LEADERSHIP

Lending Your Voice

WORDS TRISTA BRIDGES BIVENS IMAGE ENRIQUE BALDUCCI A s Members, we can engage with our Club in many ways. From playing sport or taking a fitness class to connecting with family and friends over a great meal or at an event, the Club offers myriad ways for us to enhance our lives.

There are also many ways for us, if we choose, to take part in the governance of the Club. Over the years, many Members have taken up roles on committees or task forces. The committees are where innumerable proposals around business strategy and Club operations originate before being voted on by the Board of Governors or, where applicable, by the membership at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Although our management and staff are central to delivering an exceptional Member experience, the Club is ultimately run by Members. In other words, it’s our voices and participation that are key to ensuring the Club’s success. Being an active contributor to this system has been a true honor for me. I’m glad I made the decision to join a committee and to stand as a candidate in the annual Board election.

Having the opportunity to make your voice heard is a fundamental pillar of Club governance. At each AGM, Voting Members receive an update on the financial and operational health of the Club and vote on candidates running for the Board, the proposed budget, changes to our General Rules and new initiatives. With the next AGM set for November 16, I encourage all eligible Members to register to vote (information can be found on the Club website).

The pandemic has brought about many changes to how our Club operates and this extends to the AGM, which is now a hybrid event. Within this new paradigm, Club management works diligently to ensure that those Members who would like to attend the AGM in person can safely do so. Please look out for details of the AGM and the candidates running in the election over the coming weeks.

If you would like to deepen your involvement at the Club, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the committee chairs or governors. It’s critical that different Member perspectives and experiences are represented in our governing bodies. It’s this diversity that ensures a great Club experience for all.

Trista Bridges Bivens is the Club’s second vice president. “IT’S OUR VOICES AND PARTICIPATION THAT ARE KEY TO ENSURING THE CLUB’S SUCCESS.”