SPASA Queensland report urges transparency and focus

Investigations into the financial state of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Queensland Inc. (SPASA Queensland) have led to recommendations that the organisation become more inclusive.
The report of the SPASA Queensland finance committee, compiled in the wake of allegations that up to $7 million had used to support the loss-making National Swimming Pool Institute (NSPI) training venture, recommends that SPASA:
ï¾ Show a real and tangible commitment to the inclusiveness of members and stakeholders to counter the previous regrettable reputation of failing to take members' suggestions or criticism seriously;
ï¾ Address issues causing disunity among members. While some of the reasons for disunity were valid (as contained and addressed in the report), the disunity amongst membership cannot continue if the association is to prosper;
ï¾ Have a genuine commitment to transparency, with particular reference to where and how advertising monies are spent by the association, availability of trust fund finances, the association's policy of responding to customer requests for builder recommendations, and clarity about which members are put forward to complete Watertight warranty work;
ï¾ Re-assess the association's mission and purpose, and develop a renewed mission and purpose statement with a focus on customer satisfaction and industry integrity at all industry levels to assist the association in addressing direction and finances into the future;
ï¾ Conduct a review of elements of the association's rules and make changes as necessary;
ï¾ Asses fee structures to help sustainably grow the association. In particular, look at simplifying the fee structure; consider a lower flat-fee for builders, or a more simplistic tiered fee; consider a fee-per-pool solution; consider a transparent and regionally based advertising budget; consider membership-driven advertising expenditure; and explore ways that the association can rely predominantly on membership fees as the primary source of income;
ï¾ Review membership criteria for builders and explore the merits (or lack thereof) of loosening the criteria for builder membership; and identify ways to make membership more relevant to non-traditional areas such as pool shops, retailers and pool safety inspectors.
The committee also reported on the situation with the discrepancies in the Watertight warranty fund, making several important points:
ï¾ The committee clearly established that the Watertight Fund is able to fulfil anticipated claims, and equity in SPASA Queensland's headquarters building in the Brisbane suburb of Newstead assures beneficiaries of the fund of its ability to do so;
ï¾ The fund was entitled to invest monies, but not to make grants. Grants were made, and based on advice received these may not have been permitted under the trust's rules. The grants were provided from the fund to support the operations of NSPI;
ï¾ The committee recommends the management committee require regular and transparent updates of the trust fund's financials so that the management committee and members can be formally and completely aware of state of the Watertight Fund;
ï¾ The committee recommends the management committee review the current process for determining the administration and management fees and the expenses incurred by the Watertight Fund, assess if they are appropriate and fair and to minimise the fund's expense-to-income ratio if there is opportunity to do so; while maintaining appropriately high standards of service to the fund's beneficiaries;
ï¾ SPASA Queensland had been living beyond its means because of the lower revenues, due to the industry downturn. Since late last year the incoming CEO has been mindful of reducing costs and where possible increasing revenues, and the committee recommends that efforts be continued to firstly slash costs and secondly explore opportunities for growth in a very real way;
ï¾ That investigations so far have not f
danicaV@spasa.com.au
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