By Karen Nickel
Dialog Reporter
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The Student Association ’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) happened Wednesday, Nov. 21 at Casa Loma. The AGM is when student members vote on bylaws affecting Student Association operations. Members of the executive committee, board, constituency representatives, students and the guy who came for free pizza attended. There was little student content and an unexciting squabble about auditors, financial statements, and whether executive directors can serve for two years at a time.
Some tension happened between Liberal Arts and Prep. Studies rep. Chris Bourqe and the panel of executive directors on approving the financial statements; Bourque’s vote against was noted in the minutes. Bourque challenged the executive on approving the same auditor, Yale & Partners; asking if the option of another auditor had been explored. This resulted in an emotional defence of the Finance Committee’s work and professionalism.
An amendment was passed authorizing the board to “research, negotiate and appoint an auditor for May 2013’s audit”. Annual reporting from executive directors was next, mentioned as an afterthought was the new $25 levy for students which was toted as a positive, providing scholarships and bursaries. There was no comment from students present and the meeting moved on to bylaw changes.
There was an amendment to extend of executive director terms to two years, as there “wasn’t enough time in one to get things done” The motion was withdrawn and an amendment to limit executive directors to two, single year terms with non eligibility to run again for two years after was passed. More bylaw changes included: board of directors must be voting members (no longer allowing non-voting members of the board); no full-time equivalency is necessary; the establishment of an Executive Director; new election rules for the board; and clarification of who signs the cheques.
The bylaws have two interesting removals: One, board of directors receiving “reasonable compensation as determined at an AGM, or via a referendum with the membership”; and an article specifically dealing with conflicts of interest notifications and refraining from voting on those issues.
Part-time students have no say in AGMs; it seems full-time students don’t have much either, the “question and answer forum”, followed the “adjournment” when board members left the meeting.
