Calgary Regional Women’s Committee meeting minutes. February 03, 2020

Calgary Regional Women’s Committee meeting minutes. February 03, 2020

In Attendance:

Aly Scherer-Boulter, UNE,

Cindy Wong, CEIU 30856,

Shanon Hicks, CIU 30036

Hazel Buchanan, USJE 70125

Kirsten Strachey, UTE 30024

Eileen Ibrahim, UHEW 30704

Tabassom Javadi Doudarani, UNE 30040

Deb Kosteniuk, UTE 30024

Jennifer Jurca, UCTE 30318 (recorder)

Dolly Ablitt, PSAC Regional Representative

Regrets:

nil

The Meeting was called to order at 6:09 p.m.

1. Agenda: Reviewed and amended to include discussion of minutes: then accepted by consensus.

2. Minutes: from previous meeting, Nov 25, 2019. Minutes were approved by email.

3. Old Business:

a) Toy Drive and Volunteer night at the Women’s Centre of Calgary Toy Room: We hosted a short toy drive and locals donated around $1500 worth of toys. We worked on Monday Dec 16; 7 women came out. We had discussed signing cards tonight, but didn’t get them. There were donations from several locals, from within UCTE, CIU, CEIU, UTE and GSU, as well as from individuals Phil Chan and Kathy Ajram (UTE 30022)

4. New Business:

a) Committee Reporting Packages and Committee Handbooks: The process and forms were re-vamped and each committee is also supposed to receive a handbook. All of the committee members got training last fall. The handbooks were delayed from being sent out, but should be arriving at the Regional Office next week.

Financial Packages have to be reviewed by two other, independent, PSAC members in good standing, and the report must be signed.

For anything $500 and over, we need to provide a proposal including a breakdown of how the money is going to be used and include an explanation of why we need that amount. In the future, committee funds must be requested via a budget propsal.

b) IWD: March 8 – “Equal for Each” (Gender Equity) is this year’s theme. Gender Equity also includes childcare as lack of affordable childcare keeps women in low paying jobs. This year will be different; we will hold a luncheon on Saturday, March 7 from 11:30-1:30. We are assisting as volunteers at the event.

Cobs already donates bread and the Community Kitchen can make chilli. UFCW usually works with us on this and will donate some punch and a meat tray. It’s potluck style, so all attendees, including Committee members, are requested to bring a lunch related item. We will spend most of our committee’s funds on food this year, rather than prizes. Watch for an informal meeting to help with planning between now and then. This year there will be a textile artist, a singer, and a speaker. (Sister Kirsten Strachey)

The Women’s Centre is looking for Door Prize donations. We also discussed still having some small prizes such as gift cards for wheel spins.

c) RWC Events for 2020 and Budget Request: Deb will send an email out with suggestions for us to plan for this year. Items such as Bear Witness Day, IWD, Dec 6, Sisters in Spirit, are on the horizon.

Discussed aiming our movie night for October to align with Person’s Day?

Budget plan and request must be ready for first week of March. (March 2, 2020)

d) PSAC Prairie Region Triennial Convention: June 12-14, 2020 in Regina. This is fully funded and our RWC is entitled to send one Representative so we need to elect a delegate as well as two alternates.

Eileen – Nominated by Jenn and seconded by Tabassom. Eileen accepted the position of Delegate

Hazel – Nominated by Kirsten and seconded by Deb. Hazel accepted the position of First Alternate

Cindy – Cindy accepted the position of Second Alternate.

- All positions accepted and agreed to by consensus. No elections were required - 

e) Minutes Process: Jenn asked about the approval process used by the RWC for the meeting minutes. After reading the handout from the Committee Training, it seems that we don’t have to do the entire approval of the minutes via email; we can just get an approval for posting, by the majority of those who were in attendance, with the official approval to follow at the next meeting. After a short discussion, this change was accepted. 

6. Roundtable:

Kirsten – AFL next childcare committee meeting is Feb 20.

Deb – Recommends Members take training for Strike Preparation. Mentioned that PRC will be meeting in Calgary Feb 27- March 1st. Any PSAC member is welcome to attend as an observer. Also mentioned that there may be an associated rally, so be prepared!

The rest of the attendees did not have any items to raise at this time.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m.

Next meeting to be held: Monday, March 2, 2020.