Webinar to explain VIA’s future to members
Members of the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) have been invited to take part in an information webinar on June 25 at 10am on its future structure.
The video conference will be hosted by chief executive David Vinsen, pictured, and members of the executive team as the organisation moves into the final stage of transformation.
Some changes are being made to the association’s funding structure to improve its financial position although “the difference is minimal” for most.
Members will receive an information pack before the webinar, as well as their new annual subscription and membership tier in addition to VIA’s new tier and council structure.
The pack also includes details on how members can stand for election to the new VIA council, which will be “at the heart of the new VIA and we encourage you to put your hand up if you want to actively participate in our industry”. The video conference itself will be an ideal opportunity for questions to be put to the leadership team.
“You will get 10 days to formally stand for council election,” a letter to members states. “The VIA team will then compile voting packs for members. If you are standing for a council seat, you will need to provide a photo and brief bio for circulation with the voting packs.”
Voting will be carried out electronically for one week and is set to close one day before VIA’s annual general meeting on July 21 with results confirmed to all members the next day as part of that meeting.
Following the creation of the first VIA council, council members can then stand for the board elections. The council will elect a three to five-person board and the aim is to have this completed within one month of the AGM.
The new structure is coming about as a result of a ballot held at the SGM on March 17 and, over the past few weeks, new membership tiers have been completed and integrated into VIA’s new council structure. Full details of the AGM will be notified in due course so members can attend in person or via video conference.
“We have developed a balanced budget, which we will present at the AGM, and then pass on to the new board of directors for implementation,” the letter states. “In the weeks preceding the AGM, your VIA team will be working you to complete the last few steps.
“On behalf of the VIA team, thank you for your support and patience as we have worked to create an industry association for you to handle the challenges of 2020 and beyond best.”
A VIA alert on June 19 urged all members to take part in the webinar on June 25 and says the council will become the pre-eminent body for the association. “The council will be truly representative – either self-selection by ‘paying the money’ to be in tier one or elected by peers. This is the next phase of the restructure after discussions with key stakeholders last year.”
Approval for a new structure to be adopted was approved at March’s SGM after the national executive and council members had reviewed its future following budget deficits in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years.
