JETAA Toronto members gathered for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, January 31st. The AGM is a chance for the chapter’s membership to hear about the year in review, how the year’s funding was allocated, discuss and vote on any changes to the bylaws, and of course, elect new officers to the executive committee.
Following the meeting, a light supper was enjoyed by all, and in the tradition of many a JETAA event, a nijikai ensued – this one at nearby pub PJ O’Brien’s.
See below is a list of your spiffy new (and not-so-new) exec. Your new executives begin their roles in March to coincide with the Japanese fiscal year.
Please click here to see our amended bylaws, voted in by the present membership at the AGM. Scroll down to the bottom of this article to see a detailed report on specific bylaws changed.
This year’s AGM took place at Wattpad HQ. Thank you, Wattpad, for hosting us.
A hearty thank you to everyone who joined this event, and here’s to another awesome year of JETAA in Toronto!
Congratulations also to Graeme Ball, winner of the Kodo tickets raffle.
JETAA Toronto 2015 Executive:
|
Co-Chair |
Carl |
Sachs |
|
Co-Chair |
Nick |
Jones |
|
Treasurer |
Julia |
Rozinowicz |
|
Treasurer Support |
Sonomi |
Tanaka |
|
Secretary |
Clarissa |
Jewell |
|
Conference Coordinator |
Clara |
Ho |
|
Conference Support |
Sifton |
Anipare |
|
Conference Support |
Geoffrey |
Greig |
|
Events Coordinator |
Danielle |
Taschereau |
|
Events Support |
Sabrina |
Silk |
|
Events Support |
Eunice |
Leung |
|
Communications Coordinator |
Judy |
Cerovski |
|
Communications Support |
Anie |
Benasa |
|
Communications Support |
Anthony |
Ferreira |
|
Membership Coordinator |
Tricia |
Hamilton |
|
Website Coordinator |
Nam |
Chuong |
|
Community Liaison Coordinator |
Graeme |
Ball |
|
Senpai Program |
Natalie |
Bay |
|
Special Projects |
Chris |
Draenos |
|
Advisor |
Nadine |
Bukhman |
JETAA 2015 Bylaw Amendments
At the January 31st, 2015 AGM four (4) amendments were discussed and proposed. As stated in section 64 of the by-laws, “A two-thirds majority will be required for any decisions involving changes to the present bylaws.” There were 26 people present who were eligible to vote at the AGM, which set the threshold at 18 (2/3 or 26 is 17.33). All amendments passed and will take effect March 2, 2015.
Section 7, the following amendment passed: Yes – 22; No – 2; Abstain – 2
-
An individual who has been in any Tier I or Tier II position for a period of greater than two (2) years may assume the title of Director or Senior Coordinator or another appropriate title for all new Tier I or Tier II positions that they are elected or appointed to, subject to the approval of the executive committee. The title shall not grant them any special privilege, but is intended to reflect their level of experience and dedication.
Section 9, the following amendment passed: Yes – 21; No – 2; Abstain – 3
-
No one will be barred from running for a Tier 1 position, except when there is a legitimate objection from any member present at the AGM. If the reason is accepted by at least one member of a Tier I position that would not directly benefit from said person being barred from running, the matter will go to a vote. At this point the decision to bar the person from running for a Tier 1 position will be carried out as per Part 6 (sections 61 – 67). Only members of the current executive committee may vote in this special circumstance.
Sections 12, 13 & 48, the following amendment passed: Yes – 21; No – 3; Abstain – 2
-
With the exception of Tier I and the Website Coordinator positions, the incumbent Executive is dissolved and General Elections are held to elect the new Executive each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
-
Tier I and the Website Coordinator positions are dissolved every two (2) years.
-
Each position on the Executive shall be held by that member for one year with the exception of Tier I or the Website Coordinator position which are held for two (2) years.
Section 43, the following amendment passed: Yes – 24; No – 2; Abstain – 0
- Notwithstanding the General Election Rules of Procedure and subject to the discretion of the Executive Committee, a member may be appointed to a position that is not available for general competition at the Annual General Meeting, subject to the normal procedure for Decisions by the Executive as outlined in sections 58 to 64. In principle, the individual appointed will have been a long-serving member of the Executive Committee and will have served in a Tier I or Tier II position for a period of at least two (2) years. The position this individual is appointed to shall not replace any of the positions available for open competition, and the scope of responsibilities will be determined to further JETAA Toronto’s stated mission and vision under the guidance of a long-serving Executive Committee member.