SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
At a Special General Meeting on December 19 at City West Lotteries House, the standing Pride committee released unaudited financial figures revealing losses of $36,291.24 for 2007 and discussed with the approximately 40 members in attendance the future of Pride in the face of the loss.
THE FIGURES
Up until December 19, Pride’s figures were as follows. Total income for 2007 was $184,511.78 and Pride’s total expenses were $236,267.45. Pride’s net loss was $51,755.67. Pride began the year with retained earnings of $15,464.43, of which $7,000 were specifically earmarked for the women’s health forum. As of December 19, Pride held assets valued at $11,635.25 and had liabilities of $47,926.49. The standing debt announced December 19th was therefore $36,291.24, a figure that did not reflect the future monthly payments owed for insurance and the monthly administrative costs owed to CASM.
Pride also broke down its profit/loss for major events and membership:
- Women’s Sundowners: $9,818.34
- Fairday: -$22,128.76
- Festival Events: -$3,487.28
- Pride Parade: -$2,562.03
- Pride Party: -$26,176.49
- Quiz Night: $3,423.97
- XES: $3,631.90
- Pride Professionals Sundowner: $303.18
- Memberships: $9,048.18
Total money lost on events this year was put at $28,128.99, which combined with administration costs of $23,626.68 made up the whole of Pride’s reported loss of $51,755.67 this year.
MAJOR CONCERNS
After breaking down its financial situation, the SGM was opened to questions from those in attendance. Topics raised in the financial discussion included: rising Fairday costs, print advertising expenditures, the administrative role of CASM and the decision to host a warehouse-style Pride Party.
Fairday costs were attributed to stricter, and more rigorous adherence to, licensing requirements that required a 1:100 ratio for the maximum capacity of the licensed area as well as the need for fencing to separate the licensed portion of the grounds from the unlicensed area.
Print media expenses this year were $19,603.37 and included ads taken in OUTinPerth, AX, LOTL, Women Out West, and Xpress. The figure represented one of the largest expense categories this year. In last four years, according to annual reports, Pride’s print advertising expenditure has ranged from $41,128.41 (2004) to $12,214.00 (2006).
The Pride committee attributed its decision to hold the warehouse party in Pride month to ‘general interest’ expressed by the community. Some members at the SGM criticized Pride for failing to make the decision based on concrete research, while others praised Pride for taking initiative and trying something new.
RESOLUTION TO CLOSE PRIDE PROPOSED
Over the course of the meeting, members debated Pride’s role as well as what exactly the community Pride serves is, which events are most important to that community and if that community still wants Pride. Towards the end of the meeting, the discussion turned to what should be done about the standing debt. Some in attendance questioned Pride’s ability to erase its debt and the future role of Pride in the community. Others expressed concern about the damage to the reputation of Pride and Perth’s queer community if Pride was to close without paying its debts.
A resolution was moved by 2003-2005 Pride Male Co-President Daniel Smith and seconded by 2006 Pride Male Co-President John Gangell. According to the minutes from the meeting, the resolution was as follows:
1) That the committee convene a SGM for Sun 17th February 2007 and include a special resolution in there to wind the organisation up, 2) that a subcommittee be formed to enter into discussions with other LGBTI organisations in Australia to discuss the best way to stage Fairday and the parade and other Pride events into the future and 3) that subcommittees be formed as appropriate to investigate organisational structure, sponsorship, fundraising and membership initiatives, and 4) that all of these subcommittees report back at the SGM, and 5) that the committee seek to negotiate with Pride’s creditors to reduce amounts owing and report back on the success of these negotiations at the SGM.’
AFTER THE SGM
SUCCESSFUL DECEMBER FUNDRAISER
Pride held a fundraiser at the Court Hotel on December 29th. At the fundraiser, Pride raised $2,141, including $1,100 from pledges. One member of the community who wished to remain anonymous pledged $1000 to the group, saying
‘I believe the Pride Festival is the most important gay community event in Perth. Without it our community would be far less of a community, especially for our younger members. People often forget when they happily come to things like Fairday that it does cost lots of money to run and all the people working on Pride are volunteers who are paid nothing for their time. I wish I had $35,000 spare to donate because I would have paid the lot. It is my hope that other people within the community will personally pledge money to save such an important community event,’ the community member told OUTinPerth.
The individual continued to say, ‘What if we did not have a Pride Festival next year? Whose fault would it be? It would be ours, the whole gay community, for not acting as a community to help save our most important social event in its hour of need. I hope my personal pledge will encourage others within the gay community and their friends to make more personal pledges.’
PLANS FOR RECOVERY
On January 12, Pride Treasurer Iosefa Tapusoa sent an email to Pride members outlining a recovery and restructuring plan for Pride.
‘Given the limited committee members as well as skill and experience, it is imperative to involve key members as well as members of the wider community, with the experience and skill necessary to both deal with the existing debt.’
The plan went on to call for the community to ‘re-structure, re-focus and re-energise Pride WA to realize and fulfil on its new vision and create a solid structural foundation to move forward into the future.’
Mr. Tapusoa then set out 5 ‘project streams’ for Pride’s recovery: managing existing debt, vision/strategic direction/constitution, organisational restructure, pride events, and funding/sponsorship.
His plan concluded with a call for members to aid with a membership drive on Tuesday, January 15. Those interested in participating in the membership drive or more generally in volunteering with Pride can contact Iosefa Tapusoa on 0418 958 400.
Though February 17th was suggested on December 19th for the next Pride Special General Meeting, the final date is yet to be determined, but the meeting is expected to be in February.
For OUTinPerth’s article, Where to from here for Pride?, click here.
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Correction: Although implied within the article “Is this the end for Pride WA” the outcome of the vote take at the SGM on December 19th was not explicitly stated and Out In Perth would therefore like to clarify that the SGM motion was passed with 3 abstentions and no dissent.
Disclaimer: Megan Smith, Editor Zoe Carter, and Publisher Alex Maltby are Pride members and were present at the SGM. All abstained from voting on the grounds of conflict of interest.
