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Dear CFUW Ontario Council Members
Welcome to the D&D issue containing the programs for the September 27th Standing Committees meetings and Ontario Council updates. |
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September 27, 2014
Standing Committees
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Joint Morning Session
Speaker: Barb MacQuarrie
Topic: Make It Our Business
Violence Against Women continues to be the focus of CFUW advocacy work here and abroad and we are making it the subject of both the plenary and afternoon sessions of the September 27th Status of Women Standing Committee meetings.
Barb MacQuarrie HBA is Community Director of the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) where she facilitates applied research and evidence based education. She has been an advocate for survivors of violence, working in various capacities, including as a Human Rights observer with Peace Brigades International (PBI) in Guatemala and El Salvador, accompanying civilians working non-violently for peace and justice whose lives were threatened by military and para-military groups and Chair of the International Council of PBI.
Ms MacQuarrie's research interests lie in gendered workplace harassment and violence in the lives of girls and she is the Executive Producer of the video, "The Way Forward: Rethinking the Problem of Workplace Sexual Harassment" and "Voices of Diversity: Creating a Culture of Safety, Respect and Belonging on Campus." She has co-authored publications on workplace harassment and violence in the lives of girls and has written for local anti-violence organizations about the challenges facing front line service providers and the connections between mental health, addictions.
In November 2013, CREVAWC launched the Make It Our Business initiative
at Queen's Park. This new video tool highlights the impact of domestic violence in the workplace, where employers and workers often do not recognize domestic violence as a workplace hazard. Since its launch, the program has trained more than 13,000 employees and managers in more than 500 workplaces about their role in creating a safe workplace with a focus on domestic violence. Ms MacQuarrie will introduce us to this tool, the research on which it is based, and how we can help move the program forward in our communities.
Co-Chairs: Cheryl Ambrose and Linda Gill
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Status of Women &
Human Rights Committee
Topic: Make it Our Business
Speaker: Barb MacQuarrie
Our afternoon session will be an interactive workshop facilitated by Ms MacQuarrie to help us develop strategies to move this initiative forward locally.
This is such an excellent tool and we'd like to see our clubs talk about it locally, contacting local businesses, chambers, etc. to help educate employers (and co-workers) about their responsibilities.
Cheryl Ambrose
Chair, Status of Women and Human Rights
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| Legislation Committee
Topic: Proportional Representation: Make Every Vote Count
Speaker: June Macdonald, Fair Vote Canada Council
This is the theme for our first meeting of the year. It is time to get electoral reform, in particular proportional representation (PR), back on our agenda for action. Fair election issues were core to two resolutions passed at the CFUW National AGM this past summer. This is also timely as we face upcoming municipal elections as well as a federal election next year.
We are fortunate to have lined up June Macdonald, of Fair Vote Canada National Council, and Fair Vote Toronto, to update and inspire us as well as provide strategies and arguments for electoral reform.
About June Macdonald:
Ever since she heard a lecture by Doris Anderson many years ago, June has been an enthusiastic advocate of proportional voting especially for its ability to give better representation to women and minorities. Currently serving on Fair Vote Canada National Council as well as Toronto Chapter, she was one of the founders of the chapter and has been involved as co-chair, and in numerous other roles and has participated in many outreach activities. Her many years as a college educator, plus work on a dissertation with a focus on voting system reform, have been assets in her advocacy.
Proportional representation is appropriate at all levels of government and June will provide pertinent information pertaining to the municipal electoral process which CFUW members, no matter their community, will find interesting. Of course, the focus will be the policy outcomes from electoral reform using proportional representation that we are all interested in seeing come about.
June will highlight Fair Vote Canada's Campaign 2015 which provides evidence-based arguments for the benefits of PR to the representation of women, and other crucial issues such as the environment, income inequality and the economy.
Visit Fair Vote Canada, http://www.fairvote.ca, sign the Declaration of Voters' Rights and also see the specific campaign focusing on the 2015 Federal Election, Campaign 2015,http://campaign2015.fairvote.ca
We look forward to moving ahead on this issue and what better way than to tap into the expertise and resources provided by June and her organization
Sheila Lacroix
Chair, Legislation
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Education Committee
Topic: 18th OISE Survey of Educational Issues: Public Attitudes Towards Education in Ontario in 2012
Speaker: Dr. Doug Hart, Institutional Researcher at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto, Co-Investigator for the 18th OISE Survey
Dr. Doug Hart will discuss the 18th OISE Survey of Educational Issues: Public Attitudes Towards Education in Ontario in 2012 . Dr. Hart will outline briefly the history of the OISE Survey, its purposes, the major themes over the years, and the 18th Survey results, leading to what the research team are proposing for the 19th survey. He is looking for input from our members into the questionnaire for the upcoming OISE Survey.
"Historically, satisfaction with schools and spending preferences has often moved in opposite directions. In a political climate where satisfaction with schools is falling, support for more spending will be growing. The schools can fall victim to their own success," says Doug Hart, co-investigator with Ben Levin, of the 2012 Survey. Other topics covered in the 2012 Survey include: grading the performance of local schools, taxation for education; use of private tutoring services, the role of EQAO, school accommodations for religious minorities, and the relevance of education to jobs. Public satisfaction with the school system as a whole, and with the job teachers are doing are at record highs, according to the 2012 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Survey.
Access to the 18th OISE Survey of Educational Issues: Public Attitudes Towards Education in Ontario in 2012:
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/oise/About_OISE/18thOISEsurvey_20120910.html
Kathy Wosnick
Chair, Education |
President's Message
September 2014
"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer's best of weather
And autumn's best of cheer."
- Helen Hunt Jackson,1830-1885
As we return from our summer activities, refreshed and energized, our creativity and motivation enhanced, there is a definite stirring in the air to participate in the many varied volunteer organizations to which we belong. Perhaps you too have had to consider the extant of your involvement. When asked about having to choose, my reply is that CFUW would always be my first choice. You have heard me say that CFUW takes you places you may not think to go. I am honored to represent the Ontario Council clubs as your OC President, VP Ontario, and thank you for this opportunity to be of service for a second term.
I am pleased to introduce the new 2014-2016 Ontario Council with Lori Ker as Secretary, Marlene Bristol as Treasurer, Teresa Habs as Communication, Advocacy Chairs Sheila Lacroix-Legislaton, Kathy Wosnick-Education, Cheryl Ambrose & Linda Gill-Status of Women and Human Rights, and Regional Directors Kaarina Tulisalo-Ontario North, Sandy Thomson-Ontario Huron, Leila Metcalf-Ontario East, Patricia Joyce-Ontario Central and introducing Deborah Harasym-Ontario South.
Each of the six regions is represented by a Regional Director, except for Ontario West. The nine clubs in this region have enthusiastic members who share their talents within their club and in their community. A Regional Director is like a hub in the wheel assisting clubs wherever needed, and ensuring communication connects the clubs to one another, to Ontario Council and to National.
An invitation is extended to the members of Ontario West to consider this opportunity. If you enjoy meeting people and working with a team, this position is open for you. Please contact me with your inquiries about this role. I would like to thank Terry Hamilton for her leadership in this role over these past four years and extend best wishes in her other pursuits and ongoing involvement in CFUW.
Congratulations to the Ontario clubs who were the recipients of awards from CFUW.
Special Project Awards presented to CFUW Burlington, CFUW Aurora-Newmarket and CFUW St. Thomas.
New Member Awards recognized CFUW North York, CFUW Kitchener-Waterloo, and CFUW Stratford.
Membership Increase Awards were presented to CFUW Haliburton Highlands, CFUW Nepean, and CFUW Perth & District.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to CFUW Kitchener-Waterloo for hosting the CFUW AGM 2014. For those in attendance, I am sure you will agree, that they did an outstanding job of planning, organizing and ensuring we all had a lot of fun. One only has to recall the Saturday evening banquet. The Ontario Clubs did themselves proud with their attendance at this AGM and Conference.
Ontario Council continues supporting Ontario clubs with changes this year in mileage to the Standing Committee meetings, changes in the grant criteria for attending the OC AGM, and the establishment of a new grant for Membership/club profile. Please contact your Regional Director or see the OC website for more information.
As we come together in the coming year to celebrate anniversaries, participate in fundraising events, and enjoy the friendship among our club members, let us continue to move forward the goals and values of our organization within our club and within our community.
I am looking forward to seeing you on the 27th for our first OC Standing Committee meeting. Please join us for another very stimulating, informative day.
Sincerely
Brenda
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Notable CFUW Members
SPIRIT OF THUNDER BAY AWARD
This special award recognizes an individual who has volunteered time toward improving and
enriching the community of Thunder Bay. This is an individual who has shown extraordinary leadership, innovation and meaningful voluntary contributions and has a minimum of 15 years of cumulative volunteer experience in thunder Bay.
Elizabeth Poulin CFUW Thunder Bay recipient of award
There is an impressive list of organizations in which Liz Poulin has played a major role: Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) (Vice President 2008-2009, President 2009-2014), Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (Director, President, Past President, 2000 to present), 55 Plus Centre (Board of Directors 2011 to present), Lakehead Social Planning Council (Board of Directors, 1984 to 1994, two years as President), Wesway (Board of Directors, two years as President), and Canadian International Council (President 2008 to 2010).
With CFUW, Liz spearheaded public forums on poverty and homelessness.
For the Orchestra, she worked to stabilize their finances and broaden their
musical offerings making the Symphony more accessible to more people.
At the 55 Plus Centre, Liz leads the committee which introduces new activities to the Centre.
With the Social Planning Council, she helped develop a community program for people to tailor their activities to meet their individual
needs. Liz helped organize policy and support staff to better serve the
community improving respite care for Wesway.
Liz has been volunteering since moving to Thunder Bay in 1984. She has dedicated her life to the betterment of all citizens in our community.
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Invitation to Ontario East Regional Fall Gathering
The Belleville and District Club is very excited to be hosting this year's Fall Gathering for Ontario East.
The event will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 9:00 - 3:00 at Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 516 Victoria Ave. Belleville.
The theme for the day is "From Words to Action, Effective Advocacy".
Guest speakers will cover topics such as the missing and murdered aboriginal women, a local shelter for women and student journalists and their placement projects.
Further details and registration information are available on the website:
cfuwbelleville.com
Susan Pine
Chair, Fall Gathering Committee
We're Going to the Toronto Zoomer Show October
25 - 26, 2014
Zoomer is a branch of CARP that has a partnership with CFUW National.
ZoomerMedia Ltd is a global leader in creating information, entertainment and experiences uniquely designed to serve the world's largest and most affluent generation-the 45 plus.
The Clubs of Ontario Central will have booth #117 at the 2014 Toronto Zoomer Show. We have secured a free booth as a non-profit organization.
Our purpose is to raise the profile of CFUW and interest women in joining the organization's local Clubs.
Ontario Central has thirteen Clubs from Etobicoke to Barrie to Port Hope and Cobourg.
The Regional Director for the area Pat Joyce and UWC North York Past President Diane Johns are organizing the event to be held October 25/26 at the Direct Energy Building at the CNE.
Clubs have been asked to send volunteers to staff the booth and inform visitors of CFUW and the work of the Clubs.
Pat Joyce and Diane Johns
York Region Award presented to CFUW Aurora- Newmarket
Character Award for 'Organization of Character-Not For Profit'
For 2014, sStating "For 57 years Aurora-Newmarket has promoted human rights and education for girls and women".
Presented to Jean Fraser, Co-President 2013-14 in the Spring of 2014.
CFUW Aurora Newmarket also won a CFUW National Membership Award at the 2014 CFUW AGM for a Career Paths Workshop they sponsored.
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CFUW Clubs Celebrate Anniversaries in 2014
CFUW Niagara Falls 1924 90 Years
CFUW Belleville & District 1939 75 Years
CFUW Oakville 1949 65 Years
CFUW Cambridge 1954 60 Years
CFUW Stratford 1954 60 Years
CFUW Haliburton Highlands 2004 10 Years
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Ontario East Regional Fall Gathering
hosted by CFUW Belleville
Date: October 25, 2014
Theme: From Words to Action: Effective Advocacy
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
516 Victoria Ave, Belleville, ON K8N 4N5
613- 969-1257
Registration: 9am to 10am
Closing announcements 3pm.
Cost: $40, early bird. $45 after Saturday October 18th
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| Find more information about Regional Gatherings at: cfuwontcouncil.ca |
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2014 - 2015
Standing Committees Meetings
September 27, 2014
January 24, 2015
March 14, 2015
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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
CFUW Ontario Council
Annual General Meeting 2015
May 29 - 30, 2015
Hosted by CFUW Ottawa
Theme: Defying the Odds - One Step at a Time
Keynote Speaker:
Sue Holloway, 3x Olympic medal winner,
presenter at conferences around
the world on topics including Fitness, Wellness, Overcoming Adversity
Registration: $100 SAVE THE DATE NOW!
Hilton Garden Inn - Ottawa Airport
2400 Alert Road
Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 1S
Phone 613-288-9001
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