The AAG Annual General Meeting for 2022 was held on June 21, 2022 by Zoom. Highlights included our annual awards presentations (described later in this edition of AAGmag), reports from the Edmonton and Calgary Chapters and the Provincial Association, election of board members and financial reports.
In spite of pandemic related restrictions on in-person gatherings, both chapters are commended on developing and implementing virtual events and making them available to everyone in the province. The Provincial Association successfully launched the Futures Policy Forum (FPF) Initiative this past year, with the help of many AAG members and partners. To date, three webinars have been held with the fourth scheduled for September 7th, 2022. Information from previous webinars and registration for future ones can be found on the Futures Policy Forum Webinars page.
Plans are underway for other FPF activities including think tanks, public and stakeholder engagement opportunities, and a future symposium. The FPF initiative is only possible due to the dedication and strong leadership of Vivien Lai, Chair and Marlene Raasok, Vice-Chair. We are also very grateful to our sponsors, board members, and many partners who contribute to the work of our 43-member Stakeholder Collaborative Committee that provides oversight and inspiration. Our technical team of Andrea Dunne (Website Developer), Jordanna Bubar (Webinar Technology Support), Gail Kostiw (Communications Assistant) and Michelle Marusiak (Writer) have ensured our events are professionally executed.
Changes to the by-laws were approved at the AGM to enable AAG to have one set of financial reports for the chapters and the association. This change will reduce the workload for the chapters and make the annual audit easier. Chapters are still required to work within the revenues and expenditures of the chapter. Overall, AAG is well prepared financially to conduct its affairs in the coming year.
At the AGM, we said farewell to retiring board members – Grace Maier, Renate Sainsbury, Adrienne Richard, Haidong Liang, Dorthe Flauer, Michelle Marusiak. We welcomed newly elected board members – Kathleen Hunter, French Lau, Barry Pendergast, Heather Tomlinson, and Chantelle Zimmer. Our officers for the coming year are:
- President – Lynne Mansell
- Vice President – Chantelle Zimmer
- Secretary – Sharon Anderson
- Treasurer – French Lau
- Calgary Chapter Chair – Dorothy Chancinski
- Edmonton Chapter Chair – Jennifer Chan
One of the most enjoyable parts of this year’s AGM was an invited presentation by Dr. Judy Birdsell entitled Citizen Engagement Matters: Why? How Do We Do It? She described the methods used by the Imagine Citizens Network to ensure citizens help to shape the health system. Judy has agreed to have her presentation posted on the AAG website in the very near future. Thanks Judy!
I want to thank everyone who helped make the AGM run smoothly, especially Sharon Anderson, Secretary.
Lynne Mansell, AAG President
