Although the temporary EXCO at the EGM announced that “between new membership fees and the cost of the EGM they had ‘made a profit’” in fact the cost of the event was more than fees resulting in a drain on organisational finances.
Nevertheless the current EXCO would prefer to move forward instead of pursuing action against Josie Lau and her team. The present EXCO has since asked various service providers for discounts and donations and has reduced costs by $8,000.
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At the 2 May EGM several members queried Josie Lau and her Exco about the cost of the EGM. Calls were made, both at the EGM and in media forums subsequently, for the money to be recovered from the members of that Exco.
After taking office, the current Exco formed an internal review team to look into the expenses incurred by the previous Exco and determine whether their decisions and actions adhered to the AWARE Constitution and other established practices.
The EGM cost a total of $99,291.28. This was not quite covered by the $98,765.70 in membership fees paid by the 2,748 people who joined AWARE or who renewed their membership between 29 March and 2 May.
The current Exco wrote to all the companies that provided services at the EGM, explained the financial situation and asked them to consider making a donation to AWARE. Rajah & Tann have donated $5,000 and Deloitte & Touche $3,000, while Boardroom has indicated that it will be making a donation. Suntec and Ape Communications declined on the grounds that they had, in total, given AWARE a 26.5% discount on the facilities and services provided.
The review team found that the previous Exco did not adhere fully to the AWARE Constitution and established practices. Also, they could have avoided some of the costs, for instance, by trying to get pro bono legal advice and asking AWARE volunteers to act as scrutineers.
“We will not, however, be taking any action against the previous Exco,” said Ms Lam. “There are several reasons for this. We recognise that they were handicapped by their lack of NGO experience. Secondly, we have been able to recover part of the costs through the generosity of some of the vendors.
“Most importantly, we want to get on with our work – which is to identify and help remove the obstacles that prevent women from realising their full potential. This is, and has always been, AWARE’s agenda.”
Related Coverage:
- ST Breaking News – New Aware team sets goals
- Channel News Asia – AWARE proposes changes to its constitution
- ST Breaking News – No action to reclaim $100k
- ST Breaking News – Josie Lau’s team won’t be sued
- ST Breaking News – Aware to report on women
Press Kit:
why let them off, there’s still more than 90% that’s not recovered…and, why was there a need to engage ape communications, an events management co? Did the current exco look to see if josie and gang had obtained quotations from other similar co before deciding on ape? by tinkering with the sounds system when supporters of the old guards were trying to speak during the egm, ape didn’t seem to have acted neutrally, unlike rajahh and tan.
Hello Anon,
thanks for the question. I would like to know who I shall be responding to?
dana
Hallo Dana,
Sorry but I’m not comfortable with divulging my full name, but you can call me Ong.
We know that the opposition has many lawyers. Even if AWARE can lawfully and justifiably sue to reclaim as much of the money as possible, it would be embroiled in a legal battle that would drain its existing finances still further. This sort of tactic is common in organisations that have been taken over in a similar way…like the Cult Awareness Network (CAN)and the Scientologists, who bankrupted CAN first and then bought it over.
Good job on claiming the $8000, and I’m very pleasantly surprised by the actions of Rajah and Tann.
Am I right in thinking that AWARE is cutting its losses for this reason as well?
David Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Sniper, whether it is or it isn’t, there must be some good reasons behind all that decision made. I think it is very wise move! Afterall the Ms Josie Lau & her ex-exco team ( plus over 700 supporters) are in still water running deep situation as according to the few days highlight interview/announcement publicly. 2ndly they are afterall the members within AWARE. I believe money isn’t everything in AWARE today & neither direct confrontation is appropriate for AWARE long term growth & development.
I like to see how Singapore well educated women whom are pro-family motto/basis, can be patched up with compassionate heart & self-reflective wisdom instead, no matter who take the initiative. I strongly believe women are all born with very natural of MOTHER-LOVE INSTINCT rather battle of win or lose. So far they have not come into contact with each perhaps the situation/weather is not promptly right yet.
This year-end November will be 24th anniversary mark for AWARE’s birthday. It is not far away anywhere!
I think Sniper hit the nail on the head. A protracted legal battle would not only be financially draining, it would also further drag the name of AWARE through the mud. It is time to learn from the events and move on, being stronger for it. Even though we are speculating, this scenario is plausible and, in my opinion, prudent.
The donations by Rajah and Tann, D&T and Boardroom are also a pleasant surprise.
What about Singapore Mediation Centre as an alternative site for dispute resolution?
Hello everyone,
Thank you for all your reasoned comments on the $90k question.
Since the media conference of July 6, Boardroom has confirmed a donation of $3,000 back to AWARE. This brings the sum total “recovered” in the form of donations from service providers to the EGM to $11,000. Together with the $98, 765.70 worth of membership fees, we have more than covered expenses incurred by the previous Exco for the EGM.
While we will have to speed up on fund-raising activities asap, having lost two over months to the EGM and ensuing weeks, you are all right to think that any legal recourse is going to be protracted and costly. It is not a clear cut case. And the publicity could hardly be beneficial to AWARE. Better to get on with the job – which is to identify and eliminate the areas of gender discrimination still in our society and to empower women to realise their full potential. See you all some time!
This year, AWARE will focus on strengthening our capacity in research and advocacy and our outreach to women across Singapore. We look forward to touching base with you.