Special General Meetings of the IESL a necessary evil?

Special General Meetings of the IESL a necessary evil?

by Shavindranath Fernando

F741

Recently a group of members requested for a  Special General Meeting to be convened on several resolutions to be discussed in terms of by-law 87 of IESL. In response to their request IESL summoned the meeting on a Wednesday, as they have specifically indicated in their letter  that the meeting should be held on a Wednesday.

There were several resolutions to be discussed, proposed by a very senior member on matters of fundamental nature that affect the disciplinary procedure of IESL and other matters related to elections etc.  I am certain that as responsible members those who signed the letter understood the serious implications of such matters. In requesting the SGM I am sure they were consciously well aware of their obligations and responsibilities attached to their request signified by their signature. Unfortunately as most of you may be now aware, the meeting could not be held due to lack of a quorum. What is very significant to note is that many of those who signed the letter were not present and what is most hilarious is that the member who seconded the motions too was absent!

With this very irresponsible behavior of a group of our members,  the reputation of the IESL is brought into question. It is untenable to even imagine that we have such irresponsible members in our midst. By this very act they have caused loss to the institution by way of wastage of money in sending notices to membership, cost associated with making available the hall, and most importantly the waste of time of those members who came expecting the meeting to be held. 

This is not the first time such incidents have happened and what is also to be noted is that on many occasions it is a group of few members who continue to be engaged in such activities causing such wastage to the IESL. It is of course a democratic right of every member to request for a Special General Meeting on matters of importance and interest to members. However what should be born in mind is the fact such requests should be followed up with interest by those who request such a meeting. What is most disturbing is the fact that as responsible members they continue to sign letters brought to them by interested parties without even perhaps being aware of what they are signing. I may also remind that even at the last Annual General Meeting several frivolous resolutions were brought which did not even get the support of the seconder !! ( The seconder at the last minute requested permission of the council to withdraw his name!!) I refuse to believe IESL has such irresponsible members. 

May I finally request our members to refrain from such irresponsible behavior in the future so that the IESL will not be brought into disrepute by such acts.