Boardroom news

So Whats the Deal?
At the AGM in Mackay in 2008 a representative of each state KSA came together to form a new federal structure of administration for the AKSA. A new constitution is being developed which will describe a three tier affiliation of Australian kiting organisations. AKSA - the national head will provide a single unified body to a attend to those matters the states see best suited to a single national administration. AKSA will be a board made up of 1 nominated representative from each state KSA. Each KSA shall then in turn provide support and unity to local beach and regional groups of kiters - the kite clubs or beach user groups.
This was a vision of our founding fathers way back when - perhaps you could say we have come of age? But still with a long way to go!
The point of all that detail here is that the new website will be a reflection of this 3 tiered federal structure. AKSA now 'owns' the new central core site which will carry, as its major functionality, a central data base system or CRM. This CRM will be the central record storage for every new registration which comes in through an online registration format which will be common to all state sites. Each state will be given a skeleton site which is directly linked to the central AKSA core site. Each state can take their site and do with it what ever they wish. Each site can look and feel as different or similar to the AKSA site as each state web developer wants to make it but they will all share the common online registration form (but even this can be 'skinned' to match each different sites look).
States will then also be able to offer local and regional clubs similar base sites which will 'plug-in' under their state site.
SO WHY BOTHER?
The most critical and important benefit will be savings in membership management. This has been a huge,cumbersome and costly task for AKSA and all states for the initial 9 years of AKSAs existence. With the new site AKSA will have every members details recorded from the minute they sign up. States will have all details of all their own members at that exact same moment. The information can be maintained within the state or shared with others by simply allowing or barring access to your own database. For events and comps this will be a tremendous benefit. State confidentiality can be maintained even with shared access as the access can be limited to whatever fields are required for the comp or event entry. An administration free record of the entire national database of kiters - awesome.
But the benefits go way beyond the CRM.
By having 7 sites all running off the one Dot Net Nuke platform we will have a set of 7 webteams all talking the same language. The development potential then becomes enormous as they each develop their own sites whilst sharing skills and knowledge between each other. 
If one webteam falls apart or is missing for a time then we have 6 teams right there on hand to help out if things need attending to. (And dont we all know how much the panic can set in when our web crew disappear to Bali for a month!)
The webteams will not only be sharing ideas but they will also be sharing software. Once one team decides they want a new 'goodie' that piece of software is automatically loaded onto the central site for all to use - IF they want to.  
Hosting will be done at one place - one cost. Another huge cost saving but it also simplifies content exchange.
Content exchange will involve just a few clicks of the mouse (well almost). With shared approval and access our webbies will be able to cut & paste content between sites with ease. State stuff can stay state based; stuff of wider interest can go direct to other state sites or to the national AKSA site or both.
Take up of the Concept?
At the time of writing this article WAKSA is just hours away from launching its own new DNN site. All WA registrations for 2009/10 will be directly through he AKSA CRM system. We can all thank Stephen Baldry & Brad Wright (the WA web team) for the central AKSA & now WAKSA sites.
SA, with webmaster Terry Langford, & Tassie's Sam Morgan (both DNN skilled) will soon follow suit with a new linked sites for their states. 
SEQKA is dead keen to upgrade asap & pleased about all the advantages the group of teams will make to their web development. But I think they may still looking for a DNN skilled webbie? 
NSW is committed for this year to a membership system on their already awesome site but will be coming across with all of that amazing content for season 2010/11. 
KBV are still undecided.    

There is lots more to tell - plus I would like to have someone a bit more IT savvy edit this story before its up on the site too long. Im sure all the IT gurus are having a good old chuckle at my interpretation. But here it is for now anyhow - a sort of laymans introductory overview.   
Like the website itself you should check back here later for translations, improvements and additions.

The AKSA board held its first AGM since the inception of the 1 state 1 rep model in Perth on the 20th Sept. 
There will be a variety of reports published on the site as they become available for publication. In the meantime here is the result of the polling for c'tee positions. As we have temporarily reverted to the model rules we needed to elect 4 exec positions and 3 general c'tee positions despite our ongoing commitment to run as a federal board of stste representatives.
President - Paul Harrower SEQKA unanimous
Vice President - Terry Langford SAKSA unanimous
Treasurer - Gavin Stevenson NSWKBA unanimous
Secretary - Phil Morrow WAKSA unopposed
General c'tee - Sam Morgan TKSA
General c'tee - Alex Bell 
General c'tee - Dale Stanton

All tabled documents will be posted in the appropriate places as soon as possible along with numerous reports from officers of the 2008/09 board.

Whilst we still need to finalise the fine print of a new affiliation agreement between the state KSA's & AKSA all states have now signed off on draft and agreed to finalise the document by majority approval of any final draft variations.
This means that AKSA's determination to operate for its second year as a cooperative  1-state-1-rep board can continue while we work through the required changes to have this structure officially ratified.
The AKSA reform which began at Mackay last July is rock solid. Members can be totally reassured that; being a group of reps from your own state KSAs; the AKSA can be nothing but wholly transparent; open to constant scrutiny and have nothing but the interests of state associations & local kiters built into its very structure. 
AKSA is now what it was always intended to be - the states c'tees working together for their own good, for the good of each other and to provide this great sport with a national identity. By joining your state KSA you are not only looking after yourself but also your sport at local, state and national level.

Click the logo of your state KSA to find out how to join - do it now!

At Mackay in 2008 the inaugural board of state reps elected to maintain the status quo of fund division for one year while we collectively assessed the needs at both national and state levels. So 2008/09 was set to remain with to $30 to AKSA $35 to States.  During the course of the year two rebates were mutually agreed on and applied such that at the end of the season AKSA was effectively funded with a total of $24.50 per member leaving $40.50 with the states.

At the series of meetings around the AGM in Perth this was one issue which was discussed.  It was agreed that for 2009/10 the official split should be set at the new level of $25 to AKSA $40 to states. This has been passed and is now policy.  The board will continue to refine all of these issues as the state reps redefine the whole AKSA/State relationship.

Members should be completely reassured that this is one issue which is clearly indicative of the total transparency and collective good which is a natural result of having a federal coalition working towards the best outcomes being achieved at all levels. It was a very satisfying move to have this funding policy adopted among our first decisions for the 2009/10 year.

A recent post on the Seabreeze forum has raised this topic among kiters. At the risk of facing criticism the board would like to advise kiters that at this point in time AKSA has not registered affiliation with any of the claimant international organisations. We receive regular notices and advice from both sides which we monitor & discuss from time to time but until we are convinced that there is clear evidence that we should support one body against the other we have chosen not to act.

It is of vital importance that Australian Kitesurfing is aligned internationally with the go ahead body which will be responsible for the progression of the sport on a united front. Many of the current issues on the boardroom table at AKSA are issues which may well dissolve on a national level once an international body is legitimised and accepted worldwide. To give just one example - judging criteria for the different disciplines. Pointless AKSA working away at developing our own national standard when others; with a much broader base of experience; are working on internationally accepted rules which we would certainly look to adopt as soon as they are made official.

We would welcome input from any source which could add to the body of information the board has available from which we can make a decision.

Results of the 2010 AKSA Australian National Freestyle Championships held at St Kilda beach, Melbourne, Feb 11 to 13, 2010.

Men
1. Andy Yates (Caloundra)
2. Keahi De Aboitz (Noosa)
3. Ewan Jaspan (St Kilda)
(Note: Keahi and Ewan get a "wild card" into the PKRA World Tour comp to be held in Gold Coast in December as Andy is already competing as the world's No 5)