Re: [activities] Our AGM and constitution

On Sat, Feb 21, 2009, Sridhar Dhanapalan wrote:
> This is different from how we've been running our AGMs, where we (the
> Committee) nominate a member to be chairperson.

Have we? My recollection (and I think I've been that person) is that
you're appointing someone else to be returning officer for the election,
not to chair the entire AGM. The distinction is not obvious in practice,
since the election takes the bulk of the time.

> What do members think?

I have no problem with the President chairing the AGM. This seems pretty
standard: I recall attending a meeting of the University of Sydney
Senate in which Chancellor Leonie Kramer retained her constitutional
role as chair of the meeting even though it was meeting to discuss
whether the Senate was authorised to fire her[1].

I would prefer that a third party not standing for committee be
appointed to conduct the actual election as usual and as per 15.6:

"The ballot for the election of office-bearers and ordinary members of
the committee is to be conducted at the annual general meeting in such
usual and proper manner as the committee may direct."

-Mary

[1] Good times.
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