Retain or remove Chapter VI of the 2019 VCA-VIC Constitution
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
RE: The special general meeting to retain or to remove Chapter VI of the 2019 Vietnamese Community in Australia – Victoria Chapter (VCA-VIC) Constitution
Article 24 of the 2012 VCA-VIC Constitution states that: “Voting in all special general meetings is only valid when it is attended by at least 50 members”.
On June 29, 2019, The Executive Committee for the 2016-2019 term convened a special general meeting to amend the 2012 Constitution with the attendance of only 12 attendees, but the meeting still proceeded to insert Chapter VI into the 2012 Constitution to carry out the procedures for establishing the Vietnamese Museum Australia Ltd (VMA Ltd). So the adoption of the 2019 Constitution is a violation of article 24 of the 2012 Constitution.
At the beginning of 2021, the Executive Committee for the 2019-22 term again transferred the entire Project of building the Vietnamese Australian Cultural Centre and Museum to the VMA Ltd. Since then, the VMA Ltd has been completely independent from the VCA-VIC. After more than 4 years and up to millions of Australian dollars spending for this Project, the VMA Ltd still has not found a piece land to build the Museum.
The transfer of the Project to VMA Ltd. has caused controversy and division within the VCA-VIC, the Executive Committee received a lot of comments from VCA-VIC members to revoke the 2019 Constitution to adopt the 2012 Constitution.
According to the advice of the Consumer Affairs Victoria, because the incident happened in more than 4 years ago with two Executive Committee terms 2016-19 and 2019-22, the current Executive Committee needs to convene a special general meeting with more than 50 members attending and needs ¾ of the attended members to decide whether to retain Chapter VI or to remove it from the 2019 Constitution and to adopt the 2012 Constitution. The special general meeting will be held as follows:
• Date: Sunday, 17/12/2023
• Time: 2-4 pm
• Location: Community Activity Centre, 90 Knight Avenue, Sunshine North
The decision to revoke Chapter VI of the 2019 Constitution and return to use the Constitution adopted in 2012 will make it easier for VCA-VIC to lobby the Government for fundings and land to build a Cultural Centre and Boat People Museum.
Please note that only Vietnamese-Australian citizens who permanently reside in Victoria and respect the VCA-VIC Constitution with the Yellow Flag (the Republic of Vietnam) are entitled to attend and to vote.
The Woman Sub-Committee cordially invites you to stay on after the meeting concludes and to enjoy a light meal and music to celebrate Christmas and New Year.
Your presence is essential to the success of the special general meeting in making decision on Chapter VI, Constitution 2019.
Best regards,
For the Executive Committees,
Duy Quang Nguyen
President
