Fort McMurray Branch
Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, September 12, 2001

YMCA, Westwood, Room 189
Fort McMurray, Alberta

Present:
Mitch Azmier, Christophe Durieu, Bruce Durnford, Kim Farwell, Rattan Garcha, Paul Hagar, Kamal Hammad, Prakash Mullick, Jacob Oommachan, Mike Sneath

Regrets:
Anne Simpson

Absent:
Hassan Halepota

Resignations:
Jamie LeBlanc, Trish Murison, Isabelle Ramsaran, Marc Riendeau

1.0 Call to Order

2.0 Opening Remarks
Mitch updated the executive on the resignations since the June meeting. He welcomed Kamal Hammad and Christophe Durieu to the meeting.

3.0 Results of Election
Marc Riendeau resigned as Vice Chair prior to completing his term. As there are no guidelines in the Branch Manual for this situation, the position was opened up to all executive members. A nominating committee was formed and nominations were accepted. The vote was done via email, collected by one member of the nominating committee. This was done because it was felt that it would be easier and no less secretive than managing absentee ballots at the September meeting. Eight of eleven possible votes were cast.

The new Vice Chair is Kim Farwell.

Kim resigned her position as secretary. Motion: MS, Second: BD, Status: carried.
Kamal Hammad is the new secretary. Motion: PM, Second: MS, Status: carried.

4.0 Acceptance of Agenda
Items were added under "New Business"

5.0 Acceptance of Minutes
The attendance list was corrected.

6.0 Review of Action Log
Action log was updated.

7.0 Upcoming Events
Newsletter - upcoming Newsletter to be reviewed next meeting

Calendar of Events on Web - Kamal to update this with Shirley Layne

Social Night - next event. Date is October 4 at the MacDonald Island Pavilion. The exec was asked to attend to support the event. Posters were distributed for the exec to put up in the buildings where engineers work. At CD's request, electronic copies of the posters will we sent to the exec so that the invitation can also be passed by email. Prakash offered to forward the posters to Albian Sands.

CPD - the event will be scheduled in the first or second week of November. Selection of courses will be emailed to the exec shortly.

Student Awards - the proposed changes to the Student Awards were discussed (attached). Proposal #3 was agreed to. Motion: PH, Second: KF, Status: carried. A certificate with each recipient's name will be provided by Head Office. Suggestions were made to increase our presence at Elementary school awards that occur in June. Head Office provides books to donate to schools, pencils and other trinkets.

A presentation of the APEGGA awards will be made at each of the high school commencement ceremonies. Mike Sneath volunteered to look after Father Merc. Bruce Durnford and Kamal Hammad volunteered for the other schools. Paul and Kim are back up. Mike will have packages with the award and all the necessary information.

Mentoring Program - We are still looking to set up a mentoring program similar to the design created by the Calgary Branch. The focus of this mentoring program is professional, not technical. Paul and Mitch to roll it out in 2002.

Wine and Cheese - Paul offered to assist Rattan with this event.

8.0 Past Events
Tradeshow - Mitch thanked Kim and Bruce for their efforts in running this event. It was a big success, as a lot of questions were answered and about 60 registration packages were distributed. A formal report will be made to Head Office. We are planning to work with Head Office to do this again next year. We made contact with the Engineering Class at Keyano College and encouraged them to send a rep to our meetings.

9.0 Outreach Update
The Science Alberta Festival will take place in June 2002. Anne is involved in the organization of this event. More information will be available at the October meeting.

The 2001 Teacher's Award was presented to Denise Lockie from Father J. Turcotte school last June.

10.0 New Business
Executive Service Awards - in the past, awards have been given out to individuals who have served as a member of the local branch executive for six years. There are several members who qualify. Is head office aware? Paul, Rattan, Prakash and Mitch are near (or above) six years of service.

Recruitment of New Exec Members - Does APEGGA have suggestions? Ideas were brainstormed at the Executive Orientation session with Wendy Doughty. We will spend 5 minutes at the next meeting reviewing this.

Volunteer Awards - Bronwen Strembiski has asked us to nominate outstanding volunteers in our branch. These individuals should be someone who is a community leader in volunteerism.

11.0 Adjournment