Halifax AV Sub Group 2017 Report submitted to the 2018 Quebec City AV AGM

The Halifax AV Sub Group (HSG) had another successful year in 2017, conducting the affairs of PIPSC and the AV Group, in the Atlantic Region.

Based on the PIPSC funding formula for Sub Group constituent bodies, which results in approximately the same year over year funding allotment for HSG, it is evident that our membership numbers remain roughly constant at 200 plus, with static growth. The membership is also affiliated with two branches, i.e. Halifax Branch and DND Branch.

The focus of attention for HSG is member engagement and there were multiple engagement activities for the membership, throughout the year. These included family movie nights in April (Dartmouth Crossing Cineplex) and December (Bayers Lake Cineplex), a seasonal social (Niche in the Maritime Mall) and a December family basketball night (Halifax Hurricanes).

Better Management Practice Suggestion: With multiple theatre complexes (Cineplex), it is possible to offer a wide choice of movie selection. This increases member activity take-up considerably, but results in administrative challenge on two counts, (i) by having to attend the activity facility over an extended period to meet, greet, represent PIPSC affairs and dispense tickets and (ii) information sharing is not as concerted and all members do not share the benefit of all member questions. Our Sub Groups will have to decide a best approach to movie night marketing / management, should they decide to incorporate this tool for member engagement.

Better Management Practice Suggestion: While small town professional events, such as the Halifax Hurricanes, offer excellent dollar value and attraction appeal, the atmosphere is a tad too ‘electric’ to conduct meaningful PIPSC information sharing. Our Sub Groups may wish to consider having a coincident, associated meeting, preferably before the activity and perhaps off-site.

The Halifax Sub Group conducted its Annual General Meeting in May 2017 at Maxwell’s Plum. 2017 was an election year and the Sub Group elected a new slate of officers for a 3-year term: President, Tony Purchase; V-P, John Rankin; Treasurer, Thomas Fleet; Members-at-Large, Larry Coles, Shawn Ingraham and Nancy Dunphy, (Ms. Dunphy has since stepped down). Institute V-P- Shannon Bittman was the guest speaker and provided an excellent update on key topics to an engaged audience.

In 2017, The Halifax Sub Group was forced to break with tradition in conducting its AGM. Because of its excellent relationship with the Halifax Branch, because of its desire to increase member participation and because of its desire to be prudent with limited funding, HSG has always dovetailed the Branch’s AGM and conducted a coincident Sub Group AGM before joining the Branch sit-down dinner. In 2017, there was an administrative bungling at PIPSC, which resulted in key HSG executive members not being included in the Branch invitation list. This prevented proper joint planning and resulted in a need to conduct a separate Sub Group AGM. While PIPSC was very apologetic, it none-the-less resulted in incremental AGM costs for the HSG.

The Halifax Sub Group executive meets several times a year, with an open invitation to the Regional Representative, Dave Chu, to provide current updates on the national group and the national agenda.

The Halifax Sub Group assures representation at the Regional Council and the Stewards Council, with full reporting to the HSG Executive.

The Halifax Sub Group is looking forward to another active year in 2018 in helping to advance the PIPSC / AV agenda in this region.

Respectfully submitted

Halifax Sub Group Executive