Edmonton Human Rights Committee: Meeting Minutes - Feb 7, 2019

PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CANADA

EDMONTON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

PLANNING MEETING

FEBRUARY 07, 2019

In Attendance:

Mavis Callihoo - Chair                                   

Denise Gugel -Vice Chair

Mildred Ncube - Treasurer

Dragana Ristivojevich - Secretary

Carm Chan - PSAC representative

Shannon Blum (Teleconferencing) Prairie Regional council Rep

1.Call to Order:

Mavis called the Planning Meeting to order at 6:00 pm.  Denise read the Harassment Statement.

2. Approval of Agenda:

The agenda for tonight’s meeting was to create a yearly plan to execute events pertaining to human rights.  These events will include an educational component, address current issues and engage the membership. 

3.Review and Approval of the Previous Meeting’s Minutes.

Previous minutes were distributed, reviewed and approved by all.

4. Reports: 

A year end report will be submitted by the Chair to the PSAC along with the budgetand event proposals

5.Previous Business:

5.1 Feb, 2019- Black History Month: On behalf of the HR Committee, Mavis wrote of the importance of recognizing and celebrating Black History month and this was posted in the HR Facebook and distributed to Union Locals.  She has been posting documents about Black History month and other items of Union and Human Rights interest throughout the year.

Mildred submitted a document regarding the importance of Black history month, the time and effort that Mildred took to complete her exhortation about the importance of Black History Month and all Mother languages was appreciated.  Unfortunately, the document was not approved by the PSAC office for distribution.

For more information regarding black history month please refer to the below websites:

http://psacunion.ca/psac-honours-black-history-month

L'article suivant vient d’être affiché sur le site web plus tôt aujourd'hui:

http://syndicatafpc.ca/lafpc-honore-mois-lhistoire-noirs

and to the PSAC Edmonton Human Rights Committee Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/318411482070877/

6. New Business: Dates TBA

6.1   March, 2019 – Informal Get Together

Inviting all members for an informal get together.

6.2     April, 2019 – Movie Night with a Human Rights Theme.

Denise will investigate whether to rent a movie and have the event at the Edmonton PSAC office or to have it at a movie theatre.  The movie should be family oriented and be educational with a Human Rights theme.  Popcorn and drinks will need to be considered.  Denise will contact the National Film Board at Canada Place as well as a local theatre to inquire about the price of rental.

6.3    May, 2019 – Asian Heritage Month.

Paint night with the theme honouring Asian Heritage Month.  Possible theme of “Cherry Blossoms”.  The cost would be $30 per member.  The cost would be partially subsidized by the HR committee.  Mavis has made contact with a local painter that supplies the training and all materials. 

6.4     June, 2019 – Dreamcatcher Event.

Mavis will contact Heather Poitras to conduct another Dreamcatcher event.  The cost is $20. 00 per member.  More discussions will occur on whether the HR Committee could partially subsidize this event. 

6.5     June, 2019 – LGBTQS2 Pride Parade.

A possible donation to the Trans Safe House.

Attendance is strongly encouraged to participate in the Pride parade to show our support to the LGBTQS2 community.  Candy bags or multi-colored suckers to be handed out at the parade.  Last year approximately 90 candy bags were handed out.  Dragana will look at the cost of the candy.

6.6    July and August, 2019.  No events will be scheduled for these two months, however there may be informal gatherings initiated.

6.7     September, 2019 - Labor Day Barbeque.

To assist in serving food to the community.  Possibility of handing out PSAC Frisbees to BBQ attendees.

6.8     October, 2019 – Volunteering.

Help to serve meals with a local charity.  Will be discussed later.

6.9     October, 2019 - Cairo Blanket, Bannock and Tea Event

This is a ½ day event.  Kairo blanket exercise and Bannock and tea to be served after.  Mavis will ask Ginger’s bannock house to cater the event.  Carm will check on facilitator availability.

6.10   October, 2019 – Potluck or an informal Get Together.

Event to be held on a Saturday at the Edmonton PSAC office. Members invited to participate in a potluck and/or informal get together.  Prizes will be given.

6.11   October, 2019 - Informal Night Out.

Executive members to have an informal get together. 

6.12   November 11, 2019 - Remembrance Day.

Laying of the Wreath at the Butter dome.  Mavis laid the wreath in 2018.  More discussions to follow on who would like to participate in laying the wreath in 2019.

6.13   December 03, 2019 – International Day of Disability.

A poster will be posted on our Facebook page and sent to the membership. 

6.14   December 10, 2019 Human Rights Day.

Forty bookmarks with the Charter of Freedom and Rights will be downloaded from the Human Rights Museum.  Bookmarks will need to be laminated. 

A total of 75 certificate-sized posters 28 cm x 34 cm will be ordered from the Government of Canada. Each of these certificates will be individually framed along with our sticker promoting the Edmonton Human Rights Committee.  There is a total of 46 locals.  The framed posters will be hand delivered to the Locals that are located within the City.  Out-of-town locals will be mailed out. 

The cost of laminating, the purchase of the certificate-sized frames and loss of salary will be discussed at our next Budget meeting.

6.15   Executive Get Together – December, 2019.

The Executive will be scheduling a get together.  Gift certificates for Executive members.  Date unknown at this time.

 

7.0   Actions:

Mavis	Black History Month write up to be posted on HR facebook.	Done
Denise	Movie Night – Held at PSAC office or at a Movie Theatre
Mavis	Asian Heritage Month - Contact painter to inquire about availability and cost
Mavis	Dream Catcher Event – Will contact Heather Poitras.
Dragana	LGBTQ2S Pride Parade – Look at the cost of candy
Mavis and Carm	Cairo Blanket, Bannock & Tea Event – Mavis to engage Gingers bannock house for the event.  Carm will contact the Kairos blanket facilitator to see what their availability is for October 19th.  This will be a Saturday afternoon event.
Undecided	Remembrance Day – Laying of the Wreath
Mavis and TBA.	International Day of Disability – Include a poster in the EH facebook.
Carm	Human Rights Day -Order Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedom Poster & Certificates

8.0   Next Meetings: Other dates TBA

 

• February 28, 2019 – Budgeting at 6:00 pm at the Edmonton PSAC office.

 

• June 06, 2019 – Preplanning at 6:00 pm at the Edmonton PSAC office.

 

• August 08, 2019 – Executive Meeting at 6:00 pm at the Edmonton PSAC office.

 

• October 05, 2019 – Tentative Date.  Frames and lunch at 10:00 am at the Edmonton PSAC office

 

• October 19, 2019 – Kairos, Bannock and Tea.  1:00 pm at the Edmonton PSAC office

9.0   Terms of Reference.

Terms of Reference were reviewed and revised.Submission attached.

10.0 Roundtable.

Mildred: 

She is on the Steering Committee with the Prairie School in Saskatchewan Federation of Labor.PSAC will be offering the Judy Shannon scholarship.

Mildred is encouraging all members to apply to the Prairie School for Union Women scheduled June 9 – 13, 2019 and scholarship program for equity – seeking groups (Indigenous, women with disabilities, visible minority women, lesbian/bisexual/trans women and youth who are 29 and under.  If scholarship is not enough, locals can top up the rest if possible.

Carm:

Mildred and Denise need signing authority.Carm is checking to see if the Servus Credit Union requires that both Carm and Mavis to be present at the bank with them.

The bank statement arrived at the Edmonton PSAC office on February 07, 2019.  A balance of $3,444.78 in the account, as of January 31, 2019.

Mavis:

Thank you to everyone for their participation.  It was a successful planning meeting.  We will have the tentative budget ready for review at next meeting and she will be preparing a report pertaining to last years’ activities.

Denise:

Has offered to check in to the Canada Place Indigenous room to see if we would be able to use it on occasion.  Will pass on info.  pertaining to events.  Has also kindly offered to assist with questions regarding finances.

Dragana:

Happy with the direction of the HR committee.  Will do her best to submit minutes on time.

She requires all paperwork to be received by March 14, 2019.Thanked the committee for their organization and planning.If we require anything, please let her know.

Meeting Adjourned – 8:15 pm.