PARENT'S ASSOCIATION UPDATES

UPDATED: 19/01/10

 

LETTER FROM PA PRO TEM COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN   Hello and belated best wishes for 2010!   Following the meeting held November 14th, we wanted to update you on progress that has been made. Despite basing our last meeting on groundwork to set up a new Association, our first objective was to look into the possibility of maintaining the existing parents association, as it was felt that setting up a new one could take a considerable amount of time. Valarmathi has been in contact with the Registrar of Societies repeatedly to discuss our situation and look into how the existing association can be revived.  She managed to do this even though during this period she gave birth and has had to look after her baby. Through her efforts we have made a lot of progress in understanding what we must do. Both Rajan and I have met some of the previous committee members to get their support towards regularizing the association.  We have received their cooperation. Currently we are waiting for a document from the ROS which will require us to offer an official explanation why there has been no AGM for 2007-2009  This needs to be accompanied by minutes of an EGM where members agree to accept that there has been no AGM and agree to revive the association and elect a new committee.  Our next communication will probably be to call for an EGM to elect a new committee.   Regards,   Harro

 

 

 

UPDATED: 01/12/09

 

MEETING MINUTES

 

Venue: Interact Room, elc International School

Date: Friday November 13^th, 730pm

 

Attendance:

1. Yen Ling Chen & Harro Koopmans – Acting as chair person
2. Jodie LaRiviere – Acting as co-chair
3. Rajan Kaloo – representing the school
4. Kimberley Van Luit
5. Hans Faasse
6. Mark & Lyna Rampling
7. Mages Sinniah & Valarmathi
8. Mrs. Zainal Kassim
9. Dorothy Woon
10. Yeong Mei Kuin
11. Ho Lian Teck

Harro Koopmans started the meeting at 745pm by welcoming everyone for attending.  The main aim of the meeting is to set up a new Parents Association and to go through the rules and constitution.

A draft copy of the rules and constitution was handed out to each person for review, comments and subsequent alteration where necessary.

It was suggested by Hans Faasse that the name of the association would be Parents Assocation of elc (PA elc).

It was determined that under aims and objectives, point 2.5 “to be a facilitator between the parents and the school management to work towards continually improving the educational system and environment for our children” is an important objective and it was asked that this aim be moved to the top.

Point 2.3 to be altered to read “to support, advise and assist students in the production of periodic communication material to be distributed to members of the society and teachers of elc International School, with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.

Point 2.4 to be altered to read “To provide support to elc International School in any areas requested by the school and deemed appropriate by the Committee.  This may include but is not limited to carnivals, interact nights, stalls at annual fair, career guidance etc.”

It was debated whether teachers with children enrolled in the school should be ordinary or honorary members.  Rajan felt that there might be a conflict of interest if these teachers were ordinary members, it was felt that they should be honorary members.  This clause has been amended to include this.

It was debated and agreed that subject to the law allowing it, all parents with children at elc would automatically be members of the parents association.

Further incentives like the granting of discounts at the bookshop for members or different costs during the carnival for members and non-members was discussed

Rajan was willing to approach the bookshop to negotiate a possible discount for parents association members

Hans Faasse was not in favour of having a 2 tier pricing system at the carnival saying it would be far too difficult.

Point 5.2 Mark Rampling suggested we remove the highlighted part.  It was voted on and agreed

1. If half an hour after the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be postponed to a date (not exceeding 30 days) to be decided by the committee; and if a quorum is not present half an hour after the time appointed for the postponed meeting, the members present shall have power to proceed with the business of the day but they shall not have power to alter the rules of the society or make decisions affecting the whole membership.

On Point 5.5 it was decided that a president can independently call for an Extraordinary General Meeting.

It was decided under point 6.1 that the position of vice-president and the position of assistant secretary would be removed to keep the committee small in view of the small turnout at the meeting.

In 6.5.3 Mrs Zainal Kassim correctly mentioned that it should refer to a circular, not specifically a letter but email correspondence would also be acceptable.

In point 7.2 the committee shall deputize as the position of vice president has been removed

In point 7.4 the committee shall assist the secretary since the position of assistant secretary was removed.

In point 8.3 it was decided that the treasurer would hold the cheques but would not have the authority to sign

Section 11 has been removed from the rules and constitution.

Rajan then explained the role of the protem committee which was to formally establish the society

Valarmathi, who has previous experience in working with societies, albeit 13 years ago, graciously offered to assist.

Jodie LaRiviere and Harro Koopmans are the other people in the protem committee.

There was then some discussion on the existing parents association which still exists and whether the problems could be resolved

Rajan explained at some length the situation as he understood it and Hans Faasse who attended the last meeting of the existing association also contributed.

The protem committee together with other interested people at the meeting will do some investigations on what can be done.

The date of the next meeting will be decided once the protem committee has done further work to determine the next course of action.

Meeting adjourned at 930pm

Minutes prepared by Harro Koopmans

 

- PLEASE DOWNLOAD PA RULES & CONSTITUTION HERE -