Highlights of the 55th Annual General Meeting of Commercial Graduates Association 

The Annual General Meeting of Commercial Graduates Association (CGA) was held at the conference Hall of its Head Office in Addis Ababa on 6th February 2021 from 1:30-5:30 PM

1. Welcome Address by CGA General Assembly Chair: Ato Getamesay Degefu, welcomed the members present. He reiterated the vision of the founding members of Commercial Graduates Association and expressed his personal   wishes and hopes for the further development of the Association in the future. He thanked all the members for their active support and attendance, in spite of COVID 19 pandemic in our country and worldwide. After having checked the quorum requested the President of the Association, Ato Teklu Maru, to go ahead with the agenda of the 55th CGA General Annual meeting.

2. Report by the President of CGA: Ato Teklu, after welcoming the members on behalf of the Board and on his own behalf, announced the names of the five deceased members of the Association in the past year. They were Ato Tilahun Tamire, Ato Tilahun Chernet, Ato Yilma Mamo, Ato Yilam Kumlachew and  Ato Wondmmagne Assefa.

He offered special tribute to Ato Yilma Kumlachew who was one of the founders of CGA and Ato Wondmagegne Assefa, who was a strong supporter of the Association.  Ato Teklu requested all present to stand up in a minutes silence in memory of these recently deceased members of the Association.   

Following this he introduced to the meeting the newly recruited management staff of the Association and moved to presenting his report on the activities during the year 2019/2020. Highlights of the report include:

The Board conducted 17 ordinary and four extra-ordinary meetings and passed decisions on a number of issues

• The Board successfully conducted the re-registration of the Association with the Agency For Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) in Accordance with the new proclamation.
• In recognition of the CGA members need for entertainment and networking the Board has organized in -door games, periodicals corner and TV shows  in its conference Hall of the Association 
• In acknowledgement of the need for proactive actions to expand its communication mechanisms through various means the Association planned to produce  its own  newsletter ,to  refresh its  web site , pay experience exchange visits to sister organizations . However, Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic  except the Website the rest have not been materialized   
• On the technical front the Board initiated the development of a new strategic plan 2020-2024.This as well did not go far due to shortage of funding. The Association is still trying to produce the strategic plan in house. 
• Revision of CGA Administration manual for improved and efficient functioning The President also presented major challenges most of which revolved around funding shortages.   

3. Presentation of annual accounts for the year 2019/2020: the representative of the external audit  firm presented the financial report for the year  2019/2020 (year ending Sene 30,2012 EC). He explained the income and expenditure of the budget year

 The Annual Activity report and the annual accounts were considered and approved by the Meeting.  

4.   Announcement of Election Committee: The Chair announced for   nominations of election Committee members for voting of  Board members to fill the vacancy on the Executive Board. Four Executive Board members were elected to join the Board and serve the Association until the next election. They were W/ro Zertihun Belay, Ato Asmerom Araya,Ato Taddese Seyoum  and W/ro  Rahel Tolossa. 

5. Vote of Thanks:  Before closing the annual general meeting, he emphatically expressed that it is time for the young generation to assume   the leadership and inherit the ideals of the   Association along with the property that has passed down to the present. He shared his concern that serious actions should be in place taking the interests of today’s young people so that the legacy of our brothers who have passed away may be kept alive.  He thanked all for their participation and declared the meeting closed.