KNYSNA NEWS - In last week's issue of the Knysna-Plett Herald it was reported that the AGM of Knysna & Partners (K&P) held on Thursday, February 16 was adjourned to Thursday, February 23 because there were not enough attendees present to fulfil a quorum.
During the second AGM, held at Villa Castollini, the organisation's achievements and challenges of the past year were highlighted, financial issues were discussed, and the ratification process of newly co-opted board directors was explained, among other matters.
According to acting chairperson of the Knysna tourism board Elmay Bouwer, the AGM also highlighted a theme of "progress and leadership in times of change".
Seventy-nine people attended the AGM, consisting of K&P staff, members, tourism partners, stakeholders and board directors.
Senior auditor from Mazars Auditors, Lorraine van Jaarsveld, highlighted the salient points of the audited financial statements. Questions from the floor were raised with regard to the decline in membership income, whether the events bring in any money in for K&P, high website costs and performance bonuses.
"The reason we are having this AGM only now is that after we reviewed the 2015/2016 financial statements we identified certain areas of grave concern, and we had to have several meetings and get input from a lot of parties on how to address the current decline in financial stability.
We are currently busy looking at strengthening some of the financial issues, and some of the items that came from this introspection was a decline in membership income, as well as the uncertainty around the municipal funding," explained Bouwer in her board report.
- To address the current decline in financial stability, overhead expenses will be reduced by more than 25%.
- No new staff appointments will be made.
- The board will be looking at where they can save costs by taking services in-house.
- The board is also hard at work identifying more revenue streams.
- Independent company secretary of K&P Maggie Zeelie then took members through the ratification process of newly co-opted board directors. They are Clive Bennet, Dave Mcrae, Geoff Brown, Jurgens van der Walt and Albert Lombaard.
"Combined they have tremendous knowledge and skill that K&P requires to become the leader in its field, and they bring immeasurable value to the board. I thank them for their willingness to serve on this board and assure you that they have only the best interests of Knysna at heart," said Bouwer.
Current K&P CEO Greg Vogt presented his report and highlighted the growth areas of the year under review. He also thanked the board and his team for the work done in the 2015/2016 financial year.
Looking to the future of K&P, Bouwer said that a transition committee has been put in place and mandated by the board to evaluate the current status quo of K&P as whole and, in the best interest of Knysna and its members, to come up with a new strategy for the way forward.
"The transition committee is fully mandated by the board to address all aspects of the organisation to ensure the success of this organisation going forward. The reality is that we need to change to ensure that we grow and continue going forward as an organisation with the support of both our members and the municipality, as well as other potential stakeholders," said Bouwer.
Bouwer ended the AGM with a plea to members of K&P and the stakeholders present: "Trust the process, support the process, feel free to call the board and give us your feedback.
We want to move forward positively and ask that you walk this new and exciting road with us in a positive and uplifting manner. K&P having survived all the negativity and bad comments, imagine how it could thrive on positivity and enthusiasm!"
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