Hi Gabe n J.C. Colaco J.C. - Thanks for the correction on the wrong application of the term/phrase- "conflict of interest" used for the recent elections of office bearers of the Goan Association of New Jersey (GOANJ). However, J.C., I was expecting you to inform us what term or phrase we should have used . I look forward to it.
Gabe- I had no problems convincing members of the Association's executive committee and the Planning Committee of this "clash". (under the GOANJ structure, members of Planning Commiittee (PC) appendage the executive commiittee. My wife and myself are members of the PC and in other GOA structures, it would be similar to being a sub-committee member). . However, It took me sometime to convince the members that it was a clash, or conflict of interest, for the Association's President to be co-opted into the Board of Trustees which among things oversees the running of the Association's activities. The executive committee finally gave in, but it had to wait until it was amended in the constitution and ratified at the annual general body meeting (agm) . In this context, I hear that some Associations take "short-cuts" by abruptly making changes in the constitution without the tacit approval of the members at the AGM. The belief is that iin some cases, the commiittee members feel that the changes may not be approved at the AGM. In the GOANJ case, I do not know if a husband and wife collussion could constitute any "rail-roading" to use J.C's term, but the executive committee consists of five members; hence, convincing one more member could protect any "hidden" agenda they could have had. Many years ago, The husband was the President and the wife - Hon. General Secretary of the Montreal "Can Orient" Association. (Can Orient Groups embrace all Pakistani Christians in North America). While another Goan Association in the U.S. - I do not remember which one- once had a son as the President of the Association's executive committee and the father as President of the Board of Trustees. My issue is- don't the individuals- members of the same family- understand that their presence in the committee or Board of Trustees could jeopardise the smooth running of the organization. Do we have to leave it to the Association to change it or make it "crystal" clear that relatives cannot hold positions that would bring about "clashes". Regards. Tony Barros. New Jersey, USA.