Don't be fooled by fear-mongering rumours.

Check the facts for yourself!

 
Special Meeting   : :   New Membership Applications   : :   Rinks & Ice Time   : :   ISQ   : :   More...

Rumours are running rife in the Acacia Ridge and Boondall rinks at the moment. It is important NOT to spread them further, either verbally or via email. Please check the facts of each matter directly with the person or persons involved in any allegation.

Please email me [Gerri Barnes-Hampton] if you hear more rumours and I will find the truth of them. And thanks for checking the facts!

Why "newisq" request for a special meeting failed

Why new membership applications are held over till after the AGM

Financial Exposure

Rink Sold?

Sync ice time

Rink Ownership

Rink closure

ISQ Control

Caretaker Mode

Audit Rumours

The special general meeting requested by Karen Thompson was not granted on the following grounds:

1. The request did not clearly state the reasons why the special general meeting was required as defined in section 20.1.2 of the ISQ constitution.

2. The request denies natural justice in that no reasons have been provided. One would expect that in the interests of natural justice some reasons ought to be given as to why and on what basis the present Council should be removed and in such an urgent fashion.  Members of the existing Council should be given the opportunity to formulate a response to any complaints.

3. The request purports to effectively elect a replacement Council. This is undemocratic. In the general terms of holding elections of office bearers of the Council, it is the case that all positions are open for vacancy at the usual annual general meeting and any member can nominate. further, vacant positions need to be nominated and voted for separately, not by way of a "block" which prevents other members nominating and voted for by the general body of members.

4. The Notice purports to set a date and time and place for the meeting. under clause 20.1 of the ISQ Inc constitution, it is the Secretary who convenes the meeting and who therefore decides the appropriate date and time and place.

5. In addition, holding such a meeting could be viewed by members at large as injurious and prejudicial to the character and interests of the ISQ inc.

Notification stating these reasons, was sent to Karen Thompson on 13th February 2007 by mail and email (i.e. within 14 days of her request).

New Member Applications

• New membership applications are never processed at Special Meetings of Council. The constitution clearly states (section 15.2) that only the stated reasons for the Special Meeting of Council may be transacted.

• New membership applications which are received by the last day of the previous month are considered at the next normal Council meeting.
  See ISQ Notice to Affiliated Clubs, May 2006.

• Applications received by the ISQ by the 30th November were considered and accepted at the following normal Council meeting on 20th December 2006.

• There is never a normal Council meeting in January.

• New membership applications which were received by the 30th January 2007 were considered at the normal Council meeting on 14th February. All Junior members were accepted.  There were 80+ senior membership applications. These were held over until the General Meeting which follows the AGM on 21st March, as per normal procedure which has been in place for 15+ years to prevent “vote stacking” prior to an AGM, i.e. to prevent new members voting at the AGM in the year in which they just joined.

 
Rink Sold?

Sync ice time

Rink Ownership

Rink closure

 
Rumour #1 says that building Loganholme rink will leave the ISQ with unlimited financial exposure.

• The facts are:  ISQ fully owns (with no debts) two ice rinks, one in Acacia Ridge and one in Boondall.  The Council and the ISQ Trustees, acting on the authority given to it by its Members at the 2005 and 2006 Annual General Meetings, worked towards the construction of third ISQ ice rink - in Loganholme.

• If you fully own two ice rinks and embark on the construction of a third, it’s hardly going to result in an unlimited financial liability.  In a most fundamental and conservative financial terms, it represents an Asset-to-Debt ratio of 2:1 which is deemed by financial institutions as a healthy position to be in.

Rumour #2 says that Acacia Ridge rink has been sold.

• Acacia Ridge rink is not sold!

• It was the land on the other side of Motorama that was sold.

• Ask yourself : Who started that rumour and why?

• The Trustees (Don & Colin) hold a lease to manage ISQ's rink until May 2009 but the rinks are owned by the ISQ (i.e. you and me).

• Only the ISQ Council can vote to sell the rinks!  The Trustees cannot!

• Karen Thompson is on the current ISQ Council. 
  Her signature is required to sell a rink (not the Trustees!).

• If Karen doesn't know that she has not sold Acacia Ridge rink,
  why would you elect her as the President of ISQ?

• Why does she allow this rumour to persist on the "newisq" website?
  How ethical is it to spread a rumour that so obviously is not true?

• Ask Karen Thompson! Here is the email address: info@newisq.com

• Don't be a pawn - find the facts by asking any ISQ Councillor or Jenny Houlihan, the ISQ Administrator who can direct you to the most appropriate person to ask.

Rumour #3 says that that the Queensland Sync Ice Skating club is being given ice time at the expense of the figure skaters.

• Another false rumour!

• No plans have been made re sharing ice time at Boondall. The current plans are to use the Loganholme rink for Acacia Ridge ISQ skaters and teams to train while repairs are done at Acacia Ridge.

• Common sense would indicate that if the Loganholme Rink does not go ahead, that all ISQ members will expect to be treated equally and fairly in sharing the ice time at Boondall until Acacia Ridge is repaired.

Rumour #4 says that Don & Colin own the rinks.

• This was true, but not now.

• Back when don & Colin put their own personal assets up to secure loans to buy the rinks, it was true - the Trust used to own the rinks. But since the ISQ became an incorporated body a few years ago, the ISQ is the owner of the Acacia Ridge and Boondall rinks and the land at Loganholme (and there is no money owing on any of them!).

• You can read more details for yourself here: ISQ President's Statement.

Rumour #5 says that Acacia Ridge needs to close temporarily to fix the foundations beneath the ice.

• Apparently true!

• I asked Don & Colin very recently, and they explained it to me in detail. Sorry, it was a bit too complicated for me to remember all the facts but you could ask either of them yourself.

• What I remember is that Acacia Ridge electricity bill is huge and the "machines" are running 23 hours a day to keep the floor frozen, compared with 12 hours per day for Boondall, even though Boondall surface is bigger.

• Apparently it also happened 10 or 15 years ago but I was not skating then.

• I also asked two adult skaters who were around back then. I asked: what happened, what caused it, how long it took to fix, and where skaters practiced while it was being fixed. They did not know why it happened, but it apparently took about 3 months, some people stopped skating for that time and others went to Boondall to practice.

ISQ Control

Caretaker Mode

Audit Rumours

Other links ...

ISQ Structure

ISQ Constitution

History of the Trust

What the Audit really says!

Rumour #6 says that Don and Colin run the ISQ.

• The ISQ is run by eight Councillors.

• The rinks are run by a separate Trust. (Read the ISQ President's statement on the ISQ website)

• Colin is not even a Councillor but may attend meetings because he is a Trustee of the rinks.

Rumour #7 says that the ISQ is in "caretaker" mode.

• There is no such thing as a "Caretaker Council"or "Caretaker Mode" - read the ISQ Constitution for yourself. It is not mentioned anywhere or in any way implied.

• At the most recent ISQ Council meeting, the ISQ agreed to halt further progress of Loganholme, pending re-confirmation

Rumour #8 says that the Sport & Recreation Qld (SRQ) made a scathing audit of the Trust.

• It spoke repeatedly of long term success, wealth and good management. Read the whole Sport & Recreation Audit Report for yourself  to see what it really said. Don't believe what others say.

• The Sport & Recreation Audit stated that the longevity of the Trust and the obvious success and business acumen of the Trustees provided stability, not often seen in in similar commercial ventures.

• It urged us to protect the Trustees and the Treasurer by putting a succession plan in place, so we learn to manage our assets as successfully when they retire.

• It also stated that there was a rigorous budgeting process in place.

• It's true that the audit report says that the ISQ needs to get a succession plan in place for the Trustees and the Treasurer so that their wealth of knowledge and successes are passed on to other members of the Council.

• This is the opposite of what the "newisq" is proposing. The "newisq" are proposing to remove all current ISQ Councillors and get rid of the Trust and Trustees. One of them told me this when they thought I was on their side.

• Over and over it spoke about: the astute business acumen of the Trustees, their long term success, the amazing profits the Trustees have achieved while commercial rinks failed

• The personal financial risks they took by putting their own wealth on the line in the beginning, to get a loan for the first, then second rink, and then the land at Loganholme.

• The audit praised the longevity of the Trustees and the ISQ Councillers - not criticised them!

• It's true that the audit report says that the ISQ Council needs to take a more active role if the rinks are to be used as collateral for the new rink at Loganholme.

• Isn't this exactly how every book on building wealth through real estate advises?

• Don't we want another Cash Cow to provide additional public session profits to support Athlete Development, subsidised travel to competitions, entry fees?

• Read the whole Sport & Recreation Audit Report for yourself - it's a glowing account of the Trustees and Council's success.

• Read a summary about the contents of the Audit Report