AGM's can spark genuine changes

AS the playing season is quicklycoming to an end, theattention of clubs and counties turns to that great gathering called the Annual General Meeting.

Many see these gatherings as routine events but some turn out to be very significant. One of the most important decisions taken at these meetings is the forwarding of motions to Annual Congress.

If clubs or counties had a problem with a rule or the interpretation of one during the year, this is their chance to change things by forwarding a motion to annual congress.

For instance, one of the greatest controversies this year was the decision to penalise Clare for a puck-out infringement, which may well have cost them their first Munster U-21HC title.

Much of the wrath descended on the umpire and referee on duty on the night but they didn’t write the rule that awards a free puck to the opposition for such a tiny technical offence. It would make more sense if the penalty were a throw-in from the 21-yard line or some other less draconian measure.

A motion to Congress could sort it out quickly.

We had the drugs testing issue lately and it’s only this week that Aidan O’Mahony’s case is being heard. As Kerry chairman Jerome Conway, said: “At least it will be disposed of before Christmas.” But is there a better way? Are there lessons to be learnt from this? Any member could, through his or her club, put forward a motion that could have significant impact on this area for the better.

Members tend not to utilise this once-a-year opportunity to use democracy in a most telling way. Otherwise, all the motions will be coming from the top down, rather than from the bottom up.

Some of the most decisive changes in the GAA have come because people exercised their democratic right to forward motions to Annual Congress. For many years Tom Woulfe was formulating motions advocating the removal of the “ban” on foreign games. It happened in 1971. It was a bottom-up approach.

If we were waiting for a top-down motion for the opening of Croke Park, the gates would still be firmly locked.

Yes, the clubs and the grass roots have exercised real power and have instigated major change in the Association. Maybe your club could be the catalyst to major change as well.