Governance - LSV Club Support Manual

Governance is the system that controls the way a Club is managed and operates. It outlines the way the Board, Directors, Executives, and other position or office holders are responsible for their actions.

Governance is made up of the following components:

Administration
Risk management
Ethics
Compliance

a) The Importance of Governance

Governance is the method by which an organisation is run, over and above the basic legal obligations. It is made up of five
basic components:

Transparency – be clear and concise with decisions
Accountability – make effective and efficient decisions while being aware of the consequences of these decisions
Stewardship – being aware that the club is run for the members and stakeholders
Integrity – maintain a culture of ethical behaviour and compliance with the law
Clear policies – ensure that there are clear and concise policies in place for the management of the club members and stakeholders

All clubs must ensure that they operate with best practise in all facets of the club’s operation.

Examples of good governance responsibilities include:

Conduct long-term planning such as strategic and business planning
Develop policies and procedures to assist with decision making and actions to be adhered to
Manage external relationships including council, local government, and sponsors
Ensure all financial and legal matters are properly managed
Assess risks facing the club and monitor compliance of the risk management plan
Action recommendations from members
Transfer relevant information to members and other appropriate parties
Evaluate the performances of trainers, coaches, officials, employees, Board and Committees and their own position
Ensure that all members of the club act in a responsible manner and reflect the ideals of LSV

Committee positions and duties need to be outlined in the club Constitution, or By-Laws, and via a position description.

Sample position descriptions are being developed and will be included under topic 3.2 Club Committees

b) Governance Induction

The LSV Club Governance Induction is designed for club directors and committee members, this aims to provide an overview of the key knowledge members should know when joining a club’s board or management committee. It highlights some ‘big picture’ aspects, an overview to their responsibilities, and how their clubs fit into the wide community of lifesaving.

It will cover topics including:

Mission, vision, and values
Club’s relationship with LSV
Club governance responsibilities; and
Wrap up.

The inductions can be access through LSV’s Member Training site (the same site members use for their skill maintenance). By using the SLSA member area credentials, LSV members will be able to log into the system and access both inductions, under the ‘Membership & Development’ tab.

Clubs can report on who has completed the Governance Induction via Surfguard

c) Governance Workshops

To help upskill our clubs in the area of Governance, LSV aims to run regular sessions for members and committees. The sessions typically cover key topics including: