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Minutes From The DCF AGM - June 25, 2019
MINUTES OF THE DCF 2019 AGM
Held on June 25, 2019 at 7:00 PM ET
DCF Annual General Meeting April 20, 2004
Douglas-Coldwell Foundation Annual General Meeting
Tues, April 20, 2004
NDP Caucus Services, Ottawa
In Attendance:
Tessa Hebb
Nanci Morrison
Fraser Green
Ted Jackson
Marion Dewar
Anne Scotton
David Mackenzie (by phone)
Staff: Audrey Moey
Guests: Dave McGrane
Regrets:
Lynn Williams
Keally Cummings
David Woodbury
Call to Order
10:30 Meeting called to order
1. President's report
Tessa reported that since the last AGM, we have contributed to
· The Ethical Trading Action Group (ETAG) Antisweatshop campaign
· John Polanyi Conference at Concordia University
· Mining Watch
· CCPA Workshop on Deep Integration
· Carleton University conference Transforming Security/ Securing TransformationCentre for Social Justice: Consultation on Foreign and Defence Policy
· Various scholarships
All the allocated monies were spent.
Patrik Snajdr is our webmaster and web-donations will now be possible.
First email proxy ballot (on request from Centre for Social Justice) was very successful; our Board is very email-savvy.
Tessa will continue to pass on information and recommendations from SHARE.
Joy Langan will attend the next SHARE meeting - there was none this year.
We have received proxy votes from Joy and Robert Needham - this shows that Board members are in touch even when they cannot be present at meetings.
Bill Blaikie will be resigning from the Board.
Resolution to thank him for the many years of service - M/S/C TH/FG
Audrey will prepare resolution; Tessa will send a personal note as well.
After the federal election, Tessa will approach Chris Watson about renting space for the DCF office. M/S/C FG/TJ
2. Executive Secretary's Report
None
3. Treasurer's Report
Nanci presented the highlights of the audited statements for 2003. Audrey will request that there is a total amount shown for Conferences, Awards and Bursaries/Scholarships in next year's audited statements.
The Cash Flow report was presented, showing normal adjustments for the year. It was noted that our investments have been well-managed by Frank Charette at Scotia-McLeod - we are making money for the first time.
Tessa added that the book value of our unrestricted funds is actually a little lower than the market value.
M/S/C to accept report FG/TH
Nanci reported that due to our almost losing our charitable status this year, the Officers would like to explore finding a new auditor. She proposed that the Officers be authorized to conduct a search and report back to the Board at a later time.
Anne suggested that we find someone who is familiar with what we do. All suggestions should be forwarded to Audrey.
Nanci also addressed the issue of getting checks signed in a timely fashion. Suggestion was put forward to add Audrey Moey as a signator.
Anne has real reservations, as it is not considered a sound practice to allow "employees" to have signing authority. Motion was withdrawn.
Nomination of David Mackenzie as Vice-President (officers' recommendation)
M/S/C TH/FG
Vacancies on the Board
Tessa reported that we have been wooing Shirley Douglas, but she may be out of town, so we will wait to hear back from her before moving on. Anne suggested approaching Kiefer Sutherland if Shirley declines.
Ted suggested that we could approach Kiefer to help in doubling the size of our foundation endowment. If Shirley does come on board, we can still approach Kiefer with any interesting ideas for the DCF.
Ted reminded everyone that they should engage in "big thinking". Marion reminded us that we should not forget about Kiefer's twin sister, Rachel.
Now that Bill Blaikie is resigning, there will be no caucus member on the board. Motion that Judy Wasylycia-Leis be approached M/S/C TH/NM
David McGrane asked why there isn't a youth membership category. Fraser explained that historically, DCF members have been more "mature". Discussion ensued on adding a youth category. Youth membership will apply to anyone under the age of 26 (same as New Democratic Youth membership), and the youth membership rate is set at $12.00.
Audrey will work with Patrik to get the website adjusted to reflect this.
M/S/C DM/FG
11:03am Meeting adjourned.
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DCF Board Meeting - February 27, 2020
DCF Board Meeting
Thursday, February 27th, 2020
19:00 ET
Location:
By Telephone
Attendance:
Karl Bélanger, Melissa Hunter, Mohammad Akbar, Rebecca Blaikie, Jon Weier, Derek De Vlieger, Diana Idibe, Chirs Markevich.
- Adoption of Agenda
m/s/c
2. Adoption of minutes
Minutes of the July 23rd, 2019 meeting
m/s/c
3. President’s report:
Hope everyone is well. Mayor of Ottawa has asked people to stay home because of the coronavirus, thankfully we can hold our meeting by phone.
Transition has been happening. Our new treasurer will give us an update.
The group “Nos Communes, Our Commons” appears to have gone dormant. We were wise to set conditions to go along with the grant approval.
Work has been done to update our registration with Industry Canada. No progress has been made on the Stokoe bequest. 4Executive
4. Secretary’s Report:
Anne Scotton is unable to join us and send her regrets.
5. Treasurer’s Report:
Transition has been happening. Priority now is on issuing tax receipts. We have to handle a few manually. We have a lot of different systems which are more or less
compatible with each other, but things seem under control. We are issuing cheques to catch up on some accounts due.
5. b) Fee structure at Scotia McLeod
Good discussions with Scotia McLeod about our assets. They remain healthy.
Their proposed new fee structure, SM would be much more nimble in the markets as there are no commission minimums on trades. Currently, the commission minimum is $175. That does limit profit taking opportunities and specific positions when considering weighting in the portfolio, which we must do as our assets are now stock-heavy.
Motion: BIRT the Board authorizes ScotiaMcLeod to move the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation wealth management account into a Partnership Plus account, which modifies the fee structure from a Per Transaction formula to an annual fee based on the DCF assets.
m/s/c
5 c). Adoption of Treasurer’s report.
m/s/c
6. Progress Summit
The Progress Summit will be held in Vancouver. We will have a booth. Looking for volunteers, so if anyone is attending, please let us know.
The next TDI Institute will be held in May. Theme is Our City & the Green New Deal. We have been invited to take part once again.
7. Office Space
Mohammad Akbar has raised the issue of the DCF securing a new permanent space by buying a building. The CFS building is no longer on the market. Board members express general interest in doing so sometime down the road.
8. DCF 50th Anniversary
Next year is the 50th anniversary of the DCF. It is a good opportunity to complete the reboot of the DCF and move forward with the plan adopted by AGM two years ago. We should have a year of activity of events, maybe a gala? Jon Weier volunteers to coordinate the DCF planning.
The Institute for Change Leaders (ICL)’s proposal to create a multimedia project that tells the story of progressive campaigns, driven by Olivia Chow, is moving forward, with Tim Harper on board. Another application will be forthcoming at the next board meeting. Board members expressed once again their support in principle for this proposal.
9. Next Meeting
Board members agreed to look for a suitable date in late April/early May.
10. Other business
The Institute for Change Leaders (ICL)’s proposal to create a multimedia project that tells the story of progressive campaigns, driven by Olivia Chow, is moving forward, with Tim Harper on board. We are still awaiting their next application.
We have received news from Beryl Young that Tommy's Dream, a children’s book that tells the story of how Tommy Douglas's childhood experience with his own health inspired him to work toward establishing universal health care, is now going to be published by Louis Anctil, the publisher of Midtown Press in Vancouver. Target is the spring of 2021. An update application will be forthcoming before the next meeting.
11. Adjournment
m/s/c
DCF Board Meeting - July 23rd, 2019
DCF Board Meeting
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2019
6:00 ET
Location:
By Telephone
Attendance:
Karl Bélanger, Melissa Hunter, Mohammad Akbar, Rebecca Blaikie, Diane Idibe,
Jon Weier, Amy Boughner, Jay Ramasubramanyam, Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah.
Non-board member: Josh Bizjak
Adoption of Agenda
m/s/c
2. Adoption of minutes
Minutes of the previous meeting are read and adopted.
m/s/c
3. President’s report:
Karl mentions that there was a significant turnover of Board Members at the AGM, which is interesting and challenging.
The two committees charged by the previous AGM to review governance issues and the DCF by-laws made limited progress.
The DCF received a nice letter from a scholarship recipient and was read. The DCF needs to revisit its links with the different universities to strengthen the relationship and increase awareness.
4. Financial Report: No official report as the position is vacant, following the resignation of Emilie Taman. Karl gives a general overview of the financial situation. Our assets remain healthy. The DCF raised more money in the past year, thanks notably to a generous donation from the Flanagan Institute.
Minimal progress has been made on the transition. A full audit needs to be conducted before the end of the year.
Karl had a meeting with Scotia McLeod about our assets. They are proposing a new fee
structure, in essence moving to a fee-based structure from a per transaction cost. With the fee-based structure, our investors pledge to make himself available for board meetings and consult on the construction of a new investment policy statement. With a fee-based structure, we would be much more nimble in the markets as there are no commission minimums on trades.
Motion moved to ask the new treasurer to review, met with Scotia McLeod and report to the Board on a recommendation for the proposal.
m/s/c
5. Election of officers
President: Karl Bélanger
Vice-President: Rebecca Blaikie, Derek DeVlieger
Executive Secretary: Anne Scotton in abstentia, pending her acceptance;
Mohammad Akbar as alternate.
Treasurer: Melissa Hunter
6. Staffing
Chris Markevich has moved on from his position but has been elected to the Board, which will be helpful for institutional memory. Josh Bizjak has been helping out on a volunteer basis.
Motion moved to regularize Josh Bizjak’s situation by compensating his work on a similar contract as previous assistant, to be negotiated with the President.
m/s/c
7. Correspondence
