minutes of planning meeting

15^th FEBRUARY 2007

737 ARLINGTON PARK PLACE

KINGSTON, ONTARIO 
 

1. Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. 

2. Roll Call: 

      Ron Aquino, President

      Ron Henderson, Vice-President/Operations

Barb Fagg, Vice-President/Administration; Director/Recruitment and Member 25^th Anniversary Committee)

Jim Spencer, Treasurer

Lois Frauendienst, Secretary 

George Healy, Co-Director/Telephone Committee

Gilbert Wilcox, Director/Health & Benefits

Peter Convery, Director-at-Large

Dennis Snider, Observer

Doug Kellett, President-In-Training 

Absent: 

Donna Henderson, Director/Membership

Annie Healy, Co-Director/Telephone Committee

Marlyn Convery, Past-President

Donna & Rheal Garneau, Marketing Team

Mike Pastien, Web Master

Larry Fowler, Observer

Luc Bujold, Editor/Branch Report 

3. Proposed Agenda: 

      The proposed Agenda was noted. 

4. Minutes of the Previous Meeting: 

      a) Errors or Omissions:  None 

      b) Discussion:  None

c) Motion: Gilbert Wilcox moved to accept the Minutes of 18^th January 2007.  Seconded by George Healy.  MOTION CARRIED. 

5. Business Arising from the Minutes:  

Lois Frauendienst volunteered to act as Director of Welfare for the remainder of the year.  

There was discussion regarding the cost of flowers.  It was suggested that an amount of $50. be set to cover the cost of flowers, tax and delivery charges where applicable. 

Ron Henderson suggested that this matter be tabled until the By-Laws have been re-written.  Moved by Barb Fagg that In the meantime, if there is an illness or hospitalization among the Board of Directors, we discuss it at one of the meetings and that the flowers should be sent to the home rather than to the hospital.   Seconded by Jim Spencer.  MOTION CARRIED. 

Further discussion took place regarding advertisements in Volunteer Week Supplements in Kingston, Brockville and Napanee. 

Ron Henderson moved that Kingston & District Branch, FSNA, purchase a small advertisement to be placed in each of three upcoming VOLUNTEER WEEK Supplements in the Brockville Recorder & Times, the Kingston Whig Standard and the Napanee Beaver.  Combined total cost of these advertisements not to exceed $700.00.  Seconded by Barb Fagg.  MOTION CARRIED. 

6. Treasurer’s Report: 

Jim Spencer presented the Treasurer’s Report   Jim Spencer moved that the Treasurer’s Report be adopted as read.  Seconded by Ron Henderson.  MOTION CARRIED. 

7. Communications & Bills:   

The President read a letter from the Commissionaires dated 31^st January 2007 as follows:  “Dear Sir:  We wish to terminate our rental agreement with your organization effective 31^st March 2007.  The projected needs of our Company necessitate this decision.  On or before, 31^st March 2007, your key can be returned to Mr. Barry Osborne, Director of  Administration.  If you have any questions …” 

The President advised the meeting that he had approached four or five organizations which were not too conducive to renting or did not have the  room.  He then called on Ron Henderson to give a run-down as to what he has gained so far.  Ron Henderson said that the only positive response he has had so far is from the Army/Navy/Air Force Club on Gore Road.  He had a brief chat with their President and with their Booking Director.  He stated that he and Ron Aquino are trying to set up a meeting to have a look and a chat with them at the establishment to try to get a better idea of what the facilities are like.  They have offered the building that we can use for our monthly meetings, free of charge.  There is parking available.  Also, they do serve lunches, and apparently it is a fairly popular spot for many people from the Base.  It is not known how this would affect our meetings.  However, there is a possibility that we could hold our meetings there.  One other thing, the person who opens up the building does not do so until about 11:00 a.m.  Perhaps an arrangement could be made for her to open earlier and we could pay her an honorarium.  Ron Henderson stated that his biggest concern is the telephone.  He is prepared to sit down with Richard and see if he would allow us to leave the box on the wall.  

Jim Spencer asked if they had been approached regarding storage space.  Apparently, they have the space.   

Ron Henderson stated that we need a solution before our next meeting on

15^th March. 

It was moved by Jim Spencer that Ron Henderson and Ron Aquino be given authority to locate office and/or storage space at a price not to exceed $250. per month.  Seconded by George Healy.  There being no further discussion, the MOTION CARRIED. 

8. Reports of Officers and Committees:   

a) President:  The President gave his report as follows: 

i)  Canadian Federation of Independent Business:  Concerns the widening gap between public and private sector retirement trends and pension plans as set forth by Catherine Swift, President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.   

ii)   National President’s Letter of Response: 

FSNA National President, Dennis Jackson replied to Ms. Swift.  Board members were given a copy of his reply. 

iii)  Bulletin to Branches 2007-01:  The Bulletin contains remarks regarding the Court Challenge re:  Pension to resume 26 February 2007.  New Infinity program brochure available.  Costco Drugs:  it was pointed out at our last meeting that “to purchase a $50. membership card to shop at Costco Drugs nullified any savings in the price of drugs”.  After making a drug purchase at Costco, it was discovered that no membership card is required to make a purchase of drugs.  Paying for drugs at the drug counter allows you to come and go without membership. 

iv)   Information Available on the National Webpage:  Tax relief for Canadian seniors.  Members should be made aware that this information is available.  Also with regard to pension-splitting and caveats. 

v)   Outreach Luncheon Napanee:  The President thanked Ron Henderson for arranging the successful luncheon on Tuesday, 13^th February.  For many attendees, it was their first time.  The President also reiterated the need for volunteers! 

b) Vice-President/Operations:  Ron Henderson presented his report.    The Napanee Luncheon turned out to be very successful.  Ron stated that we took in $780.00, the cost of the luncheon was $983.25, the net cost to the Branch was $203.25.  The planning for the Brockville luncheon is well underway and is almost complete.  Arrangements have been made with CJ’s in Brockville and an announcement will be made in the next ON GUARD/Branch Report which will be in members’ mailboxes around 15^th-23^rd March 2007 and will include all the information regarding the luncheon in Brockville. 

Ron noted that he had received a list from National Headquarters which lists the ON GUARD contents of the Spring issue.  As usual, the will be a lot of good information in this issue:  some articles on the new 2006 Income Tax measures, Income-splitting and a welcome to some 12,000 new members as a result of the recruitment campaign which National conducted in the Fall.  

Directors and Committees 

c) Membership:  Ron Henderson presented the Membership report on behalf of Donna Henderson.   Moved by Ron Henderson and seconded by Barb Fagg that the report be accepted as presented.  MOTION CARRIED. 

d) Health & Benefits:  Gilbert Wilcox presented his report.   Gilbert requested that someone be found to take over his post Moved by Gilbert Wilcox and seconded by George Healy that the report be accepted as presented.   MOTION CARRIED. 

e) 25^th Anniversary Committee:  Barb Fagg presented the report and stated that Fort Frontenac has been reserved for the Bar-B-Que on 21^st August 2007, and the CE Museum has been reserved for the Branch birthday celebration on 7^th December 2007.  An item has already been placed in the Whig Standard Military Families (which was published on 10^th February 2007).  Plans are underway to place an ad in the Kingston, Brockville and Napanee papers in conjunction with Ron Henderson’s motion to recognize volunteer week.  This will let the readers know of our organization and the work the volunteers are doing.  It is hoped to interview a long-term volunteer of FSNA to be included in the Volunteer Supplement.  Once that person has been contacted, and if they are in agreement with the interview, we will release his/her name.  It was moved by Barb Fagg and seconded by Ron Henderson that the report be accepted as presented.   MOTION CARRIED. 

f) Telephone Committee:  Following the last AGM the Telephone Committee has added new volunteers.  Barb Fagg asked to be removed from the telephone list. 

g) By-Law Committee:  Dennis Snider gave his report and remarked that he had obtained copies of the By-Laws from National and other Branches so there would be a point of comparison regarding re-writing the By-Laws.  Dennis feels these By-Laws should track as close as possible to the National By-Laws and reflect also the By-Laws of the other Branches so that there is a standard format.  He noted there were some amendments especially regarding the office of the President of Kingston and District Branch.  Dennis was asked to set up a 3-member committee and to contact Ron Aquino and Ron Henderson to set up a meeting.  The President thanked Dennis for his assistance in this matter. 

h) Inventory Committee:  Peter Convery advised that the inventory list is almost complete. 

9. Unfinished Business:  None. 

10. New Business:  None. 
 

11. Next Meeting:  The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 15^th March 2007. 

12, Adjournment:  It was moved by Jim Spencer and seconded by Peter Convery that the meeting be adjourned.  MOTION CARRIED.  The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.