Chairman Klaas Gerard Jumelet has given the signal to start the reorganization of the association with a letter to all members, parents/guardians and volunteers. In addition, a number of measures have been announced, including the obligation of volunteer work.
The letter received today by all members, parents/guardians and other involved parties:
Utrecht, September 12, 2023
Dear stakeholders of our association, When I met the board of our swimming club in the spring of 2021, I was reminded that it would not be an easy task. The association had been struggling for a long time with an incomplete board, serious financial problems and organizational defects. With an unchanged policy, the association would be bankrupt within a few years.
Over the past two years, a number of measures have been taken to keep the association above water. For example, the association board has been expanded, the position of treasurer has been abolished and replaced by an economist and an administrator and a new head coach has been appointed. However, the patient requires more severe treatment to become healthy.
In April 2023, the General Meeting approved the association board's proposal to thoroughly and structurally reorganize the association, including by implementing an amendment to the articles of association. The new draft articles of association are currently being worked on. The new articles of association will prepare the association for the future, including by meeting the requirements of the Management and Supervision of Legal Entities Act (WBTR). In the course of 2024, the association board will appoint a vice-chairperson from among its members, with special attention to the support and replacement of the chairman where appropriate and to the coordination of the board tasks.
However, there are also urgent problems that require an immediate solution. Training is currently canceled because a number of parents structurally refuse to be involved in their children's sports. In April, the General Meeting agreed to oblige adult members and parents/guardians of minor members to perform a number of hours of volunteer work per year for the association, provided that the association board first uses all other means to increase the involvement of parents/guardians. . Despite the use of these resources, involvement has not increased.
The general terms and conditions will be changed with effect from November 1, 2023. This states that all adult members and parents/guardians of minor members are obliged to perform at least 40 hours of volunteer work per year for the association. This specifically concerns supervising training from the edge of the pool. Until October 11, 2023, availability can be communicated to the training schedule planner. Failure to provide availability will be interpreted as full availability from 5:30 am on Monday morning to Friday evening.
Persons aged 65 and over are exempt from this obligation. For masters who have not yet reached this age, a minimum number of hours of 6 hours per year applies. Persons who, for whatever reason, are unable to meet the minimum number of hours can receive an individual (partial) exemption by submitting a written request to the association board.
In addition to the measures mentioned, all parents/guardians who have not requested and obtained an exemption will be scheduled to participate in a timekeeper course recognized by the KNZB. After completing this course, they will also be scheduled as timekeepers during competitions.
I am legally obliged to state that these measures are a unilateral act that increases the requirements regarding membership. This makes it possible to terminate membership as of November 1, 2023, subject to a notice period of thirty days.
Connected in the joy of sport,
Klaas Gerard Jumelet
Chairman of the association