Industry Bodies Convene Extraordinary General Mtgs

Media Release

19 October 2009
For Immediate Release

Industry Bodies Convene Extraordinary General Meetings
- members to vote on formation

The Boards of Directors of the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD) the Advertising Federation of Australia (AFA) and the Account Planning Group (APG) have announced the next step towards the formation of a new organisation to bring together their respective strengths, expertise and knowledge.

At Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) to be held next month, members will be asked to vote on the creation of a new industry body, with the proposed name of ‘The Communications Council’ and the tagline of ‘Commercial creativity and connection’.

The EGMs follow several months of discussion about forming a new broad-based organisation offering a more influential, unified and stronger voice on industry issues.

The Boards of AWARD and the AFA have notified their respective memberships that EGMs would be convened on Tuesday, November 17 in Sydney.

The purpose of these EGMs will be to put to the memberships special resolutions which, if passed, would mandate the Boards to proceed with the incorporation of a new industry organisation to represent their members’ interests.

The Boards said that the membership votes at the EGMs were a crucial step that followed a great deal of preparatory work around the creation of a new organisation to amalgamate the strengths of the AFA, AWARD and APG.

Based on membership votes, the AFA and AWARD would be voluntarily deregistered to form the new organisation.

It is anticipated the new organisation will begin operations on January 1, 2010.

The APG does not require an EGM vote to become a founder member of the new body, but its Board is strongly in favour of the move and will discuss this with APG members.

The AFA EGM will be held from 2pm and the AWARD EGM from 4pm on November 17 at central Sydney venues to be announced separately.

The meetings are closed sessions for members only.

ENDS

About the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association AWARD is a non-political, non-profit organisation with but a single idea: the raising of standards in all creative areas.

Its charter is to set standards of creative excellence, to promote this concept in the business arena and to educate and inspire the next creative generation.

It has a membership of the finest creative minds from New Zealand, to South East Asia and across the states of Australia.

A Committee of creatives, producers, CEOs in Australia, New Zealand and Asia are ultimately responsible for the workings of AWARD, and have been voted into their two year terms by the AWARD members.

The AWARD Awards marked their 30th year in 2008, and are the single most important regional awards show.

About the Advertising Federation of Australia The AFA represents the interests of 185 companies providing advertising and marketing communications services.

The AFA was formed in 1975 as a not-for-profit industry body operating for the sole benefit of our member agencies across all states of Australia.

AFA members provide commercial communications to clients across the broad spectrum – everything from traditional advertising services to digital, direct marketing, healthcare, multicultural and design.

We help our members - large and small, multinational and locally owned – to grow their businesses by the provision of professional development services, advocacy and support for an appropriate regulatory environment.

Our Vision:
A vibrant and valued marketing communications industry in which our members prosper.

Our Mission:
Promote the value of marketing communications agencies
Elevate the professional standards of our members
Promote responsible marketing communications and effective self-regulation

About Account Planning Group The Account Planning Group (APG) is a not for profit member based organisation set up to inspire and enable excellence in creative thinking on brands and business.

It is supported and administered by the Advertising Federation of Australia.

We are affiliated with the APG UK and aim to share from and contribute to the worldwide APG IP pool of best practice and innovation in planning thinking and techniques.

The Account Planning Group Australia (APG) is dedicated to inspiring the exchange of ideas and expertise on how business can benefit from creative thinking.

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