What is going on at auDA? Promises of better communication and transparency (made at the members Special General Meeting on the 31st July) have not become reality. In fact, the culture of secrecy seems to have expanded.
Sure we get the occasional members newsletter with a few carefully selected items. But the only way members have a chance of knowing what might be happening at auDA is to read the Minutes. Even in their heavily redacted and “threadbare” state, seasoned auDA watchers can glean some hints as to what might actually be going on.
Today is October 10th, and we’re still waiting on some Board Minutes from the 14th and 21st August. Reading between the lines, there is obviously some contention amongst Directors as to the “construction and content” of these. If there wasn’t, they would have been published by now. I mean the Minutes from the 6th September have already been published.
The Buck Must Stop With The Interim Chair
Erhan Karabardak controlled the SGM on the 31st July with an iron glove. He was the one who kept saying to members that auDA was now listening; and that “tomorrow starts today”.
But lack of transparency sadly seems to be continuing under his reign. My latest email concerning the Minutes remains unanswered (despite his personal assurances that he will always be responsive) :
Despite him not responding, some action occured, because the Minutes for the 2nd and 16th August appeared yesterday.
Please Explain To Members
♦Why are we not getting Minutes published expeditiously? Minutes are supposed to be a true record of a meeting; therefore it is hard to understand the delay. Is this “best practice” corporate governance?
♦ What’s with all the “In Camera” Board Meetings lately?
♦ Why have the CEO and Company Secretary been excluded from some sessions?
♦ Who takes the Minutes when the Company Secretary isn’t there?
Some answers would be wonderful. Let’s see if I can get some via a letter to the CEO and Interim Chair.
Ned O’Meara – 10th October 2017
Disclaimer
1. In Camera Session
Commenced 11:00am
2nd August 2017 at 11:00AM Via Teleconference
Present: Erhan Karabardak (Deputy Chair), Cameron Boardman (CEO) (joined at 12:00PM), George Pongas, Grant Wiltshire, Joe Manariti, Gavin Gibson, Simon Johnson, Sandra Hook, Leonie Walsh (joined at 12:00PM), Michaella Richards, Tim Connell, Di Parker (Company Secretary) (joined at 12:00PM)
///////////////////
The 11am “in camera” session must have been to discuss Cameron? This was 2 days after the SGM.
Well. Wow. I almost don’t know where to start. Let’s do dot-points.
1. Yay. Today, auDA finally posted Minutes of the long-past Board meetings. But a lot of the content, and lack if it, is a real worry.
2. Most importantly. Kudos to Leonie Walsh for (no doubt) insisting that her exit statement be recorded and reported in full.
3. Shame that she believes that (I assume) the likes of Domainer / DnTrade / DomainPulse etc contain content that inappropriately targets Board Directors and staff. That said, she is entitled to her opinion and her statement provides an insight into how the Board is noting and processing the protestations of disenfranchised Members.
4. The Board “notes the potentially defamatory website publications. . .” Sorry, what? Lawyer up and prove defamation before making such statements. Shame on the Board for making this their only statement in a half-page summary of a six-and-a-half hour meeting.
5. Did I mention – a half-page summary of a SIX-AND-A-HALF HOUR MEETING?
6. In contrast, the 21 August one-hour teleconference got a page-and-a-half. Glad Erhan welcomed everyone. That is left standing.
7. Hang on, membership applications were deferred ” pending an investigation into any anomalies in the applications”? Weird. Never seen this happen before. Collective anomalies or just regarding one or two? Why should all applicants suffer? If this had been decided in August, as the Constitution requires the Board to do, new members would have been eligible to vote for the November AGM. Not now.
8. Next Board meeting was noted as 26 Sept. Obviously the 6 Sept meeting came out of nowhere?
/rant
What I find interesting is what is missing from the Minutes.
Compare the agenda for the 21st August with the now published Minutes.
In particular, item 5 (C) – Director advances of legal fees (Deputy Chair).
Defamatory web comments? Really? Try being more open with members to avoid the need for honest criticism. Non processing of membership applications is not a good look either.
Jeff
Well said Anon Coward, I can just imagine all those board members whining about the annoying members who don’t agree with what these directors are doing.
These directors should remember they have decided to join public organisation, in a public position, and as such can expect a higher level of scrutiny.
Sorry, that wasnt quite the end of my rant.
I forgot the statement that most captured my attention:
“I no longer have confidence in the Board process and believe it is leading auDA away from the original reform agenda that I believe is necessary for the sustainability and security of auDA in the future.”
Thanks again, Leonie.
The auDA Board Agenda’s and minutes seem to be fairly light on real details with far less than previous years?
Strange to see no Agenda for numerous Board meetings?
Are the Agenda’s and minutes being overly censored? Do the public and members have a right to know?
How about the promised improved transparency and accountability? The commitment made to public, stakeholders, members and Government?
https://auda.org.au/about-auda/our-org/board-meetings/
auDA Board Meetings
auDA Board Meeting Schedule 2017
Board Meeting
Agenda
Minutes
13 February 2017
PDF
PDF
24 April 2017
PDF
PDF
22 May 2017
PDF
PDF
19 June 2017
PDF
PDF
24 July 2017
PDF
PDF
31 July 2017
–
PDF
2 August 2017
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PDF
14 August 2017
PDF
PDF
16 August 2017
–
PDF
21 August 2017
PDF
PDF
6 September 2017
–
PDF
26 September 2017
PDF
23 October 2017
13 November 2017
11 December 2017
auDA Board Minutes Archive 1999-2016
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
How does auDA compare?
https://cira.ca/about-cira/board-and-governance/meeting-agendas-and-minutes
Minutes
2017/07/26 Minutes
2017/06/14 Minutes
2017/05/17 Minutes
2017/05/02 Minutes
2017/02/28 Minutes
2016/11/16 Minutes
2016/09/21 Minutes
2016/07/27 Minutes
2016/06/16 Minutes
2016/05/11 Minutes
2016/04/26 Minutes
2016/02/23 Minutes
2015/12/11 Minutes
2015/09/17 Minutes
2015/07/28 Minutes
2015/06/16 Minutes
2015/04/21 Minutes
2015/02/24 Minutes
2015/01/12 Minutes
2014/11/13 Minutes
2014/09/16 Minutes
2014/07/30 Minutes
2014/06/10 Minutes
2014/05/30 Minutes
2014/05/22 Minutes
2014/04/17 Minutes
2014/02/25 Minutes
2013/12/03 Minutes
2013/10/29 Minutes
2013/09/17 Minutes
2013/08/20 Minutes
2013/05/30 Minutes
2013/02/27 Minutes
2013/01/10 Minutes
2013/01/10 Minutes
2012/11/28 Minutes
2012/10/30 Minutes
2012/09/17 Minutes
2012/07/25 Minutes
2012/05/31 Minutes
2012/02/28 Minutes
2011/12/01 Minutes
2011/11/18 Minutes
2011/10/18 Minutes
2011/09/19 Minutes
2011/08/15 Minutes
2011/06/14 Minutes
2011/02/24 Minutes
2010/11/30 Minutes
2010/10/19 Minutes
2010/09/21 Minutes
2010/06/01 Minutes
2010/03/22 Minutes
2010/02/04 Minutes
2009/12/01 Minutes
2009/10/15 Minutes
2009/12/01 Minutes
2009/09/23 Minutes
2009/08/07 Minutes
2009/05/12 Minutes
2009/03/17 Minutes
2009/02/19 Minutes
2008/12/10 Minutes
2008/10/09 Minutes
2008/09/09 Minutes
2008/06/03 Minutes
2008/05/26 Minutes
2008/05/07 Minutes
2008/03/18 Minutes
2007/12/07 Minutes
2007/11/20 Minutes
2007/10/12 Minutes
2007/09/06 Minutes
2007/08/08 Minutes
2007/06/01 Minutes
2007/04/24 Minutes
2007/02/27 Minutes
2007/01/30 Minutes
2007/01/30 Minutes
Archived Meetings
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AGENDAS
Agenda
2017/09/18 Agenda
2017/07/26 Agenda
2017/06/14 Agenda
2017/05/02 Agenda
2017/05/17 Agenda
2017/02/28 Agenda
2016/11/16 Agenda
2016/09/21 Agenda
2016/07/27 Agenda
2016/06/16 Agenda
2016/05/11 Agenda
2016/04/26 Agenda
2016/02/23 Agenda
2015/12/11 Agenda
2015/11/05 Agenda
2015/09/17 Agenda
2015/07/28 Agenda
2015/06/16 Agenda
2015/04/21 Agenda
2011/12/01 Agenda
2015/02/24 Agenda
2015/01/12 Agenda
2014/11/13 Agenda
2014/09/16 Agenda
2014/07/30 Agenda
2014/06/10 Agenda
2014/05/30 Agenda
2014/05/22 Agenda
2014/04/17 Agenda
2014/02/25 Agenda
2013/12/03 Agenda
2013/10/29 Agenda
2013/09/17 Agenda
2013/08/20 Agenda
2013/05/20 Agenda
2013/02/27 Agenda
2013/01/10 Agenda
2012/11/28 Agenda
2012/10/30 Agenda
2012/09/17 Agenda
2012/07/25 Agenda
2012/05/31 Agenda
2012/02/28 Agenda
2011/10/18 Agenda
2011/09/19 Agenda
2011/08/15 Agenda
2011/06/14 Agenda
2008/12/10 Agenda