Board Update Dec 23 – Feb 24

Singapore Gymnastics Board Unveils Governance Enhancements and Strategic Planning Efforts

Over the past few months, the Board has consistently convened monthly, and here's an update from the recent three meetings held in December, January, and February:

Compliance Register Oversight by Governance Committee: The Governance Committee has assumed responsibility for the compliance register, ensuring rigorous compliance measures and adherence to regulatory standards are upheld and monitored at each meeting.

Empowerment of Governance Committee for Board Member Recruitment and Evaluation: Significant attention has been dedicated to revising the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Governance Sub-committee. The Board carefully reviewed these revisions, particularly focusing on clarifying roles and responsibilities related to the recruitment of board members. It was clarified that while the Human Resources Committee (HRC) handles staff-related matters, the Governance Committee (GC) oversees board member recruitment. This distinction aims to streamline processes and ensure each committee operates within its intended scope. Additionally, the GC ToR was amended to enhance clarity and efficiency, empowering the committee to seek external advice with Board approval.

Observation at Board Meetings and Annual Board Evaluation: The Governance Committee initiated the attendance of observers at some Board meetings as part of the Board evaluation process. Feedback from observers highlighted meeting length and agenda clarity concerns while praising the Board's engagement and collaboration. Discussions also covered the potential continuation of inviting observers and streamlining approval processes. The annual Board evaluation yielded positive results, with plans for corrective actions and external facilitation in the future.

Financial Update: Financial statements up to September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2023, were reviewed, indicating a loss primarily due to delayed SportSG funding for the Asian Championship. The forecast anticipates a surplus if fundraising targets are met, with detailed analysis provided to Directors.

Strategic Planning: Discussions centred on implementing the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, emphasising alignment with SportSG's objectives and stability amid leadership changes. The process and proposed timeline for developing the plan were presented, with plans to appoint an external facilitator for planning sessions.

Fundraising Activity – Cartwheel-a-thon: Updates on the Cartwheel-a-thon fundraising activity were shared, emphasising community participation and financial targets.

Athletes Commission and Technical Advisory Council Ratification: The proposed Athletes Commission representatives and Technical Advisory Councils for various disciplines were unanimously approved.

Policy Amendments: Several policy amendments were approved, including discipline-specific selection policies and operational policies updated by the National Office.

Events Working Group: Board suggested the formation of an Events Working Group to enhance National Office staff capabilities in organising events and improving volunteer management. The National Office will study the feasibility and potential value add of such a group.

General Matters: Various general matters, including sustainability requirements and event reviews, were discussed. Feedback from club visits was also addressed, emphasising improved communication and strategic planning to address issues.

In summary, these meetings reflect the Board's commitment to ongoing governance enhancements and strategic planning efforts, underscoring Singapore Gymnastics' dedication to transparency, compliance, and strategic foresight in achieving its goals.

Policies

Governance Policies Amended an Approved

• ·       P043 Corporate Card Policy
• ·       P006 SG HR Policies & Staff Handbook
• ·       P015 Financial Management and Delegation Policy
• ·       P003 Bursary Policy

New Policies Approved

• ·       Use of National Flag Guidelines
• ·       2024 MAG Jnr Asian Championships Selection Policy
• ·       2024 MAG Snr Asian Championships Selection Policy
• ·       2024 WAG Jnr Asian Championships Selection Policy
• ·       2024 WAG Snr Asian Championships Selection Policy
• ·       2024 RG Jnr Asian Championships Selection Policy
• ·       2024 RG Snr Asian Championships Selection Policy

Operational Policies Updated

• ·       P023_National Squad Policy
• ·       P008_Membership Policy
• ·       P020_SpexCarding Policy
• ·       P028_Annual Awards Policy
• ·       P004 National Event Policy