Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
The Annual General Meeting of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Industry Association (NEIA) was held on Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Salon D of the Holiday Inn, St. John’s. NEIA’s Executive Director, Linda Bartlett welcomed everyone and called upon Terry Dollard to chair the meeting. 1
Call to Order (Terry Dollard, President, NEIA Board of Directors) Terry Dollard called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m. Members at the meeting were introduced. Directors in attendance were: Associate Member, Frank Ricketts, (Nalcor Energy), Full Member, Andrea Lundrigan (AMEC Earth and Environmental), Full Member and President, Terry Dollard (Universal Environmental), Full Member, Bill Scott (Scott Environmental Consulting). Regrets: Full Member, Ken Dominie, (AMEC Earth and Environmental), Full Member, Perry Trimper (Stantec); (two board positions vacant) The chair noted that Joanne Parsons would serve as secretary for the meeting.
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Approval of 2010 Meeting Minutes Terry Dollard called for a motion to approve the 2010 minutes. Moved by: Frank Ricketts, Nalcor Energy Seconded by Andrea Lundrigan, AMEC Earth and Environmental Motion Passed.
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Annual Report Linda Bartlett, Executive Director, gave a detailed power point presentation of NEIA activities over the year. Highlights were: increased revenues over the previous year; an increase in business-oriented events with higher media coverage; a very successful conference entitled GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK; the largest attendance that NEIA has had at a conference; the launch of a conference website; the transition from quarterly paper newsletters to electronic communications identifying upcoming news and information; an increase in memberships over the previous year. She talked about how NEIA was working with Memorial University with the intent of eventually launching a co-op program in the masters of environmental science program. She noted that the board and management of NEIA were working to bring NEIA to a higher level of governance. A new website was being built to replace NEIA’s outdated website. She noted that new a operational policy manual had been developed for NEIA employees, with thorough consultation with the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers council. She noted that NEIA has a very tiny staff contingent 2-3 at any given time so the focus over the past year has been to improve and develop foundational tools and to improve the quality events, services and communications to members. She noted that NEIA’s conference, GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK, had more than 150 attendees. The
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Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
conference focused on how the economy is shifting to a cleaner economy and how this shift will impact all businesses and affect their bottom line. Headlining the conference were some of Canada’s most influential leaders in the environmental business sector: Peter Robinson, CEO, David Suzuki Foundation (The David Suzuki Foundation works with government, business and individuals to conserve our environment by providing science-based education, advocacy and policy work, and acting as a catalyst for the social change that today's situation demands.) David Labistour, CEO, Mountain Equipment Co-op (Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) has been given top spot on Corporate Knight's Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list. It is also on the “Top 100 Employers in Canada” list. MEC is Canada's largest supplier of outdoor equipment. Since its founding in Vancouver, BC in 1971, MEC has expanded across Canada and now operates stores in fifteen cities. MEC has over 3.3 million members in Canada and internationally. Toby Heaps, CEO, Corporate Knights Corporate Knights (CK) is a media, research and financial products company focused on quantifying and animating clean capitalism drivers for decision makers. It publishes the Global 100: the most extensive data-driven corporate sustainability assessment in existence. Other Speakers Included: Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Jackie Janes, Senior Policy Advisor on Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Dr. Mary Williams, Director General, National Institute for Ocean Technology Paul Antle, CEO, Phase Separation Solutions Inc., St. John’s, NL Kim Saunders, President, Building Owners and Managers of Newfoundland and Labrador Heather MacAulay, LEED AP (NC), BPR, President, My Generation – Green Energy,Halifax, NS
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Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
Gary Ryan, Director of Programs, Multi Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), NL Linda noted that David Labistour covered all of his expenses for the conference and Peter Robinson charged just a fraction of his travel expenses. 4
Ratification and Approval of the Actions of the Directors Terry Dollard asked for a motion to approve BOD actions Moved by: Frank Ricketts, (Nalcor Energy) Seconded by: Bill Scott, (Scott Environmental Consulting) Motion Carried.
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Financial Statements Review and Report Terry Dollard called on Frank Ricketts, Treasurer, to give financial overview Frank Ricketts spoke on how important it is for NEIA to grow, not only to better serve the industry, but also to generate revenue. He thanked ACOA for their continued support for the environmental business sector he emphasized that NEIA needs to grow and become sustainable. He suggested the members present at the meeting encourage others to join and to attend events. Frank Ricketts called upon Bill McGettigan to give a report on the audited financial statements. There were no questions on the financial statements.
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Approval of Financial Statements Frank Ricketts asked for a motion to approve the financial statements Moved by: Leroy Metcalfe, (Sikumiut Environmental Management) Seconded by: Terry Dollard, (Universal Environmental) Motion Carried.
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Appointment of Auditors for Next Fiscal Year Terry Dollard asked for a motion to have BDO (formerly Belanger, Clarke, Follett and McGettigan) continue as auditors for the next fiscal year Moved by: Dale Decker, (Submariner North Atlantic) Seconded by: Frank Ricketts, (Nalcor Energy) Motion Carried.
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Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
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Election of Directors Past President (2012-2011), Bill Scott, chaired the election
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a
Vice-President Election • Bill Scott noted that Andrea Lundrigan, (AMEC Earth and Environmental), had been nominated for the position of Vice President • Bill Scott called for nominations from the floor • No new nominations • Andrea Lundrigan elected by acclamation
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Full Member Director Election - 4 Positions Available • Bill Scott introduced the four candidates – Dale Decker, (Submariner North Atlantic), Don Drew, (NLL Recycling), Perry Trimper, (Stantec Consulting), and Susan Sherk, (AMEC Earth and Environmental) • Bill Scott called for nominations from the floor • No new nominations • Dale Decker, Don Drew, Perry Trimper and Susan Sherk were elected by acclamation
New Business Proposed Resolution. The Board of Directors put forward the following resolution to the membership: The Board of Directors of the Corporation engage counsel to revise the by-laws so as to collapse the definitions of Full Member and Associate Member into a single class of Full Membership, and to revise the manner of selection of directors and officers accordingly, and to present such revised by-laws to the membership at the next available opportunity. Executive Director, Linda Bartlett, spoke to the resolution. She gave a detailed presentation on how NEIA has evolved and how important it is to look to the future. She talked about how the scope of the industry was changing and how important it is for NEIA to wean itself off government funding . An excerpt from the presentation is as follows:
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Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
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Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
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Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
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Terry Dollard called for a motion to approve the resolution
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Motion – Frank Ricketts, (Nalcor Energy)
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Second – Andrea Lundrigan, (AMEC Earth and Environmental)
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Terry Dollard called for questions
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Glenn Sharpe, (Abydoz Environmental), questioned the original thinking around the associate membership. Frank Ricketts explained that years ago it was put in place to keep government and crown corporations off the board.
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Leroy Metcalfe (Sikumiut Environmental Management) questioned spending the money and re-writing the by-laws and then calling a special meeting to vote. Linda Bartlett and Frank Ricketts both explained that dissolving the Associate category has been discussed several times at the board level and with legal representatives and taking this course of action was what was appeared to be in the best solution for NEIA in going forward.
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Jim Dempsey, (Cormorant Ltd.) spoke in support of the resolution
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No further questions
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Terry Dollard asked for the membership to vote
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9 members voted affirmative
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0 members voted negative
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Annual General Meeting – Minutes 12:00 pm – 2:40 pm, March 31, 2011 Holiday Inn, St. John’s Fiscal Year 2009 / 2010
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3 members abstained
10 NEIA Announcements a
Recognition Awards • Terry Dollard presented Bill Scott, (Scott Environmental Consulting) and Craig Hollett, (Vale), with Certificates of Recognition for their contribution to the NEIA Board of Directors
11 Linda Bartlett announced the upcoming NEIA events. 12 Closing Remarks and Adjournment • Terry Dollard thanked the attendees and asked for a motion to end the meeting • Motion – Glenn Sharpe, (Abydoz Environmental) • Second – Andrea Lundrigan, (AMEC Earth and Environmental) Meeting adjourned: 2:40 pm
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