Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Please join us for International Women’s Day 2006 - Building Anti-imperialist Solidarity: Towards a Just and Lasting Peace

Sunday March 5th, 10am-4pm, a Conference focusing on the current issues facing working class and marginalized women internationally:

• Women and war, occupation, and intervention
• Exploitation of women’s labour
• Forced migration, immigration and trafficking of women
• Privatization of women’s basic needs (health, childcare, education, transportation)

Venue to be announced.

Wednesday, March 8th, 5:30 pm, a Rally and March - Meet at the Vancouver Public Library

For more information or to volunteer, contact Grassroots Women

The Labor Education and Research Centre at the Evergreen State College will be hosting its 16th Annual Summer School for Union Women, June 28-July 2nd, 2006, in Olympia, WA.

Find your Voice•Become Inspired•Learn by Doing•Make Great Connections•Have FunVisit evergreen.edu for more information.

B.C. Regional Women’s Committee Chairs Conference Call Minutes

On call

• Patty Ducharme
• Regina Brennan
• Sarah Cousins
• Sandy Stephens
• Angela Marafon
• Joy Harrison joined us late

Regrets from Parveen, Alethea and Sharon.

Agenda:

1. December 6
2. RWC Budgets
3. RWC Meeting
4. RWC Handbook
5. Federal Election Action Plan
6. Pre-Convention Seminar for Women Delegates – March 31
7. Part 2 of Women at Work

The call was chaired by Patty.  She started by passing along Parveen’s regrets.

1.  December 6: The black wrist bands were not ordered due to the concern over the colour choice and the necessity to go with made in China bands because of time restraints.  Patty will order the CLC Dec 6th pins and send to each Woman’s Committee as follows;

• 8 to Prince George
• 10 to Vancouver
• 10 to Victoria
• 10 to Okanagan

Postcard campaign – Anyone who wants the post cards before December 6th must order them through Patrick.  Otherwise, they will be sent on December 6th.

BC Fed is sponsoring a breakfast in support of Dawn Black’s nomination for the NDP.  It starts at 7:30am and is at the Metrotown Hilton Hotel.  Anyone who wants to come and needs lwop can contact the Vancouver RWC for financial assistance.

Reports on what actions have been planned for December 6th
Vancouver, Angela’s Local has collected toiletries for the Surrey Women’s Center and is also conducting a raffle for a bouquet.  Nothing was done specifically through the Vancouver Women’s committee, but they will organize the presence at the Breakfast.

Victoria is having a video and popcorn night.

Prince George is distributing the ribbons in the morning and providing information about the day and the reason for it.  Their District Labour Council is hosting a breakfast.

2.  RWC Budgets: Advances were sent out to all the committees.  There is no urgent need for any further funds for Vancouver, Victoria and Okanagan.  Sandy will check to see if Prince George is in urgent need of funds.  Patty and Regina will sit down on December 5th to go through the requests and make decisions.

3.  RWC Meeting: There was a proposal made to bring in up to four members of each Regional Women’s Committee, including the chairs or co-chairs and the treasurers, some time in late February to early March, after the handbook is finished, to review the handbook, the requirements, and to make a one to two year plan.

4.  RWC Handbook: The handbook is drafted but is being revised once more.  The printing will likely take some time due to election and convention priorities and the moving of the print shop.

5.  Federal Election Action Plan: Election period will span Christmas.  Elections will be either the 16 or the 23 of January.  Patty asked the Regional Women’s Committees to submit action plans for election campaign.  We will have information sheets to hand out.  We reviewed the limitations of our financial and material contributions due to election act restrictions.

6.  Pre-Convention Seminar for Women Delegates – March 31: We confirmed that this would be on March 31, 2006.  All delegates would be brought in on April 1 and 2.  The convention committees would be there to make reports on all significant issues to allow our delegates an opportunity to decide as a group how they feel and to discuss the issues prior to convention.  The delegate list is not finalized yet.

7.  Part 2 of Women at Work: Reminder of the part 2 assignment.  Deadline is the end of the year, but you can request extensions.

Announcements: Donna Sheaves Memorial Scholarship application to be faxed to all committee chairs.  This was originally mailed out by the BC Fed.

Downtown Eastside Women’s Center has sent a list of items they need.

Reminder of the annual Labour Community Christmas Dinners

We discussed the value of these conference calls.  We agreed that these calls will not be regular, but will be arranged on an as needed basis.