AUSTRALIAN OPAL ASSOCIATION INC
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020
MINUTES
The meeting was held on 5th August 2020 at 1:30 pm at 25 Surfers av mermaid waters
AND VIA ZOOM MEETING
WELCOME
The 2020 AGM commenced at 1:30 pm Chaired by the President Paul Sedawie. The President welcomed everyone to the meeting. Present were Paul Sedawie,Chris Gawthorpe, Wayne Sedawie, John mc donald,Ross Sedawie, Present via zoom were: Sally and Natasha Patel, Ruth Benjamin-Thomas, George Emmanuel Christianos, Viki Bokros,Andrew Kemeny
The meeting was conducted physically on the Gold Coast and was streamed online in zoom where several members and officers joined in. The zoomed meeting was a great success and the participants viewed it as the way of the future.
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Yanni Athanasiadis and Nico Athanasiadis , Edmond lahoud,Peter Grey
QUORUM
The President (Chair) stated that the meeting was duly convened and that the required quorum was established so that the meeting can continue.
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE 2019 AGM
Motion: ‘That the Minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Australian Opal Association Inc. has circulated, be taken as read and confirmed”. Moved from the chair: Paul Sedawie. Seconded by John mc Donald Motion carried .
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The two themes of the AGM were the impact on the industry of COVID and the rise of online business and also the success that the Opal Hunters show has had in promoting our industry. Many in our industry are having a difficult time and the gem industry world wide is in turmoil. We are fortunate in that the tv show Out back opal hunters has given us world wide coverage for opals we could never afford and I believe it will be a success for many years. This will have a stronger demand for our products in the future. We will have to adapt to new changes-even having a zoom conference makes it so easy for members to have a say in the association. Online sales have boomed so buying trends will change with more wholesale customers buying online. There has been a strong request from members to issue there own certificates of authenticity and have them listed on our web site. We had discussed members would have to sit a test which would be complied with the help of gemmologist. Up dates coming soon.
Presidents report Paul Sedawie seconded John mc donald
TREASURES REPORT
The secretary Sally patel couldn’t attend so the president read out the reoprt.There was only 5 payments made during the year with a bank balance of 33,409 on the 30 june 2020.
Balance sheet to be supplied to members. The president tabled the accounts of the association and moved that the accounts of the association be approved. Seconded by wayne sedawie… Motion carried.
ELECTION OF OFFICEBEARERS
Nominations for office were received only by the existing office bearers. The President called for any fresh nominations. There were none forthcoming. The President noted that he intended to retire from office this year but due to the current challenges with COVID19 he decided to renominate and stay on for another year to help see the industry through the challenges we are facing.
Motion to return all existing office bearers to the existing offices was put by the President and seconded by Wayne sedawie Motion carried.
NEW OFFICEBEARERS
PRESIDENT PAUL SEDAWIE
VICE PRESIDENT YANNI ATHANASIADIS
TREASURER SALLY PATEL
SECRETARYGEORGE EMMANUEL CHRISTIANOS
PUBLIC OFFICER EDMOND LAHOUD
GENERAL BUSINESS
DONATION
A request for a donation from the Qld small miners association was read out. We discussed a $1500 donation.
The president moved that we donate $1500 to the tv add .Seconded by Andrew Kemeny
OPAL CLASSIFACTION
Ruth benjamin-thomas informed us on the nomenclature updates . Discussions were held on a brightness chart which appears confusing as there are so many variations. Ruth suggested we make it simple with words instead of numbers so this will be put to the next meeting
CLOSE OF MEETING
There being no further business the meeting was called closed by the President at 245 pm