Thank you to all members who took part in the Annual General Meeting for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras via Zoom on Saturday.

The Annual Report and Financial Report were presented to members and accepted. The 2020 Annual Report is available to read here.

The meeting gave thanks to Treasurer Christopher Brooke, who is stepping down.

ELECTION FOR BOARD

We are announcing the first three elected directors who passed quota on the first count. They are:

Mel Schwerdt

Jesse Matheson

Alex Bouchet

Due to the complexities of distribution within our rules, manual work was required to verify the fourth position. Scrutineers met to verify this result.

Rob Smith was also elected after final surplus and preference distributions.

Previous Board members continuing their two-year term are: Kate Wickett, Giovanni Campolo-Arcidiaco, Charlie Murphy and Louis Hudson.

RESOLUTIONS

Eight Special Resolutions and nine Ordinary Resolutions were validly received by Members for consideration. Only the following Resolution(s) were passed by an online vote of members during the AGM. They are:

1a:“That the persons contained in the attached document titled ’78ers for Lifetime Membership at the 2020 Annual General Meeting’ be granted lifetime membership in the Company, noting that upon approval of the Members that these persons shall be entered on the Register as lifetime members and shall not be required to pay membership fees in accordance with the Company’s constitution.”

1b. “That Mardi Gras’ 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Teresa Leggett be granted lifetime membership in the Company, noting that upon approval of the Members that she shall be entered on the Register as lifetime members and shall not be required to pay membership fees in accordance with the Company’s constitution.” (Read more about Teresa Leggett here).

No other Special Resolutions or Ordinary Resolutions were passed.

Thank you to everyone who entered motions, stood for a position on the Board, advanced proxies, voted online, and sent us your views. Your voices have been heard and your opinions matter greatly to us as we continue to advance an inclusive, diverse and sustainable Mardi Gras festival.

Charmaine Belfanti
Company Secretary
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Ltd & Mardi Gras Arts Ltd