For the past 30 years ECAS has been under the leadership of the SCA president and office staff. With the appointment of  Mark Cooper as the new SCA President in April, the SCA Board of Directors decided it was necessary for Mark to focus all his energies on the work of SCA. SCA board chair Sam Shaw met with ECAS board Chair Joe Mignon to review the decision and decide on next steps for ECAS. Doug Folk and Howard Jesse both currently consultants with SCA provided a review of the relationship and outlined the current status of ECAS. Subsequent to this meeting they met with Joe and offered a work plan and short term contractual arrangement to provide their services to ECAS in the interim (until the 2014 AGM). The ECAS board was convened on May 1, 2013 and ratified the work plan and contract. Doug is currently serving as the Executive Director of ECAS and Howard is fulfilling the role of Operations Manager. The SCA accounting clerk is still under contract with ECAS to provide all financial services.

For the past 5 months the team has focused on:

• getting all ECAS paper and electronic files and directories sorted and secured
•  reviewing and updating the membership list
• arranging and managing the various committee meeting agendas and minutes
• establishing protocols for ECAS members to access CECA publications and documents
• reviewing and preparing By-Laws and Objectives for presentation and discussion at the AGM
• providing ongoing member services
• develop and administer a member wide survey to determine the needs, interests and future direction for ECAS
• create an ongoing communication strategy to keep the members informed and to build the membership
• investigate and offer educational opportunities for the membership to support ongoing in-service and education in areas relevant to contractors and the industry

The board will review the work of the current team during regular board meetings and a long term staffing/leadership strategy will be presented and determined at the AGM in February 2014. Please watch for the upcoming electronic member survey - take the time to offer your ideas and insights. The results will be used to formulate our strategic plan for the next 2-3 years.

Please contact either Doug or Howard if you have ideas to help us make ECAS a stronger voice for the industry or if you need their support to improve your business.

Joe Mignon

ECAS President