AWARE: Need to walk the talk

May 4, 2009

AWARE SAGA

Need to walk the talk

By Wong Kim Hoh, Senior Writer
		Despite the recent upheaval, much good has come out of it, says Ms Lam, citing the surge of support and many new members who want to help. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

EXPECT Singapore's leading feminist group to be more vigilant and less trusting from here on.

'We will not take anything for granted any more,' said Ms Dana Lam, 56, who was elected new president of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) on Saturday night, at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

Learn from this episode: DPM 'WELL, I think all sides should take away the right lessons from this and focus on wanting to serve the community and do your best. I think there will always be differences in society; it is a question of whether we can deal with them in a sensible way, learn how to accept one another's differences and still work together for the good of this society. There are people in our society with different views and if ... we push them too hard, there will be a push back from the other side. You are not going to resolve some of these differences because they are strongly held and you risk polarising society if you push too hard. ... more

Top of its list of priorities is plugging constitutional loopholes to prevent strangers from seizing control of the 25-year-old women's group.

That was exactly what happened when a large group of new members elected a team of unknowns into power at Aware's annual general meeting on March 28.

Aware stalwarts overturned that on Saturday and won back control, with members on both sides playing by the rules of the organisation.

Aware is considering introducing the requirement that anyone who wants to stand for elections must have been a member for at least a year. Most of the women seized power in March had joined only in recent months, and the rules allowed them to run for office.

'We need to look into a system which can allow us to screen potential trouble-makers but we have to be careful not to become too exclusionary,' she said.

The vigilance is necessary, said Ms Lam, a past president of Aware. 'It's like we left our back door open and people came in to take our things.'

The tumultuous events of recent weeks have changed Aware, which had operated for years on trust, allowing anyone to join in the spirit of inclusiveness.

But much good has also come out of the recent upheaval, said Ms Lam, citing the surge of support and a large number of new members who want to help.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28274.108