MINUTES OF THE
OTTAWA REGIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
ANNUAL POT LUCK MEETING
JANUARY 26, 2012
Present:
Jocelyne Bordage, CEIU, Chair
Isabelle Gendron, GSU, Vice-Chair
Louise Blouin, USGE
Chelsea Brescacin, CEIU
Zelma Buckley, UNDE
Annette Coughlin, GSU
Sara Cousins, UTE
June Dale, UNE
Maria Fitzpatrick, USGE
Claudette Guibord, UCTE
Karoline Klug, UNE
Linda Koendars, UTE
Maria Krawiec, UNE
Judith Lewis, NHU
Judith Price, NRU
Lynn Smith-Doiron, CIU
Ginette Thony, CEIU
Jennifer York, GSU
Patricia (Tish) Johnson, PSAC staff
Guests:
Patty Ducharme, PSAC NEVP
Andrée Côté, Programs Section, PSAC
Jennifer Chieh Ho, UNE VP BC
Regrets :
Carrie Bolton, NRU
1. Meeting called to order and introduction of members and special guests.
2. Adoption of agenda
m/s/c J. Dale/I. Gendron
3. Adoption of previous minutes
m/s/c L. Blouin/L. Smith-Doiron
4. Business arising from the Minutes
As per previous meeting attendees’ request, Tish emailed copies of Maria’s report on .
5. Finances
Sisters were provided with copies of the 2011 ORWC Financial Statement, showing a budget surplus of $7,237.97 and the Budget submitted by the Chair to the
a) Jocelyne explained that due to technical and logistical difficulties, she was unable to determine the will of the Committee with respect to a proposed donation in memory of Sister Rachelle Halpenny and so, to ensure fairness and open discussion, brought the issue before the Committee for open discussion.
Motion:
THAT the ORWC donate $500 to the Paralympics in memory of Sister Rachelle Halpenny.
m/s I. Gendron / S. Cousins
Motion to amend:
THAT the ORWC donate $250 to the Paralympics in memory of Sister Rachelle Halpenny.
m/s/c M. Kraweic / L. Smith-Doiron
Judith Lewis asked to be recorded against.
Friendly amendment to the motion:
THAT the donation be allocated to a female athlete, preferably one who is a PSAC member.
m/s/c J. Dale / L. Blouin
6. OFL Representative of the ORWC
June gave the background as to the roles and responsibilities of this position.
There was a consensus that Sister Linda Koendars will now be the alternate to the ORWC OFL representative. PSAC Sister Colleen Wice who is also from UTE is the representative for the Ontario Region.
7. 2012 ORWC Priorities and Activities
a) Special Event: “Vagina Monologues” February 24-25, 2012 presented by the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa (SASCO)
Jocelyne confirmed that a cheque in the amount of $250 had been forwarded to the SASCO as a result of the email vote held.
(m/s/c I. Gendron / S. Cousins).
This event is taking place at the Bronson Centre and the ORWC agreed to have a table to display PSAC material including a one-pager of this committee’s achievements over the years.
ACTION: Tish will prepare a draft of ORWC achievements to send out for additional input.
Linda gave the group an update of the Romero family who came to Canada in 2003 thanks to a sub-committee of the ORWC. The Romeros continue to thrive in the Ottawa community.
The display table will be staffed as follows:
Friday: Judith Lewis, Jocelyne Bordage
Saturday: Judith Price, Linda Koendars
New information: Since the meeting, we have learned that the Committee has been given 2 tickets to attend the February 24th show. Since the Sisters at the tables may enter the show without a ticket, the Chair has decided to conduct a draw. Sisters are asked to indicate to Tish if they are interested in attending by Wednesday, February 15th. The names will be put in a hat and a winner will be chosen. The winner shall receive both tickets and take a guest of her choosing to the show.
b) International Women’s Day
PSAC IWD events
Patty Ducharme, PSAC NEVP, addressed the group regarding the new IWD materials (pamphlets, stickers, fact sheets, etc.) and asked that they be distributed as much as possible in Locals and committees. She also asked that members lobby MP’s and/or demonstrate in front of their offices as the PSAC is anticipating a massive and uneven impact on its women members once the job cuts have been made.
CRF-F IWD events
Marie-Françoise Bertrand, Chairperson of the CRF-F made a brief presentation of the Committee’s anticipated IWD activities, which include:
- A Wine & Cheese gathering at 7 p. m. The location will be announced shortly (either at the Gatineau RO or at the FTQ office in Hull) and everyone is welcome to attend.
- The CRF-F has purchase 200 March 8th commemorative pins which were created by the FTQ. Pictures were shown to the Committee and anyone interested in obtaining or purchasing pins can contact the Chair of the CRF-F or Lisa Rossignol, PSAC Staff (Gatineau Office)
Other IWD events
Maria Fitzpatrick announced that the OFL had also created pins to commemorate IWD, but did not have a picture or prototype to display.
Motion:
THAT the ORWC spend $600 on the OFL IWD pins for this Committee.
m/s/c S. Cousins/L. Blouin
Jocelyne announced that for the third year in a row, the CEIU
ORWC IWD Event
There was a consensus to hold a demo at 24 Sussex Drive on March 8.
Motion:
THAT the ORWC create a sub-committee to plan its upcoming March 8th event.
m/s/c S. Cousins /G. Thony
Sisters Annette Coughlin, Judith Lewis and Ginette Thony volunteered to be on the Sub-committee.
New information: Since the meeting, Maria Fitzpatrick volunteered to be on the Sub-committee and Ginette Thony had to withdraw for personal reasons.
c) Other Priorities to be considered/determined
Ginette Thony asked the Committee to consider raising awareness on the issues of women who continue to work past the age of 65, without access to EI/DI/CSST or WSIB benefits.
Marie-Françoise Bertrand informed the ORWC that the lack of access to doctors, especially gynecologists, in the Outaouais region continues to be a grave concern and that it appears the situation on the Ottawa side is becoming just as critical. It was suggested that this could be an issue on which both Committees could work together.
Claudette Guibord asked that the Committee consider raising awareness on the issue of accomodation at home be included in WSIB cases.
10. Varia/Round Table:
Claudette reported on the Day of Action and the solidarity trip to London, Ontario to support striking Electro-Motive workers.
Sister June mentioned the Families of the Sisters in Spirit would be holding an event as explained in the attached link: http://www.facebook.com/events/238609529542984/
Sisters were encouraged to support the Salvation Army strikers by dropping by and walking the line with them.
Zelma announced that a fundraising event in suport of a young woman battling cancer which will be held at Absolute Comedy.
ACTION: Jocelyne offered to scan the information and forward it to Tish.
ACTION: Tish will send the information to all ORWC members.
11. Meeting adjourned.