----- Original Message ----- From: "Marlon Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 7:23 AM Subject: [Goanet]UK Goan Association
-- > I presume you are referring to the following event > detailed below. However, I do not see what the issue > is. The bishop who happend to be a board member's > brother performed a "service" for the community and > was given an award of some kind. My first response to > this is did the president overule the rest of the > board in organizing this event? If not, what is the > issue? I'm assuming of course they were elected to > their positions and thus have the authority to > organize social and religious events. I'm also > assuming that the GOA-UK is not a secular organization > and whose membership primarily consists of goan > catholics. Sorry for my basic questions as I dont live > in the UK. > > > > http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/newsletter/2003-28/ as > follows: > > SPECIAL REPORT: Visit by Bishops. > > The UK was fortunate to receive visits from Bishop > Filipe Neri Ferrao (auxiliary Bishop of Goa) and > Bishop Agnelo Gracias (auxiliary Bishop > of Mumbai and brother of the GOA President, Flavio > Gracias). Bishop Filipe Neri Ferrao celebrated Mass > at Southwark Cathedral and at the social that > followed a presentation was made to him on behalf of > the Goan Community RESPONSE: First of all The President has not been elected by the General Body, he failed to stand for elections. An E.G.M was called for elections. They were advised that it would be illegal to hold an election at an E.G.M. . The remedy used thereafter is highly irregular if not down right illegal. The confirmation of elections can only be done at an A.G.M as per our Constitution. If he was not elected in the first place they body cannot simply okay something which didn't happen. I have checked on the legality of this and have found out that it is a down right fraud . Furthermore it was not on the agenda that this was the course of action that would be taken. I have received advise that the correct thing, would have been to call and A.G.M under the title of unfinished business. The President may be opted by the Board members. If this is the case he has no authority to sign. Many people perform a service and are allowed to charge for their services - say a band playing or a disco .... When and if you pay over the odds for a disco then you suspect that something is not correct. Secondly the usual practise is for the offertory collection or part of it to be gifted to the officiating clergy. I have not read anywhere in our Constitution that the Association can organize religious events. We have a memorandum and this should be adhered to. I do not believe this to be the case. It might be that it was worthy to make gifts, where do we stop and how far can we go? Cheers, Gabe Menezes. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################