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Key points:
• New executive officer, Geoff Adams, started at beginning of the month
• Solar In Schools team did great work to lift BREAZE reputation in district schools
• Election Candidates Environment Forum a success – despite the ‘no-shows’
• BREAZE Inc Committee now called BREAZE Inc Board
Dear BREAZE members,
August was a big month in Australia, and a big month at BREAZE! While the country worked out who would be running the show, BREAZE continued to operate with clarity as Geoff Adams started as our new Executive Officer at the beginning of August. His ‘hand over’ from Lisa is now complete and we look forward to benefitting from Geoff’s strengths and passions as he begins to lead the organisation through its next exciting stage. If you are in the BREAZE office, or attending a BREAZE event, please take the time to introduce yourself to Geoff and welcome him into the role.
While talking of staff, I’d like to recognise the huge amount of work Nick Lanyon, Simon Reid and Meredith Alexander have put into preparing and supporting schools develop their Solar In Schools submissions over the last six months. The current round of submissions went in on Election-eve. A series of last-minute rule changes and goal-post shifts from the Feds meant many late nights and extra phone calls and emails to ensure that schools complied with requirements. Regardless of how many submissions are ultimately funded, I am sure that the work undertaken by Nick, Simon and Merry has resulted in schools regarding BREAZE as the Number One source for accurate and caring advice in all things sustainable. This will reap benefits for BREAZE for years to come and the Committee are unanimous and wholehearted in thanking the team for efforts far above and beyond the call of duty.
After a forgettable campaign, we had a memorable election outcome and one that is still being worked through. I remain hopeful that the current situation might yet work out in the country’s best interests. During the election campaign, BREAZE joined with the Ballarat Environment Network (BEN) to host a candidate’s forum focussing on environmental issues. I would like to thank Catherine King (ALP) and Belinda Coates (Greens) for attending, responding to set questions and then taking questions from the floor. It was an engaging and valuable discussion. What was disappointing, however, was that the two other candidates chose not to attend, so if you support the Liberal or Family First parties, please let your party connections know that you would have liked to hear their candidate’s views on environment-related issues.
The BREAZE Inc. Committee has decided to change its title to Board, to reflect the more strategic role which it is taking on as the organisation grows. Consumer Affairs Victoria have confirmed that this title change is acceptable, so future references will be to the BREAZE Inc Board, rather than committee, Chairperson rather than President, etc. The Board continues to meet on a monthly basis and has finalised a Board Handbook which is to be considered at the September meeting. New Board induction and recruitment processes are also being put in place, so that we support new members more effectively. As we are able to rely so confidently on our great staff team, we are moving away from the ‘hands-on’ approach that was necessary in the early days and look forward to providing greater strategic direction. Part of this will be to review our performance against BREAZE strategic objectives and determine priorities over the next 6, 12 and 18 month periods.
Warm regards,
Steve (BREAZE President, soon to be Chair!) |
