Kia ora e te whānau,
Just a quick update to remind you about the Auckland Pride Special General Meeting being held tomorrow night. This meeting is where members of Auckland Pride will vote to decide if the current Board stays or goes. If you are a member of Auckland Pride, we encourage you to please vote for the current Board to stay.
If you are not a member of Auckland Pride, we’d love it if you could share our Givealittle page one more time with friends and whānau to give this crowdfunding effort one big push before the meeting.
Click here to share on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2G0oOGx
Click here to share on Twitter: http://bit.ly/2EeqI4n
HERE ARE THE DETAILS FOR THE MEETING:
Date: Thursday 6 December 2018
Time: 6 – 8pm
Venue: Pitt Street Methodist Church, 78 Pitt St, Newton
Doors open from 4:30pm. The Board are expecting a large turn out and early arrival is encouraged.
Proxy votes will be accepted. Proxy votes are when you nominate someone who will be at the meeting to vote on your behalf. People attending the meeting can hold more than one proxy vote at a time.
HOW TO VOTE BY PROXY:
1. Find someone going to the meeting who you trust to vote on your behalf (get in touch if you don't know anyone)
2. Click here to download the proxy form: http://bit.ly/2rlTckh
3. Fill it in. Make sure you use the name and email associated with your Pride membership and the membership of your nominated proxy voter
4. Send the complete form to the Pride Board before 6pm on 6 December 2018 via email using this address: proxy@aucklandpride.org.nz and cc the person you are giving your proxy vote
5. Done!
MORE INFO ON THE SGM FROM THE PRIDE BOARD:
What motions are being voted on?
The only remit that can be addressed at the upcoming SGM is the motion received in the initial notice advertised within our membership, calling for a “vote of no confidence in the Board”.
In accordance with our constitution, no further business can be brought to this Special Meeting.
How many members need to be present?
Under the constitution, a quorum (this is the legal number of members to make the meeting valid) for the SGM is 25% of the total membership. Members are required to be physically present at the SGM to make up the quorum. Proxy votes do not count towards the quorum.
What happens is if there is no quorum?
If there is no quorum, the constitution provides that after 30 minutes the meeting will be adjourned. No vote will be taken.
Who will chair the meeting?
Constitutionally, the Chair of Auckland Pride must lead the meeting. However due to the conflict of interest with the tabled remit, our Chair will start the meeting by suggesting that an independent chairperson be appointed to chair the meeting, and this proposal will be put to a vote. It is our proposal that this independent chairperson be Mark von Dadelszen, of Bannister and von Dadelszen (Hastings). Mark is a specialist in Societies and charitable trusts (and is the author of “Law of Societies in New Zealand” and of “Members’ Meetings”), as well as being a highly regarded mediator and arbitrator, and professional chair of meetings.
Will there be a chance to discuss the motion of no confidence?
Yes, there will be time to hear from different voices in the room, however a high standard of behaviour is expected at all times. This is a formal meeting, as opposed to a community hui, and therefore will be run as such.
Who are the returning officers/scrutineers?
A volunteer crew of non-Auckland Pride members will staff the registration desk and four people will be identified to the members as the scrutineers.
How many votes is needed to pass the vote?
There needs to be a majority vote.
What happens if a vote of no confidence isn’t passed?
The Board will take that as a mandate to carry on organising the Parade and Festival for 2019. The Board will then follow a process to appoint new members, replacing those that have resigned. A further community hui will be called, for all members to share ideas about the way forward.
What happens if a vote of no confidence is passed?
While there is no procedure set down in the constitution that addresses this scenario, the current Board will see a vote of no confidence as an indication of a lack of mandate to govern. In that event, the board will promptly call another Special General Meeting to elect a new board.
Will media be allowed?
Unless the meeting decides otherwise, media will be allowed to be present, however they will need to clearly identify themselves and be seated apart from the formal meeting.
Will photography/video or audio recording/live broadcasting be allowed?
To ensure the safety of our membership, no photography/video or audio recording/live broadcasting will be allowed, unless the meeting decides otherwise.
Are non-members allowed to attend?
Unless the meeting decides otherwise, non-Auckland Pride members may attend, but may be asked to sit apart from the formal meeting, and they will not be permitted to participate in the meeting in any way.
We will be in touch again after the SGM with the survey and next steps.
With love and in solidarity,
The Coalition for a truly inclusive Pride
