Co-Convenor's Report

Secretary's Report

Campaigns Reports

Events and Fundraising Report

Treasurer's Report

Summary of Achievements

Thank you

ANNUAL REPORT 2001-2002

Secretary's Report

This year the Lobby further improved upon its administrative arrangements and business operations, including its computer and website information and resources.

Administration

The decision in 1999/2000 to employ Tim Moyes continues to ensure the smooth operation of the Lobby's office administration. Tim's employment has allowed us to continue:
· Responding to member enquiries.
· Dealing with day-to-day business and communications of the Lobby.
· Maintaining volunteer and member databases and other information resources.
This year it has also been decided that Tim's role will be expanded to include day-to-day data entry for the financial and accounting records of the Lobby. This is seen as ensuring greater continuity from year to year in respect of the Lobby's financial management.

Information and Resources

During the year the Lobby commenced the redevelopment and redesign of our website. Although the website had been upgraded in the previous year, it is hoped that a snappy new design for our website will increase our visibility further.
Our thanks to Jason Cupitt for his continued hard work in redesigning and maintaining the website, along with Shane Garland, our Committee member who has undertaken much of the artwork.

Important new additions to our website include the acclaimed 'Meet the Parents' report written by Jenni Millbank and the 'Age of Consent and Gay Men in NSW', a report prepared by Richard Roberts and Peter Maplestone of the University of NSW for the Lobby.

Our continuing thanks go to Kathy Sant, Jenny Mann and Nikki Maloney for the production of Lobby newsletters, as well as other Committee members who have renewed factsheets throughout the year.

Visibility

This year the Lobby continued to get considerable media coverage, making its voice heard on a weekly basis in the Sydney Star Observer and, a first for this year, in 'The Australian'.
The Lobby's most recent campaign is a series of postcards and posters entitled 'DISCRMN 8', 'CRMNL 16' and 'INVISBL'. These postcards and posters done in a number plate theme of 'NSW - The Last State' have been making some waves in the Premier's office and have received a great deal of positive comment from the community.

Membership

After a slow year last year in terms of membership growth, our membership levels went into decline this year. (Membership levels now stand at 136 compared with 220 at the same time last year.) This prompted a membership drive by the Committee, which has seen 25 new members join in the last 4 months and 46 renewals. To encourage renewals, it was resolved that members joining after April 2002 would not need to renew for the 2002/2003 year.

However, membership levels remain lower than desirable and the new Committee will need to redouble efforts to encourage renewals and increase our new memberships.

Meetings

Committee meetings were held each month and a strategic planning session was held in January 2002 to prioritise the issues upon which to proceed.

It was decided to bring the AGM forward this year in order to enable the new Committee longer time to settle in prior to the usual Mardi Gras festivities in February and March of 2003, to enable preparation for the State election in March 2003 and to allow the Committee to settle in prior to the Gay Games in November. The Committee considered that an AGM soon after the end of the financial year is a preferred option for the future.

Committee attendances are reported as follows:

Alex Sosnov 7/8
Andrew Pickles 6/8
Anthony Powell 8/8
Anthony Schembri 7/8
Gillian Mahony 5/8
Grant Colquhoun 4/8 a
Jenny Mann 6/8
Jenni Millbank 4/5 b
Kathy Sant 6/8
Luke Gahan 8/8
Nadine Lutherburrow (Lex) 1/3 c
Naomi Sharp 1/3 d
Nikki Maloney 7/8
Shane Garland 8/8
Suzy Tay 6/8

a Grant Colquhoun was unable to access the premises for 2 meetings despite best endeavours!
b Jenni Millbank given leave of absence for 3 meetings
c Lex resigned in April 2002
d Naomi Sharp resigned in April 2002

Andrew Pickles
Secretary