Amendments - - - YES!
A well-written Constitution must not only safeguard member’s individual rights but also indicates how it may be amended in order to make it responsive to the changing condition.
Yes, it’s high time for us to give and offer much attention to our Constitution and By-Laws. We have been adopting our Constitution and By-Laws for almost four (4) years now and it has been found out that a lot of changes and developments must be made in our Constitution for us to have a well-refined laws and policies that will govern the organization as well as to its members and become responsive to their needs.
A Special Committee on Constitutional Amendments was organized to study the possible amendments of the Constitution and By-Laws and headed by no less than the National Vice President for Visayas JJC Edilberto Mendoza, Jr. According to the National President JJC Teodorico Bastida, Jr., “we really need to scrap loopholes and lapses, make necessary changes and overhaul some provisions both in the substantive and technical aspect of every section, thus making it receptive to member’s needs”
In line with this, a Constitutional Caucus will be held in Cebu City next year, January 17, 2005, 9:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M. to be hosted by the University of San Jose Recoletos “Jaguar” Junior Jaycees under the leadership of JJC Mark Lester Cuartero. Originally, Metro Cebu Junior Jaycees first offered the hosting of the Caucus. However, due to the fact that Jaguar is the newly revived LOM in Central Visayas and that Metro Cebu Junior Jaycees will be the hosting LOM of the 4th National Board Meeting, it was unanimously agreed during the 2nd Special Meeting of all LOMs with the NVP-Visayas in Central Visayas last September 27, 2004, that the hosting of the Caucus will be awarded to Jaguar.
This will be the proper venue for us to streamline and to debate on the provisions of the Constitution which are needed to be changed to cope up with the changing time. The said gathering will be composed of the chosen few who have the background, knowledge, know-how and thus, “well-versed” on good governance, so to speak. With this, it is a must for all LOMs in the Organization, from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, to send at least two (2) representatives to participate in this endeavor. We believe that this can’t simply be done by only one person. Remember that whatever changes in the Constitution, these changes will also affect us all.
In addition, all the proposed changes during the Constitutional Caucus would not come into force without the majority of votes cast in a plebiscite, which shall be held on April 2005 during the 30th PJJCI National Convention and prior to this, a Constitutional Convention will be conducted one day before the scheduled plebiscite to answer some queries or clarification of the members regarding the amendments made.
In this regard, the National Board is calling all Junior Jaycees to participate and ratify the amendments of the Constitution as we reaffirm its relevance. This is our democratic advocacy-change for the betterment of all.
With a clenched of hand we say …yes to amendments!