VIA chief reveals ‘core focus’ for future
VIA (the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association) is to concentrate on “core issues” moving forward following an internal review.
The organisation’s national executive and council members have been looking at its structure after recording a budget deficit in 2018/19. As a result, action is set to be taken on various fronts.
David Vinsen, chief executive, says VIA’s offices in Mount Wellington, Auckland, will close at the end of February, the association’s two-branch system will end and it will stop providing ancillary services.
“We will be focusing on our absolute core issue, which is political advocacy for the used-imports industry,” Vinsen, pictured, told Autofile Online. “I view this whole review process as something that’s very positive for the association. It’s designed to ensure VIA continues with the services it provides to our industry.”
Before any changes go ahead, the association’s rules will need to be reviewed and then adopted at a special general meeting because VIA is an incorporated society. The new rules will then have to be lodged with the Incorporated Societies Register.
“The process depends on how long it takes to get the redrafting of the rules done and circulated to members,” explains Vinsen. “It’s our intention to hold the special general meeting as soon as possible.”
VIA’s Auckland office is set to be closed at the end of February 2020. On that, Vinsen comments: “It means we will be an office-less organisation as many are these days. There are limited hours when all of our staff are there at the same time anyway.
“We will still be having regular meetings at convenient times and locations. Our staff already do a lot of work from home, we’re all able to communicate well with the use of modern technology and we’re also able to collaborate on everything we’re doing. The closure of the office will save VIA up to $50,000 a year.”
VIA has also analysed all of its services and some, such as providing stationery and supplies, will be discontinued. “These barely cover costs and most people who purchase them are not even members.”
Other matters cover changes in governance and include the proposal that the association’s two-branch system – one in each of the North and South islands – will end.
“This is an anachronism from the times before electronic communication when members had regular branch meetings,” says Vinsen. “In the past, each branch has held brief annual general meetings before the association’s main AGM, but this is no longer necessary and is something that needs to go.
“This whole process has been a friendly nudge from key stakeholders to encourage the association to move into the current decade.”
Looking into finances and operations
The special general meeting to change VIA’s constitution follows talks into its future after its executive decided to implement changes to ensure the association has enough money to carry out its functions.
Executive and industry members have been working on required outcomes with changes now identified. The notice of the special meeting and documents – including the proposals and venue – will soon be published. Members with questions can email Nick Owens, South Island chairman, at nick@autoinspectionservices.co.nz.
Whatever happens, it will be a case of full steam ahead for VIA to continue representing the used-imports industry. The working group was set up following its AGM in Auckland in May 2019, at which a deficit of $233,181 for 2018/19 was reported and debated.
That deficit was largely attributed to reduced income from technical services VIA provides because the number of vehicles requiring special certificates has reduced. It followed a shortfall of $264,258 in 2017/18, while one was also presented for the current financial year at last May’s AGM.
