The Special General Meeting (SGM) of the members of the Greek Community of Melbourne today decided to say “No” to the revision and modernisation of its constitution.
There was no discussion or vote on the substance of the changes.
The members, by a vote of 64 for and 44 against, voted against the first motion which had to be passed in order to continue the discussion on the other motions.
To pass the first motion 75% of the members present at the SGM were required to vote in favour, which did not occur.
There were about 130 people at Alphington Grammar’s Andrianakos Centre, but some were not allowed to vote as they had not validly renewed their membership, which caused some people to object.
The debate, in the presence of the Community’s lawyer, was robustly and objectively chaired by treasurer Marinis Pirpiris with the absence of president Bill Papastergiadis in Greece.
Pirpiris started the discussion with a reference to the 50th black anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and members observed a minute’s silence for the fallen.
The Treasurer then explained the reasons for the meeting and the proceedings.
The debate, although at times high-toned, was civil and respectful of the opposing viewpoint.
After the vote, Pirpiris respectfully accepted the verdict of the members although he stated that the issue of revising the constitution could be revisited.
Kostas Karamarkos, one of the members in favour of the revision stated:
“In a well conducted Special General Meeting this evening, the members of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV), did not endorse with the required majority (75% of the votes of those who attended the meeting), the proposal of the current Board of the organisation to radically alter the #constitution, by removing almost all of the rights of the membership. The Board’s attempt was supported by 64 members (58%) and opposed by 44 members (40%). There were also 2 informal votes. Let us hope that this outcome will become a new beginning, where as many members of our broader community and of the GOCMV as possible, will be given the opportunity to participate in a well informed public dialogue, aiming to update the constitution in a consensual manner, guided by principles that will ultimately lead us to the creation of a more representative, a more inclusive, a more transparent and a more open, democratic and mass based Community.”
A view with which the side opposing the proposed changes agreed.
