MESA Annual General Meeting
& Council Elections 2013

2013- 06-12 MESA AGM 5.00pm EST

Present: Michael Burke Peter Biro Will Jones Andrew Vance Janine Baker Laura Dunstan

Apologies: Christine Preston Richard Wylie

Previous Minutes: Peter Biro put forward a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Michael, put to a unanimous vote as carried. Motion to accept minutes carried. No business arising from previous meeting.

Notice of motions: Peter Biro: Merging with AAEE is acted upon as soon as possible Will raises point that AGM may not be the appropriate time to raise the issue. Michael suggest that he will raise it as part of his President’s report and we can discuss later.

Presidents Report: Despite small numbers, MESA has worked hard to promote Marine education across the nation Seaweek is the key focal point for Marine education in Australia MESA website is highlighted as a valuable resource No longer viable with our current membership and activity involvement Appetite for a significant change within the council Proposal for MESA to amalgamate with AAEE Working party within MESA executive to investigate and develop an amalgamation proposal to be presented to AAEE and MESA council- presentation scheduled for July 2013.

Thanks to: Angela Colliver for her continued support of MESA Web master Peter Biro for his 15 years of continuing service Executive team- Andrew Vance, Christine Preston and Harry Breidahl Acknowledgement of Dr Christine Preston’s fantastic service as secretary and treasurer for MESA.

President’s report accepted by Peter Biro and seconded by Will Jones

Secretary’s / Treasurer’s Report: Emailed to MESA council by Christine, Michael Burke moves to accept the report, seconded by Will Jones

State reports Will- NSW Andrew- Vic SA: Janine- hope that Seaweek will continue to grow in SA, Janine has worked to develop a network of coastal schools to promote MESA and hopes to increase awareness

QLD- Laura’s sea week report emailed: In summary: Celebrate the Sae festival attended by over 500 people, talks by marine scientists and over 1 tonne of marine debris and beach rubbish collected

Web manager’s Report: Close to 1 million visits in the last year The website needed to be shifted to a new server this year. Health difficulties has made it hard for Peter to keep on top of uploads, however he feels that with new steroids Ranking well in Google searches Suggests that the potential AAEE merger should ensure that the MESA webpage is maintained as a separate entity.

Election of Office bearers: Michael Burke nominated as president by Chris Preston, seconded by Andrew Vance. Result: elected. Andrew Vance nominated as Vice President by Michael Burke, seconded by Will Jones. Result: elected Kate Kilgour nominated as Secretary / treasurer – declined. Andrew Vance declined the nomination for secretary / treasurer Will Jones nominated Janine Baker as an interim secretary / treasurer, which was accepted. Janine Baker accepted role as interim Secretary / Treasurer and will discuss further with Christine Preston and Michael Burke.

Andrew Vance nominated Richard Wylie as Victorian state rep, seconded by Michael Burke. Richard contacted to accept- awaiting his acceptance. Janine Baker elected as SA representative Laura Dunstan elected as QLD representative Michael Burke nominated Peter Biro as web manager, accepted by Peter and unanimously carried. No nominations for Tasmania or ACT representatives Call for nomination of general council members made, however no councillors were nominated. Extra general meeting can be held if there is a need for council members to be elected between now and the potential amalgamation with AAEE. Michael nominated Harry Breidahl as public officer and carried by council.