As the President of a Surf Life Saving Club, you hold a vital leadership role in shaping the culture, operations, and strategic direction of your association. As both a leader and a representative, the President is responsible for supporting and directing volunteer and paid staff, driving positive decision making for the long-term benefit of the association, and ensuring smooth and successful operations. All the responsibilities talked about below are parts of the association that need to run effectively & need to be maintained from a president’s perspective.
Some aspects of the President’s role will cover the following areas; however, this is not an exhaustive list of what you need to be familiar with.
Leadership
As the figurehead of the club, you set the tone for the culture and direction:
- Lead with integrity and ensure decisions reflect the club’s best interests.
- Inspire and motivate members, volunteers, and stakeholders.
- Promote a culture of inclusion, respect, and teamwork.
- Act as a mentor and support system for committee members and club leaders.
- Mediate conflicts or disputes, ensuring fair and consistent resolutions.
Governance, Compliance and Strategic Oversight
As President, ensuring the club operates in compliance with its constitution, policies, and external regulations.
- Ensure the club complies with its constitution, internal policies, and external regulations.
- Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the club’s strategic direction.
- Oversee adherence to SLSA, SLSQ, Branch, and Club policies and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain a transparent and best-practice governance framework across all club operations.
- Work with the Board and Council to make informed decisions, based on sound governance documentation.
- Monitor financial health and approve key expenditures in partnership with the Treasurer/Director of Finance and committee.
Governance Foundations:
- Club Constitution: Provides the legal framework for how the club operates. Familiarize yourself with membership rules, meeting procedures, and voting protocols.
- Bylaws: Outline operational procedures, including patrols, memberships, and events.
- SLSA, SLSQ, Branch and Club Policies: ensure that you have access to review and make effective decisions with your Board and Council.
SLSA Polices are found in the Members Portal or on their website. SLSQ Policies can be found on the Members Hub.
Representation
The President is the public face of the club, representing it to stakeholders, the community, and governing bodies.
- Represent the club at local, regional and state meetings or events.
- Engage with sponsors partners & SLSQ to strengthen relationships and secure funding.
- Act as the primary spokesperson for the club, including handling media and public relations.
- Engage with the community to highlight the club’s achievements and events.
Media Management
- Respond promptly to media inquiries. Either through the media officer or with support from SLSLQ (Pending on the media) and provide clear messaging about the club’s initiatives and values.
Succession Planning and Development
Succession planning is a critical process for ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of your club. It is not just about identifying potential leaders; it’s about preparing them to take on key roles when needed.
- Identify and mentor potential future leaders within the club.
- Support professional development opportunities for committee members.
- Ensure a smooth handover process for incoming Presidents and committee members.
Further information on succession planning can be found in the SLSQ Governance Manual – Succession Planning.
Conflict Resolution
Disputes between members are not uncommon, particularly in volunteer organisations where people with different backgrounds, communication styles, and expectations come together. While some level of disagreement is natural, how we respond to and resolve these disputes is critical to maintaining a healthy and united club environment.
Why Resolving Locally Matters
- Clubs know their members best: Local context, relationships, and history are important when resolving conflict — clubs are best placed to understand these dynamics.
- Faster and less formal: Early intervention at club level often allows for quicker and less stressful outcomes without needing formal complaint processes.
- Promotes accountability and communication: Encouraging members to work through issues respectfully helps build emotional intelligence, respect, and trust.
- Prevents unnecessary escalation: Not every disagreement is a breach of policy — many are personal conflicts that can be resolved through dialogue.
More information and tips and tricks, please see Conflict Resolution – SLSQ Administration Operations Manual
For more information on this, please check out: Complaints and Grievances – SLSQ Administration Operations Manual
Member and Volunteer Engagement
Member and volunteer engagement is the lifeblood of any successful club. Engaged members and volunteers are more likely to contribute their time, skills, and resources, helping to sustain the club’s operations and foster a sense of community.
Ways to ensure you keep your members engaged include, but aren’t limited too:
- Keep Members Informed: Regular updates via newsletters, social media, or meetings.
- Be Transparent: Share the club’s goals, achievements, and challenges openly.
- Foster Inclusivity: Celebrate diversity and ensure all members feel valued.
- Skill Development: Provide workshops or opportunities to gain new skills.
- Host Events: Organize regular social, networking, or family-friendly events
- Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge long-term members or achievements in newsletters or at events.
Financial Information
The Club President plays a crucial role in financial management, even though the Treasurer/ Director of Finance is typically responsible for the day-to-day financial operations. The President, along with their Boards, Involvement ensures that the club’s financial activities align with its mission, strategic goals, and governance practices. Here’s an outline of the Club President’s role in financial management.
Some key items that the President will be involved in and advocate for is
- Review the approved annual budget to understand income streams (e.g., memberships, grants, fundraising) and expenses (e.g., patrol equipment, Surf Sports equipment, facility maintenance).
- Ensure monthly and annual financial reports are transparent and accurate.
- Work closely with the Treasurer to monitor the club’s financial health.
- Familiarise yourself with key funding avenues, including sponsorships, government grants, and community donations.
- Proactively seek passive income initiatives to reduce fundraising burdens.
- Approve significant expenditure and ensure all financial activities adhere to the club’s financial policies.
Further information on financial Management can be found Financial Management – SLSQ Governance Manual
+Minutes – President Responsibility +
Once the minutes have been completed, they are to be sent to the Chair (Club President) for approval. It is essential that the Chair of the meeting checks all information ensuring that it is correct as once the minutes are distributed, they become legal documents, and the Board/Council is accountable to them.
Minutes – SLSQ Governance Manual
Effective Meetings
The Club President serves as the chair of Board meetings and other meetings as per your constitution or regulations because their leadership, strategic oversight, and accountability are essential to the effective governance of the club. Acting as chair allows you to guide discussions, ensure decisions align with the club’s mission, and maintain a collaborative and respectful environment that supports the club’s success.
Here are the key reasons why the Club President is the natural choice to chair meetings:
- Entrusted with overseeing all aspects of its operations, including meetings.
- Set the tone, promote a culture of respect, and ensure discussions are constructive and aligned with the club’s values.
- Involved in overseeing decision-making processes and maintaining transparency and accountability.
- Discussions remain focused on achieving the club’s mission and strategic objectives.
- Expected to act as an impartial facilitator, ensuring all members have an opportunity to contribute.
- Manage discussions fairly, maintain order, and prevent any one voice from dominating.
- Responsible for managing conflicts, fostering constructive dialogue, and ensuring a resolution is reached amicably.
- Work with the secretary to ensure meetings are well-organised and time-efficient to avoid unnecessary delays and keep the club moving forward.
Further information can be found Meetings – SLSQ Governance Manual
Child Safety
As Club President, you hold a key leadership role in driving a child-safe culture within your Club. The implementation of Child Safety Standards is not just a regulatory requirement; it is a vital responsibility in ensuring Surf Life Saving is a trusted and protective environment for all young members.
There are a variety of documents outlined on the SLSQ child safety website.
Strategic Documents
The club’s strategic documents ensure alignment with SLSQ’s broader objectives while addressing local needs. A club strategic plan should:
- Long-term objectives that focus on member growth, community impact, and financial sustainability.
- Example priorities might include increasing patrol effectiveness, enhancing youth development programs, or maintaining and improving club facilities.
An association’s annual business plan should:
- Be a detailed roadmap for achieving short-term goals, with key activities, timelines, performance indicators and budgets
More information on how to create strategic and business plans can be found Business V Strategic Plan – SLSQ Governance Manual
Tip: Collaborate with other clubs to address shared goals, such as beach safety awareness, Surf Sports training or regional fundraising campaigns
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