Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Minutes of the Prince George Regional Women’s Committee,January 16, 2008

In attendance:

• Diane Beaulieu – Chair
• Patt Holmes
• Val Bergey
• Barb Mazur
• Sandy Stephens
• Narinder Minhas
• Colette Savarie
• Regina Brennan

Regrets:

• Lucy Fildes

Continue reading below, or download the Prince George Regional Women’s Committee meeting minutes - Jan 16 2008 (pdf)

1. Call to order and welcome introductory round

2. Election

• agreed to hold the next meeting with the election of officers on March 8, right after the breakfast. Agreed to book a room at the Ramada Hotel if possible, otherwise use HEU or BCGEU Hall.
• This committee will have no delegate to the PSAC - BC Regional Convention because they were deemed inactive.

3. International Women’s Day.

• Check with other unions about what they are doing, and look for posters and theme ideas. Colette and Regina to check with Jim Sinclair about what the BC Fed is doing. Patt suggested that the Sharon McIver case is a possible group in need of funding assistance. UNBC does an IWD event. HEU and BCGEU do events as well. CEIU is doing a Loonie auction. Currently doing a survey to choose who to donate proceeds to.
• Women from the committee will attend the breakfast at the Ramada Hotel on March 8th. Colette is invited to attend. Patt has the Women in Motion information.

4. Financial Report.

• $394.81 in the bank. Some discussion about the state of the books and the work that needs to be done to get more funding. Books to be handed off to the new Treasurer on March 8th.
• That the Prince George Regional Women’s Committee purchase a table of 10 seats, to be divided equitably among the 5 affiliated locals, to the March 8 International Women’s Day breakfast organized by the Prince George and District Labour Council. Tickets to be purchased by Sandy. M/S/C Patt Holmes/Narinder Minhas. Carried

5. Defending Public Services

• Review of handouts and activities. Letter from John Gordon (see attached) asking to work across Component lines to ensure co-ordination. Questionnaire from National Women’s Conference on re-organizations and what is happening in the workplace. Interesting statistics in the last National Board of Directors minutes. Patt will share all this information with the new Regional Women’s Committee executive. Colette will forward the Saskatchewan questionnaire.

6. PSAC Regional Council Rep for Women report

• Patt gave a verbal report.

7. Goals for the Regional Women’s Committee

• The planning and setting of goals was tabled to be dealt with by the new executive. Colette proposed using the remaining funds from the Regional Women’s Conference cycle to hold meetings with each committee to do some planning and goal setting.

8. Training and Building Capacity

• Sandy has sent out a questionnaire on education. She needs the completed forms back by January 21.

9. Round table

• Barb – Is working on her CRA women’s committee. They are holding a women’s self defense course. Contact Barb if you are on an employer committee.
• Colette – pass
• Regina – Is on the board for her Women’s Center now and also put together a woman’s self defense course.
• Sandy – She will get the IWD breakfast tickets and will email when she has them.
• Val – pass
• Patt – showed us her beautiful PSAC quilt.
• Narinder – pass
• Diane – handed out bargaining stickers.
• We had a brief discussion on improving the communications network for this committee, to ensure notices of meetings are sent out on a timely basis to all concerned.

Adjourned at 6:55pm