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.
February 9, 2023 @ 6:00 pm Edmonton Regional Office
In attendance:
Kim Cardinal, USJE 30168 – Chair
Charmaine Nelson, CEIU 30851 – Co-Chair
Carley Megan – USJE 30168 – Member
Emily Archer – UTE 30025 – Member
Darlene Lewis – UHEW 30016 – Member
Guests:
Marianne Hladun, REVP Prairies
Sherry Hunt, PRC Prairies Women’s Rep
Kathy Ajram, PRC Racially Visible Rep
Michelle Lang, PRC Directly Chartered Locals Rep
Stasi L’Hirondelle – NA Geographical Rep
PSAC Staff:
Carm Chan, PSAC Representative
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1. Welcome to all / Call to Order:
Kim Cardinal called the meeting to order at 5:27 pm. Charmaine read the Land acknowledgement and Kim read the Harassment Statement. Kim welcomed all that came for the AGM and began a round of introductions.
2. Approval of this Agenda – was consensus
3. Kim read her Chair report – Appendix A
4. Kim did the treasurer’s report as our last treasurer resigned in November 2022. Bank Balance as of January 1, 2023, is $1,894.35.
5. Kim introduced Carm Chan, PSAC Representative and stated that she would be holding the Regional Women’s Committed Elections.
Elections were conducted:
| Call for nominations for Chair: | Name: Kim Cardinal Nominated by: Charmaine Nelson Seconded by: Megan Carley Acclaimed: Kim Cardinal |
| Call for nominations for Vice Chair: | Name: Charmaine Nelson Nominated by: Kim Cardinal Seconded by: Megan Carley Acclaimed: Charmaine Nelson |
| Call for nominations for Treasurer: | Name: Darlene Lewis Nominated by: Charmaine Nelson Seconded by: Kim Cardinal Name: Emily Archer – Respectfully Declined Nominated by: Kim Cardinal Seconded by: Charmaine Nelson Acclaimed: Darlene Lewis |
| Call for nominations for Secretary: | Name: Megan Carley Nominated by: Charmaine Nelson Seconded by: Kim Cardinal Acclaimed: Megan Carley |
6. Marianne reminded the committee to do an election for the delegate to Prairie Region Convention in June 2023 and administered the Oath of Office to new executive.
7. Bank – Signing Authority:
We request and authorize the bank to remove the current names, who held signing authority in 2022 Signers: Seddra Zaigham.
We request and authorize the bank to add the following names who have been elected and approved by this committee to hold signing authority. The newly executive for 2023 are as follows: Kim Cardinal (Chair), Charmaine Nelson (Vice-Chair), Darlene Lewis (Treasurer).
8. Kim adjourned the meeting at 6:15 pm
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APPENDIX ‘A’
Regional Women’s Committee (RWC) – 2022 Chair’s Report
The committee held 5 General meetings and 2 special meetings. These minutes can be found on the PSAC Website.
1st Special Meeting was to discuss and plan the “Women Helping Women” Event that was held on November 18-20, 2022. The committee started collecting donations in May and the amount of donations we received was well received! Committee Member Megan Carly was the lead for this event as she had many contacts in the community. So many volunteers came out to help over the weekend and I would like to thank them again for all the support. Although we did not have many “shoppers” we learned from this. Megan had followed up with the organizations and they stated that transportation to the location, parking was a deterrent for many of the women. This was taken into consideration and committee members agreed to start organizing this event into the next year as we have lots of items to continue to help women out in our communities in different locations of the city. This event had a lot of passion from the committee in regard to supporting Women and Domestic Violence – this is a start. I would like to further state that although this was a great event, as women we need to advocate and find a way for our voices all to be heard and get the information out on Domestic Violence to our government and communities.
2nd Special Meeting was to elect a delegate and discuss and submit resolutions for the upcoming National Women’s Conference. Megan Carley was selected as our delegate; 1st Alternate will be Jessie Meldrum and 2nd Alternate is Marie France. The Committee also submitted a resolution on behalf of this committee. If you are interested in the looking at the resolution please advise and I will forward to you.
EVENTS:
Team Building activity – Rock Painting – June 19, 2022 – Elder Teaching ($150 – honorium)– was a great time! See pictures of event
Women Helping Women – Total cost was $356.87
EVENTS discussed during 2022 for 2023:
Visual Artistic Journaling (VAJ) – Event tabled for 2023 – for more details see minutes from April 27, 2022
International Women’s Day, Tuesday, March 8, 2023 – A forecasted budget was submitted recognizing any women days that an event can be held by the committee (i.e., lobbying). Committee came up with some ideas for this event, such as getting members to submit a poem, pictures, artwork, etc. on what is International Women’s Day mean to you, and have a draw of all entries to win a prize. As well Carm suggested to get in contact with the other six Women’s committee’s and see what they might have planned or work on doing a “webinar” event.
I want to thank the executive and the committee members for their support. I was honored and grateful to be the Chair for 2022 and look forward to 2023 and all the work this committee does!
Hiy hiy,
Kim Cardinal
RWC Chair