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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 March 13, 2006
Douglas-Coldwell Foundation Board Meeting
Annual General Meeting – March 13th, 2006
1000-155 Queen St. W
Ottawa, ON
Attendance
Board:
Tessa Hebb
Pat Kerwin
Kealey Cummings
Fraser Green
Marion Dewar
Lynn Williams
David Woodbury
On the phone:
Frank Saptel
Jill Marzetti
Howard Pawley
Staff:
Doug Massey
Members:
Alan Whitehorn
Chris Smart.
Regrets:
Ted Jackson
David Mackenzie
Meeting called to order 11:20 a.m.
M/S/C Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of the minutes from May 5th 2005 Annual General Meeting
1. President’s report
The President Reported on this last year of activity at the Foundation (Report is below) We undertook several projects including a very successful membership drive by email and mail. In the summer undertook two great projects – a DVD – and a new look for the Foundation. The President recognized Pat Kerwin and Doug Massey for all of their work on these projects. The introduction by Shirley Douglas on the DVD is invaluable. Pat Kerwin used the DVD as a means to ask Unions to help assist us with donations. The unions who have supported the project have received thank you letters and copies of the DVD. The next goal on that project is meet with union officers and involve them in the Foundation. The DVD will be released on Parliament Hill at a press conference this afternoon along with the announcement of our DCF Prize for the best project that captures Tommy Douglas’ Vision for Canada.
We have also revamped our material with new letterhead, posters, leaflets, web site, membership cards. With Pat Kerwin and Doug Massey coming on board we now have enough “human resources” to bring the Foundation forward.
President’s Report
One of our recent projects is a special DVD Speeches of Tommy Dougals Vol 1. This DVD, introduced by Shirley Douglas, contains speeches made by Tommy from 1959 to 1984. It closes with a rendition of Mouseland introduced by Tommy’s grandson, Keifer Sutherland. We undertook this project in recognition of Tommy Douglas being named the Greatest Canadian. The DVD will be released on March 13th in Ottawa. You received information on ordering the DVD in your recent mailing from the Foundation. We also updated our look and materials which you will have seen in these recent mailings. Our web site will be revamped in the coming months.
In 2006, we plan a further tribute to Tommy Douglas by holding a competition for the best project that reflects ‘Tommy’s vision for Canada.’ We will be awarding a grant of $25,000 to the project selected in this competition.
Last year the DCF made significant contributions to several important projects. These included: CKUT-FM Montreal, for a 24-hour radio Marathon Against Homelessness broadcast heard on student radio stations across Canada; Ottawa: Our Diversity City Project for a roundtable on labour market issues facing new immigrants; Community Ownership Solutions whose work on urban revitalization has an impact on the downtown core of Winnipeg; Birdsong Communications based in Saskatchewan for a documentary on Allan Blakeney; and assisted in the publication of Women and Homelessness by author Susan Scott of B.C. Our projects covered a range of issues and crossed the country.
In 2005, we continued to provide scholarships at three Canadian universities: Carleton University, University of Regina and Woodsworth College of the University of Toronto.
M/S/C Adoption of the President’s Report
2. Executive Secretary Report
Doug Massey presented the report on behalf of Anne Scotton. At the end of 2004 we had 35 members – now we have 82 regular members and 32 Association memberships (Unions, etc). The web site now has a great deal of information that was lacking before and is an effective way for people to join the DCF. Membership support is now covering the Foundation’s operating cost so the Endowment can now be fully used for grants. As we continue to build on membership, these funds will continue to grow the Endowment fund to increase Grants in the future.
Tessa Hebb noted that with the increase of members we also need to recognize that with this growth it will also increase the demand on Doug’s time and we should revisit those time requirements in the future.
M/S/C That we set a goal of 250 members by Dec 31, 2006.
M/S/C the adoption of the Executive Secretary’s report.
3. Treasurer’s report
Pat Kerwin presented the audited statements for 2005. The audited statements are available to our members – for a copy please contact Doug Massey in our office.
M/S/C Approval of the 2005 audited statements.
M/S/C Re-appoint Ouseley Hanvey Clipsham Deep LLP as our auditor for 2006.
M/S/C Commend the Officers and our Executive Assistant on a great job.
4. Nomination committee
All Board positions are currently filled.
No recommendations at this time
5. Other Business
Simon Strelchik, Federal NDP Candidate in the last election submitted a proposal together to host a library of NDP and CCF books. We will discuss this proposal further at the Fall Board Meeting.
We need to carry out an inventory of all DCF property and archives for our records. Tessa and Doug will undertake this over the summer of 2006.
M/S/C Meeting adjourned 12:20.
Latest posts
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
