My Reply to ExServos Exec Assistant

This is the longer version of the letter printed this week in the times.


Dear Alison,

I understand that you are angry with me. Everyday you turn up to work, you do a good job, you've probably worked at the Club for some time and have a great sense of loyalty about your employer. When you see me talking about the negatives of the Club industry you feel like I am personally kicking you in the guts for you have a certain kind of ownership over your clubs activities.

In my life I have worked in the Club industry and know that it can be busy and thankless.

I don't blame the staff of the club or the ExServos itself for anything, just as I don't blame miners for working in mining or loggers for logging. Do I use the services of all these industries-sometimes-when I have to, but personally try to keep it to a minimum.

My problem is with the way 'systems' and 'process' have been set up to create a supposed win win situation.

Clubs NSW is a powerful lobby group. NSW State Governments have in the past received donations from Clubs NSW for their political campaigns. Combined, Clubs have a huge membership that they can and will mobilise to support them in their endeavours and I would draw your attention to the recent debate on limiting the amount of bets on electronic gaming machines- we saw weak attempts at legislative reforms, because a powerful lobby got its own way.

Clubs have offered poker machine gambling as a 'service' to their members since 1956 when clubs were generally more focused on their social and community benefit. This social and community benefit was recognised by government and given special tax dispensation as not for profit organisations. However in the modern age that focus for many clubs has changed as they aggressively pursue the profits from gaming machines. Clubs received benefits that for profit organisations do not i.e. tax concessions and a protected poker machine market.

Clubs are a contradictory entity ( bit like local government really) whose existence relies on the adoption of commercial management practices to succeed in profit driven market places. Yet the heart of the clubs charter is to give great service to its members without accruing financial gains. So its almost like a catch 22 situation. Clubs cannot accrue mountains of cash for they are deemed as not spending it on servicing their members ( and would lose their tax advantages) so clubs take big loans to fund additional capital expenditure and then forever are reliant on the revenue of poker machines of EGM's to repay the debts. For a more in depth analysis of the history and changing nature of pubs check out this paper by Dr Nerilee Hing.

Of course I understand that a fair amount of money put through pokies is put through voluntarily by people who are in control of their emotions and their finances "a bit of a flutter". But the Gambling Impact Society believe that this amounts to around 60% of the takings, with 30% of gamblers at risk of becoming problem gamblers who make up the final 10%.  It is this 40% that I consider to be the 'dirty cash' money that has come from people who are having trouble controlling  their gambling addiction or are problem gamblers. The effects on these peoples families is far reaching. Staff at clubs are trained in responsible conduct of gambling and some funding from clubs goes back into services for those battling addiction.

The Ulladulla Ex servos was seeking an increase in their poker machine numbers. That issue came to Council and I have blogged about it extensively. The remarks that are used by The Times come from another blog article that I published recently. The Mayor Joanna Gash wrote to the Liquor and Gaming Authority and supported the clubs application- particularly since they were financing two organisations she favoured- West Ulladulla Netball (Council) and the Dunn and Lewis Youth Foundation /Centre. I have a problem with the funding from Clubs going to the Dunn and Lewis. D and L is primarily a youth foundation that provides service and training opportunities to youth some of whom would be considered 'at risk' I think they offer a great service and some of the programs have been very innovative.

The article referred to Clubs keeps kids cooking is a classic of example of what I believe to be exploitation of children. Its just like  McDonalds donating to children's charities it makes their 'brand' more appealing and more 'family friendly'.

BUT LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR- I am not casting a judgement on D and L, they like many other service and program providers such as Nowra Women's Health centre are desperate for funding to offer excellent programs that really do help people Its not their fault that the government doesn't fund their programs and seeking funding from any source is a legitimate part of their everyday operation. Some groups self -exclude certain types of funding as it doesn't fit with their ethics. I believe that Clubs funding should be exclusively for local adult orientated programs as it is adults who are most at risk of becoming problem gamblers. That is my opinion, you don't have to agree, I would however like to see Government take a look at the current not for profit taxing system for clubs for ultimately a better taxing regime that allows Government to take from clubs and fund local programs is more desirable.

Alison I am being judgemental, but not to you or the people who put money through the pokies, but to Governments that are to weak and beholden to Clubs NSW to make changes to benefit community. The Cubs industry has changed over the years and its about time there was some legislative reforms to match those changes.

I took my daughter to the Diggers breakfast after her first Dawn Service. It most certainly did cross my mind that some people might think I was being a hypocrite - I even mentioned that to my daughter on the way in.We enjoyed our time talking with Diggers young and old and hanging out with our local Scout group, contemplating the spirit of ANZAC.I certainly thought about problem gamblers whose losses may have contributed towards my breakfast. I even noted that even on our day of reverence, ANZAC day, that the poker machines were up and running during the breakfast.

The staff at the club on ANZAC day did an excellent job, service with a smile, even at the height of busy-ness. I made my appreciation known to some board members and also to the CEO. I may not have been a welcome guest but I was certainly an appreciative one.

Regards
Amanda




EDITOR,

I was enjoying the article in last week's Times "Club keeps kids cooking" about the ExServos donating money to the Dunn Lewis Centre, which suddenly turned from a "feel good" article into a sensational and political attack on the ExServos Club (and clubs in general) by Cr Amanda Findley.

I am an employee of the ExSe...rvos Club who enjoys and values their job at the club.

I consider myself lucky, and am proud to work for such an important local community facility which donates considerable money each year to many local community groups and sporting teams; it was for these reasons that I chose to work at the club in the first place.

To read Cr Findley's reference to club money as "dirty gambling cash" is frankly insulting and extremely judgmental; not to mention that insinuating that all club money comes from gambling shows a total ignorance of the club industry.

Sure, a certain proportion of club revenue comes from poker machines; nobody denies that. But we are also about so much more! Entertainment, dining, function facilities, events and promotions, to name just a few.

Aside from providing poker machines, the ExServos Club (like all the town's clubs) is first and foremost a meeting place for its 11,000 members, their guests, visitors to the area and many community groups.

To some of our members we are like family.

The ExServos Club is also one of the largest employers in town, providing employment to almost 100 local people and providing business to countless local tradespeople and businesses.

We cater to all age groups and hold numerous local functions/events (many free of charge to community groups) and give back to the community by way of substantial sponsorship funds and donations.

We are "not for profit" and all "profit" the club earns either goes back towards improving facilities and offerings for our members (or paying off such improvements) or is donated.

It's not all about profit for profit sake like many other businesses; just as it's not all about gambling.

Even if the sole income stream was via poker machines (which by no means is it), I find it interesting that Cr Findley, who purports to be about "values" can be so judgmental.

Who are you to judge how consenting adults choose to spend their money and belittle them by referring to their hard earned money (that they may choose to enjoy by gambling, as is their right) as "dirty". Really?

I myself don't gamble but I certainly don't believe it's my place to judge those who choose to enjoy gambling; clearly in this instance Cr Findley doesn't subscribe to the "value" of tolerance.

Oh, by the way Cr Findley, it was great to see you at the ExServos enjoying the breakfast we provided after the dawn service on Anzac Day.

I hope you enjoyed the breakfast, which was provided free of charge not only to Diggers and service personnel, but to every person who attended the dawn service. Just thought I'd mention that this breakfast was part funded by supposed "dirty gambling cash" too.

See your ad here

Alison McKay

Executive Assistant