Bosso members mum on constitutional changes

HIGHLANDERS members did not take up the opportunity to air their views on the proposed draft constitution that was handed out at this year's annual general meeting with only two members sending feedback.

Bosso members meet today at the Clubhouse to specifically discuss the proposed constitutional changes but the meeting is likely to be dampened by low attendance as seen by the poor responses.

Chief executive officer, Nhlanhla Dube confirmed the low response from members but did not specify the number. Dube said it was critical for members to be active in all issues affecting the club and not be selective.He said historically such meetings do not arouse a lot of excitement and input unless there is a burning issue that needs immediate attention.

"The whole constitution framing is that unless there are exceedingly burning issues when emotions are very high, you ordinarily don't get a lot of excitement and input for meetings like this but we encourage people to be more active because it's really about their clubs, it's about what they want to better, what they want to ring fence, organise and frame into their charter.

"It is always important to be excited about such things but again we know it's never going to be a meeting that historically has an AGM type outpouring of emotion and participation," said Dube.

Dube said members should take part in everything that happens during the year as it is important they come in their numbers in the same way that they support their club during football matches.

"We need to grow that culture (of active participation), we continually need to excite and motivate (members) as we go ahead, "he added.

Dube said the meeting is specifically to discuss the constitution and other related items that would have been forwarded to the secretariat and explaining that it is not the mid-year AGM.

He said the mid-year AGM will happen around the mid-season break.

According to the new draft constitution, which also seeks to align the club to the Fifa club licensing requirements, the club will be led by a chairperson with four directors delegated individual responsibilities.

It stipulates that the chairperson should be a person who has been a member of the club for at least five years and must have a demonstrable knowledge and understanding of football administration for at least five years. The new draft also does away with the board of directors who shall be replaced by a cultural body known as Council of Elders. Other key constitutional changes looming include the issue of membership that will see the club adopting three types of voluntary membership.

According to the document, if endorsed by members, all life and ordinary card carrying members will now fall under the special virtual branch and will be given a year from the date of passing of the constitution to register under the branch.