Major changes to the Bermuda Cricket Board?s constitution were approved this week, with president Reggie Pearman hoping they will ultimately make cricket?s governing body a model for non-profit organisations on the Island.

The reforms, which were put together by BCB secretary Marc Wetherhill and an external consultant, were voted on at a meeting of all 16 cricket clubs on Wednesday night ? with 12 voting in favour.

The main alterations are as follows:

Both Somerset and St. George?s ? as founding members of the Board ? were previously entitled to two votes each at all Board meetings.

That privilege has now been revoked and decisions will be made under a one member, one vote system.

The BCB?s Executive Committee has been increased from six members to ten. The additions include three club reps responsible for making the executive aware of concerns or grievances at a grassroots level as well as a fund development officer, in charge of lobbying the corporate community and Government for sponsorship.

The other executive members will include president Reggie Pearman, vice-president Gary Fray, second vice-president Allen Richardson, secretary Marc Wetherhill and a treasurer ? a position that has yet to be officially filled.

BCB chief executive Neil Speight will be answerable directly to the executive and will not be entitled to sit on it.

There will now have to be a meeting of the full Board four times a year, rather than just the annual AGM.

The three county associations are now no longer entitled to vote at Board meetings.

The Board received advice on the changes from the International Cricket Council?s in-house counsel, while they also looked at the way the English Cricket Board and Cricket Australia have reorganised themselves in recent years to get a flavour of how and why such reforms were implemented.

Commenting on the new constitution last night, Pearman argued that it had been incumbent on the BCB ? particularly since being handed $11 million by Government ? to ensure they ran themselves in the most efficient and professional manner possible.

Pearman also revealed that they are intent on becoming an accredited non-profit organisation with a major accrediting board in the United States.

?The changes were absolutely crucial to our continuing ability to raise money from Government and corporate Bermuda,? Pearman said.

?In fact, it was one of the processes we promised Government we would go through when they agreed to give us the $11 million. It?s an ongoing thing obviously and the changes and improvements will not stop here.

?But this is a major step in the right direction. We?ve said for some time that our two main goals are to become a model for all non-profit organisations in Bermuda and to become the best Associate member of the ICC. I think we?re now on that road.

?If corporate Bermuda and Government can see that we are following best practice, then our chances of raising money to make our plans a reality are much stronger. And hopefully this will be to the benefit of everybody involved in Bermuda cricket.?