Anne Marie Schaap
06-04-2014, 09:06 AM
Dear Colleagues,
I wanted to share with you some information about the retreat of the Executive Committee that was held last Monday, May 26th at MacEwan University in Edmonton. Let me first thank Dean Denise Roy for her hospitality and hosting the retreat as well as all the members of the Executive who were able to attend. This was the third retreat of the Executive Committee (Guelph 2012, Toronto 2013) at which we discussed a number of important issues and generated some specific action items that will be addressed before the next CAFAD conference and annual general meeting in Moncton/Sackville (October 16-18).
One of the central issues that we discussed at the retreat was the development of By-laws for CAFAD. As part of this process, CAFAD will be registered as a Canadian not-for-profit corporation and the initial pro-forma by-laws will be drafted this summer. We are planning to circulate the draft of new by-laws to all members for feedback and seek approval at the next AGM. Megram Consulting Services Ltd. will ensure that appropriate administrative and legal services are in place and that new by-laws are in full compliance with guidelines provided by The Industry Canada. This effort will help us establish clear and transparent governance processes that will strengthen the association.
At the retreat, the Executive also reviewed and drafted a new mission statement for CAFAD (please see below). We are hoping to get some feedback on this draft before it is further refined and brought for approval at the AGM. As a matter of fact, the review of the existing mission statement initiated an important conversation about the role of CAFAD within a wider context of arts advocacy and potential relationships with other national and international organizations.
CAFAD new mission statement (DRAFT)
• To be a national voice for post-secondary programs in the Fine Arts, both within the academy and in communities beyond, including governments and the public at large.
• To provide a forum for regular discussion and exchange of information and ideas pertinent to the Fine Arts in post-secondary education.
• To offer opportunities for professional development to those in leadership roles.
The current mission statement can be found here: http://www.cafad.ca/English/mission.html
We discussed various opportunities for professional development that can be enabled and maximized through the existing information sharing including the newsletter, teleseminars, and CAFAD website. One of the recommendations has been made is to explore the regional meetings of the deans. In concert with the newsletter, we would like to implement three teleseminars during 2014-15. The results of the survey that was conducted last fall will be helpful in identifying the key topics for teleseminars as well as new theme-based content for future issues of the newsletter. Your input and participation in shaping the teleseminars next year will be extremely valuable as we build the professional development capacity of CAFAD.
Moreover, a Nominating Committee has been established to bring forward the nominations for membership at the Executive and ensure succession as some of our colleagues complete their terms and pursue administrative leaves. Dean Catherine Wild and Dean Susan Stewart will be sharing some information this summer about this process. Should you have any questions about any of the matters addressed in this memo, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Many thanks in advance for your input and support. On behalf of the Executive let me wish you an enjoyable and relaxing summer holidays. We look forward to seeing you in Moncton/Sackville next fall.
Sincerely,
Vladimir Spicanovic
vspicanovic@ocadu.ca
I wanted to share with you some information about the retreat of the Executive Committee that was held last Monday, May 26th at MacEwan University in Edmonton. Let me first thank Dean Denise Roy for her hospitality and hosting the retreat as well as all the members of the Executive who were able to attend. This was the third retreat of the Executive Committee (Guelph 2012, Toronto 2013) at which we discussed a number of important issues and generated some specific action items that will be addressed before the next CAFAD conference and annual general meeting in Moncton/Sackville (October 16-18).
One of the central issues that we discussed at the retreat was the development of By-laws for CAFAD. As part of this process, CAFAD will be registered as a Canadian not-for-profit corporation and the initial pro-forma by-laws will be drafted this summer. We are planning to circulate the draft of new by-laws to all members for feedback and seek approval at the next AGM. Megram Consulting Services Ltd. will ensure that appropriate administrative and legal services are in place and that new by-laws are in full compliance with guidelines provided by The Industry Canada. This effort will help us establish clear and transparent governance processes that will strengthen the association.
At the retreat, the Executive also reviewed and drafted a new mission statement for CAFAD (please see below). We are hoping to get some feedback on this draft before it is further refined and brought for approval at the AGM. As a matter of fact, the review of the existing mission statement initiated an important conversation about the role of CAFAD within a wider context of arts advocacy and potential relationships with other national and international organizations.
CAFAD new mission statement (DRAFT)
• To be a national voice for post-secondary programs in the Fine Arts, both within the academy and in communities beyond, including governments and the public at large.
• To provide a forum for regular discussion and exchange of information and ideas pertinent to the Fine Arts in post-secondary education.
• To offer opportunities for professional development to those in leadership roles.
The current mission statement can be found here: http://www.cafad.ca/English/mission.html
We discussed various opportunities for professional development that can be enabled and maximized through the existing information sharing including the newsletter, teleseminars, and CAFAD website. One of the recommendations has been made is to explore the regional meetings of the deans. In concert with the newsletter, we would like to implement three teleseminars during 2014-15. The results of the survey that was conducted last fall will be helpful in identifying the key topics for teleseminars as well as new theme-based content for future issues of the newsletter. Your input and participation in shaping the teleseminars next year will be extremely valuable as we build the professional development capacity of CAFAD.
Moreover, a Nominating Committee has been established to bring forward the nominations for membership at the Executive and ensure succession as some of our colleagues complete their terms and pursue administrative leaves. Dean Catherine Wild and Dean Susan Stewart will be sharing some information this summer about this process. Should you have any questions about any of the matters addressed in this memo, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Many thanks in advance for your input and support. On behalf of the Executive let me wish you an enjoyable and relaxing summer holidays. We look forward to seeing you in Moncton/Sackville next fall.
Sincerely,
Vladimir Spicanovic
vspicanovic@ocadu.ca