Friday, March 6, 2009

Minutes - Board Conference Call March 1 2009

Minutes of the Exective Meeting

Of the Saskatchewan Chapter of

Fair Vote Canada

March 1. 2009


Attendance (By Conference Call):

Sandra Finley, Elaine Hughes, Gord Hunter, Don Mitchell, Larissa Shasko, Rick Sawa

(regrets Ivan Olynyk, Derron Hoover)

Call to Order at 16:05, by Don Mitchell

In the Secretary’s absence, Gord Hunter agreed to take minutes

1. Report and Update of FVC Role in Tar Sands Tour

Sandra Finley reported that organization is going well. The fact that FVC has a table will be announced in the agenda. Tables will be open ½ hour before start and ½ hours after conclusion.

It was suggested by Don Mitchell that we purchase a fold out display board. Gord Hunter agreed to work on materials for the display board and for tables.

It was agreed to look into the purchase of a banner.

There are still some confirmations to get regarding who is to be the table host in a couple of locations but suggestions were made and will be followed up.

2. National Elections

The candidates were reviewed. There are nine candidates for five positions. Two are incumbents.

It was agreed to promote Gord Hunter’s candidacy through a message to members and on the website.

We will contact Larry Gordon regarding the voting process and timing

3. Possible FVC Face to Face Meeting/event Saskatoon – Regina

It was agreed to pursue the possibility of holding face to face social/educational gatherings with members and supporters in Saskatoon and Regina.

We will try to get speaker(s) who can talk about our organization and the work we are doing as well as the issue of electoral reform. There were a couple of names suggested. They will be contacted. We will approach FVC about some help with funding the event.

Mid May was suggested as a good time. Perhaps at the same time as the Cathedral Arts Festival in Regina.

4. Networking

Don Mitchell reported on efforts being made to build bridges with other groups such as farm groups. Efforts are underway with the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour in an effort to get labour more involved.

It was suggested that we should build on student networks, political parties etc.

There were more suggestions for places to set up tables, ie Regina Folk Festival, Ness Creek

Executive members will pass on any ideas

Fair Vote Sask needs a brochure, We will put it on the list of things to do.

5. Fund Raising

There was discussion about how we can raise money as a chapter. We will put out donation jars at our tables but it is recognized that any donations revived in this way will be modest.

Larissa Shasko reported that we received a $20.00 donation in the mail so we have money to put into our new account.

We will at some point put out an e-mail appeal and perhaps make an appeal as a part of a newsletter which we will produce in the future.

We have to raise our profile – letter to the editor; small ads are a couple of ways to be considered

6. Expanding our work provincially

We feel the current leadership race is a good time to get our issues on the NDP agenda.

It was agreed to research which minister is responsible for election reform in the Saskatchewan Government. We suspect it is Don Morgan but Gord will check with Elections Saskatchewan. We should try to meet face to face with Saskatchewan Government representative (Minister) re our issues. We will push for a citizen’s dialogue about reform.

7. Democracy Day

It was agreed to support the National initiate Democracy Day. We agreed to support the principles and to get involved but there was a sense that we should add a Saskatchewan component to the message.

Don Mitchell will discuss that will Larry Gordon

8. Adjournment – 17:15 pm

The next conference call is scheduled for April 5th 2009 at 16:00

Gord Hunter - recorder.

Minutes of Founding Meeting

Minutes of the Founding Meeting of the Saskatchewan Chapter of
Fair Vote Canada
January 18. 2009

Attendance: Sandra Finley, Derron Hoover, Elaine Hughes, Gord Hunter, Don Mitchell, Ivan Olynyk, Larissa Shasko

Call to Order at 11:30 am, Don chair pro tem.

It was agreed that Don would chair the initial meeting and we would follow the
Draft Agenda.

Round of introductions, and each individual spoke of why they were in
attendance.

Review of the information document entitled “What is a Fair Vote
Canada (FVC) Chapter?”

- One point raised was the important distinction between how you approach rural versus urban people with an education program.
- The observation was made that there was a significant body of progressive voters in rural areas whose voice was drowned out by more traditional voters. By a similar token, there were more conservative minded voters in the cities whose perspectives were largely unrepresented in urban constituencies.

Review of Draft Bylaws

Various amendments were proposed, debated, and voted upon.

MOVED BY Sandra SECONDED BY Gord
To Adopt Draft Bylaw Document as amended as the Bylaws of Fair Vote Canada - Saskatchewan Chapter. (Bylaws attached)
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Lunch break

Workplan discussion

A draft workplan document was circulated. Discussion ensued. Among the points raised were:

- As speakers were seen as a challenge, it was thought some effort should be put into the creation of a speakers’ bureau.

- It was thought it was important to have a project goal to be working towards, such as a Citizen’s Assembly.

- It was thought it would be important to advocate for a referendum on electoral reform – that it should be a general question, no specifics – and that we could all as individuals lobby for change at community group meetings, through letters, and by talking to MLAs

- It was felt that it was important to have lots of preparation time – we wouldn’t want to make the mistake that they did in Ontario.

- It was felt that it was important to reach out to smaller communities other than Regina and Saskatoon, and that over time we could get to most of the significant smaller communities in the province.

- It was felt that it would be useful to tie in the idea of electoral reform to other grassroots organizations’ work from two perspectives:
o that they could assist us in doing our work, and
o they will likely understand that there is precious little prospect for them to get movement on their issues until there is legitimate electoral reform.

- It was felt that we need to have a presence at other organizations’ meetings and conventions, such as a table at the SFL Convention.

- It was thought that it would be valuable the practice and materials (i.e. pamphlets) of other FVC Chapters.

- Another easy thing to do would be to write op-ed pieces for the community newspaper network, as they often print items verbatim.

- It was seen as important to establish a website & an e-mail address for interested people to contact the Chapter at. It was thought that a goal for 2009 would be to build a website for FVC(S)

Elections

President

Gord nominated Don.
Don nominated Gord. Gord declined.
Nominations closed.

Don Mitchell acclaimed as President.

Vice-President

Don nominated Gord.
Nominations closed.

Gord Hunter acclaimed as Vice-President.

Secretary

Sandra nominated Derron.
Nominations closed.

Derron Hoover acclaimed as Secretary.

Treasurer

Gord nominated Larissa.
Nominations closed.

Larissa Shasko acclaimed as Treasurer.

Executive Members-at-Large

Derron nominated Sandra.
Don nominated Ivan.
Gord nominated Elaine.
Don nominated Rick Sawa, and advised that Rick had given his consent to be nominated in his absence.
Nominations closed.

Sandra Finley, Ivan Olynyk, Elaine Hughes, and Rick Sawa acclaimed as Executive Members-at-Large.


Other Business

Chapter Fees

The pros and cons of having a fee for joining the Saskatchewan Chapter were discussed.

MOVED BY Derron SECONDED BY Larissa
That the financial needs of FVC Saskatchewan Chapter be derived from direct donations rather than from member levy.
CARRIED

Next Steps


Derron and Don shall compile and forward minutes of meeting and Bylaws as adopted to National Organization. We will meet again by conference call after receiving concurrence from FVC National. We assume this will occur in a prompt manner. Tentative conference call will be at 4:00 pm on February 22, 2009. Larissa will e-mail the specifics of the conference call. If the call needs to be postponed, Don will contact all to advise.


Adjournment – 3:15 pm


Derron Hoover - recorder.