PRESIDENT’S REPORT
record of using their funds well, and a strong positive reputation.
There is a further level of support and that is where the Club essentially ‘writes a cheque’ to a charity. This is a more sensitive issue and the Committee has discussed questions such as does a specific charity fit our Purpose? Who decides what charity to support? Once a charity is supported, will this continue in perpetuity? Does the reputation of a supported charity get reviewed from time to time allowing for any new public information? Which charities that might receive our support cause angst or anger amongst one or more members because of any prior history such as abuse? How do we take account of the shifting patterns such as Gen-Z members who (anecdotally) are quite concerned about the reputation of any institution they might be supporting: does this attitude contrast with a Baby-boomer approach that giving to charity enhances the feel-good factor regardless of the recipient? Perhaps a telling example of this trend is the National Australia Day Council who have cut ties recently with the Commonwealth Bank after 38 years of sponsorship; the Royal Commission revealed failings of banks that were no longer compatible with the organisers’ values. With these complexities in mind, the Pajero Club Committee has decided that budgeting funds for direct transmission to charity whilst running a budget deficit is not in the interest of members this year.
Neil Phillips
1744
President
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Vol 36 No.3 - May / June 2019 © Pajero 4WD Club of Victoria