Minutes of Local 356 General Membership Meeting

September 13, 2007

HHOA Fish Hatchery, Haliburton

 

PRESENT:       Arne Mikkelsen (Pres.), James Hawkins (1st Vice-pres.), Terry Goodwin (2nd Vice-pres.), Susan Kuiack (Treas.), Don Hughes (Sec’y), Mike Turner (Steward, Minden MNR), Kent Hodgin (Steward, Bancroft MNR), Doug Jenkins (Steward, MNR Haliburton) Dennis Fraser, Dallas Latanville, Chris Cowan, Greg Gibbons, Morgan Cookson, John White, Wayne Dewart, Erin MacDonald, Valerie Holland, Brian Cox, Justin Bryant, Gary Clements, Charles Hawley, Scott Milburn, Gayle Clements, Dan Foy.

 

SPECIAL GUESTS:    Warren ‘Smokey’ Thomas (President, OPSEU), Patty Rout (1st Vice-President, OPSEU)

 

 

The meeting was called to order following a BBQ dinner at 6:35 p.m.  President Mikkelsen read aloud the OPSEU Harassment & Discrimination Policy, and introduced the Local Executive who had been elected some two years earlier.  He made special mention of Treasurer Susan Kuiack who was stepping down from her post after more than 10 years of service.  President Mikkelsen and Secretary Hughes were also resigning from their positions at this meeting.  Introductions were then made for our special guests, OPSEU President Smokey Thomas and OPSEU 1st Vice-President Patty Rout.

 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA:    MOTION to accept agenda (Turner/Goodwin). PASSED.

 

MINUTES OF LAST GENERAL MEETING:  Copies of the Local 356 General Membership meeting of February 15/07 and of the Local 356 Executive meeting of April 11/07 were distributed. 

MOTION to accept the former (Hawkins/Gayle Clements). PASSED.

 

BUSINESS ARISING:  President Mikkelsen touched on a couple items from the minutes: the posting of local information on the Local’s website and the Local’s resolution that had been submitted (but not voted on) at the OPSEU General Convention in April.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:  Nothing to report.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  A financial statement as of June 30/07 was distributed.  The report indicated a bank account balance of $19,309.91 and a GIC investment of $5,677.85.

MOTION to accept Treasurer’s Report (Turner/Fraser).  PASSED.

 

FINAL STATEMENTS FROM CURRENT L.E.C.  Current Local Executive Committee members were invited to offer any remarks upon the end of the current term.  The positive atmosphere and accomplishments were noted, and the general members were encouraged to consider participating by accepting forthcoming nominations.

MOTION (Hughes/Kuiack) that future LEC members receive a $25 per diem for meeting expenses for subsequent LEC and General Membership meetings. (NOTE: Neither Kuiack nor Hughes would be serving in future.)  PASSED.

 

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS:  President Mikkelsen turned the meeting chair over to OPSEU President Thomas to conduct the nominations and elections portion of the meeting.  President Thomas outlined the process to be followed, and began by calling for any volunteers/nominations for new stewards.  None were received.  Nominations and elections for LEC positions went as follows:

 

Nominations for President:  

  1. Mike Turner (Gayle Clements)
  2. James Hawkins (Arne Mikkelsen)

Both members allowed their names to stand for election. Ballots were distributed, and were tallied by OPSEU President Thomas and OPSEU 1st Vice-President Rout. 

ELECTED: Mike Turner.

 

Nominations for 1st Vice-President:

  1. James Hawkins (Hughes)
  2. Terry Goodwin (Mikkelsen)

As James Hawkins declined, Terry Goodwin was ACCLAIMED.

 

Nominations for 2nd Vice-President:

  1. James Hawkins (Turner)
  2. Kent Hodgin (Fraser)

As Kent Hodgin declined, James Hawkins was ACCLAIMED.

 

Nominations for Treasurer: 

Only one nomination was received: Emily Trolley (Mikkelsen).

Although unable to attend the meeting, Emily Trolley had sent a letter indicating a willingness to stand for election to this post. Emily Trolley was ACCLAIMED.

 

Nominations for Secretary:  

  1. Kent Hodgin (Hughes)
  2. Valerie Holland (Mikkelsen)

Both nominees declined to stand for the position.  Chair Thomas indicated the meeting would return to this issue following the remaining elections.

 

Nominations for Chief Steward:       

Chair Thomas summed up the customary role for this position, which is an LEC position used by some locals. 

Only one nomination was received: Arne Mikkelsen (Hughes).

As he allowed his name to stand, Arne Mikkelsen was ACCLAIMED.

 

Returning to the business of electing a Secretary, a further nomination of Arne Mikkelsen was received.  Arne Mikkelsen was ACCLAIMED.

 

Nominations for Trustees (2):          

  1. Kathy Irwin (Mikkelsen)
  2. Gayle Clements (Turner)

As both allowed their names to stand (Irwin via a letter so indicating), Kathy Irwin and Gayle Clements were ACCLAIMED.

 

With the completion of the elections of Executive and Trustees, the chair was returned to outgoing President Mikkelsen for the balance of the meeting.

 

The remainder of the meeting was devoted to a question and answer session to allow members to pose questions of our special guests OPSEU President Thomas and OPSEU 1st Vice-President Rout.  Both guests made some opening remarks before the session proceeded.  The session lasted some 45 minutes and included frank, open discussion on a number of issues of special interest to the local members.  Useful feedback was gained from our guests, especially on the subject of evidence for improving labour relations in the OPS.  The session was brought to a close with Chair Mikkelsen expressing thanks to Smokey and Patty on behalf of the membership.

 

MOTION (Fraser) to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.

 

 

 

Arne Mikkelsen, (outgoing) President Local 356

 

 

 

Don Hughes, (outgoing) Secretary Local 356