I read with interest the opinion letter by Mr Peter Darmos in the English edition of Neos Kosmos on Saturday 4th January 2014. Mr Darmos’ letter is a welcome and valuable contribution to a discussion about the Bulleen property, currently owned by the Greek Orthodox Community Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV). Mr Darmos expresses concern about the future ownership of the property by the GOCMV and rumours that the site may be sold by the current board. I share these concerns. Mr Darmos also outlines, significantly, the value and some of the unrealised potential of the Bulleen property to the GOCMV and the broader Greek community and discusses some of the work which was done in relation to the property.
Immediately beside Mr Darmos’ opinion letter, on the same page, was another opinion letter, from Dr Marinis Pirpiris, a current GOCMV board member. The appearance of Dr Pirpiris’ letter is interesting. Dr Pirpiris’ opinion was a response to Mr Darmos’ letter. It is clear Dr Pirpiris saw Mr Darmos’ letter before it was published. Mr Darmos may have sent his letter to Neos Kosmos and to the GOCMV Board as well, however this is unlikely. How then did the GOCMV Board become aware of Mr Darmos’ letter before it was published? Who decided a response by the GOCMV Board was necessary and that it should be published immediately beside Mr Darmos’ letter and why?
If Mr Darmos’ letter was published in Saturday’s paper a response from the GOCMV Board would have been appropriate and expected in subsequent editions. On the other hand, if Neos Kosmos did a piece about the future of the Bulleen property and sought the views of the GOCMV Board, Mr Darmos and others, e.g. Mr Peter (Nondas) Tsitas and Mr Dimitris Paikopoulos, both of whom have done a lot of work on this matter, all views could be put on the same page without any problem. This would have been appropriate and welcome but did not happen. The appearance of Dr Pirpiris’ letter on the same page raises serious questions about the relationship between Neos Kosmos and the current GOCMV Board but also about the objectivity of Neos Kosmos in relation to the GOCMV.
In his letter Dr Pirpiris does not mention the work done by previous boards in relation to the Bulleen property including reports nor to proposals by Mr Peter Tsitas or Mr Dimitris Paikopoulos regarding the Bulleen property.
I note also, significantly, that Dr Pirpiris does not mention the fact the current GOCMV Board did not hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the calendar year 2013. Apparently the AGM for 2013 will be held in 2014. The AGM is a minimum legal requirement of the Board to its members. It is most significant the current board has failed in this requirement. It is not good enough. It is outrageous and unacceptable. This ought to be of more concern to Dr Pirpiris and his fellow board members than it appears to be. The AGM is not the only requirement of the Board, it is however a legal and constitutional one. An effective board complies with the legal and constitutional requirements as a minimum on time. An effective board also has regular and effective communication with members. Effective communication means listening as well as providing information, a quarterly newsletter and push emails is not effective communication. If there is effective communication between the members and the Board during the year then the AGM is more likely to be effective. In the past few years GOCMV Boards have been very poor with AGMs, however the current board is the worst. I would be very interested to learn if there has been any occasion in the past when a board did not hold an AGM in a calendar year. The AGM should have been held in September and if there was a need an extraordinary meeting organised when required. This would have allowed the Board to meet its legal requirements but also to show its priority is the members.
Dr Pirpiris states the Board has adopted a “methodical approach of one major project at a time” yet refers to meetings between the Board and relevant council officers. This indicates work was done regarding the Bulleen property. Is this the full extent of the work done in 2013 regarding the Bulleen property?
Dr Pirpiris is a current board member of the GOCMV, not a member of the Executive. Why did the Board response come from a board member and not from a member of the Executive? Recently a Liberal Senator from South Australia released a book which contains his views on some issues. Some of those views have been condemned, some described as “hateful” by political opponents of the Liberal party. The office of the Liberal Prime Minister advised the views of the Liberal senator are his own only not those of the government as he is a backbencher. So in relation to the GOCMV: are the views expressed in Dr Pirpiris’ letter his views only or do the Executive and the Board share those views? The position of the current Board in relation to the Bulleen property is still unclear.
*Zisis Pouros is a former member of the Board of the GOCMV
Editor’s note: In view of the issues raised by Mr Darmos regarding the Bulleen property, Neos Kosmos asked for a response from the Board of the GOCMV, which was published.