How SPCA Membership Works
- 14th August 2026
- Community Updates
- 8 min read
Understanding Your Local Community Association
From time to time, we're asked how the Suffolk Park Community Association (SPCA) works, why we have members & how decisions are made.
They're great questions.
Community associations can sometimes seem a little confusing from the outside, so we thought we'd explain how SPCA operates, how you can get involved & why membership is such an important part of ensuring our organisation remains democratic, transparent & accountable.
We're an Incorporated Community Association
The Suffolk Park Community Association is an incorporated not-for-profit association registered in New South Wales.
That means we don't simply operate as an informal community group.
We're governed by:
- Our Constitution;
- The NSW Associations Incorporation Act 2009;
- The Associations Incorporation Regulation 2022;
- Other legal obligations that apply to incorporated associations.
These laws exist to ensure community organisations operate fairly, transparently & in the best interests of their members.
Our Committee cannot simply make decisions however it chooses. Every committee member has legal responsibilities & must act in accordance with our Constitution & the law.
Who owns SPCA?
Quite simply...
Our members do.
The Committee doesn't own the Association.
The President doesn't own the Association.
Every financial member is part of the Association & has the opportunity to help shape its future.
Why do we have membership?
Membership isn't about paying to have a voice.
It's about becoming part of the organisation itself. By becoming a member, you're helping create an organisation that is representative of the community & accountable to the people who support it.
Members can:
Membership is open to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements outlined in our Constitution.
How are Committee members elected?
One of the most important meetings each year is the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
At the AGM:
- Reports are presented to members
- The Association's activities during the previous financial year are reviewed
- The required financial statement is received & considered
- Members elect the Association's office-bearers & ordinary Committee members
The Constitution provides for a President, Vice-President, Treasurer & Secretary, along with three ordinary Committee members. Committee members are elected for a term ending at the conclusion of the following AGM & are eligible for re-election.
Members can nominate themselves or another eligible candidate for a Committee position, with nominations required to be signed by two members & accompanied by the candidate's consent. If the number of nominations exceeds the number of positions available, a ballot is held at the AGM.
This is how our Association's democratic process works.
At the 2025 AGM, members elected the Committee, including President Kelly Minahan, Vice-President/Treasurer John White & Secretary Hayley Devlin.
Since then, some Committee members have resigned. Where a Committee position becomes vacant between AGMs, our Constitution allows the Committee to appoint another member to fill that casual vacancy until the next AGM.
This means Committee membership can change during the year, but the process is governed by the Constitution & the membership has the opportunity to elect the Committee at each AGM.
What meetings does SPCA hold?
As an incorporated association, SPCA holds several types of meetings throughout the year. Each has a different purpose & is conducted in accordance with our Constitution, ensuring the Association operates fairly, transparently & democratically.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Held once each year, the AGM is where members receive annual reports, elect the Committee & vote on important Association business.
General Meetings
Held throughout the year, General Meetings keep members & invitees informed about projects, provide community updates & offer opportunities for discussion & feedback.
Special General Meetings
Special General Meetings are called when members need to vote on significant matters that cannot wait until the next AGM. In 2026, members voted at a SGM to change the Association's name from the Suffolk Park Progress Association to the Suffolk Park Community Association.
Committee Meetings
The elected Committee meets regularly to oversee governance, monitor projects, make operational decisions & ensure the Association meets its legal obligations. The current SPCA Committee meets once per month, usually on the first Wednesday of the month.
What does the membership fee pay for?
We're sometimes asked why we charge a membership fee.
Like all incorporated associations, SPCA has ongoing operating costs.
Membership fees help cover essential expenses such as:
- NSW Fair Trading fees
- Hall hire for meetings
- Public liability insurance for community events
- Governance & administration costs
- Basic operational expenses
At the same time, much of what SPCA delivers is generously donated by volunteers.
This includes hundreds of volunteer hours, website development, newsletters, digital systems, email hosting, community engagement & many of the resources we provide to residents.
Our goal has always been to keep membership affordable while ensuring the Association remains financially sustainable.
Transparency Matters
We're committed to being open about how SPCA operates.
That's why we publish:
We believe informed members build stronger communities.
Join Us
For more than 65 years, community members have volunteered their time to help shape the future of Suffolk Park.
Today, that tradition continues.
Whether you're passionate about the environment, community events, planning, advocacy or simply want to stay informed, becoming a member is one of the simplest ways to support the future of our village.
We'd love to welcome you.
Membership is open to anyone who meets the eligibility requirements outlined in our Constitution.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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