Agenda
- Land acknowledgment
- Call to order
- Approval of minutes from the previous AGM
- Chairโs message
- Financial report
- Awards
- Elections
- Motions, discussion & adjournment
- Voting
Awards
Ward Israelson Sportsmanship Award
This award honours the memory of Ward Israelson, past co-chair in 1992, dedicated VGVA member, and all-around sports enthusiast who suddenly passed away during the 1998โ1999 season. The VGVA Board of Directors selects a recipient who is an all-around player in skill or devotion to sports, especially conduct becoming a sportsman involving honest rivalry and graceful acceptance of results.
The award is announced at the AGM, the recipientโs name is inscribed on a perpetual plaque, the recipient receives a keepsake, and the recipient serves as the custodian of the plaque for one year.
The most recent recipient: Adam Porisky (2021โ2022)
Dr. Sanjay Mohan Ram Lifetime Membership Award
Renamed in 2023 to honour long-time member and director of VGVA Dr. Sanjay Mohan Ram, the Lifetime Membership Award is granted to a dedicated, long-standing member of VGVA who has consistently volunteered and helped in various capacities over the years.
The award is announced at the AGM, the recipientโs name is inscribed on a perpetual plaque, the recipient receives a keepsake, and the recipient serves as the custodian of the plaque for one year.
The most recent recipient: Nelson S. (2022โ2023)
Medals for the top 3 teams in each division
Most Valuable Player
Players vote for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) within their division (Beginner, Intermediate, Competitive 1, Competitive 2, Competitive 3, Competitive 4). The recipient is announced at AGM and they receive an award.
Most Improved Player
In the Beginner division, the director selects the Most Improved Player. The recipient is announced at AGM and receives an award.
Elections
VGVA is a nonprofit membership organization, and its board of directors are responsible for what the organization does, including managing finances, changing bylaws, working honestly toward VGVAโs mission, and abiding by all relevant laws.
Positions up for Election
The following positions are up for election in 2024. Except the Chair, all other positions are one-year terms that follow the fiscal year, June 1โMay 31.
- Chair (two-year term: June 1, 2024โMay 31, 2026)
- Vice Chair
- Secretary
- Director of Recreational Division
- Director of Beginner Division
- Director of Intermediate Division
- Director of Competitive 1 Division
- Director of Competitive 2 Division
- Director of Competitive 3 Division
- Director of Competitive 4 Division
- Member at Large
Any member in good standing is eligible to put forward their name for any position on the Executive to the Elections Committee, but shall do so only for one position on the Executive.
Other positions
Sponsorship Director – this is an elected position with a two-year term. Jaden R. is the incumbent, and his term ends May 31, 2025.
Treasurer – this is an appointed position with a two year term. Johnny W. is the incumbent, and his term ends May 31, 2025.
Social Media Director and Webmaster – there are appointed positions with one-year terms. The incoming board will appoint these positions in the new term.
Nominations
If you would like to nominate yourself for a board position, we recommend that you email the Chair with your explicit interest by April 28.
Bringing Motions at the AGM
As a member of VGVA, you have the opportunity to influence its direction by bringing motions during our Annual General Meeting (AGM). To propose a motion, familiarize yourself with the organization’s bylaws, prepare a concise and relevant proposal, and submit it to the Chair by April 30, 2024. Your motion will undergo review and, if approved, will be included in the AGM agenda for presentation and voting by fellow members. Remember to present your motion clearly and provide rationale to garner support. Successful motions become resolutions, shaping the future actions of our organization.
Motion 2: Ladder System for 2024/2025
I am putting forth a motion to create a ladder system for VGVA instead of our current division format. I am putting forth that the Board has the option to continually explore this as an option f0r 2024/2025 through surveys and trials. Itโs understood that implementing a large change would be difficult and would need to be taken step by step.
Step 1: Survey the league and see what the interest would be.
Step 2: Do a follow up survey in a couple of months.
Step 3: Trial it with two divisions and see the feedback/results
Step 4: Take the learnings and integrate with more divisions.
How it would work: Evaluations would still be held, positions and โdivisionsโ would still be assigned and teams created as normal it has been or allowing people to pick teams as we do for the second half of the season
A ladder system would be created between C2, C3, C4 and then Intermediate 1, 2 and C1, leaving Beginner a standalone as it is meant to train and teach people how to play
Time slots would still stay the same for each โdivision or poolโ but now theres an incentive to play harder, win games if you wanna move up in the ladder or โstay in your preferred division timeโ
Youโre in a pool of 5 teams for a period of 2 weeks and then it can shuffle depending on which teams move up and down and then a new set of teams could potentially be played and so forth.
Adding in a season-end tournament rather than accumulating points would also create more of an incentive to place high in the standings to seed better for the tournament.
Motion 1
I think the land acknowledgement is great for where the association is at with reconciliation at this moment – it’s a very good first step. Next year, VGVA could partner with an Indigenous-led charity and, as part of the land acknowledgement, reaffirm its commitment to meaningful allyship with Indigenous peoples through that fundraising work. Similar to how we plug our sponsors at every practice.
Executive Summary
The motion establishes a DEI & Reconciliation Director position within the Board of Directors of VGVA, tasked with conducting internal analysis and external research to recommend improvements for inclusivity, recruitment strategies, and reconciliation efforts. This director will develop a strategic plan to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within the league, addressing the unique needs of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals (gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit) and Indigenous peoples. Additionally, the Director will review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 87-91 on Sports and Reconciliation, advising the Board on opportunities to reduce barriers for Indigenous participation and provide training for the Board on Indigenous issues, among other initiatives.
Motion
Be it resolved that VGVA hereby establishes the position of DEI & Reconciliation Director within the Board of Directors;
Be it further resolved that the DEI & Reconciliation Director shall be responsible for the following:
- Conducting a comprehensive internal analysis of VGVAโs current policies, practices, and culture to identify areas for improvement in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion;
- Conducting external research to better understand the needs and experiences of marginalized communities, including but not limited to gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit individuals, as well as Indigenous peoples;
- Developing a strategic plan to address the findings of the internal analysis and external research, with a focus on improving inclusivity, accessibility, and representation within VGVA;
- Reviewing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 87-91 on Sports and Reconciliation to identify any relevant recommendations that could be applied within the association, such as reducing barriers for Indigenous folks to participate, providing training for the Board on Indigenous issues, and implementing initiatives to promote reconciliation and understanding within the league and its broader community.
- Collaborating with other members of the Board of Directors, league organizers, and community stakeholders to implement initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within VGVA;
- Regularly monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of DEI initiatives, and making recommendations for adjustments and improvements as needed;
- Creating recruitment and retention strategies for new players are inclusive and welcoming to individuals of all backgrounds, including gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit individuals;
- Facilitating educational workshops, training sessions, and dialogue sessions to promote understanding, empathy, and allyship within VGVA and its wider community;
- Serving as a liaison between VGVA and external organizations, advocacy groups, and resources dedicated to advancing DEI and reconciliation efforts;
Be it further resolved that the DEI & Reconciliation Director shall serve a term of 1 year to measure the effectiveness of this role within the association.