I have written in previous issues about how important an Annual General Assembly (GA) Meeting is and if I remember it right, I have included some of the reasons why some members are reluctant to attend such significant events. Since it is “GA season”, I saw it fit to discuss the matter again as a reminder for all concerned members.
As a member, your presence is highly valued because this is one of your most important responsibility. It is even your duty to participate in co-op affairs. Although more and more members are now attending GA meetings, if my estimation is correct, there are still members who are unaware of the value of their presence in these meetings.
Why is it important? First, members will be updated on the business operation. This is expected. Second, members will appraise the performance and accomplishments of the officers and management whether they have done their job or not. This is a vital consideration in electing officers. Third, it is the time for members to speak. They should fearlessly voice out their concerns and ideas. If the officers fail to give a satisfactory report, you can require an explanation.
On a more personal aspect, your attendance means you care. It means your co-op is important to you. It means you know and understand your role as a member. Important matters are supposed to be discussed, vague issues are supposed to be cleared and problems are supposed to be solved. I tell you, it is those who do not attend GA meetings are the ones who complain and question the most. They are the negative people who sow intrigues and discord. It could be their way of getting back at officers or it’s just their personality. But the proper way to do it is to air their grievances openly rather than doing it behind the back of people, which is unfair.
If the Board of Directors (BOD) fails to call for a GA meeting, members have the right to demand. As an Assembly, you (not the Board) control the affairs of the co-op. Quite contrary, what most members do is to keep quiet. They may be afraid, I don’t know. But this is one of the reasons why co-ops fail. The Board could be hiding something they don’t want the members to know or afraid of being confronted. On the other hand, the members are also not demanding the holding of such meeting because they have committed some anomalies of their own such as outstanding obligations and do not want this to be brought out in a meeting. A co-op like this is in serious trouble.
Having attended a lot of GA meetings, I develop a strategy to penetrate inside that particular co-op. I purposely go earlier than the time stated in the invitation and position myself in the midst of the early birds so I can eavesdrop in their conversations, what they are saying about their own co-op, the management and the officers. Most of them are oblivious of my identity anyway and think I’m just a member. I am able to gather enough information for my speech but this is another story.
Having said all of these, I would encourage every member to get in touch with their co-op officers to know when will the schedule of the meeting be.
