[fvc-wat-disc] Minutes from August 21 meeting
marcia.soeda at ontariocitizensassembly.ca
marcia.soeda at ontariocitizensassembly.ca
Fri Aug 24 15:48:48 EDT 2007
Hello Everyone,
I sent an e-mail here and I don't see it, oh well I will write it again.
I went to the Volunteer Action Center to find some volunteers. The lady said that
because we don't belong under a umbrella group like The United Way, she can't
help us.
She did say however that a student from the University of Laurier in charge of
Frosh week was looking for some volunteer work for 150 students, on a Sunday I
believe she said. The students name was Melanie ... and if we want to try for
this opportunity we had better move fast. I will leave it in someone else's
hands, maybe someone from the Universities who goes there every day can take this
information and use it. It might be already to late, but it is worth a try. This
would be a great way to get the word out as I know radio stations and newspapers
love to talk about the volunteer work on frosh week.
Hope it works out,
Marcia
On Wed Aug 22 13:53 , Paul Nijjar <pnijjar at sdf.lonestar.org> sent:
>
>Fair Vote Canada, Waterloo Region: August 27 Meeting Minutes
>============================================================
>
>Present:
>
>Shannon Adshade, Graham Engel, Maxine Jacklin, Bob Jonkman, Paul
>Nijjar, Marcia Soeda, Brian Tanguay, Angela Yenssen
>
>Regrets: Derek Kraan, Kevin Smith
>
>Approval of Agenda
>------------------
>- Added WLU frosh kit handouts to campus organizing
>- Added volunteer recruitment as section 4.5
>
>Minutes
>-------
>- Approved without modification
>
>Canvassing
>----------
>- Concentrate on small communities rather than cities (better
> response, more expectations of face to face interactions)
> + Bob will take on Elmira
> + Shannon will take on (some of) Cambridge
> + Brian will take on New Hamburg
> + We can put out a call for other canvassers as well
>
>- Towns in Kitchener-Conestoga to hit: St. Clements, St. Jacobs,
> Elmira, Wellesley, Baden, New Hamburg, New Dundee, Linwood
>
>- In addition to small towns we can take on our own neighbourhoods
>
>- There was some discussion of whether to target people we know are
> going to vote as opposed to people who are disenfranchised. It
> appears that targetting voters is more of a priority.
>
>- Bob expressed concerns that we need to understand something in order
> to canvas effectively. Suggestion: staff a booth (e.g. at the
> Farmer's market) to get familiar with the issues.
>
>- Current list of canvassers: Kevin, Derek, Brian, Bob, Rick Fairman
>
>- Do we hit university communities? Maybe the campus groups should
> handle this?
>
>- We discussed literature drops vs. face-to-face doorknocking
> + Doorknocking is slower and scarier, but more effective
> + High school students might be better off doing literature drops
> + We can try to literature drop in more places than we door-knock
>
>- Idea: sign up with Elections Ontario to verify voters list, and tell
> people that the referendum is happening (without advocating a side)
> + This is risky and probably against the rules
> + Elections Ontario likely has strict rules as to what people can
> say
>
>- We will start canvassing after Labour Day (maybe the first weekend
> after: Saturday Sept 8?
>
>- We send our canvassing progress to Angela, who will make sire we do
> not cover places multiple times
>
>
>Attracting Volunteers
>---------------------
>
>- Can high school students do canvassing/referendum stuff for their
>volunteer hours?
> + Would need to be approved with principals
> + Angela will contact school boards
> + Graham will ask some people at Bluevale whether they want to get
> involved
>
>- Marcia will ask at the Volunteer Action Centre
>
>- We will all make friends and then bring a friend to the next meeting
>
>- Kevin has contact with unions and social planning councils. Maybe he
> can convince them to give us warm bodies?
>
>Cambridge Group/Merger
>----------------------
>
>- Brian attended the last meeting; Shannon also saw Donna Reid
> + The Cambridge group can decide whether to formally merge with us
> + We have executive spots open if the group wants some
> + 9 people were at their last meeting; one person was enthusiastic
> about a merger
> + Nobody wants to step on each other's toes or duplicate work
>
>- We should try to get on the Cambridge mailing lists and get good
> communication links going
> + Donna Reid and Gareth White are the people to contact about this
> + Shannon is willing to attend the Cambridge meetings.
> + Is anybody from their group willing to attend ours?
>
>- We probably will give the bulk of Cambridge referendum organizing to
> the Cambridge group regardless of merger
>
>- Their next meeting: Monday Sept 27
>
>Outreach Activities:
>--------------------
>
>- Should we do mailouts in the Record? In the Waterloo Chronicle?
> + This is likely expensive. (Did somebody agree to price this out?)
>
>- High schools:
> + High school assemblies are probably not going to happen. Schools
> have not been receptive so far.
> + There are Grade 10 Civics classes that we could try to reach
> + Should we make packages/kits (including the OCA videos) to give to
> schools?
> + Angela will investigate the possibilities here.
>
>- Radio:
> + Marcia has contacted AM 570 but got no response yet
> + We can phone their number (519.570.1400) to make suggestions
>
>- Newspapers:
> + Phil from the Record was taking pictures of our chairs
> + There will likely be an MMP article in Saturday's paper
> + Shannon reports there have been three recent articles in the
> Cambridge Times
> + Graham reports that there was an article in Ontario Nursing
> Magazine
>
>- Farmer's Markets:
> + Saturday Aug 25: Marcia, Paul
> + Sunday Aug 26: Bob, Paul
>
> + Saturday Sept 1: Paul, ??
> + Sunday Sept 2: Angela, Bob
>
> + We will need Kevin's help to set up on the Saturday
> + Marcia will bring books and the display board (which we will
> presumably leave at the market)
> + Sundays in September are better for Angela, Brian. Saturdays are
> preferable for Paul. Marcia is tentative, but may be able to help
> every other week.
>
>- Panel Discussions
> + Sept 19, WLU, 4:30pm: Brian, Matthew Certosimo (OCA), Jim
> Breithaupt (former Kitchener Centre MPP)
> + Sept 19, UW, 7:00pm: Steve Withers (!), Marcia, Brian, Ron
> VanKoughnett?
> * Bob will pick up Steve Withers from Mississauga
> * Brian will drive Steve back to the Kitchener bus terminal and
> abandon him there
> + Oct 1, WLU, 7:00pm: Marcia, others TBA (Brian again?)
>
>- Information Nights
> + Paul will do Sept 11
> + Need to update posters in KPL, etc (who? Me?)
> + Need to update community events listings: Record, ECHO, Elmira
> Independent, Woolwich Observer (Paul)
> + What other advertising venues exist?
> + Should we expect bigger turnouts now?
>
>- KPL Debate? No word yet. Kevin may have more news.
>
>- Council Presentations
> + Brian will speak at Regional Council this Thursday, 7:00pm
> + Angela will speak in Kitchener, Oct 1 (televised meeting)
> + Sept 17 is open in Cambridge. Angela can do it or somebody from
> the Cambridge group can handle it. [Who will work this out with
> Cambridge? -ed]
>
>- All Candidates Meetings
> + Sept 20, 6:30pm, Cambridge Social Planning Council: Brian, Shannon
> (Brian has 10 minutes on the agenda)
>
> + Sept 11, Kitchener, Women in Politics: Angela
>
> + Cambridge Federal Liberals have their nomination meeting in early
> September. Paul will follow up.
>
> + Need to get list of upcoming all-candidates meetings. Paul will
> contact some people in the parties to get information. [Can others
> help with this? -ed]
>
> + Other likely candidates: The Record, Chamber of Commerce
> * We should have our display at all of these events
>
> + Can we get ourselves invited to some debates?
>
>
>- Local Referendum Officers
> + Their offices will not be accessible until Aug 27 (they say...)
> + We want to get contact information for all our local
> representatives. Paul will look into this.
>
> + Elections Ontario has mailed out the first of three handouts about
> the election/referendum. The next few will have more about the
> referendum.
>
>- Unions and Social Planning Council
> + One union might give us $500
> + A school teacher's group may give us $200
> + Kevin will update us with other news
>
>- Festivals
> + No more festivals? [Then we started organizing them.. -ed]
> + Sept 27: Nudge festival at the Wax Nightclub
> * Graham can do the latter half, Laurier students or Paul can do
> the former half
> + Fall fairs: Maxine may attend some, but we will not focus on
> organizing these.
> + Kitchener market? Paul says we don't qualify for charitable
> booths. Graham says Greenpeace was leafletting the market.
> + Oktoberfest: need to hear from Dave Arthur.
> + Wellesley Apple Butter: Angela is getting through to them
> + Elmira Fall Fair is no more
> + Cambridge Fall Fair is the weekend of Labour Day. Shannon will
> investigate?
>
>- Pamphlets for Laurier
> + Laurier frosh kits can take neutral information.
> + Elections Ontario material won't be ready in time. OCA material
> is not neutral enough.
> + Bob volunteered his wife Lori to do the design.
> + Graham and Paul will cost out printing options (1/2 page or 1/3
> page, black and white, double-sided?)
>
>- Campus Organizing
> + How can we book concourse tables at Laurier?
>
>- Webpage
> + Our wiki list of events sucks and is terrible
> + Bob will investigate better calendar options
>
>
>Speaking Engagements and Speaker's Bureau
>-----------------------------------------
>
>- Currently: Angela, Brian, Graham, Paul
>
>- Angela is holding a training session Aug 28
> + Some recruits may come from the WLUFVC club
>
>- Marcia is an OCA speaker, and is expecting to get more calls
>
>- Beaver Creek Co-op: Paul will follow up (and speak)
>
>Updates from the Provincial Campaign
>------------------------------------
>
>- Financing Rules
> + The provincial office is handling all finances
> + We give all money to provincial office, and they give it back
> + Any money we raised since July needs to be sent through
> + Angela will inquire about casual (
> names and addresses?
> + Paul worried whether we would be allowed to continue using the FSW
> building
> + What about the money we have raised to this point? Do we keep it
> and not spend it in the referendum?
> + Cheques should be made out to "Vote for MMP" and the memo should
> be to Waterloo Region
>
>- Campaign Structure
> + Steve Withers is being freed up for more speaking engagements.
> Another fellow named "Dan" will be doing chapter outreach.
> + They have hired Christine to keep track of the books.
> + Larry Gordon is concentrating on overall campaign management
>
>- Opposition
> + Not much opposition organized yet.
> + nommp.ca people are up and running (and have a K-W chapter?)
>
>Treasurer's Report
>------------------
>
>- $120 in the bank
>- Possibly $700 more in donations
>
>Campaign Office
>---------------
>
>- Brian contacted Scott Piatkowski. Few places are available for
> short-term rent and they are mostly expensive.
>- We are forgoing a campaign office
>
>Next Meeting
>------------
>- No meeting at Faculty of Social Work on Aug 28
>- We will meet on Mondays rather than Tuesdays
>- Next meeting: Sept 10 (if we can book it)
>
>
>--
>Paul Nijjar - http://www.fairvotecanada.org/WaterlooRegion
>Next electoral reform info night: Tuesday Sept 11, 7pm
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