The Galley Club of Sydney will hold its annual general meeting tomorrow evening, April 27th, to discuss plans for the future of the club - including donating most of its money to charity.
In an email to members, long-term convenor and former president Michael Schulz said it was no longer financially viable to hold an annual awards ceremony, and renewed calls - previously heard in 2014 - for most of the club's funds to be donated to charity: specifically, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the Sydney Story Factory. "Both organisations have a proven track record, are well-run and, most importantly, do fantastic work in the book community," Schulz said.
Schulz will seek member support to donate 75 percent of the club's cash reserves of $37,458 to these organisations and use the remainder for a more 'modest, manageable' schedule of events, including an annual networking event at the end of the year. "There is considerable support and goodwill for the club, however attendance at events is modest and it is increasingly difficult to organise multiple events each year. As numbers continue to dwindle, it is a good time to re-evaluate the nature and purpose of the Galley Club, and look at ways to best continue its legacy in a sustainable way.
"We have already received several positive responses from members to this proposal," Schulz said.
According to Michael Schulz, Jon McDonald and Nikla Martin, the club will aim to re-establish elements of the Galley Club Awards with organisations such as Printing Industries in the future.
The 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Galley Club will be held at the Cocktail Bar in the Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney, at 6pm Thursday April 27th.