The counting of the ballots began in the evening of 29 June, 2010 in the HCCC office. Present were Katalin Szabo HCCC president, Kato Mudlic general secretary & Jim Mile committee member of auditors.

A metal box with its lid taped shut was opened & the contents placed on the table. Almost all ballots were in sealed envelopes. Three envelopes containing single ballots had been opened by mistake by staff. Two envelopes containing single ballots were delivered unsealed. There were three ballots without envelopes. A few sealed envelopes contained multiple ballots. Seven members included their membership fees in their envelopes.

The ballots were counted by Jim Mile & counted again by Kato Mudlic.

The results of the count were 18 abstentions, 122 acceptances. There were two blank ballots & one duplicate. The total ballots received excluding the duplicate were 142. There was a substantial majority (86%) of acceptances.

The number of life members, paid up members for 2010 & member organisations is at present 449. Twenty five per cent is 113.

Katalin Szabo’s explanation for the mail-in ballots is that the Charities Directorate of Canada Revenue Agency requires the submission of the 2009 financial statement by the deadline of 30 June 2010.The CRA website states that the report must be filed no later than 6 months after the end of the fiscal period. Fiscal year end for the HCCC is Dec. 31. Failure to submit the report can result in the loss of charitable status.

At the last general meeting consideration of the financial report did not occur. Another general meeting could not organise before the end of June. Time pressure forced the use of mail-in ballots as the only practical procedure to get approval of the report before the deadline.

Jim Mile

HCCC auditors committee