Proposal for an Independent Complaints Commission
This proposal is put before you for your consideration. I have written this as a concerned member of the KSAA Inc. You will see that the present situation with our National Management Team troubles me and some members deeply, and I fear if we do not sort this out correctly, and decisively, much of our good work and our future planning will be set back badly.
I have listed and discussed urgent reasons in support of an Independent Commission of Enquiry into our present and immediate past methods of management, so that factual evidence can be examined, and if any there are any wrong practices, these can be identified and put right for the benefit of KSAA in the future.
Purpose: to receive and independently investigate complaints presented by members and leaders of the KSA Inc
Background: Because there have been crises in the KSA Inc, in areas concerning finance and accountability of leaders, we need to establish a commission of enquiry which will identify if any blame is to be laid on anyone person or group.
At this point in time, we do not have factual evidence of wrongdoing, only rumours and gossip.
We should also remember that any members of a team should be honest and accountable with their fellow members. In this way, the whole team takes responsibility for its manner of working, and no one person should be targeted before a factual investigation is undertaken.
The current National Chairperson and the current National Treasurer are all in the current team, as well as serving in the former team if there is any crises occurred. It is therefore not appropriate for them to investigate actions that they were involved with.
Also, we have seen the reported differences between the current Treasurer and the current Chairperson on the website every day. This debate is confusing our KSA members, and inciting them to take sides without knowing all the facts. It is very clear now that some members are supporting the current National Chairperson, and some are supporting the current National Treasurer, whilst the remaining National Team members are distancing themselves from the dispute. Therefore it is plain that this dispute is most damaging to our organisation, and blocking forward progress on other important business.
In addition, the former Treasurer is requesting that his name is cleared. We would have hoped that the National Team would have found a way of looking into this matter, without resorting to arguing.
We also have seen that members have been resigning from the KSA without explanation. These people have been serving KSA wholeheartedly, but they are hurt by lack of respect. Many people also choose to keep quiet and watch what happens before they offer to give more of their time and support to the KSA.
The truthfulness of the National Management Team Report including the Tenth Anniversary celebrations report, of 2009, is being doubted by some members. These doubts could be put before an Independent Commission for further investigation. Also, some of those who report problems and mistreatment could represent their case to an Independent Commission. This would give members a way of resolving their concerns without resorting to public insults.
The KSA is a voluntary organisation, where people choose to give their time, skills and money of their free will, and they need to feel confidence in the organisation. If they do not have faith in the management of the organisation they can equally well choose not to give and also withdraw their support.
The KSA should put as a very high priority, the maintaining of good management practices and care and communication with its serving members.
Recommendations:
In my opinion, these points speak for themselves as evidence of a serious crisis in our National Management Team.
It is my belief that to protect our credibility as an organisation, and also to clear the former Treasurer’s name, and to show a clear direction to our members, we need these matters to be resolved quickly and independently.
We must seek out and appoint independent, well respected members to form a Commission to investigate these matters and give an independent report. For example, we appointed an Independent Organising Team in 2008, to set up and run the Tenth Anniversary celebrations in South Australia in April 2009, and these were achieved successfully without needing intervention from the National Team.
There are many more reasons I could mention in favour of the urgent need for an Independent Commission. The reasons I have put forward above are some of the main ones I am aware of.
Who would be asked to serve on the proposed Commission? Some suggestions are:
People with accounting skills
People of good standing in the community
People who can solve problems diligently and come independently to their own conclusions
People who care about the overall credibility of the KSA Inc
People with some time to give to help the KSA Inc
People who clearly understand that the KSA Inc has specific goals which are in support of but not identical with those of the Kongor Community
People who understand the rights of registered financial members to speak and question.
I would appreciate hearing your opinion on this proposal. Also you may care to discuss the question with each other on the website, provided you do not offend anyone personally. I would prefer not to debate with you through the website itself, as such discussions can be misunderstood too easily and lack of time to debate with you.
The KSA Mission is Education, Integration and Development in Australia.