VICTORIA PARK BELMONT BASEBALL CLUB 

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

 

NAME

The name of this award is Victoria Park Belmont Baseball Club Life Membership (Life Member). 
 

PURPOSE

The purpose of Victoria Park Belmont Baseball Club Life Membership is to recognise individuals whose exceptional, loyal and outstanding service and contribution over an extended period has had significant, lasting and measurable impacts upon the Club.
 

GOVERNANCE

The Victoria Park Belmont Baseball Club Heritage Committee is responsible for managing all aspects of Life Membership under the authority and approval of the Victoria Park Belmont Baseball Club Management Committee. This includes the development and maintenance of the Life Membership Charter and supporting procedures, assessment of nominees against the nomination criteria, voting and induction processes and the maintenance and updating of all related records.

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The VPBBC Heritage Committee is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the VPBBC Life Membership Charter along with all supporting procedural documentation and their implementation, assessment of nominees against nomination criteria, voting and induction processes as well as maintaining and updating all records.

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The VPBBC Secretary will be responsible for directing all nomination information to the Heritage Committee, and for implementing all agreed actions by the Management Committee such as the distribution of information to members, inductees and website personnel.

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The Management Committee is responsible for ratifying all decisions made by the Heritage Committee.

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Life Membership of the VPBBC is recognized as the highest honour bestowed on any member and as such the award shall retain its prestige and be limited to a maximum of two (2) successful inductees in any year, as per Clause 7 (d) (i) of the Constitution.

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These guidelines, policies and procedures will be reviewed annually and may be amended as approved by the Management Committee.

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All records relating to Life Membership nominations, deliberations and inductions will be retained by the Club as part of its official governance and historical records.

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NOMINATION CRITERIA

The award of Victoria Park Belmont Baseball Club Life Membership is in recognition of the significant, sustained and lasting contribution someone has made to the Victoria Park Belmont Baseball Club and the sport of baseball. It is the ultimate accolade that VPBBC can bestow on any member and as such is subject to the following strict criteria.

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Nominees must have:

1. Evidenced substantial and outstanding contributions and achievements through leadership, governance and mentorship within the VPBBC and the sport of baseball in Western Australia, as a result of exceptional personal effort, performance, time contributed and initiative.

2. Demonstrated exceptional, loyal and outstanding service to the VPBBC over a total of at least fifteen (15) years* in areas such as, but not limited to, administration, management, coaching, facility maintenance and/ or upgrade, fundraising and club direction.

3. Contributions must be distinguished, meritorious and exceptional going well beyond the contribution of any ordinary member and have a positive and lasting impact on the Club and its members.

4. Nominees are assessed individually, based on their personal attributes, achievements and merits rather than in comparison to others.

5. Candidates must meet acceptable standards of integrity, character and community spirit, and must in no way at any time have brought the sport of baseball nor the VPBBC into disrepute, whilst demonstrating a commitment to the values of the Club.

6. The nominee has demonstrated advocacy for the Club or represented the Club with distinction in the broader baseball community and various governing bodies and associations.

7. VPBBC Life Membership may be awarded posthumously.

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* Whilst there can be no expectation that submissions will be successful if they do not meet this criteria, the Heritage Committee reserves the right to examine submissions that for extenuating or extraordinary circumstances do not meet this criteria.

 

NOMINATION RULES & PROCEDURES

All nominations must: 

• Be proposed by a currently financial member and completed using the Life Membership nomination form (available on the Club website). 

• Be seconded by a currently financial member. 

• Be In accordance with Clause 7 (d) of the Constitution and submitted to the Secretary.​

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No member may nominate themselves for Life Membership and in the event of a nominee serving on either the Heritage Committee or the Management Committee at 

the time of their nomination, they shall be ineligible to participate in the deliberation process relating to their nomination.

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Any financial member of the club may nominate a candidate however a nominee must not be nominated by an immediate family member or other person who has a conflict of interest.

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Any Heritage Committee or Management Committee member who has a direct or perceived conflict of interest in relation to a nomination must declare that interest and remove themselves from all deliberations and voting relating to that nomination.

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All nominations must consider the nomination criteria against which the candidates will be examined and be submitted to the Secretary in accordance with timelines established by the VPBBC Heritage Committee and advertised on the VPBBC website.

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All nominations are to be treated with the strictest of confidence until such time as having been ratified by the Management Committee and publicised on the Club website.

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Unsuccessful nominations may be resubmitted in subsequent years, subject to the submission of updated or additional supporting information.

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VETTING & VOTING PROCEDURES

Once the deadline for Life Membership submissions has passed, the Secretary will forward all submissions received to the VPBBC Heritage Committee.

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Upon receipt of all nominations, the Heritage Committee will review the submissions, assessing the following:

• The nominations have been submitted on the VPBBC Life Membership nomination form (available on the Club website) and all nomination criteria have been suitably addressed.

• Assess the accuracy of supporting documentation and that they suitably support a candidate’s eligibility for VPBBC Life Membership.

• If the VPBBC Heritage Committee determines that more information is required before a decision  on a nominated candidate’s eligibility can be made, the Heritage Committee will request the Secretary contact the nominating entity and advise them that a revised submission, addressing any omissions or shortcomings, must be submitted within a limited allocated timeframe.

• If necessary, the Heritage Committee will seek assistance from current and past members for input as to the merits of the nomination and the accuracy of any supporting information.

• All nominees successfully passing the vetting process will be subject to an official voting process by the Heritage Committee.

• For a ballot to be considered valid at least 80% of the Heritage Committee must cast a vote and a candidate must subsequently receive an affirmative vote from a minimum of 75% of the Committee.

• Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot, with abstentions counting toward the quorum but do not count as affirmative votes.

• The Heritage Committee will notify the Management Committee of any successful candidates for ratification at the Management Committee meeting.

 

INDUCTION & NOTIFICATION PROCESSES

In the event that a candidate’s submission is unsuccessful the Heritage Committee will request that the Secretary contact the nominating entity to advise them of the Committee’s decision and the reasons for it.

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Successful inductees and their nominating entities will be notified by the Secretary and extended an invitation to attend the Club’s Annual Awards Presentation, where the presentation of a VPBBC Life Membership medallion will be made.

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Notification of members induction into VPBBC Life Membership shall be publicised on the Club website, social media platforms and any other platforms deemed appropriate as well as permanently recorded in the Clubs history books and the Annual Report.

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RETRACTION OF LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Retraction of Life Membership bestowment may occur where the recipient has conducted themselves in a manner that reflects adversely on the image or activities of the VPBBC.

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This provision will only be exercised in exceptional circumstances and will require the full support of the Management Committee.

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The Life Member in question will be provided with an opportunity to present their case for retention of Life Membership.

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LIFE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Life members have the same rights and responsibilities as ordinary members.

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Life members receive one non-transferable complimentary invitation to events such as the Annual Award Presentation (as per By-Law 2 Clause 21 b), and other special Club functions and may attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

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Life Members will be presented with a personally inscribed VPBBC Life Membership medallion to be worn at Club functions.