Announcement: Formation of the Australian Van Nationals Board

**Rusty62TransAm** Thu 17 Aug 2017, 1:26 pm

Australian Van Nationals Board

Letter from Cliff Parfiitt:

To my fellow Vanning brothers, thank you all for agreeing to become part of the Australian Van Nationals Board, we were all selected by Vanners and Van Owners from around Australia, whether from Van Council, Van Club or Independent Vanners randomly contacted by phone and the electronic media to identify those vanners amongst us that best fit the following criteria.

Since the formation of the Australian Street Van Association and the various State based chapters, where a single member of each State based chapter would agree to the venue for the next Australian Van Nationals, through to the formation of the Van Council of Victoria, being renamed from the ASVA State Chapter for Victoria, arguments have occurred on who makes the decision as to the location of the Australian Van Nationals which has lead to animosity and argument between Vanners, Van Clubs and the individual States.

The formation of the Australian Van Nationals Board, is loosely based around the system used in the United States of America and will eliminate the misunderstanding about who makes the final decision placing the decision in the hands of those vanners who have been there and done that over a long period of time and have therefore gained the highest respect from their peers.

Members of the Australian Van Nationals Board shall be:
a. Long standing, well respected, unbiased, committed and open minded vanners, who would provide support to anyone wanting to undertake the running of the Australian Van Nationals, in the form of guidance, suggestions and providing comments,
b. The board would maintain the integrity of the Australian Van Nationals, receive and consider all applications to hold the event and decide, based on merit, the winning application,
c. The board is not there to run the Australian Van Nationals, nor to be the judges, controllers or make decisions during the event, except where the good name of the Australian Van Nationals is called into question,
d. As the board members are spread across Australia they will become the first contact for vanners in their respective area’s who want to hold the Australian Van Nationals, and
e. As the electronic media is likely to be the venue for meetings and discussions, there would be no need to formalise positions, such as President, Secretary or Treasurer, so no ego trip in becoming a board member.

The list of permanent board members is capped at nine (9) thus eliminating a tied vote and the need for a casting vote if an even numbered board was in place. Further discussion by the permanent board members will take place from time to time for many reasons including but not limited to adjusting the board membership if a board member is deceased or wishes to resign and to also coopt further vanners onto the board to assist the board members.

Based on the above criteria the following group of dedicated vanners, were identified and have agreed to become the initial Permanent Members of the Australian Van Nationals Board, selected by many as the most respected, dedicated and un biased old heads that vanning has in Australia. Being a permanent member is by way of saying Thank You for always being there and includes, some that have organised previous Australian Van Nationals, State and Van Club events, Some have also built memorable and show winning vans, some have a high degree of organisational skills and there are those who have been instrumental in obtaining sponsorship for many events.

The Permanent Members of the Australian Van Nationals Board, chosen by the Australian Vanners are; in no particular order:
a. Peter Fressard,
b. Russell Smith (Rusty),
c. Russell Slocombe,
d. Ken Kinear,
e. Haydn Rowley,
f. Phil Lister,
g. Doug Davis,
h. Matt Harris, and
i. Cliff Parfitt.

The Australian Van Nationals Board is not nor ever will be the governing body of the Australian Vanners as the ASVA tried to be in the late 1970’s. The responsibility of the Australian Van Nationals Board is only to:
a. Receive all proposals for future Australian Van Nationals, whether there is a single or multiple bid.
b. Evaluate the proposal or proposals, and
c. Notify, in writing, the board’s decision.

**panoz78** Thu 17 Aug 2017, 8:56 pm

Well done Rusty cheers

By the sounds of it ,it should work out well and stop a lot of BULLSHIrT happening.
Not like the days when the New South Wales Van Council was formed.
The idea was good in theory but unfortunately not in reality..

**HQVAN** Thu 17 Aug 2017, 9:51 pm

A fresh vision for the organisation of the Australian Van Nationals has been long overdue.

And it is promising to see the path that has been taken.

Congratulations Rusty on your appointment to the board, a well deserved show of respect for what we know you bring to our club, which you can now share with the wider vanning community.

A positive step in the right direction. Cool