Canadian Progress Charitable Foundation

By Janey Davies
Foundation Chair
   

Fellow Progressians,

The Canadian Progress Charitable Foundation Governors met in April to review last year’s success and prepare and plan for the coming year.  It was a very successful and productive meeting, albeit, a long one.

Following are some of the action items that the committees are working on, and will be completed and resolved at our AGM in September:

• Review the CPCF manual draft and provide feedback by May 30th for resolution at the September Governor’s meeting.

• Review CPCF by-laws draft and provide feedback by May 30th for resolution at the September Governor’s meeting.

• Investigate the costs and benefits of joining the Toronto Chamber of Commerce

• Investigate reducing bank fees and maximizing interest

• Draft policy and letter for the membership regarding the tax receipt policy

• Update and expand the CPCF educational seminar for distribution and website

• Committee to update the website information for completion by June 30, 2005

• Provide a “Sprint to the Finish” summary by May 30, 2005 for board approval.

• Submit ING application.

• Finance Committee to provide recommendations for improvements or changes to the investment policies and guidelines for discussion at the September board meeting.

• Review Terms of Reference and board position document and provide Chair with feedback and completion for presentation at the September Governor’s meeting.

• Draft CPCF new member information letter and package for board approval.

• Investigate amending Letters Patent to reply to National board request

• Re-evaluation of proposed “expression of intent” with specific direction as outlined by the Governors to be completed by September 2005.

• Establishment of chairs/co-chairs for upcoming convention.

These were just some of the issues that were dealt with at this meeting.  As you can see, we had a very busy but productive meeting.

We also spent considerable time discussing the “Expression of Intent” issue and the perceived conflict of interest.  The “Expression of Intent” is presently in the hands of an independent attorney and he will forward his recommendations to the board and I am confident that a final version will be resolved at our next meeting.

The board has also received, from independent attorneys, confirmation that they “believe this is a very common scenario amongst related organizations, and especially related volunteer and charitable organizations” and “It is a matter of convenience for both, and provides valuable input to both respecting their separate deliberations”.  The board passed a resolution at the last meeting in this regard.  In our efforts for better communication and collaboration between CPCF and CPC, both boards are presently in the process of initiating a motion to have crossover representation on the boards.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Governors for their hard work during the weekend.  I am very pleased with all we accomplished. I would also like to thank our National President, Juanita for taking time out of her busy schedule to attend these meetings.

Many of you have already heard about “Sprint to the Finish” and I would like to thank the clubs that have already started to raise funds for this initiative and I particularly congratulate Regina Assiniboine for their National initiative of Progress “charms”.  It’s just this type of commitment and foresight that will get us to our goal.  The kickoff for this campaign is slated for September 2005 at the National Convention.  So, get on your mark, get set and see you at our kickoff!!

I look forward to the next few months of preparation for the National Convention in Saskatoon in September 2005.  And as always, I look forward to seeing my fellow Progressians from all across Canada.

Yours for Progress,
Janey Davies
Chair