Shakeup for Knysna tourism
The CEO Greg Vogt of Knysna & Partners (Knysna tourism body) has been notified, as per a board resolution passed on Wednesday, February 15, that his contract will end on June 30.
“This is due to the current financial uncertainty, as well as the service level agreement (SLA) with Knysna municipality terminating on June 30, as there are no guarantees of funding and the board cannot commit to renew Vogt’s contract beyond June 30” explains Elmay Bouwer, acting chairperson of the Knysna tourism board.
“Not a single staff member/individual on a full-time contract has been given notice. All staff has been briefed by the board with regard to the status quo of no-guarantee of future funding,” stresses Bouwer, which means that job losses could be on the cards for staff in addition to Vogt’s.
“Due to the current situation the Knysna & Partners board took a resolution not to commit to renewing contracts for staff appointed on a yearly basis, and relevant staff have been informed with regard to this.”
There was a Knysna & Partners AGM last week on February 16, but it has been adjourned to this week because of not enough people being at the AGM to fulfil a quorum.
Owing to this meeting fall through, all Knysna & Partners’ members will be given notice that the AGM that did not happen last week, will therefore take place on Thursday, February 23 at Villa Castollini, 17:30 for 18:00. All members entitled to be present and vote at this meeting (paid-up members) will constitute a quorum.
“Our memorandum of incorporation requires that a quorum be present in order for an AGM to be convened, and a quorum is 65% of all paid-up members. The statutory document further prescribes that, if a meeting is adjourned, another will take place in the following week, on the same day, same time and same venue as the adjourned meeting,” explains Bouwer.
According to Bouwer there are 263 fully paid-up Knysna & Partners members, and the quorum therefore requires 171 paid-up members (not persons) to be present at the last meeting.
This did not happen, but according to the IOU rules, if only five members come to the second meeting it fulfils the required quorum.
Bouwer urges members to attend. “There is very important information to be relayed to our members at the AGM and it is in the best interest of all our members to attend,” says Bouwer. She says that so far there is a lot more response from members, which she is happy about because of the importance of discussing the way forward.
The decision that has been taken not to renew the SLA of Vogt and other Knysna & Partners members will be discussed. But more importantly, she says, will be the discussion on the way forward for tourism in Knysna.
Regarding the ending of the SLA, Bouwer says, “Board members have also been in consultation with full-time staff members and communicated the following to them: the board have no sight or confirmation of funding from the municipality at this stage or any other financial investor.”
While they are trying to secure confirmation of future commitments, they are obliged to inform the staff that they (the board) face this dynamic of no-funding beyond June 30.
“The board has taken a proactive approach to appoint a transition committee with a mandate to come up with a new strategic vision, workable plan and budget for the future, and this will be presented to the municipality – in time.
“The board is in the process of setting up a meeting with the municipal manager to discuss exactly what it is the municipality expects from K&P and what their vision is going forward,” says Bouwer.
She adds that the tourism board has stated that, should another entity need to be formed, the current staff will have the opportunity to apply for vacancies that may arise within such entity.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News