DCF Board Meeting - November 23, 2016

DCF Board Meeting November 23, 2016

Wednesday, Nov 23rd, 2016

6:00 ET

Location:

25One Community

251 Bank St.

Ottawa, ON K2P 1X3

 

Attendance:

Present: David Mackenzie, Miles Krauter, Oliver Kent, Doug Massey, Karl Bélanger, Anne Scotton

By Telephone: Calinda Brown, Rebecca Blaikie, Diane O’Reggio, Gerry Barr

 

David McKenzie re-introduction after coming back to fill as interim President after two years removed. 

Shout outs to all those that have helped support the needs of the organization.  

 

  1. Adoption of Agenda

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2. Election of Officers
Treasurer: Doug accepts (Nominated by David MacKenzie)

Vice Presidents (x2): Diane and Etienne accepts (Nominated by Doug)

Executive Secretary: Anne Accepts (Nominated by David)

President: Karl accepts (Nominated by Doug)

 

All acclaimed

 

David Mackenzie thanks Karl for taking the lead.

 

3. Adoption of minutes

Minutes from June 21, 2016 Board Meeting

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4. President’s Report: Thank you to David White.  It is believed that David White started as early as 2006, becoming president in 2014.  David contributed many great ideas to the DCF, for example his organizing around health care initiatives.  Let the minutes show the DCF appreciates all the work he has done within the organization and as President.  Anne prefaces that we accept his resignation with regret.  Thank you, Erin Kelly and Chris Markevich (as past-Executive Assistants), also Isaac Campbell (as current).  David Mackenzie outlines 4 points that reflect progress within the DCF:  1) Website has improved 2) Mouseland is a great initiative, building on past video work of Pat Kerwin. 3) It’s a delight to see new faces on board 4) Grants work is great to see on the site (Upstream from 2014 will go up on site soon), an important tradition to continue.  David recalls working with Tessa in the past work on Grants.  Interpares (work around ombudsperson relating to corporate accountability) is a strong current example of the types of impacts attributable to the work of the DCF. Partnering with progressive groups has and should always been an important part of the DCF; as we continually rethink the Foundation, be it research based, global partnerships, citizen education, working with independent media etc.  Thank you to all who have helped and Karl with be a cool and collected President.

 

5. Executive Secretary:  Anne happy to accept this report, eluding to the fact it is very forward looking and positive.  46 membership, 14 lifetime, 3 youth

 

 

Correspondence from Interpares /CNCA read by David McKenzie.  They are Grateful for the support received regarding the Ombudsman and accompanying legislation, work that would have otherwise would not have been possible. Gerry Barr speaks to the importance of this function to move Corporate Accountability forward with in the context of Organizing.  Anne reads scholarship updates from Beverlee Bell Recipients.  Woodsworth College updates read by Anne and thanks for contributions.  m/s/c

 

6. Treasurer’s Report:   

 

 

Product sales 1,000 Bobbleheads purchased through one order – ATU (Tommy Douglas Centre) in Maryland, 8347 Facebook likes Advertising and has grown quickly since the web site rebuild.  Facebook postings have increased thanks to Chris Markevich.  Interpares.  Carleton and Woodsworth needs to send invoices for Scholarships.  Maybe we should talk about advertising Scholarships, not currently being done.  Credit Card processing fees will be going down with halting the use of Moneris.  We purchased a  new Computer and Printer (hadn’t been purchased since 2004) Rent at 251 slightly up.  Investment Market fluctuations up.  Prepaid expenses $13,000 mostly Mouseland project.  Cost of website will be depreciated over 5 years.  $751,000 as of October 31st , accrued Accounts Payable for Auditor.  Doug also gave an update on the Mouseland video, storyboards were sent with adjustments.  Described some of the modernized updates to the animation and culture.  Miles asked about role of SHARE, asking about ethical investments. SHARE helps identify problems and opportunities to influence.  Anne requested an updated report from SHARE.  David McKenzie suggested a friendly amendment to the Treasurers Report.  Doug encourages we use SHARE to engage.  Treasurers Report accepted as amended. 

 

7. Grant Review:   PRC team has been an informal review team used for support.  Diane, Howard, David Mackenzie in the past.  David Mackenzie went through projects

Beryl Young’s children’s book Tommy’s Dream: Rejected. DCF has been hesitant to support book projects in the past.  PRC is recommending not to support, as common practice.  A motion to support Anne. Motion is to get a look at the text and perhaps make a determination at a later based on reassessing. 

Our Times: Rejected.  Not a specific enough proposal, they are an organization that has labour funding based out of Toronto.

Canadian Roots:  Approved. $1000,00, recommending a base level of support.  Based on current realities and needs to partner, especially having a youth focus. It could help visibility of the DCF.  Karl suggests we look to attend conference, depending if we have somebody accessible. 

SHARE:  Approved. PRC recommends a contribution of $5000,00 to fund third phase of existing project.  AGM activists, Canada’s largest group that in engages Corporate world on Ethic and Corporate Accountability.  They work to organize Strategic Share holder interventions, among work tackling climate change.  Gerry comments that they lead the front in Canada and provide a unique function.  Miles disagrees that SHARE should be supported, discrediting the methods SHARE uses as ineffective while suggesting we reconsider either of the rejected proposals.  Anne reaffirms book isn’t being completely overlooked and defends SHARE’s approach as being relevant and constructive.  Oliver feels it’s a wise investment.  Doug bring forward information about how spoken with Beryl about the need to find a publisher and how we could look at ways of helping to advertise on our site in supporting sales.  Miles responds to Oliver’s assessment of SHARE (con vote) and feels Our Times should be considered $5000.00.  Motion moved to accept the recommendation of the committee.  

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Broadbent Institute: Approved.  $56,000 over two years.  $28,000 for this coming year-2017.  Initially asked for $101,000.  Project is  shared collaboration, seeking cobranding on the education and research part of the project.  Anne is of the belief this is a useful project for DCF in the current context.  It will support a non-partisan, educational research project that protects our status as a charity.  Stating also that we should suggest a focus on indigenous communities within their discourse around public life in Canada.  Oliver isn’t opposed to supporting the project at a higher financial level.  David highlights the need to champion social democracy research.   Rebecca, Gerry, Diane all support the project over the phone.  Karl supports the idea of tapping into same world of the B.I. to move the DCF forward. Miles supports.  Unanimous support. 

8) Mouseland: Previously addressed but just an update.  Coming along well.  The graphic artist seems to be very invested in the project. Slight updates to the storyboards.

9) 5-year strategic project review discussion will be followed up.  Anne - sober second thought, Karl- how many new members, would like to review. 

 

10) Other:  New President Karl Bélanger has some words.  His intention is to leverage his communications background and bring forward his ideas.  To start off he would like to hit the ground running with announcing his position and get the movement known.  He feels improvements to social media can be made.

Anne suggests the next meeting should not be the very end of June.  Suggesting we should aim for the second or third week of June. 

 

 

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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. 

  1. Adoption of Agenda 

m/s/c 

2. Adoption of minutes 

Minutes of the July 23rd, 2019 meeting 

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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. 

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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 

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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

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