The resulting changes to Paddle Scotland’s board of directors will increase the number of members that can be elected onto the board with the aim of improving member representation and board functionality. 

Following the conclusion of our first stage of member consultations, feedback has been noted and the updated Article 22 is being finalised. The proposed new Article 22 will be published on Monday 11 November alongside the Calling Notice for a General Meeting to be held online on the evening of Wednesday 27 November to vote on the amendment to the Articles.

Consultation 

Member consultation consisted of three virtual sessions attended by 18 members and hosted by our Interim Chair Allan McKay. We also ran a survey for 3 weeks, completed by 62 current and former members as well as club associates. Support for each of the proposed objectives in the survey ranged between 60-80%, with 15-20% respondents remaining neutral. 

A final member engagement session will be held on Tuesday 19 November at 1900 (please note date change from 5 November) in order to answer any remaining questions about the proposed new Article 22. There will be the option to submit questions in advance - details to follow.

Proposal 

As previously outlined, we are proposing the following alterations to Article 22 (Appointment of directors) in our Articles of Association to ensure they support good governance as defined in sportscotland’s Governance Framework:

• Any Voting Member can stand for one of 5 Elected Director positions including the role of President
• There will remain 5 Appointed Director roles
• A Chair will be independently recruited to ensure they have the requisite skills and experience 
• Board members will be able to serve a maximum period of three 3 year terms

The aim is to make the Paddle Scotland board more representative and diverse, and therefore better able to support and make good decisions on behalf of all of our members. A more effective board will be able to guide the development and delivery of our strategic plan, thereby positively shaping the direction of the organisation and our sport. 

Read more about the background leading up to this proposal and the independent advisors consulted. 

In order for the proposal to pass, it must be approved by 75% of those voting at the General Meeting on 27 November. Votes may be cast in the meeting or in advance by proxy (details on this will be included with the Calling Notice on Monday 11 November). 

Join the Board

Next week, we will formally open applications to join Paddle Scotland’s board of directors. We will be recruiting for a Chair, President, and 4 other Elected Director roles. 

We strongly encourage applications from members currently underrepresented on the board, including women, people with a disability, those from diverse backgrounds and people under the age of 30.

Board meetings generally take place online which allows for participation of directors based all around the country. Under normal circumstances, the board would be expected to meet 6-8 times per year. 

If you are passionate about paddlesport and want to help make a difference in the future of our sport, or know someone else who you think would be an excellent director, please apply or encourage them to apply. The most important thing is that paddlers are able to paddle and we need your help to ensure this is able to happen safely, effectively, sustainably and successfully.