Hi Everyone!
This morning, the CEO of the St Kilda PCYC sent out a press release announcing that...BUT FIRST:
Tomorrow's Brekky Barbie is happening! We'd love to see you there to meet each other and the many people who have lived experience with St Kilda PCYC. The vibe is warm and caring. Bring your kids - just rsvp so we have a rough idea of how many snags we need! A special thank you to the local Greens Team for providing the food!
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This morning, the CEO of the St Kilda PCYC sent out a press release announcing that the Board had resolved to postpone the sale of 179 Inkerman Street. At face value, this is a positive development, however, as is often the case the details matter. As I write this, the gym will still close on October 3 and its equipment will be sold. Needless to say, this is profoundly disappointing.
The Board chose to seek legal advice regarding its members rather then engage them directly. As noted in the 2024 Annual General Meeting notice and call for board nominations, Full Members - voting members - are those who have paid an annual membership to the Incorporated Association. Silver and Bronze categories respectively denote regular and concession annual membership fees to the Incorporated Association.
To be clear: people who have paid an annual fee to the St Kilda Police, Citizens and Youth Club Incorporated are voting members of the organisation. As voting members and as per clause 19.2 The Board must convene a special general meeting if requested in writing by at least 25% of members entitled to vote. Closing the gym, selling the equipment and refunding people the balance of their annual fee is a cynical way to dramatically reduce the number of members holding them to account.
It's all becoming a bit petty, isn't it? "We are transparent!" "No, you're not!"
So lets imagine for a moment what an independent St Kilda PCYC might look like when the local community and people it supports is engaged. When I think about this...
- I think about a program that ran for 8 years in Frankston called Living Free. A program designed for girls and young women who’ve come into contact with the justice system - and to keep them from having contact with it. I think about its success and how it could be adapted to St Kilda and surrounds.
- I think about the peer led service being run by Melbourne City Mission dedicated to supporting teenagers who are fleeing domestic violence.
- I think about Olive's as a means to engage local cafe owners to volunteer some time to train young people on how to pull a coffee and how once a month, a high energy open day would expose them to the pace of somewhere like Wall or Padre.
- I think about VCAL programs for Physical Education as feeders into TAFE programs for personal fitness or nutrition programs.
- I think about adapted Community Mobilisation strategies to engage the whole community to recognise the profound role that it can have supporting young people. And really, all people.
- I think about the stories (which I'll share here in another update) of people whose lives were profoundly impacted by St Kilda PCYC
- I think about a board that has community representation, that has more women, that has both young and senior people, that has first nations and new arrivals as well as supporting advisors to coach these future leaders on governance.
It took less than half an hour to think of these things. What a shame that the imagination of the current board only extends as far as preserving themselves.
My hope is, regardless of what happens with the existing building, that, as a community we can collectively and creatively find ways to continuously support each other. And maybe, in coming together like this, some of you will be inspired to do just that.
See you tomorrow morning!