provincial Councils

Circles

International Council

Replaces Grand Council as the highest authority of the AssociationSize kept to a minimumSimple businesslike procedures with measurable achievementsResponsible for development of strategy and the implementation of strategic planning leading to the expansion and development of the AssociationMembership – International President; Immediate Past President; International President Elect; National Presidents; Director for Development Areas (DDA); Administration Officer; Finance Officer

International Development Areas

Under the strategic control and direction of the International Council

Supervised by the DDA

Treated as Areas unless and until they have six Circles when they are designated as Provinces

Can achieve National status when ten or more Circles formed in the territory

National Councils

Two initially – GB and AustraliaGB National Council membership – National President, Immediate Past President, ten Directors ( including elected National VP), Administration Officer and Finance Officer. Total of fourteen.Number of GB Directors reduced from nineteen to ten by “clustering” ProvincesAustralia National Council to replace current Australia Committee with the same meeting arrangements and the establishment of three Provinces initially

Provincial Councils (GB)

Structure largely as now but with the movement of eleven Circles to other Provinces

Greater devolution of responsibility to Provincial Councils with the principle of subsidiarity eg financial, membership data and record maintenance

Circles

No Change!

International, National and Provincial Councils – Matters the Review

Committee felt Grand Council should consider

Is the IC taking too much on for a light touch body as per the recommendations in the Report?.

Impact on the Circle/Provinces affected by moving Circles and the creation of Directorates?

Need to rethink the roles of Directors to cope with the enlargement

Implications of subsidiarity – greater role for Provincial Councils

The Commission’s ProposalsThe ‘Detailed Bits’

The ‘Detailed Bits’

Constitution

Rules and Guidelines

Duties and Responsibilities of Officers

Administration

Financial ProceduresAnd the presentation focuses solely on the Constitution

The Constitution, Rules and Guidelines

The Commission recommends the establishment of:

A Constitution

Rules (Constitutional); Rules (Procedural) – consonant with the Constitution

Guidelines – replacing existing Regulations

The ConstitutionWhy a Constitution?

Felt to be essential to underpin the proposed changesDrafting undertaken by the Legal Task GroupOffered with usual caveats:

It is a work in progress and no way in its final formBut:It is “significantly developed and substantial change is not envisaged”

Enshrines basic principles of the AssociationAffords flexibility in governance and organisationReflects devolved governance and the principle of subsidiarityAvoids conflation of Constitutional provisions and Rules & Guidelines

The Constitution

Advantages

Maintains the identity of the Association: an international Brotherhood, each member bound in universal solidarityRetains and reasserts that this is a Members’ Association, and bodies so privileged to administer it do so on behalf of its MembersDefines the Association’s systems of governance and organisationImports a degree of flexibility in making/amending RulesMaintains protection of the fundamentals of the AssociationDefines key duties and responsibilities of each Administrative BodyDefines the powers of each Administrative BodyAllows for future modification

Constitution, Rules and Guidelines –Matters the Review Committee felt Grand Council should consider

When do we need to decide on a Constitution?Is there a need to properly map accompanying Rules to the existing Rules/Regulations and Guidelines?Do we need to undertake an exercise to simplify existing Rules & Regulations anyway?Do we need to state clearly whether the proposed Guidelines are exactly that, or are they ‘Requirements’?

The Commission’s Proposals The ‘Implementation Bits’

Implementation – Commission’s proposal

Feb 2012: Grand Council receives Commission Report.Jul 2012: Grand Council agrees the Report Oct 2012. The result of the membership ballot to approve Constitution, Rules and International Council Nov 2012: Grand Council gives the requisite notice for elections to: The National Councils (Great Britain and Australia) elect PresidentSeek nominations for and give notice of an election for a Director for the Development Areas.

(Continued..)

Implementation – Commission’s proposal

Nov 2012: Grand Council elects first International President-elect.Nov 2012: National Councils elect their Presidents Jan 2013: Joint Inter-Provincial Election of Directors to National Councils.Feb 2013: Appoint International Administrator and Financial Officer. Apr 2013 Appoints Financial Officer.May 2013: International Council holds first meeting at which it:assumes responsibility for Governance of Associationprorogues Grand Council

Implementation – Matters the Review Committee felt

Grand Council should consider

Is the proposed timescale realistic?

No allowance for “winning hearts and minds”- must be complete before next steps. Can you put a timescale on this?

Is the proposed vote of the membership on the whole Report realistic? Should they not vote on the “primary bits “ before the “detailed bits”?

Is sufficient time allowed for any handover of responsibilities?

Options for Grand Council

Grand Council could:

Do nothing: reject report as unworkable/too difficult

Adopt Report as is: attempt to get Membership approval and then implement

Receive the Report but fine tune

With the detailed information now available revisit having a Federal Structure with an International Council and re-examine other options

Communication

To Restructure CommissionTo Grand CouncilAt Eastbourne ConferenceTo the MembershipWhat has already been doneWhat can be done

• Agenda• Catena• Web site

Agenda for Discussion

The Report - “primary bits” – International/National Councils/Directorates /

Provincial Councils/Circles - “detailed bits” – do we consider any of these before coming to

conclusions on the “primary bits”? - Implementation Timescale –is it realistic?

Grand Council’s optionsThe way forward, including the future of the Restructure CommissionCommunications

What next?Review Committee to examine the matters for consideration contained in the presentation taking into account the comments made by members of Grand Council

The Committee to report to the May and July meetings of Grand Council on work, findings and recommendations to date

The membership to be encouraged during this period to input to the process and the Review Committee will consider the best way of doing this but comments welcomed now!