The Regional Women’s Committee is a focal point for mobilizing women members. The RWC informs, educates and empowers women within their union and their community. Check out these minutes for current activities and actions.
General Meeting – Planning for 2023
September 6, 2023 @ 5:30p.m. Hybrid Meeting – In-person / Zoom
In attendance:
Kim Cardinal, Chair
Charmaine Nelson, Vice Chair
Darlene Lewis, Treasurer
Jen Beattie, Secretary
Carm Chan, PSAC Representative
Sherry Hunt, Regional Women’s Committee Rep.
Fatima Rizvi, GSU 30001
Margarita Koop, Stats Can
Farzia (Rini) Tapado, CEIU 30851
Marie-France Boudreault, Local 30026
Rachelle Clayton, UCTE 30313
Denise Davey, UNDE
Elaine Hitchinson, Local 30023
Richelle Crook, Service Canada
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- Welcome to all / Call to Order / Land Acknowledgement / Harassment Statement:
- Kim Cardinal called the meeting to order at 5:41pm. Kim read the Harassment Statement and the Land Acknowledgment. Carm is the anti-harassment resource person. Member Introductions.
- This Agenda – Adoption:
- Kim requested adoption of the agenda – Consensus approved.
- Approval and Posting of April 6, 2023 minutes:
- unanimous from those who were at the last meeting (Kim, Charmaine, Darlene, Jen, Fatima, and Farzia) – approved.
- Treasurer’s report:
- Darlene Lewis, Treasurer
- As of June 1, 2023, opening balance is $1771.09. There has not been any activity or cheques written. Kim advises that the July 2023 statement has been received, and it has the same balance – $1771.09. The budget was sent in for approval – the April 6, 2023 minutes are needed. The committee is in good standing. There is a surplus and we have money to do business.
- New business:
- Nothing new to report at this time – items can be added when approving the agenda.
- Old Business:
- International Women’s Day, March 6, 2023. Women for Rights & Empowerment event. Kim, Carm, and Denise attended the event, and marched. Denise purchased books for $21.81, will bring them to the Edmonton PSAC office. Denise said the dinner was amazing, there were good speakers, lots of people from different cultures. It was very busy, standing room, lots of men there too, empowering women. Denise was told payment wasn’t required for the tickets to the dinner from the organizers of the event.
- Women helping Women. Planning for two events. Kim gave a background on why we are holding these events. Discussion with the group on dates, times, locations. Proposed dates are September 23, 2023 and October 14, 2023. Denise suggested Fort Saskatchewan Boys & Girls Club, for September 23rd, committee was in consensus for this location. Denise states the Boys & Girls Club are amazing with posters, tech savvy and will ask them to assist. A notice for volunteers will go out shortly.
- VAJ: Kim provided explanation, as seen in previous minutes. Previously suggested dates of September 23 and October 14, 2023 cannot be held at PSAC, office as they have courses on the same dates. Suggestion to start the event in January/February 2024, and could have the 4th and final session on International Women’s Day in March, 2024, with the possibility of joining the march. Kim asked if we should table this to next year. Agreed to add it to the agenda at the October 2023 meeting.
- Team Building: Suggestions include a paint night, for members and daughters and/or granddaughters; cooking class; archery club; self-defense course (led by a female). Kim will look into the self-defense course, look at cost. Anyone who has an idea can do research and bring it to the next meeting – date, location, costs, etc. cost for approximately 20 people.
- Actions:
| Who | What | When | Date Completed |
| Kim | Look into self-defense, woman trainers, cost | ASAP | |
| Everyone | Suggestions for team building – event, date, location, costs for 20 people | ASAP | |
| Darlene | Will reach out to the Ukrainian Society – will look into this | ASAP | |
| Heather | Will reach out to the “Wings of Providence” for a speaker for the Women Helping Women event – not at meeting, unable to provide update | ||
| Megan | Will reach out to Beverly Heights Community League for Women’s Event |
- Next Meeting date, time and location:
- October 26, 2023, at 6:00PM – Hybrid Meeting – Zoom and in person
- Roundtable:
- Darlene, Jen, Elaine, Rini, Fatima, Rachelle, Richelle – nothing to add
- Margarita – loves women empowering women
- Kim – it’s nice to see new faces, looks forward to meeting in person, looking forward to team building events and the women helping women event, asks if anyone knows a domestic violence speaker (in the workplace or community)
- Sherry – PRC RWC Rep, chair of education; discusses various training – intro to committees on November 5, 2023, Unions work for Women in Regina, SK from October 28 to November 1, 2023, 2 day committee pan-prairie virtual training October 12 and 13, 2023; congratulates Kim on the WHW idea – we need to start working on root causes that keep women there, poverty is one of them. VAJ is a great idea. Welcomes new faces and people. Excited for what the committee has in store.
- Carm – expenses are covered for all PSAC training – like travel status, hotel covered, all paid for.
- SPECIAL Note: Kim was made aware after the meeting that Marie-France Boudreault was missed at the round table. Apologies for this was sent by Kim.
- Adjournment at 7:02pm.