9th February 2016
Dear Fellow Thomians,
Further to my letter to the membership last week I am writing to keep you informed about a decision I have made in terms of the Rules of the Association regarding the six candidates for the two posts of Representatives to the Board of Governors.
I have received numerous requests over the past couple of weeks to allow each candidate to address the Annual General Meeting for 3 to 4 minutes to give a brief introduction to themselves that everyone will know who they are, what they have done for the College in the past and what their vision is were they to be elected. I do not think this is a practice that we should encourage especially when it comes to these two posts and I do not intend allowing same. Nor will I be allowing any members present to make speeches on behalf of candidates during the meeting.
I do acknowledge however, that it is always good for the membership to know exactly who they are voting for, as the two representatives we send to the Board of Governors will be expected to play a crucial role not just on behalf of the OBA but also on behalf of all four schools governed by the Board. As such after meeting all six gentlemen together last evening I have decided to officially send out attached to this letter brief profiles of each of them which the candidates themselves have prepared and forwarded to me, so that the membership will be more than aware of who these gentlemen are and will be able to make an informed choice when casting their votes. Please note that I am sending these profiles out just as they have been received from the candidates with nothing altered or added by me.
I have also informed the other five candidates at our meeting last night that at my insistence Mr Dilshan Jayasuriya will address the Annual General Meeting in his capacity as incumbent Honorary Secretary in presenting the Secretary’s Report for the year under review and in the context of the 130th Anniversary of the OBA. Mr Jayasuriya has assured me that he will restrict his speech to the presentation of the Report. The other five candidates have all acceded to this position.
I am also pleased to inform you that there will be no election for the post of Assistant Secretary as one of the two candidates has withdrawn his nomination. Elections will be therefore conducted as per my last message to you only for the two representatives to the Board of Governors and the 10 persons to serve on the executive committee to represent the 30 to 40 age group.
Please refer to my earlier email for further details of the electoral process that will be followed and the guidelines clearly explained therein.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the AGM on Friday, 12th February 2016 at 6.30 p.m.
With fraternal greetings to all,
Rev’d Marc Billimoria
Warden/Hony President STCML OBA