Free rein for committee

Press, 5 December 1988, Page 34

Free rein for committee

PA Wellington The management committee has been given a loaded gun and told to get on with the job, according to the Badminton Association chairwoman, Mary Mansell. At its annual meeting in Wellington last week-end the association endorsed changes in management, put in place over the last year, including appointment of an executive director six months ago.

“It was a very positive meeting. Almost everyone is happy with the way things are going and think the professional approach is right,” she said.

At last year’s meeting there were 32 remits trying to tidy up an old system. This year there were only five.

"This indicated to me we’re going in the right direction,” MS Mansell said.

The executive director, Bruce Stokell, said his report on organisation, management and promotion of badminton was well received and accepted. The most important part of the report outlined changes

in role of the management committee from a controlling body to one that was responsible for planning and evaluation.

This would make all the difference in the world to the sport, he said. “The answer to sport and recreation development is to have a development plan, people to manage it and then staff like myself to implement it,” he said.

Canterbury’s Neil Gardiner was re-elected unoppposed as the president of the association. Auckland’s Heather Robson was elected vice-presi-dent.

A long-serving convener of senior selectors, North Shore’s Murray Weatherston, will not return this year in that capacity but has been voted to the management committee.

Senior selectors this year will be Vai Gow, Paul Skelt and R. Westbrooke.

Filling the five available places on the management committee are Ivan Bignell, Graham Feist, Mary Mansell, Murray Weatherston and Marten Young.