Greek Community of Melbourne Holds Special General Meeting on Constitutional Amendments

GCM building in Red

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) convened a Special General Meeting (SGM) on Sunday, July 21, aimed at discussing proposed amendments to its constitution. This gathering marked the conclusion of an extensive 18-month process initiated by the community’s membership during the annual meeting in 2023.

Throughout the year and a half, the GCM sought input from its members, extending the deadline for proposal submissions and facilitating discussions regarding potential constitutional changes. The organization also engaged Piper Alderman Solicitors, experts in not-for-profit constitutional review, to guide the process. An open meeting was arranged to allow interested members to learn more about the proposed changes directly from the solicitors.

The SGM brought together over 120 members and observers who deliberated on three interconnected motions aimed at modernizing the existing constitution. The first step involved voting on a technical amendment to allow the voting on the modernization initiatives.

During the meeting, chaired by GCM Treasurer Associate Professor Marinis Pirpiris, attendees were given an overview of the proposal process. Members expressed their views both in support of and against the changes.

Despite 60% of voting members supporting the initial motion, it fell short of the 75% approval threshold required for passage. Consequently, the meeting concluded without enacting any constitutional amendments. This result aligns with a long-standing pattern in GCM’s SGMs, where achieving constitutional change has proven challenging.

The GCM expressed gratitude to all members who participated in the SGM and acknowledged the contributions of Ian Nathanial, Michael Corker, and the Piper Alderman team for their expertise throughout the process.

Founded in 1897, the Greek Community of Melbourne is dedicated to representing the vibrant Greek community in Victoria, providing educational programs to over 2,000 students, cultural initiatives like the renowned Antipodes Festival, and advocacy on various issues affecting the community.