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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 Board Meeting March 13, 2006
Douglas-Coldwell Foundation Board Meeting
March 13, 2006 Board meeting
155-1000 Queen St. W
Ottawa, ON.
10:15 am – meeting called to order
Attendance
Tessa Hebb
Pat Kerwin
Kealey Cummings
Fraser Green
Marion Dewar
Lynn Williams
David Woodbury
Staff:
Doug Massey
On the phone:
Frank Saptel
Jill Marzetti
Howard Pawley
Regrets:
Ted Jackson
David Mackenzie
Tessa welcomed Alexa McDonough to the Board and Lynn Williams who was able to join us in Ottawa for the meeting.
The President and Treasurer’s Report was tabled for the Annual General Meeting immediately following the Board Meeting.
1. M/S/C Approval of agenda
2. M/S/C Approval of minutes of last Board Meeting May 5th 2005 (Nov. 2005 Board meeting was cancelled due to election call). Minutes are posted on the DCF.ca web site
3. New Projects Report
In the Summer an email ballot was conducted to get approval for the DVD Project – 100 % response to the email proxy ballot and every Board member approved of the project.
Pat Kerwin walked us through the DVD project expenses and revenues. Those giving $10 per month or more on our monthly giving plan or a one time donation of $250.00 or more will receive a “Collector’s edition” copy of the DVD “Speeches of Tommy Douglas – Volume 1” – these levels are due to restrictions in Charitable foundations for “gifts” that are given back to donors. The DVD can also be purchased for $24.95 includes taxes plus $5 shipping and handling (no tax receipt is given).
We also created a new look for the Foundation with a profession graphics design firm Joss Maclennan Designs. A poster was created in both English and French to help promote the Foundation. We revamped our web site, letterhead, leaflets, and had new membership cards created. It was felt that we needed these materials to engage new members and groups. The DVD project was a significant initiative with kudos to Pat Kerwin and Doug Massey for all of their hard work on this project.
We will be announcing the release of the DVD at a press conference this afternoon.
Pat Kerwin added a message of thanks about DVD project and wanted to recognize the Saskatchewan NDP, the Canadian Labour Congress and the UFCW for giving us copies of the videos used for the DVD project. It was also a huge success having Shirley Douglas introduce the speeches on the DVD and the support she has shown for the Foundation. Selected clips of this DVD are on our web site.
Volume 2 of the DVD set is now being researched by Pat Kerwin. This will include speeches from Tommy Douglas while he sat in the House of Commons. It was suggested that Ed Broadbent would be a good individual to provide the introduction to this DVD collection.
Second new project announced is a competition of one single large award for $25,000
Project that best captures “Tommy Douglas’ Vision for Canada”
M/S/C We proceed with a 2006 award of $25,000 for project that best captures “Tommy Douglas’ Vision for Canada”. In order to be able to grant this amount we will not undertake any other project request (with the exception of our on-going scholarships) until November of 2006. The Board will select a winner from proposal’s received. Terms of reference for the competition are attached.
It was suggested that the winner of the competition be announced from the podium at the upcoming NDP Federal Convention in Sept. in Quebec City.
4. Scholarships Report:
Three universities awarded our scholarships last year, Carleton University, University of Regina, and U. of T. Woodsworth College. We will post these scholarships on our revamped web site with links to the institutions where they need to apply. We will seek permission to post the names of the winners of the scholarships each year. Frank Saptel will be asked to can follow up with CALM with Rosemarie.
M/S/C: Adoption of the Report
5. Membership Drive
Doug Massey reported in Anne’s absence. We have increased our current membership to 103 and are beginning to be able to sustain our administration cost through our annual and monthly membership donations. We would like all the Board members to continue to find 25 new members in 2006. Doug can send out letters/emails on your behalf. Doug will send out current membership list to Board Members so the Board can see who responded to last year’s appeal.
6. Nomination Committee Report:
The full board acts as the nomination committee for the meeting
With the addition of Frank Saptel and Alexa McDonough at last year’s AGM the 17 voting Board positions are currently filled.
We will look into Honourary Patrons for our next AGM.
7. Other Business: Frank Saptel recommended we think about a French version of the video Mouseland.
8. M/S/C Meeting adjourned 11:15 a.m. Next Board meeting to be confirmed in June after the close of submissions for the DCF Prize.
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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
