Life Members and DSA

The NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners & Trainers’ Association Limited Life Membership Criteria as at October 2014 

Article 5(h) of the Association’s Articles of Association states: 

“The Directors shall have the power, by resolution to make any Member a Life Member of the Association.  A Life Member may be a member of a branch or on the Direct List.  A Life Member shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership and be subject in all respects to the provisions of the Articles, with the exception of those provisions relating to the payment of subscriptions.” 

In February 2005 the following additional criteria was added: 

1. Recipients of Life Membership will be determined by the Board of Directors from the nomination of a Director. 
2. Nominees must be the holder of the Association’s Distinguished Service Award and in most circumstances will have been a member of the Association for 20 years or more on a continuous basis. 
3. Nominees must have served the Association in an exceptional manner at Branch or District level or they will have progressed the objects of the Association extraordinarily via a wider Greyhound Industry contribution. 
4. Members who serve in the capacity of an Association Director for a period of at least 10 years will automatically be formally considered for Life Membership. 
5. Directors will assess the nominees on their overall contribution to the objects of the NSW GBOTA and the Greyhound Industry. At all times, the nominees will be considered as having contributed loyally, consistently, selflessly and in a manner well above the normal contribution of a member.

In October 2014 the following additional criteria was added:

1. Consideration of Life Membership applications by Directors is to take place generally on a two yearly basis except where extraordinary circumstances required
2. Nominations are to be given to the Executive Officer by 30 June on a two yearly basis.
3. The Executive Officer puts the nominations together with information held on file regarding the membership, executive positions etc.
4. The nominations and relevant information is presented to the executive for that group to discuss the merits of the nominations at one or more of their July, August or September meetings.
5. The executive by majority decide on those nominations that should be recommended for life membership having regard to the criteria.  Each member of the executive has one vote only.
6. The recommended nominations are forwarded to the full Board for their decision at the October meeting.  The September meeting is not suitable as it is a short meeting to allow for the meeting of Chairmen that weekend.
7. The new life members are named at the Association Dinner at Wentworth Park held in January each year or such other event as agreed to by the Board.

Recipients

Distinguished Service Award Criteria 

1. Recipients of the DSA will be determined by the Board of Directors from nominations received by (or) made to Directors.
2. As a minimum pre-requisite, any nominated person must have been a member of the Association for at least 20 years on a continuous basis unless extenuating circumstances exist whereby membership of 20 years (but not continuous) could be considered.
3. Any nominations whereby the nominee has served in a Branch Official capacity for a period of 20 years (continuous or non-continuous) will be automatically endorsed by Directors.
4. Any nomination where the minimum pre-requisite (Clause 2) has been achieved but the ‘branch official’ requirement has not been met, will be considered on merit.
5. With reference to nominations received under Clause 4, Directors will assess the nominees on their overall contribution to the GBOTA, at branch level and/or voluntary and paid employment and/or other services or contributions to the Association. At all times, the recipients will be considered as having contributed in a distinguished manner.
6. Directors are automatically eligible for the Distinguished Service Award after serving six years on the Board of Directors.
7. Any nomination where the above pre-requisites have not been met, but Directors consider the nominated persons contribution to the Association or the Greyhound Industry generally (as a member or non-member) to be obvious, substantial and well above that which would normally be expected, consideration may be given to the awarding of the Distinguished Service Award.

Recipients - Alphabetical by Branch