Knights and Ladies of Rizal Cologne 1996 e.V.

Vorwort
Leider sind die beiden Protokolle dieses Treffens in englisch, da dies ein europäisches Treffen war. Man beachte die unterschiedliche Sichtweise der dort anwesenden Knights (and Ladies) und die daraus resultierende Fassung des Regional Commanders, die von dem eigentlichen Protokoll (es wurde videomäßig aufgezeichnet) abweicht und somit ein falsches Zeugnis ablegt.

Regional Consultative Meeting
Brussels, 26 April 2008

Place: Rue de I'Ourthe 28
B-1080 Brussels, Belgium
Time : 15H00 (3:00pm)

Minutes of the Meeting.

The podium: Sir Lino Paras, KGOR, Regional Commander for Europe, presiding; Sir Rudy Nollas, KGOR, Area Commander for Belgium; Sir Romeo Garcia, KR Hamburg Chapter, Rapporteur; Sir Carlos Arnaldo, KCR, Chapter Commander Dimasalang Ile de France, assistant to the Rapporteur.

Before the meeting was formally opened by the presiding officer, Sir Lino Paras, KGOR, the several knights have began tabling a numerous questions, and raising several talking points. The topic was initially focus on the legality of this regionally initiated consultative meeting, with ulterior purpose of conducting nominations for the next Regional Commander, Deputy Regional Commander and Area Commanders for Europe Region pursuant to Section 10 of the ratified By laws of the Order. Another interesting issue is on how the consultation for nomination will be conducted to ensure that democratic process will be achieved in such a way that individual chapter's representation will be made transparently before the Supreme Council. There were issues raised during the meeting on the apparent legality of the proceeding in the absence of written instruction from the Supreme Council on which the Regional Commander mentioned that he obtained official confirmatory approval from the Supreme Council by telephone and that the By laws of the Order provides discretion on his part as Regional Commander to initiate consultative meeting for nomination of officers in Europe region. However, basic questions were clarified by some members under Section 10 of the By laws citing that, the nomination will be submitted by the Incumbent Regional Commander upon the instruction of the concerned Supreme Commander. This presupposed the idea that the nomination will be submitted before the proclamation of new set of officers in the Supreme Council, because his term is co-terminous with the Incumbent Supreme Commander, as Sir Don Brennock, KCR of Ireland has quoted during the meeting.
The presiding officer of the meeting, Sir Lino Paras, KGOR, as Regional Commander of Europe replied, building his ideas from various point of views, expressed as follows:

1. The objective of this regional consultation, as indicated in the advance copy of the program, is not to conduct an election, but just a simple submission of nominations for Regional Commander, Deputy Regional Commander and Area Commander by the concerned Chapters in the Europe Region.

2. To provided an exchange of information, views, and active discussions among the participating Area Commanders, Chapter Commanders and members of the Europe Council relative to nomination of officers.

3. To provided good working environment and fraternal bonding among the officers and members of this region.

Sir Dominiek Segaert, KCR from Diamond Chapter, Antwerp, expressed his personal desire for regional transparency for just and democratic procedures of the nominations. The Regional Commander, however, agreed in principle that his staff would make a synthesis ( executive digest ) of the conduct of nominations to the Supreme Council, as part of the transparency and to be circulated to areas and chapters of this region.
Page No. 02

Sir Peter Plueckebaum, Chapter Commander of Bonn, and the other officers suggested, that given the time, money and effort for a long journey, an extended meeting, perhaps to include the morning session of the following day is ideal. The purpose is to conduct a deeper discussion of other relevant issues affecting the foreign Area Council, Europe in particular, which unfortunately outside the context of the agenda. The Regional Commander exercised his executive decision to limit the discussion on the nomination issues but agreed in principle that those topics presented will be given due consideration in the future meetings of the region. He even encourages the concerned officers to submit their official recommendations for endorsement to the Supreme Council.

An active discussion on various issues took place and a compromise agreement was finalised. It has been agreed upon by majority of the officers that those Chapters may submit nominations on the day itself who are ready to submit the documents. However, other chapters, for good reason and intention, may discuss it further with their respective members and they were given an opportunity to submit their nominations the soonest possible time.

One significant moment during the Consultation meeting was the fraternal sign followed by fraternal embrace offered by Sir Angel Palomar, KCR, Area Commander of Austria and gladly accepted by Sir Rainer Weber, KCR, Chapter Commander of Heidelberg. Other concerned officers in that chamber gladly follow the traditional greetings among brother Knights, a renewed bonding of brotherhood was sealed in that moment and may be unprecedented for the consultative meetings hosted by the regional office for the last two years. Sir Ferdinand Cena, KCR, Commander of Hamburg Chapter, in agreement with Sir Romeo Garcia, Deputy Commander of Hamburg Chapter and consultative meeting's Rapporteur, expressed, that such fraternal bonding should be the last recall of the meeting and the fate of Knights of Rizal in Europe is moving towards a new beginning. Other officers including Sir Dominiek Segaert, KCR, in a loud voice express his personal feelings that this will be a new beginning for Europe. Sir Ferdinand Cena, KCR, also added that the Hamburg Chapter is also in agreement with other officers in Europe concerning numerous barriers in the propagation of the ideals of Dr. Rizal in the Foreign Area, citing the diversity of cultures, traditions, languages, and laws of the host counties.

The conclusion of the meeting was finalised by Sir Peter Plueckebaum, KCR, saying that the meeting was truly positive and the best consultative meeting that he ever attended. Citing in particular everybody's ability to express openly his ideas as brothers in Rizal.

The National Anthem was then sung heartily by all of the members of the chamber, led by Lady Aurea, of the Kababaihang Rizalista Inc. of London Chapter. The attending Knights were able to introduce themselves among other fellow Knights. It was noticed that there are so many new faces in that chamber.

1. Election of the Supreme Council

* Concerning the vote for the new Supreme Council, Sir Don Brennock, KCR, stated from the manual that only those physically present in Manila meeting to be organized on 25 May 2008, for this purpose, may vote. Each chapter has one vote plus the Chapter Commander, the Chapter Deputy Commander, and the Chapter Chancellor, plus one extra vote for every fifteen-member knight in each Chapter. If there is only one person from the Chapter is physically present, he may represents all other votes and they are considered independent and autonomous. However, representative officer is not obliged to exercise these voting rights in full. In this case, this would appear to be the only kind of proxy voting admissible in this session.
* An information notice will be sent shortly indicating the candidates for the Supreme Council elections.
Page No. 03

* Several knights raised the question about arranging for electronic tele-voting, and even simultaneous participation in Manila meeting through computer conferencing available in Yahoo, Skype and some media services ( tele-conference ). A resolution to this effect should be formulated and presented to the Supreme Council for appropriate action.

2. Nomination of the Regional, Deputy Regional and Area Commanders

* Many Knights pointed out some inconsistencies in the ratified By-laws and seemingly irrelevant with the actual political condition in Europe. One school of thought was precisely how could the new Supreme Council know the officers in Europe and make précised and justifiable nominations. Thus, it is not exactly clear, who should nominate the new officers for 2008-2010. So far, all the instructions lead us to believe that it will be the new Supreme Council. However, it seems to most of the officers present in that meeting who rallied to the statement of Sir Ferdinand Cena, KCR, Commander of the Hamburg Chapter, that it is more logical to have the incumbent Supreme Council nominates the new Regional, Deputy Regional and Area commanders, since they all know better the persons concerned. At any rate, the nominations of the respective Chapter will validate the competence and character of their nominees and the incumbent Regional Commander upon consultation with the Deputy Regional Commander and Area Commanders concerned will polish the validity of the nominations before they are submitted to the Supreme Council. Sir Lino will contact the Supreme Council to clarify this point.
* A form has been prepared for each Chapter Commander to fill out, nominating the chapter's choice of Regional Commander, Deputy Regional Commander and Area Commanders for Europe.
* Some Chapters have submitted their nomination forms already, but some, particularly the German chapters, preferred to consult further their chapters and would submit their nominations at the soonest possible time.
* The Regional Commander, in line with the procedure so far laid down by the Supreme Council, would await the request of the Supreme Council to send the nominations. He would then remind those Chapter Commanders who had not yet submitted their nominations to do so immediately and make sure that everyone will participate in this democratic process.
* As it may deem appropriate, a valid action plan must be decided in the future in either to amend or just simply to clarify some pertinent provisions in the By-laws of the Order.

3. Fraternity and Brotherhood.

* Several knights raised the issue of using harsh language in emails, especially expressions of racism, hatred, ill feeling towards others, and even insults and calls of incompetence. Some felt that persons guilty of this, as attested by their own emails, should be reprimanded, serious violations may even merit downgrading of rank or removing of assigned duties. As a first step, Sir Lino agreed to reprimand those guilty of such violations, in the hope of reducing, possibly eliminating the causes of ill feeling and un-brotherly behaviour.

* Sir Alfonso Taguiang, KCR, Commander of the London and Lady Aurea spoke at length on how the former Chapter Commander had suppressed information and discussion in their chapter for more than nine years, and finally left the chapter in disarray (returning to the Philippines for retirement) and with finances frozen in the bank. With the help of Sir Lino, Sir Alfonso was able to gather the remaining knights and reconstitute the chapter, and have this confirmed by the Supreme Council. It was resolved that, Sir Lino, with the assistance of Sir Brennock, would inquire how to free the bank assets.


Page No. 04

* Sir Carlos Arnaldo, KCR, Commander of the new chapter Dimasalang Ile de France also spoke on this theme, speaking ex-temporaneously from a paper prepared by Sir Bernard Pot of Paris Chapter for this meeting. He said that this is precisely what broke up in the Paris chapter, a lack of fraternal and brotherly spirit, namely through a petition to oust one knight on spurious charges of consorting with a woman and having a baby. But this is the situation of the Paris Council members'. It is not to be condoned, but these are private, personal matters. Sir Choy then proposed that there are at least three measures to help and maintain the solidarity in the brotherhood, as follows:

1. Scrutinize the recruitment process very carefully by creating a strong recruitment tribunal and follow the by-laws impeccably to ensure that potential members meet the integrity and moral qualifications. There is no contest as to the building of number of memberships. One should also avoid the 'hakot' system of recruitment (ie, recruiting to have votes to count on your side, or 'kampihan').

2. Allow the senior Knights to intervene and assist the recruitment process. In case of the problems which magnitude is beyond the control of the Chapter Commander, seek the assistance of the Regional Commander through the Area Commander concerned and help to calm down the tensions instead of provoking it.

3. In unity there is strength but compromise through good brotherhood do not mean weakness. When there are wrongs in the policy or system, they must be corrected at once. When a brother knight is using emails to accuse each other's of racism or incompetence, those knights must be reprimanded, subject to proper due process. Sir Choy raised the issue of public viewing on YOUtube of the news clips from Balitang Paris, announcing 'Abangang' I-patatalsik ang isang member of the Knights of Rizal Paris Chapter' and the controversial induction of Knights of Rizal. These are the acts that are not acceptable in the tradition of the brotherhood and directly or indirectly dishonour the public image and reputation of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, as an institution created by the Filipino people.

The meeting was successfully ended with embraces among brother Knights and the "Non Omnis Moriar oath" was expressed in six languages. The Regional Commander for Europe, Sir Lino Paras, KGOR, invites everybody for the reception and barbeque dinner.
The Ladies for Rizal (Kababaihang Rizalista) and the Aalst-Brussels Knights of Rizal, graciously prepared a barbecue dinner in the garden of the church rectory.

Sir Carlos Arnaldo, KCR-----Sir Rudy Nollas, KGOR
Chapter Commander--------Dep. Area Commander for Netherlands
Dimasalang Ile de France---& Lifetime-member

Sir Romeo Garcia, KR
Deputy Chapter Commander, Hamburg

Approved:

Sir Lino Paras, KGOR
Regional Commander Europe

Minutes of the European 'Consultative' Meeting
held in Brussels on 26th. April 2008.

Foreword:

Last year, following the only previous European Council Meeting called by the present Regional Commander, we received and read minutes of that Meeting, written by Sir R. Nollas and approved by the Regional Commander, Sir L. Paras. We were most surprised by the supposedly extraordinary performances and achievements of the Regional Commander during the precious year, as portrayed according to those minutes.
We also read the minutes of that Meeting as written by Sir F. Ooms and Sir D. Brennock which were produced at an earlier date and these, however, provided a completely different and far more accurate and detailed record of that meeting. However these minutes were immediately denounced by Sir L. Paras as a "smear campaign and black propaganda". The vast majority of those attending that meeting consider the Ooms/Brennock minutes as being accurate and comprehensive.
As many of those attending the Meeting of 26th. April feared a similar situation and wanted to avoid a further panegyric on Sir L. Paras, instead of an accurate account of the proceedings, the Meeting was video-recorded. To our dismay and great surprise the minutes produced by Sir R. Nollas and Sir R. Garcia and edited by Sir L. Paras and the minutes based on the video-recording seem to depict two quite different events; flowery fiction on the one hand, truth on the other hand. In the Nollas/Garcia/Paras minutes Knights who contributed significantly to the discussions are not mentioned at all, others only in a minimal way and others in an inaccurate way. Knights who hardly contributed at all are mentioned several times. Why this should be we simply do not understand and we cannot accept these Minutes as being an accurate record.
We are now, therefore, presenting an accurate account of the Meeting proceedings which expose the Nollas/Garcia/Paras minutes as yet another vain and futile attempt to twist the truth and present a further false hagiography of Sir L. Paras.
Fortunately this time, Sir L. Paras' wish at the previous Meeting, that all participants sign a blank sheet of paper approving his minutes without knowing what they would contain, was not repeated.
From these two, quite different, minutes the participants and all other interested parties can select which are accurate and true, or 'campaign and propaganda'; the Nollas/Garcia/Paras version or those appended below.


Procedure of the Meeting:

• 1. The Rapporteur, Sir R. Garcia, eventually opened the Meeting at 15.35hrs at the Philippine Chaplaincy in Brussels and asked the participants to sit according to their ranks and positions. This was generally rejected as unacceptable and also impractical in such a tiny little room, as showing an unacceptable display of status and rank and as making no practical sense.
• 2. The hosting Chaplain welcomed the participants, spoke a short prayer and wished good, fruitful and meaningful discussions.
• 3. When pressed repeatedly by Sir Don Brennock, Sir L. Paras eventually declared that he was the Chairman of the Meeting and that Sir R. Nollas and Sir R. Garcia were recording the minutes.
• 4. Sir R. Garcia then opened the agenda, despite the above declaration by Sir Lino, introducing item No 1 (Nominations for Regional, Deputy Regional and Area Commanders), according to the Bye Laws, Article 7, Section 10. No Minutes of the previous Meeting were presented.
• 5. Sir L. Paras was then asked by Sir L. Spittael, as this proposed process was not in accordance with the Bye Laws, who had asked for this nomination procedure. Sir Lino stated that he had been in contact with IHQ and had been authorised to proceed with this matter. When pressed repeatedly by Sir Don Brennock on this point he claimed that he had telephoned IHQ about this matter.
• 6. Sir L. Paras finally admitted that he had no request in writing for that, only a request from the Deputy Supreme Commander by phone. The subsequently circulated e-mail from IHQ, over the signature of the Deputy Supreme Commander to Sir D. Brennock, proves that this is not true.
• 7. It was stated by Sir L. Spittael and Sir P. Plückebaum that the whole procedure, as proposed by Sir Lino, was against the Bye Laws and therefore not legal.
• 8. Sir L. Spittael then criticised the fact that, so far, no list of qualified voters for the General Assembly on May 25, 2008, had been issued (as required by the Bye Laws).
• 9. Sir L. Paras said that he had not received anything like that from IHQ.
• 10. Sir A. Cena pointed out that this was an error of the Electoral Tribunal in Manila.
• 11. Sir L. Spittael asked if there was a list of the Electoral Committee (as required under the Bye Laws) and if all Chapters in the Region had been invited to this Meeting.
• 12. Sir L. Paras claimed that he had invited all Chapters and Areas.
• 13. This was utterly rejected by Sir D. Brennock, who stated that he, either as an Area or a Chapter Commander had not received any official invitation from the Regional Commander and also by Sir L. Spittael, who was aware that Leitmeritz, Waterloo and several other Chapters had not been invited officially either.
• 14. Sir L. Paras wondered if Sir D. Brennock had a change of address, which was rejected by Sir D. Brennock as being ridiculous as Sir Lino has had his e-mail address for the past two years.
• 15. Again it was pointed out that the whole nomination procedure, as proposed by the Regional Commander, was not according to the Bye Laws and was an arbitrary action of Sir L. Paras, who claimed he had been asked by the Deputy Supreme Commander on the 'phone to do so.
• 16. The nomination procedure was rejected as being contrary to the Bye Laws, as the new Supreme Commander should make the request for such a nomination list from the Regional Commander, not the outgoing Supreme Commander. Sir D. Brennock then pointed out that this element of the Bye Laws also presented a very practical problem, both appointments being co-terminus; there would actually be NO Regional Commander in office once the new Supreme Commander was elected.
• 17. At that point, as it had not been done, Sir R. Weber requested an introduction of all participants of the Meeting (in order for those present to get to know each other, where they did not already). This was then carried out. A Lady present introduced herself as representing Sir Ricardo Centenera of Madrid.
• 18. Sir L. Paras suggested that a Recommendation Sheet, which he produced, should be filled in there and then, stating that this was not an election, but only a recommendation which he would then send to the IHQ.
• 19. In order to avoid the same chaos as had arisen in 2006 it was suggested by Sir P. Plückebaum, Sir K. van Thillo and Sir R. Weber that these sheets should not be filled in on the spot, but taken home to the Chapters for further discussion there. They should then be sent to Sir L. Paras, who would forward them to IHQ. However, it was agreed that he should first return a collated summary of all the nominations to all Chapters in the Region regarding the outcome of all the European recommendations.
• 20. Sir L. Paras stated he would inquire about that at IHQ and inform the Chapters about the time by which the sheets should be sent to him before he sent them to Manila so that they should be there before May 25. He promised to inform the Chapters about the result of the European nominations.
• 21. Sir D. Segaert stated that this procedure was necessary, as the Order needs "democracy and transparency". This would help everybody, the Chapters, the Regional Commander and IHQ. If this was the result of this Meeting we in Europe could be proud of ourselves for having achieved something very important. The spirit of the Bye Laws, not their form, should be concentrated on and they needed to be changed, adapted and "upgraded". This was generally agreed on, because, in many ways, the Bye Laws were not consistent and logical.
• 22. Sir A. Palomar agitatedly complained that the discussion was being "monopolised" by a few Knights, but he was invited to contribute more to the discussion himself.
• 23. Sir R. Weber complained that the entire discussion was somewhat in vain and in its effects lacked democracy, as none of the Knights present at this Meeting would be able to attend the General Assembly in Manila on 25th. May, would not be heard there and could not participate and vote there. So 'proxy voting' or some form of new electronic or internet ways of casting our votes (as referred to in the amended Bye Laws) was vital, if democracy within the Order was not just to be a shallow slogan.
• 24. Sir P. Plückebaum stated that with this kind of discussion going on he thought this Meeting was one of the best he had ever attended in Europe and that this was the best way to improve things in the Order.
• 25. Sir L. Paras promised to inform the IHQ accordingly, but 'proxy voting' was not possible under the Bye Laws.
• 26. Sir D. Brennock advised the Meeting that one representative is allowed to cast all the votes of a Chapter at a General Assembly, provided that the 'Electoral Delegate' had been properly notified to IHQ in advance.
• 27. Sir L. Spittael asked Sir L. Paras why some Chapters had been established in Europe by him without informing the Area Commander concerned (in this case Sir D. Brennock for London). He also asked why he (Sir L. Paras) had never confirmed his (Sir L. Spittael's) letter of resignation as Deputy Regional Commander in 2006. Sir L. Paras did not provide any answer.
• 28. Lady Aurea and Sir A. Taguig from London reported at some length and with considerable passion about the problems in London, which, they claimed, had been caused by the former Regional Commander Sir B. Bowman, who had left London in a mess. She then requested, as it had not been done at the beginning of the Meeting, that we sing the Philippine National Anthem, which we did.
• 29. When Sir R. Weber asked Sir L. Paras why he had not extended the time and agenda content for this Meeting, as had been requested beforehand by Bonn, Wilhelmsfeld-Heidelberg, Dublin and El Filibusterismo Chapters Sir L. Paras simply repeated his refusal, with the words from his letter. As none of the Knights present stated that they had to work on Saturday night or Sunday morning this was not accepted as a satisfactory answer.
• 30. Sir P. Plückebaum stated that many complex questions cannot be discussed and resolved within 2 or 3 hours, but needed regular extended communication. He asked that this should be observed in the future.
• 31. Sir L. Paras accepted this and stressed the importance of 'brotherhood'.
• 32. Sir R. Garcia invited the participants to attend a symposium in Hamburg in June, as an extension by 1 or 2 hours would not be enough for fruitful and meaningful discussions.
• 33. When asked by Sir L. Spittael why he had not attended several Meetings to which he had been invited over the last 2 years and why he had not solved the problems of the Region in that period, the Regional Commander stressed that he had inherited a lot of problems in Europe.
• 34. Sir P. Plückebaum stressed the need for better management, at all levels of the Organisation, in the future.
• 35. Sir R. Weber stated that 'brotherhood' and frank discussion were not mutually exclusive, as had been experienced in Schriesheim in February 2008, where there were tough discussions for many hours and at the same time perfect harmony and 'brotherhood' among the Knights present. He very much regretted that, with the exception of Sir R. Victoria, no other ethnic Filipino Knights had attended.
• He also demanded a rotating system for the locations where European Council or Consultative Meetings should take place and he criticised that Sir L. Paras had never answered such a proposal in the past. Sir L. Paras would not comment on this.
• 36 Sir C. Arnaldo reported on the situation and problems in Paris at some length, and that Sir L. Paras had intervened and "made miracles" by calming down the rival sides.
• 37. Sir A. Palomar told about the situation in Berlin and Vienna where the Chapters had been mainly 'Embassy Chapters'. This meant that, with the high mobility among Embassy staff, there were problems keeping Chapters alive and active. He asked everybody to express their 'brotherhood' to each other at that moment, which Sir R. Weber and several others did not "gladly accept", because they wanted to first finish their discussions and then indulge in expressions of 'brotherhood', however their doubts were overcome by a general feeling of goodwill and an outburst of 'brotherhood'.
• 38. Sir R. Weber asked the Regional Commander why he, who had just been praised for his intervention in Paris, had not intervened and stopped e-mails containing accusations, from a known source, like "racist", "crazy" and "mental asylum" in reference to fellow Knights (terms which are the complete antithesis of 'brotherhood') and why he had not reprimanded or expelled the writer of these words but had promoted that Knight to KGOR and had given him extra functions. Sir L. Paras just answered: "others write bad e-mails, too".
• 39. Sir D. Brennock pressed this point strongly with Sir L. Paras who reluctantly eventually stated that he condemned all such e-mails (as mentioned by Sir R. Weber).
• 40. When Sir R. Weber quoted from a letter sent to the IHQ by the Area Commander for Germany in 2006, in which Knights had been identified according to their nationality, there was general surprise about this kind of discrimination, and it was generally agreed that any kind of 'discrimination' was utterly unacceptable in our Order.
• 41. When Sir L. Spittael attempted to ask Sir L. Paras further questions Sir L. Paras abruptly closed the Meeting without prior announcement and without allowing any further questions. The time was then 18.30 hrs.
• 42. The attendance then proceeded to, and enjoyed, the barbeque in the garden of the Chaplaincy that had been prepared by the organiser.

Don P. Brennock, KCR

============================

21.März 2009

Es gab ein Treffen der Area-Commanders und des Regional-Commanders sowie deren Deputies in Brüssel statt. Da der neu eingeführte militärische Teil des Ordens sehr gut funktioniert (Chain of Command) erfuhren interressierte Knights (alle Sitzungen der Knights sind für alle Knights offen) nichts von dieser Veranstaltung, auf der dann folgendes beschlossen wurde:

Minutes des Treffens und die Antwort aus Manila