Board of Directors Meeting
May 12, 2015,11:00 to 12:00pm EDT
PRESENT:Jennifer Dinn,Ashley Caldwell,Al Tinney,Kathy Malley, Nick Kochar,Carol Thiessen, Leigh Derry
STAFF: Maureen Haan, President & CEO;Monica Winkler, Senior Administrator
TOPIC/PRESENTER / DISCUSSION / ACTIONChair's Opening Remark
Jennifer Dinn / Welcome back everybody. Welcome back Carol!
The discussions in March were wonderful and it was very productive to have another face to face meeting 6 months apart. If the budget allows we should continue this.
- Approval of Agenda
Seconded: Al Tinney
Carried
- Approval of Minutes
Moved: Al Tinney
Seconded: Ashley Caldwell
Carried- Business Arising from posted reports
The financial report will have actual and comparisons from last year and we will have that template ready for the July meeting.
b) CEO Report
Maureen’s report reflects the topic headings from her evaluation. Well done.
No update on McMaster student – she did call and asked to volunteer at upcoming career fair (People in Motion, May 29-30 in Toronto) to learn more about CCRW.
Courtney Keenen from Ability New Brunswick, volunteered for a video with Malley Industries. Would be a good contact for student for research and a good contact for an employee with a disability.
JAS space update: met with Nayla at the end of April – all the JAS staff like working from home. Nayla feels this was a good move for her team. There is a new injection of positivity, and the staff feel supported. The JAS team will no longer have anybody on site, as everyone is working so well from home.
WESP in the National Office is wonderful. New energy and it is good to have actual clients in the office.
Will we really have to wait until next year for the Partners program? PWIP has been extended to March 31, 2015. Shelly Dooher, DG of ODI – says they are still going ahead with the call for proposals but we have heard nothing yet.
c) Chair Report
No comments.
d) Board Calendar
No comments.
- Nominating Committee
Jennifer Dinn / We had stalled a bit on a Treasurer and other bodies. We have had 4 resumes with financial background plus other skills. We are not sure yet if it will be one or two new members.
We are also looking for someone, with a strong financial background, to come in before Venatius leaves to fully understand where CCRW finances are.
You should receive an email shortly about someone we want to bring in.
- Rolling Strategic Plan Discussion
We need to attach timelines to the strategy posted.
This document is really a process and not a strategy as yet. Once we get movement, we will be able to further define the strategy. The structure will unfold as we work with the researcher.
Do we have funding for research right now? We have one pot of funding from CRWDP, but that is it. We don’t have any other funding at the moment.
We will investigate funding from various granting bodies, and use the research to make a case for setting up other programs.
b) Standards vs Policy
Not quite finished. Once the list is made, the Board will look at the list and make sure we have the policies we need and what should just be an operational standard.
Will be ready for July meeting.
c) Review of discussion from March meeting
CCRW needs to move away from just programs. Once we have research ongoing we will become the go to organization for employment of persons with disabilities.
d) Board tasks: Location of National Office
Maureen: We have been working with CBRE – real estate agency – very few “B-class” buildings of the size and accessible as we want (building and transit). We found one. It is a lateral move – same size. What about the market softening? It would not affect “B-class” buildings directly. However, some B-class may move to A-class and open up more spaces.
Options:
- take the lateral move;
- keep looking for spaces;
- stay in our current space for another year and hope for more spaces opening up (if possible).
The Board needs to align Board, organizational and CEO goals. How do we use these for metrics for success for the organization? We need to be able to discuss how the day to day going are achieving our goals.
The more articulate and clear we are, the easier it is to achieve. It will reduce stress levels when people have a clear path. / Maureen will update section 3 on the CCRW Research Strategy to clarify securing financing through research.
Maureen and Jennifer will update the Rolling Strategic Plan for the July meeting.
Please send any comments for discussion on goals to Jennifer before June 30.
- Next Meeting
September AGM – Toronto – date TBD - September 19 suggested. / Please check your calendars and confirm that September 18 & 19 fits in your calendar.
- Closing
Motion: Al Tinney
Board of Directors Minutes, CCRW, May 12th, 2015Page 1 of 4