Show Notes
The questions that keep coming in are proof that the situations committees face are remarkably consistent across organisations of all kinds — and that most people are navigating them without much support. In this second Your Questions Answered episode, the Kates work through eight more real questions: from the committee member who won’t stop sharing confidential information, to the manager signing contracts without authority, to the thorny constitutional question that came up at a workshop. Plus: a brand new tool from Fresh Allsorts for committees that need to review or replace their constitution.
Questions Covered in This Episode
- A committee member has been sharing confidential information with members outside the committee. What are the committee’s options?
- The AGM is coming up and there are only enough nominees to fill the committee positions — no contested election at all. Is that a valid AGM?
- The manager has been signing contracts with suppliers without committee approval. The chairperson says he’s seen them and that’s enough. Should the rest of the committee be concerned?
- A committee member was elected at the last AGM through a disputed nomination process. He hardly ever turns up and contributes nothing. What can the committee do?
- If a vote of no confidence in a committee is carried, do the committee members have to resign?
- The paid manager wants committee members to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Can they refuse?
- What happens if members want to amend a proposed new constitution at the AGM — when the amendment wasn’t included in the notice of motion?
- How do I decide whether to join a committee I’ve been asked to consider?
Also in This Episode — the Constitution Composer
Kate H and Kate M announce a new tool from Fresh Allsorts: the Constitution Composer. Five simple steps from questionnaire to a custom-made, plain-English constitution — with assistance all the way through to registration with the relevant state body. Find out more at freshallsorts.com.au.
Mentioned in This Episode
Should I Join This Committee? — a free checklist usually only available to people who’ve purchased Kate McPhee’s book Just a Tick – A Best Practice Guide for Committees and Boards of Management. You can find the book at https://www.liquoriceallsorts.com.au/just-a-tick/ and the checklist HERE.
Got a Question for the Kates?
There are more Your Questions Answered episodes to come. Submit yours via the contact form at thecommitteeroom.com.au. No question is too basic — if you’re wondering about it, someone else is too.
About Your Hosts
Kate Hartwig has spent forty years working in and around not-for-profit and membership organisations — as a CEO, director, and independent consultant. Her Committee Companion is a head start on good governance with checklists, frameworks and exemplars for committee members. katehartwig.com.au
Kate McPhee has three decades of hands-on experience helping small clubs and associations get more done with less stress. She is the author of Just a Tick, a plain-English governance guide for committees and boards. liquoriceallsorts.com.au
Together they offer governance health checks, the Constitution Composer, and other practical support through Fresh Allsorts.
This podcast provides general information on best practice governance for small to medium not-for-profit associations. It is not legal advice.
Timestamps
00:06 — Welcome to The Committee Room and the second Your Questions Answered episode!
00:23 — Introducing the Kates
01:05 — Question 1 — What to do when a committee member is breaking confidentiality
04:25 — Question 2 — What happens if there is no contested election?
07:12 — Question 3 — What to do when a manager goes rogue
09:39 — Question 4 — What do you do when a committee member is not contributing?
11:49 — Question 5 — If there is a vote of no confidence, does the committee have to resign?
14:32 — Question 6 — Signing a non-disclosure agreement
16:42 — Question 7 — What happens if the members want to amend a proposed constitution at the AGM?
21:18 — Question 8 — How do I know if a committee role is right for me?
25:05 — Announcing the Constitution Composer
26:50 — Wrap-up and next week’s episode on Constitutions
Next Episode
The Documents Done Right series begins with the most important document your organisation has — the Constitution. What must be in it, how to make it readable, and why plain English is not optional.
Resources & Links
🎙️ The Committee Room thecommitteeroom.com.au — episode archive, show notes, downloads and contact form
🍬 Fresh Allsorts freshallsorts.com.au — Governance Health Checks, the Constitution Composer and practical support from both Kates
Kate Hartwig Consulting katehartwig.com.au — including the Committee Companion, a head start on good governance with checklists, frameworks and exemplars
Liquorice Allsorts Consulting liquoriceallsorts.com.au — including Just a Tick and the Should I Join This Committee? checklist
Facebook: The Committee Room
LinkedIn: The Committee Room
You don’t need good luck if you’ve got good governance.
The Committee Room | thecommitteeroom.com.au