This year’s BPS Conference will be held at
the Doubletree Hotel, Dixon Rd. Toronto on November 26, 27 and 28,
2009. The conference theme is Developing, Networking and Advocating in
our communities. This is the perfect opportunity for BPS activists to
gather and work together on common issues in the current political
climates (municipal, provincial and federal). The first day is
dedicated to the conference theme. The following two days are reserved
for the Health Care Divisional Council meeting, the Community Services
Divisional Council meeting, a half day workshop for specific sectors and
the Sector/Divisional business and elections. We are looking forward to
seeing you there!
To: Presidents of Locals with
Broader Public Service Units, Unit Stewards or Highest Ranking of
Broader Public Service Units, All BPS Sector Executives
From: Warren (Smokey) Thomas,
President
Date: September 4, 2009
Subject: 2009 Broader Public
Service (BPS) Conference and Sector/Divisional Meeting
I invite you to attend the 2009
Broader Public Service (BPS) Conference and Sector/Divisional
meeting. The conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, on
Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26th and 27th, 2009. The Doubletree
Hotel is located at 655 Dixon Road, Toronto. Sector/Divisional
meetings will start after the conference events on Friday afternoon
and Saturday Nov. 28, 2009, at the hotel.
This year marks the 17th anniversary
of the official recognition of the Broader Public Sector as an
integral and distinct division in OPSEU. Our theme is Developing,
Networking and Advocating in our communities (DNA). The core message
is one of encouragement to all of our BPS Sectors to understand we
are all in this together and how we can collectively work together
to effect change in our locals and our communities. I hope you will
take the opportunity to join us and meet with other members in your
Sector and the other participants at the conference. It is a great
time to learn new skills and you will come away from the conference
with a feeling of solidarity with the rest of the BPS. You will
identify goals and objectives around workplace issues and develop
new expertise in dealing with those issues.
The delegate entitlement rules are
explained in the attached call documents – please read them
carefully. Delegate entitlement will be the same for both the BPS
Conference and the Sector Divisional meetings. There will not be a
separate call sent out for the Sector Divisional meetings.
The BPS conference also earmarks a
new travel practice. For all members who will be attending the
conference and travelling by air, you are directed to use Vision2000
in order to be reimbursed for your air travel expenses. By booking
through Vision2000 it allows OPSEU the opportunity to get the best
rates for our members when travelling on union business by
optimizing on our volume.
The Sector Division meetings are an
important part of this weekend. At the meetings you will determine
the short and long-term goals of your Sector/Division and elect the
leadership who will lead you in implementing them. Please see the
schedule in the attached package to determine whether or not your
Sector/Division will be meeting on Friday or Saturday.
I encourage you and your members to
honour your delegate entitlement and attend this year’s conference.
In Solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas
President
