AWARE AGM 2009 : EOGM : Do SOMETHING!

 Please refer to           http://we-are-aware.sg                   for future updates.

This is the closest to an official Old AWARE members website that is available. I can vouch for the website authors — they are the most reliable direct sources of information currently.

 

Contents of post:  1. EGM details    2. How to Join    3. EGM Agenda    4. SinQA meetup/discussion      5. DBS Credit Card Protest     6. Facebook Group    7. *NEW*: Understand more about Cedaw & Braema Mathi     8. Summary of Events/News   

Iwill update this post continuously, Latest update : 25 Apr 11am
I will be qouting members of AWARE ( the old-timers) who I believe, are far more in the know than me.  Please support our appeal.

AWARE CONSTITUTION      http://www.geocities.com/mathia_lee_yu_chun/AWAREConstitutionJune2006.pdf

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ITEM 1:    EGM DETAILS

 

 

Extraordinary General Meeting (“EGM”)

 

 

Date:  Saturday      2nd May 2009, 2pm to 5pm
(****Arrive early: You might be stopped from entry if they claim place is too full****)

Seating Capacity : 500

First Choice Auditorium
3 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh
#01-01 HSR Building
Singapore 319 378

http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_44890/travel_site_144286/

Nearby MRT: Braddell , Toa Payoh,
( my personal email : mathialee@yahoo.com)

REMEMBER TO BRING :

1. Proof of membership:
AWARE membership card OR e-receipts from the AWARE website ( http://www.aware.org.sg/?page%20id=1078 )
Online registration by credit card, PayPal accepted.  Cost: $40/ year  ($5 for full time students below 25 yrs old)
 

2. Proof of registration for EGM:
You HAVE to register with manager@aware.org.sg or call 67797137  before 22nd Apr.
I suggest EMAIL. Request for a DELIVERY receipt, and PRINT the delivery receipt as proof
(Also fwd email to olivia.tan@gmail.com   . She’ll be keeping an independant list that can be counter-checked against the AWARE new Exco’s list)

Let’s make sure no legitimate member is barred from voting based on technicalities.
They will be cracking down.

IMPORTANT (Edited 25Apr 11am):
Some ex-AWARE staff has informed us that the EGM preparations are now handled by the New Exco’s VOLUNTEERS ONLY.
The AWARE staff (REALLY BRAVE PEOPLE, Please send them flowers) have been reassigned to do other things. Or fired ( Manager got fired on the night of the Great Lock Out remember?).

 

 

 

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ITEM 2: HOW  TO   JOIN  AWARE   TO   MAKE   YOUR   VOTE   COUNT   

 

 

ref: http://ovidiayu.wordpress.com/2009/04/19/josie-and-the-pushy-cats-on-tv/ 
Do let Ovidia know if you’ve joined, she’ll like to meet you to thank you at the EGM

 

 

 

VIA THE WEBSITE:
http://www.aware.org.sg/?page%20id=1078

Membership costs $40 (or $5 if you are a full time student, Credit Card/ PayPal accepted.

ONLY SINGAPOREAN and PR   WOMEN, above 18 yrs old can vote.
The Constitutional admendments allowing foreigners to vote are not in effect yet.

Visit http://www.aware.org.sg to find out more about our past achievements and what we stand for — they’ve not altered the website just yet

Please print the e-receipts and bring them to the EGM as proof of your membership.

 
If the AWARE Website is down, these are alternatives:

Go down to the office personally
Address:  AWARE Blk 5 Dover Crescent #01-22. Singapore 130005
Nearest MRT : Bouna Vista, Cross the road, take 196 or 74, stop after ACS. 
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm

 

Print form out (in COLOR , please, for legitimacy)

  http://www.geocities.com/mathia_lee_yu_chun/AWAREformside1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/mathia_lee_yu_chun/AWAREformside2.jpg 

or pdf form

http://www.geocities.com/mathia_lee_yu_chun/AWAREMembershipForm.pdf

(thanks to Jennifer for her help! = ) )

Mail in completed form to AWARE ASAP.
Address:  AWARE Blk 5 Dover Crescent #01-22. Singapore 130005

In the meantime, RSVP to manager@aware.org.sg before 22nd Apr for EGM.

 

 

Come down to our Recruitment Drives
***For those who have failed to register online or need help in signing up, we will have volunteers on site who will be able to assist you during the following:
(ref: olivia.tan@gmail.com )

Date : 25th April (Sat) & 26th April (Sun)
Time : 3-9pm
Location : Food #03
http://www.food03.sg
6396 7980
107+109 Rowell Road

In addition, we are setting up some sign up points on Thursday and Friday as well. Will let you know when and where once I have info.

 

Signing up at the door of the EGM

As of now, that is POSSIBLE

HOWEVER, we are appealing for you NOT to do that because:

1. The poor staff (they are NOT the Exco, please don’t torture them) will be overwhelmed
2. The registration might eat into the meeting time, reducing the time available for Q &  A
3. The New Exco might change their mind on this policy at the last minute — let’s NOT risk it
4. You might be stopped from voting based on technicality : for not RSVPing by 22nd Apr
5. You have to come early to get a seat

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ITEM 3: EGM AGENDA
 
OFFICIAL LETTER

Qouting (abbreviated slightly) from the letter I received officially from AWARE dated the 17th Apr 2009:

“With reference to the 24th AGM of the AWARE duly convened on 28th Mar 09, the members present and voting had, by majority vote, decided to discuss the Proposed Constitutional Amendments at an EGM to be convened by the duly elected ExCo 09/10″manager@aware.org.sg or call 67797137.“

The documents relevant to the above meeting will be sent seperately at a later date.

Please let us know, before 22nd April, if you will be attending the EGM. You may either email Patricia at

 Agenda:

1. Confirmation of Minutes of the 24th AGM held on 28th Mar 09
2. Matters Arising
3. Requisition for EGM
4. Proposed Constitutional Amendments ( to be sent later)
5. AOB

Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda should give notice to the Honorary Secretary no later than 22nd Apr 2009.

By Order of The Executive Committee

Jenica Chua (Ms)
Honorary Secretary
AWARE

 

Reference: Requisition for EGM

We the undersigned constituting at least 10% of the membership of AWARE hereby request that an EGM to be called to consider and pass the following resolutions:

1. That the current Executive Committee has lost the mandate and confidence of th mebers of the Society to continue as the Executive Committee of the Society on the basis that the Current Exco:

a. has not acted and is not acting in the best interest of the Society; and/or
b. does not appreciate or share the values of the Society; and/or
c. does not have the requisite experience of carrying out the Society’s work or is otherwise inadequate to further the Society’s objectives;

2. that all members of the Current Exco be and are hereby removed from their positions on the Executive Committee; and

3. that a replacement Executive Committee be elected to serve for the remainder of the current term

We request that the Notice to call the EGM be issued no later than 14 days from the date of this request.

Dated 14th Apr, undersigned by 160 members.

 
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ITEM 4:  SinQA Meet Up

Ref:   http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=80038093572&ref=ts
Host: Singapore Queer-Straight Alliance (SinQSA) 
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Time: 3:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Food #03, Post-Museum, 107+109 Rowell Rd
City/Town: Singapore, Singapore
Phone: 63963598
Email: admin@sinqsa.org

it must be clear that it is not an event, but a regular SinQSA meet-up,
and that we will address the implications of the Aware episode on “gender equality” and queer-identified and straight women.
it is not a meeting to generate hate or speculation, if you know what i mean.
the main purpose of the meet-up is to make people sensitive/aware of gender issues and related events in singapore.
ALL are welcomed;   it’s all about pluralism and hearing other people’s stories, if you feel it’s great to share and listen

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ITEM 5: DBS PROTEST

Ref:   D.T. said, on April 20, 2009 at 10:19 pm (Edit)

” What I did however, was to cancel all my DBS credit cards.

As a consumer, I have the rights to decide,
with which company I want to spend my money with.

After I terminated the cards, their service recovery staff called back the next day and tried to convince me otherwise. They already prep as to what to say when
I mentioned my reason of termination.

Their stand was:  that the matter is still being handled internally and an appropriate response will be made known to the public when their investigations are complete.

The bank (DBS) is actively monitoring the fall-out from this PR crisis. If enough customers were to act & terminate their cards, the bank will definitely ask Lau to quit her post at Aware. “

 

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ITEM 6:  Facebook group  :
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25846462465#/group.php?gid=72296674515&ref=mf

“If you are female, or care about the people around you who are female, i.e: your mothers, wives, sisters or daughters, please join us and help spread the word.

 

Currently, a group of unknowns have taken over AWARE, the leading advocacy group for gender equality in Singapore. We have reason to believe that they do not act in the best interest of all women. They definitely have an agenda, or they would not have executed such a despicable and underhanded act of staging a coup.

If they want to push their agenda, let them form their own organisation.

If they truly care so much about women’s rights, they should work WITH AWARE, not against them.

If there is nothing sinister about their actions, they should stop their silence and explain to us why they did what they did and what are their plans for the future.

If they do not have anything to hide, they could have simply said “We will continue to do the good work that AWARE has been doing and improve on it.”

Instead, they have simply said “No comment”

As long as they continue to keep silent, we will continue to believe that their agenda differs from the current AWARE mission and we need to work together to get these group of people out of AWARE’s ex-co.

In order to help ensure that AWARE maintains in safe hands, a group of people are gathering women to sign up as members of AWARE. If you are a woman in Singapore and are keen to help maintain the mission statement of AWARE, please turn up during the coming EOGM to cast your vote.

Membership is at $40 per year and if you are a student below 25, you can purchase it at just $5.

Sign up at www.aware.org.sg “

 

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If you want to help us, please come down, and join as a member. This is truly a matter of numbers already. We need you, every single one of you. Your vote MATTERS.

Remember,
You don’t have to be an animal to support animal rights

You don’t have to be a child to support childrens’ rights

You don’t have to be gay to support gay rights

You don’t have to be a woman to support gender equality.

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ITEM 7 :  Understand more about Cedaw & Braema Mathi 

Braema Mathi was the chairperson for the CEDAW Shadow Report Subcommittee. She was terminated effectively on Mar 28, the AGM 09, and informed of the termination after the 2nd Exco meeting.

Learn more about CEDAW here, and why it is important for Women all over the world and in Singapore.

The CEDAW subcomm from AWARE and what it does (not touched by the New Exco yet)
http://www.aware.org.sg/?page_id=57

AWARE’s last Shadow Reported submitted to the UN , 2007
www.iwraw-ap.org/resources/pdf/Singapore%20SR%20final.pdf

Singapore’s State CEDAW reports to the UN, 2004 and 2007:
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/rwmain?page=publisher&publisher=CEDAW&skip=0&querysi=singapore&searchin=title&display=10&sort=date

 

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ITEM 8: Summary of Events / News   (also see Comments for more updates)

Summary:

28th Mar : AGM. New members make up 9 / 12 Exco positions. Voted in by 100+ members who just joined over the last few months

7th Apr: 1st Exco Meeting. President Claire (nominated by Constance Singham, uncontested) quits the next day. Constance uninvited.

14th Apr: EGM requested by 160 signatories.

15th Apr: Josie Lau appointed by Exco as president. Constance asked to leave meeting. Caris Lim walks out of meeting. (no info about her resigning from Exco, though)

16th Apr: Braema Mathi terminated as Cedaw chair. DBS protests Josie’s appointment. Josie was responsible for adopting Focus on the Family as DBS’s adopted charity, which has a strong anti-homosexuality stance.

18th Apr: ST report: 6 out of the 9 new members on Exco attend Anglican Church of Our Savior at Margaret Dr ( http://www.coos.org.sg/  ,   http://www.anglican.org.sg/parish.html ) . President Josie Lau is related to ex-NMP Thio Li-Ann ( http://theonlinecitizen.com/2007/10/377a-serves-public-morality-nmp-thio-li-ann/ )

19th Apr: Constance Singham quits as Immediate Past President.

People remaining in Exco still fighting for the feminist cause : Chew I-Jin (Asst Hon Treasurer)  ,  Caris Lim (Ord member)

Ng E-Jay writes a very good article here: http://www.sgpolitics.net/?p=2717 

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Qouting from another AWARE member , whose views I echo:

” If you’ve read the Straits Times, TODAY, or have been in contact with an AWARE member recently, you’ll be aware of what has happened to our organisation.

150 members have recently submitted a petition to the new ExCo for an Extraordinary General Meeting to ask the new team about their motives and plans for the organisation. So far they have already removed chairpeople from key AWARE committees. We are concerned what they’ll do about key aware programmes that don’t align with their undisclosed agenda.

 

 

From January – March of this year, AWARE’s membership increased by over 100 members. Many of the new members submitted applications on photocopied forms, suggesting they had been given out at a large meeting. These new members showed up en mass at AWARE’s Annual General Meeting on March 28 and voted themselves in nine of twelve Executive Committee positons. They now hold the majority and decision-making power.

 

 

None of these women had volunteered with AWARE before. When asked of their opinions on feminism their responses were noncommital. When asked about their plans for the future of AWARE, they also had little to say.

Several are members of a very anti-gay church and have been public about their hostility towards gays. Rumor has it that this takeover was stragetically planned because AWARE is an open and welcoming place for women, regardless of class, race, or sexuality.

In the little time these women have been in charge of AWARE, they have fired the highly respected chairs of several important subcommittees. These subcomms were conducting research for the United Nations and for Singapore, and now that research is in danger.

 

The EGM has been scheduled by the new ExCo for Saturday, May 2.(Happens to be on a holiday weekend, so we’re worried people won’t be able to attend…) Please attend and support the old guard of AWARE. We may have a vote of no confidence so we need you there. Rally as many of your friends to join AWARE and come to the meeting. This is extremely important if you care about the future of women’s issues in this country.

We have experienced a hostile takeover and need to get the organisation back in safe hands that actually care about the org’s vision and mission.“