Meeting open: 9:00am

MINUTES

Welcome: Julie
Minute taker: AI/Shell
Apologies: Board members: Katie, Kym, and Denise
Teachers, Cath, Meg, Tam, Dee, Rachel
Attendees: Board members: Julie, Shell, Suzanne, Chantal, Vivek, and Vicki.
Absent: Teacher, Laxmi
Community members (35): Jo Luxton, Caroline Drogue, Theresa Wilkes, Mandy Boyland, Cath Jennings, Fiamma Riviera, Lisa Jupp, Yvette De Abreu (Eve Ashby), Michelle Essex, Leigh O’Brien, Eboni Worth, Amber Jackson, Diane Johnson, Yvette Hollings, Lisa Rowland, Heather Hobbs, Kylie Pears, Shirlee Rose, Sally Sanders, Jeanie Sojan, Carol-Anne White, Bobbi Fawcett, Julie O’Malley, Helen Prosser, Joanne Kenny, Chris Higgins, Shirley McKinnon, Rosemary Taylor, Sally McKenzie, Julie Hancocks, Barbara Gregory, Rhonda Howell & Rachael Steer, Crystal Murray & Heather Pardoe.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

• The Geraldton Yoga Club (GYC) has had a good year with great support from members. The new online membership process, implemented since February 2025, has streamlined membership renewal and new membership processes, no hardcopy forms reducing the club’s carbon footprint.

• Successful events included International Yoga Day (approximately 140 attendees). We enjoy a strong partnership with the Midwest Indian Cultural Society, who again provided Annadhanam (sharing of food). Two Member Workshops were held this year, which were well attended and received great feedback. The first was held in May at the QEII and the second was held in November at the Geraldton Surf Club. These workshops are free for members; non-members pay $35 to attend or often become members.

• GYC is proud of our continued partnership with Neami, Step Up Step Down program (now in its sixth year). We facilitate a ‘Mindful Movement’ session twice weekly to support the mental health and wellness of Neami's consumers and the community.

• GYC has 13 yoga teachers and 137 members as of today (31 January). Community yoga classes continue to maintain their momentum, welcoming new members and supporting regulars.

• Members are encouraged to attend teachers' private classes for closer instruction and to advance their practice. The club creates a monthly snapshot of teachers' private classes, called "Where can you find yoga in [month]?” Which is posted on our Facebook page.

• GYC have been recording participant numbers since August 2025 for reporting purposes. Wednesday Sunset Yoga classes average 65 participants (high of 82). Saturday Sunrise Yoga classes average 89 participants with the highest number today of 130 - Yogis clearly love being outdoors in the fresh air with ocean views.

• We have had a few smaller classes recorded on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve (holiday season) and a few other classes due to hot weather. As part of the Cit of Greater Geraldton’s Australia Day events, we held an early morning class with 56 participants attending.

MEMBERSHIP FEEDBACK

• Last year feedback was sought from the members regarding the amount of time classes are held outdoors and indoors and the result was that members like the current mix. So, classes will continue with 6 months outdoors (Nov - April at Stow Gardens) and 6 months indoors (May - Oct) at QEII.

• From member feedback we have received in the past, we have put together a “Frequently Asked Questions” flyer which was posted to our socials in December 2025 and is also on our website. It covers yoga etiquette, becoming a member, new process around our ‘Member Focus’, why we hold the classes in these locations, etc. We will email out the FAQ to members next week.

• We encourage anyone to reach out via email at any time.

SPONSORSHIP 2026

• Wednesday Sunset Yoga is sponsored by the City of Greater Geraldton (CGG) with funding from Rio Tinto.

• Saturday Sunrise Yoga relies on local business sponsorships and for 2026 we have 4 Sponsorship Tiers: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and In-kind options.

• Travel and Tide are a new Gold Sponsor for 2026: Locally owned by Chris Dobson, Travel and Tide is an online collection of coastal inspired gifts, jewellery, and homewares. We think their coastal vibe will fit in with us nicely.

• Signworks (Gold sponsors in 2024 and 2025) are continuing their financial sponsorship as a Silver Sponsor for 2026. Ross from Signworks, and his wife, Crystal, are passionate about the GYC.

• Midwest settlements have been contacted and asked us to reach out to them again in the new financial year.

• Indah Day Spa and Quiet Life both support our club with In-kind donations throughout the year, like our prizes today.

• We encourage all our members to support those businesses that support the yoga club.

MATTERS ARISING

• We have received other positive and thoughtful feedback and suggestions from members which have been discussed with the Board and passed on to teachers where necessary, helping us deliver classes to suit all levels, especially those new to yoga.

YEAR AHEAD

• International Yoga Day will be held on Sunday, June 21st, again in collaboration with the Midwest Indian Cultural Society. There has been preliminary discussion around changing the format and focus on the essence and principles of yoga. A working committee will be organised to begin planning the event.

• Two membership workshops will be offered – one in March/April and the other in October/November. Call-out to teachers for their participation/ideas/suggested dates.

• We have been working behind the scenes to create a Member’s Resource Page on our website. Some of our teachers will provide breath work, guided meditation, chanting, and Yoga Nidra links.

TREASURERS REPORT

• The club is financially stable and can meet all current financial obligations. Financial support comes from sponsors and memberships.

• Kiralee Warr’s ‘Local Champions’ grant fund donated $250, which was used to purchase a singing bowl for classes.

• Outgoings for 2025: $22,786

• Current bank balance is $19,413

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

• As of this morning, 31 January 2026, there are 137 members including teachers and community members. In comparison, by the end of February last year, there were about 130 members, and by the end of 2025, there were 178 total members.

• Online membership is going smoothly, and any issues can be resolved by emailing Shell.

2025 BOARD

• Thank you to all of our Board members from 2025. The following people will not be reprising their positions on the Board for 2026:

- Denise resigned from the Treasurer role in November at which time Suzanne stepped back into the role (having done it previously). Denise has now stepped down from the Board.

- Kym is stepping down to focus on private clients and her space called The Portal.

- Chantal is stepping down after 9 years. Chantal will concentrate on her family’s businesses, including Remi's French Café; and the addition of Petite Remi opening mid-February.

• The Board and members thank and appreciate Chantal, Denise and Kym for their effort and dedication and wish them well in their future endeavours.

2026 BOARD NOMINATIONS

The Board is capped at 9 positions.

Returning Board members: Julie Shell, Suzanne, Katie, Vivek, and Vicki.

New board members: Aditi (teacher) and Michelle Essex (community member/teacher) - Michelle has just finished yoga teacher training and has experience on other boards.

Members were asked if there were any nominations to fill the last board position, but nobody volunteered.

Board Positions

President: Julie (declared and duly elected)

Vice President/Secretary: Shell (declared and duly elected)

Treasurer: Suzanne (declared and duly elected)

Ordinary Board Members: (declared and duly elected)

Teachers: Katie, Aditi, Michelle

Community Rep: Vicki, Vivek

OTHER BUSINESS

Discussion of Wednesday Location

Member, Cath, brought up lower attendance numbers on Wednesdays (compared to Saturdays), possibly due to work schedules and lack of shade, and suggested moving the Wednesday classes beside the Yacht Club. Julie explained that the area is not shaded on Wednesday afternoons. Instead, if members come closer to the stage, there’s more shade as the sun goes down behind the building.

The time of Wednesday’s class (5:30pm) has been consistent for 9 years. Other locations and times have been previously discussed, however, for the following reasons, the classes remain the same:

• The CGG, who sponsor the Wednesday class have asked us to set up there for visibility

• There is no more/less shade in any other part of Stow Garden at that time of day

• In wet weather we can move up onto the stage area

• The class needs to stay in Stow Garden to have storage for and access to the trolley/PA system

• The time needs to be consistent to avoid confusion.

We’ve addressed this topic in detail multiple times and the decision has always remained the same that there will be no change to the time and location of the Wednesday classes. The same applies to the Saturday classes.

Discussion around group sizes at free yoga classes. Member, Barbara, mentioned going to a free community yoga class in Perth where they have 20 participants and consider that to be a large group. In comparison to our classes that reached 130 today. We regularly receive lovely feedback from visitors who can’t believe so many people come to our classes.

Julie: ”Our community are very grateful for what we do and our GYC teachers love doing what we do, providing community yoga sessions suitable for everyone."

Closing

Julie thanked everyone for their attendance.

MEETING CLOSE: 9.27am