Training and Development

Treasurers work on local budgets in new OPSEU course

February 26, 2009

Should you issue bank cards for your local?  Should LEC members have cell phones paid by automatic deductions? Should you buy a cheap computer from a friend for the local with local funds? Not if you want to work consistently with OPSEU’s Constitution.

These common ethical issues facing local treasurers were examined at the recent Central course for Local Treasurers. For almost two days, 25 local treasurers from all seven regions of OPSEU worked together to clarify their roles, to practise developing and presenting a local budget, and to strengthen their skills in keeping records and submitting Trustees’ Audit Reports to ensure the flow of rebates to the local

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Perhaps the most inspiring part of the course was what people learned from each other. “I loved the interactive nature of the course and hearing that other treasurers have the same issues, have tried different strategies, and that we can learn from each other,” explained one participant.

OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Patty Rout initiated the centrally-run course, which will now be offered once a year. “I wanted to highlight the important role that treasurers play in developing strong locals,” she said. “You need support – ours and each others’ – to do the kind of job you want to do.”

A similar weekend course will be available for regional education programs.

Back row: Reg Devost, Carolyn Hartwick, Vicki Armstrong, Shawn Pentecost, Monty Mohammed (facilitator), Riley Dawe, James Robb, Cameron Jay, Agatha McPhee (staff), Barb Thomas (facilitator), Dave Vermue, Ginette Wilkins. Middle Row: Diane Edwards, Peter Masters, Dean JoncasJohn Schimmens, John Coss,  Karen Andrew, Owen Smith, Susan Lawrenson-Powell, Kay Singh (staff); Front Row: Wayne Wehrstedt, Thelma Louise Ward, Jacqueline Westberg, Lan Duong, Patti Rout (OPSEU V.P/S.T) Lindsay Sutton, Janet Uphola, Wanda Harris. Missing from picture: David McCarl.