Minutes of 2002 Annual General Meeting

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" height=150 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>T.I.S.I. (NZ) Sangam</B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>  |  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="T.I.S.I. (NZ) Sangam"><U><B>Back to Home Page</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Maathar Sangam"><U><B>Maathar Sangam</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="T.I.V. Sangam"><U><B>T.I.V. 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Sangam General Manager Dr Krishnamurthi, and former Fiji Maathar Sangam National President Mrs Sarada Krishnamurthi.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1. Call to Order</B></div> <div> The meeting was called to order by the National President, Mr M K Pillay.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2.  Prayer and Welcome</B></div> <div> Pandit Achari recited a short Prayer.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2.  Condolences</B></div> <div> A minutes silence was observed to pay respect to those members who had passed away in the last year.  These included NZ Sangam Life Member Krishna Murthi and Fiji Sangam Life Member Master Michael Joseph Paligaru.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3.  Welcome</B></div> <div> Mr M K Pillay welcomed everyone to the meeting.  He gave a brief background of the Sangam in New Zealand, and stated the aims and objectives of the organisation.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>4.  Introduction of Chief Guest</B></div> <div> Nikhil Naidu introduced the chief Guest Dr Krishnamurthi, and described his long service to Sangam in Fiji.  Dr Krishnamurthi was a Life Member of Fiji T.I.S.I. Sangam and General Manager for many years.  He was responsible for putting together the first Sangam membership register.  He now works as a consultant in India.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>5.  Chief Guest's Address</B></div> <div> Dr Krishnamurthi described the history of Sangam from its beginnings in 1916.  He began his work in Sangam in 1959.  He was a close friend of Sadhu Kuppuswamy.  In Fiji South Indians were not given respect and equal opportunities so Sadhu Kuppuswamy, together with his close friend M N Naidu, formed the Sangam to provide free education to South Indians.  </div> <bR> <div> Dr Krishnamurthi said that in New Zealand the Sangam needed 15 years forward planning.   A time-frame for projects and a plan for funding needed to be put in place.  The plan needed to be </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> 5</div> <div> Implemented in stages.  Training was needed in leadership, technical, business and human resource development.  Initially, short programmes can be run in groups of 10.</div> <bR> <div> He suggested that religious programmes be kept short, up to an hour at the most.  More time should be devoted to discussions and debate.  Also, South Indians needed to conduct their religious ceremonies in the traditional manner -there were too many North Indian influences in the prayer process.  Prayers needed to be commenced in Tamil or Telegu.  Spirituality needed to be encouraged, and the 62 Tamil Saints be remembered.</div> <bR> <div> Dr Krishnamurthi concluded by reminding the meeting that the Then India Sanmarga Ikya (NZ) Sangam should stand for righteousness and good.  South Indian people should unite, get together and move forward.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>6.  Notice of Meeting</B></div> <div> All agreed adequate notice was given.  Moved by Nirmal Gaunder and Seconded by Ram Raju.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>7.  Minutes of Last Annual General Meeting</B></div> <div> These were read out from the Annual Report by the Secretary-General.   They were accepted.  </div> <div> Moved by Nirmal Gaunder and Seconded by Ram Raju.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>8.  Matters Arising from Minutes</B></div> <div> NIL</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>9.  Report on Activities</B></div> <div> The Secretary-General Nikhil Naidu read out the written Report on the Activities of the T.I.S.I. (NZ) Sangam (copy in the 2002 Sangam Annual Convention Report).</div> <bR> <div> Clarification was made on the status of the organisation's link to Fiji T.I.S.I. Sangam.  Affiliation to Fiji T.I.S.I. Sangam meant NZ Sangam was an official arm of Fiji Sangam but not a Branch. </div> <bR> <div> The report was accepted.  Moved by Shiva Mudaliar and Seconded by Sudeshna Kaliappan.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>10.  Financial Report</B></div> <div> The National Treasurer Mr Kushmagaran Nair presented the audited written Statement of Accounts which showed a consolidated bank balance of $20,995.40 as at 30 June 2002.  (copy in the 2002 Sangam Annual Convention Report).</div> <bR> <div> Kushamargan Nair stated that the accounts were a full set consolidated from the inception of the organisation in 1999.  Also, expenses were low due to most of the operating costs being personally met by the Executive.  A car donated by him was raffled and won by Ram Chandra Reddy.  The car was repaired by Narendra Gounder and subsequently sold and the proceeds donated back to Sangam.</div> <bR> <div> Jai Ram Sharma from ABM Ltd kindly audited and approved the accounts at no charge.</div> <bR> <div> There was a question as to what proportion of membership fees would be given back to branches.  </div> <div> M K Pillay stated that the amount had not been agreed on but this would be done.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> 6</div> <div> Suggestions were made that an Asset Register needed to be drawn-up and also a Balance Sheet was needed.</div> <bR> <div> The report was accepted on a motion moved by Arun Sami Pillay and seconded by Anuradha Krishna.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>11.  Motions (of which notice was given)</B></div> <div> None</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>12.  Election of Office Bearers</B></div> <div> Dr Krishnamurthi was appointed interim Chairperson on a motion moved by M K Pillay and seconded by Nikhil Naidu.</div> <bR> <div> Some discussion took place on the process and procedure for nominations and the qualification for Executive positions.  There was some misunderstanding on nominations not being open to the floor.  Dr Krishnamurthi explained the process and that nominations needed to be in writing within the requirements of the Constitution.  He suggested that any further issues needed to be put in writing to the Council of Management.</div> <bR> <div> Dr Krishnamurthi declared that all qualified nominations were moved and seconded and were received within the time stipulated.  He declared all positions for the Executive Committee were declared unopposed as no other qualified nominations were received.  The following office bearers were appointed :</div> <bR> <div> National President :          Mr M K Pillay</div> <div> Secretary-General :          Mr Nikhil Naidu</div> <div> General Treasurer :           Mr Kushmagaran Nair</div> <div> General Manager :            Mr Shiva Mudaliar</div> <div> Vice Presidents :              Mr Ram Chandra Reddy</div> <div> Mr Govind Sami Achary</div> <div> Mr Arun Sami Pillay</div> <div> Mr Nirmal Gaunder</div> <div> Mr Ram Raju</div> <div> Mrs Sudeshna Kaliappan</div> <div> Mrs Dhan Latchmi Naidu (National President - Maathar Sangam)                                   </div> <div> General Secretary's :       Ms Anuradha Krishna (Operations)</div> <div> Legal Advisor         :          Ms Monica Krishna</div> <bR> <div> No nomination had been received for the position of General Secretary-Administration.  Nominations were invited from the floor but none were received.</div> <bR> <div> It was agreed to leave the appointment of the General Secretary-Administration and Auditor to the Council of Management</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>13.  Vote of Thanks & Conclusion</B></div> <div> The President-elect Mr M K Pillay thanked everyone for their participation, including the chief guests, and asked everyone to stay on for the meal.  The meeting concluded at 6:25 pm.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>