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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 7th, 2001
Douglas-Coldwell Foundation Annual General Meeting
March 7th, 2001
NDP Caucus Services, Ottawa
In Attendance:
Tessa Hebb
Dick Martin
Ted Jackson
Lorne Ingle
Jill Marzetti
David Woodbury
Regrets:
Howard Pawley
Bill Knight
Bob Needham
Kealy Cummings
Marion Dewar
Bill Blaikie
Request to participate by conference call:
Anne Scotton
David Mackenzie
Call to Order
10:10 The Meeting was called to order by the President.
M/S/C that the agenda be approved.
M/S/C that the minutes of the last Board meeting be approved.
Presidents Report
The President reported that we have had a successful year. With the launch of the website, the publication of the Coldwell biography and the new focus of the DCF, the Foundation is once again being seen as an active organization in terms of supporting social democracy in Canada.
The President reported that as of March 2001 the M.J. Coldwell Biography has sold 1,200 copies across the country. She has approached Stoddart publishing about placing copies in libraries across Canada and has received a positive response. The goal of placing copies of the book in Canadian libraries could be part of the next membership appeal.
The President reported on the DCF web site. We are attracting visitors to the site, and have begun to encourage young writers to contribute to the site. We will look for ways to strengthen the links from our site, and promote our site with young people.
M/S/C that the presidents report be approved.
Executive Secretary's report
Due to the fact that the conference call phone service was not available, the Secretary's report has been delayed until the next meeting.
Treasurer's Report
The Treasurer presented the 2000 unaudited statements.
The Treasurer then presented the year to-date cash flow statement for 2001.
The Treasurer reported that we are reviewing Nesbitt Burns and considering moving the portfolio to another investment firm. We have already met with Frank Charette of ScotiaMcLeod for a portfolio review. In addition we will have a review of the portfolio by Credential Group of the Credit Union system.
Ted Jackson suggested that we invite professionals to propose fundraising strategies for the DCF and that the Foundation take a more activist approach to investing using ethical screening and participating in shareholder actions.
The Treasurer recommended that the Board take these suggestions as items for the next meeting.
M/S/C that the Treasurer's report be adopted.
New Projects
The President reviewed the requests that the foundation has received (see attached). On behalf of the Officers and New Project Committee, she recommended that the Board approve funding for the Des Morton/Ed Broadbent Conference on The Future of Social Democracy at the McGill Institute for Study of Canada and for the Ish Theilheimer/ Straight Goods on-line Forum on the Future of Social Democracy in Canada which would work in conjunction with the above conference.
The Officers recommended funding of up to $20 000 for the MISC Conference on the Future of Social Democracy with guarantees of a number of spots at the conference and a seat on the delegate selection committee. The Officers also recommended $5,000 for the Straight Goods On-line Forum. She noted that the Also she suggested that the DCF offer up our website for use in the On-line component of the conference.
Of the remaining requests, $1,000 for the publication of Doug Smith's Health Not For Sale was recommended. No other projects where recommended for support.
M/S/C that the New Projects Committee recommendations be adopted. The size of the grants will mean that no other discretionary projects will be funded in 2001.
Adjournment
12:15 the Meeting was adjourned by the President. The next Board meeting will be held in September 2001 in conjunction with our Annual General.
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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
