Following our email to the Chairman on 5th August (read here), we received a response that night.

The Chairman advised that they were working with the club who will have administration rights and sole access to the electronic voting system that will be used in this years election. This means that the Cheer Squad has adopted our proposal that the football club act as Returning Officer for the election.

However, there is no commitment to ensure this arrangement is followed in the future through an amendment to the Constitution or even to communicate it to the Cheer Squad membership. We also feel that it be in the best interest of the Cheer Squad that we meet. Since we have received no response, we can only assume a lack of commitment on the part of the Committee to resolving these issues.

Accordingly, on the 6th of August we emailed Gerard as follows:

Hi Gerard,

Thank you for your prompt and considered response.

In general, we are satisfied with this arrangement and believe it will assist in restoring confidence in election integrity.

In the interest of transparency we would ask that you advise the membership of the procedural change to this year’s election in the next newsletter.

Specifically:

  • That the voting will be by electronic ballot.
  • That there will be a mechanism for confirming that each ballot has come from the person identified on the ballot.
  • That the football club will nominate a person from the football club to act as the Returning Officer (not a Committee member) and that only the Returning Officer will have access to the ballots.
  • That the returning officer will table the ballots at the AGM.

If you can do that we would be happy to offer our public endorsement.

Further, we agree that Section 17 and 22 are ambiguous and open to interpretation. Would you support an amendment to the Constitution tidying up Sections 17 and 22 and reflecting the above procedural change? We have a draft prepared and would be happy to offer it for your consideration.

Perhaps it is time for us to have an informal catch up? Would you have some time prior to this week’s game?

Cheers,

Ken Woodward & Kurt Jones
RICHMOND CHEER SQUAD REFORM GROUP