Fraser Valley Executive Meeting
May 5 2024 - Highwayman Pub, 32470 Simon Ave, Abbotsford, BC V2T 4J2
Meeting called to order at 2:08 PM PT
1. Roll Call (members of the Branch Executive)
In attendance:
Terri D’Souza (CFIA S&A), President
Ravipal Kochar (SH), Treasurer
Stephen Deo (SH), Secretary
Febin Meckkaden Paily (SH), Member at Large
Absent:
Adam McClean (SH), Vice-President
Aliegh LaRose (SH), Member at Large
Christine Kleindienst (SH), Member at Large
Danika Overmars (SH), Member at Large
Lauren Brine (SH), Member at Large
Rayna Gunvaldsen (CFIA-VM), Member at Large
Ryan Liden (CS), Member at Large
2. Approval of the Agenda (M/S/C)
No amendments made
3. Report of the President (M/S/C)
I think the Branch is off to a great start in 2024, having held our first general and executive meeting on February 29 and working to come up with great membership engagement ideas for the year. We made a connection with the Fraser Valley chapter of the Retired Members’ Guild and had their President attend our general meeting. I hope we can collaborate on an event this year to bring together retired members and soon-to-be retired members, or even those who are interested in learning more about their pension and what it means to be a retired PIPSC member.
I am looking forward to our first membership event of 2024 at Galaxy Bowling – this is a great first step to letting our members know that the Branch is active again. I hope that our subsequent events will see an increase in attendance from our members to better engage them and have them actively participating in union activities beyond social events.
As your Branch President, BC/Y Regional Executive, BC/Y Young Professionals’ Executive, and BC/Y representative on the National Science Advisory Council, I have been steadily busy since our last executive meeting. I attended a Science Advisory Council meeting last month in Ottawa to discuss work planning for 2024-27. The BC/Y Young Professionals’ Committee has planned 2 membership engagement events at the upcoming Regional Council in June for young workers and their families. The Fraser Valley Branch has a full delegate count for the Regional Council and I look forward to seeing our members there. I coordinated having 2 Elders from the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society attend the Regional Council to open the event with a prayer and discussion on how PIPSC can further reconciliation. As a member of the BC/Y Awards committee, I worked with the other committee members to select our Executive of the Year for 2024 and the recipient is truly deserving of this award for their many years of hard work and dedication to our members.
Looking forward for the Fraser Valley Branch in 2024, I hope we can continue to actively engage members through the upcoming events we brainstormed during our first executive meeting. I encourage you all to host smaller engagement events in your workplace, whether it be a lunch ‘n learn or a small meeting to discuss workplace issues, and to bring those discussions to these meetings. I look forward to the Regional Council and continuing to work together with other members in our region to share and gain knowledge that we can bring back to the Branch to better support our members.
4. Financial Report (M/S/C)
Allocation for 2023 was received. Funds for 2024 will mostly be used on membership engagement events and Branch executive meetings.
5. New Business
a. Bylaw Amendments
The Fraser Valley Branch’s current bylaws lack succession planning for the Executive members. We proposed to amend By-law 6.2 Term of Office and drafted wording for the amendment at the February 29 2024 executive meeting. The bylaw amendment was voted on by the executive during said meeting and was unanimously in favour of the amendment. The bylaw amendment was submitted to the PIPSC By-Laws & Policies Committee for consideration and it was recommended to reword the bylaw amendment. The executive at today’s meeting voted unanimously in favour of modifying the wording to:
6.2 Term of Office:
The term of office shall be two (2) years. In even-numbered years, the following positions shall be up for election:
● President
● Treasurer
● Half of Member-at-Large positions
In odd-numbered years, the following positions shall be up for election:
● Vice-President
● Secretary
● Remaining Member-at-Large positions.
b. Regional Council Branch Report
The Fraser Valley Branch Report will be submitted to BC/Y Regional Director Morgan Cranny for inclusion in the June 7-8 2024 Regional Council agenda
c. Next Fraser Valley Branch events
Spring family event is on May 5 at Galaxy Bowl in Abbotsford. Summer family event is anticipated to be held at Otter waterpark in Aldergrove - date TBD for July or August. Fall member’s only event TBD.
d. Potential event with Fraser Valley Retired Members’ Guild
Terri reached out to the FV RMG President to plan a collaborative event for current and retired members. Details TBD
6. Upcoming General PIPSC Events and Meetings
Discussed upcoming PIPSC events:
a. Women in Science Café – May 10
b. Regional Council – June 7&8
c. Steward Council – Oct 18&19
7. Next Fraser Valley Branch Executive Meeting
TBD
8. Roundtable
Discussed:
a. hosting more lunch ‘n learns in the workplace
b. collaborating with the SH CSC Pacific Region group to host events
9. Adjournment (M/S/C)
Meeting adjourned at 2:41 PM PT