Special NZFBB Meeting Report

[NZFBB]

Under instruction from the Oceania/South Pacific IFBB Vice President (Paul Graham) with the support of other senior IFBB officials, a specially selected caretaker sub-committee met on Friday, April 9th at the Quality Inn Hotel, 465 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

The meeting, which was chaired by Mark Stewart, was attended by approximately 20 NZFBB members. Grahame Fong, who is a qualified lawyer and a past president of the NZFBB, assisted the meeting with legal and practical advice. Grahame had not planned on attending but a number of those present thought that it would be helpful if he was present and he was phoned immediately prior to the meeting and requested to attend and assist, which he did.

Prior to the main meeting, a preliminary meeting was convened by some of the senior members and during that meeting a conference call was made to Paul Graham who is the IFBB Vice President for the Oceania region. Paul confirmed that the meeting was called on his advice and instructions and he confirmed that he fully supported Mark Stewart.

It was clear from the views expressed at the meeting that there is a strong desire by many people to deal with the current NZFBB situation as quickly as possible. That was tempered by the overriding consensus of those present that all actions had to be done properly and legally, and that there should be no cutting corners for expediency.

Following a lengthy meeting it was agreed that as a first step Moe Elmoussawi will be invited to meet with two representatives nominated by those present, to discuss concerns and to try and work out a way forward that would end the increasing negativity. The two nominated persons are Stephen Papps and Esther Tofilau.

Further actions were agreed but these will be implemented only if required and further decisions, if necessary, will be considered only if Moe does not attend the meeting, or if a meeting is held but nothing is resolved

All official notices and announcements from the members present at today's meeting are to be approved by a majority of a sub-committee comprising Mike Debenham, Stephen Papps and Darrel Schumaker.

Feedback to this report, and future news, is welcome but those present at the meeting also agreed that it was inappropriate for any individual to get into online debates, with views that may be seen as those of the NZFBB, and therefore any comment from any individual will be his or her own personal view and not a collective one.