The general committee of the Sports Journalists’ Association has agreed to call an Extraordinary General Meeting on Wednesday, October 9.
The meeting is called to discuss a single proposal:
“From January 1, 2014, the membership fee payable by all full members shall be £30 per year.”
Steven Downes, the SJA secretary, explained: “We probably ought to have included such a proposal for the annual meeting in April, but some circumstances have changed, and this is an important step to rationalise our membership structure.
“Our membership fees have remained unchanged since 2007, and the increase proposed will affect only those who are based outside London.
“Although we have done much to put the business of the SJA online, and to communicate with our members with regular email newsletters, the majority of the Association’s costs in administering membership remains postage. And it costs us just as much to send a letter to the WC1 as it does to send it to the Western Isles.
“The SJA committee is keenly aware of the need to provide improved value for our members, over and above the massive discounts that are offered on tickets to our sports lunches and for our annual sports awards and sports journalism awards events. To that end, our agents, Red Torch, have been asked to source special discount deals with a range of suppliers of the sort of services which professional sports journalists may need.
“And with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year and the Rugby World Cup being staged across England and Wales in 2015, we are working to stage more events in Scotland and the North.”
The SJA EGM will be staged from 2.30pm on Wednesday, October 9 in the upstairs room at the Olde Cock Tavern on Fleet Street.
The meeting is strictly for SJA members only. Associate members may attend, but only as observers.
Members attending are asked to gather in the bar until called to the meeting (which follows immediately after a general committee). Some sandwiches will be provided. For catering purposes, those intending to attend the EGM, please email the secretary at stevenwdownes@btinternet.com with “EGM” in the subject field.
- Between now and the end of 2013, anyone wishing to join the SJA may apply, with their initial fee covering their membership through until the end of 2014 – effectively 15 months’ membership for the price of 12. Click here for more details.
UPCOMING SJA EVENTS
Thu Dec 12: SJA 2013 British Sports Awards. Venue and ticket booking details to be announced soon