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The official newlstter for the Directors' Forum!
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Issue 1: March 26, 2019
We have lots of exciting news to share with you about this year's Forum in our first newsletter of 2019!
 

In this Issue

Directors' Forum News & Updates
The annual Directors’ Forum conference is in its remarkable 35th year of providing system directors with unique learning, professional developing and networking opportunities.

Approximately 120 - 150 credit union and caisses populaires directors from across the province attend the full day-and-a-half conference, with a sense of common purpose and goals, and a shared drive for success and strengthening not only their organizations, but the system as a whole.

The Forum offers great value to directors in that it provides them with opportunities to: 
  • Develop new knowledge and stills to take back to their organizations
  • Gain accreditation through a joint partnership with CCUA/Cusource Education and the CUDA program
  • Keep up-to-date and informed on relevant topics, as well as system trends and challenges
  • Learn what other credit unions/caisses populaires are doing
  • Share ideas through participation in interactive sessions and roundtable discussions
  • Build relationships, potential mentorship opportunities and network with other system leaders
  • Celebrate the achievements and contributions of long-serving directors
Guest speakers are selected from both within and external to the system for their expertise and ability to contribute to the topics, which are carefully selected to reflect directors’ unique interests and needs. All sessions are evaluated to ensure quality, relevance and value for cost. Year after year, our delegate feedback confirms that this conference provides a high value for the cost of Directors to attend!

2019 Conference Theme

This year, our programming will focus on the theme of “Good Governance” - a key aspect of every co-operative organization that ultimately contributes to their overall success, and also one that often has many challenges.

The “Good Governance: The Future of Ontario’s Credit Unions” conference will therefore tackle a number of important topics that all system directors will find both relevant and useful, including:
  • Leadership Continuity Risk in Credit Unions
  • Board & Member Engagement
  • Risk Management (with a focus on Director Liability and Audits)
  • The Future of Ontario's Credit Unions
  • Board & CEO Recruitment (Board Chairs' session)
  • Director Development & Competencies (alternate breakout session)
  • High Performing Board Barometers (1/2 day CUDA session for .5 CE credit)
  • Highlights & Takeaways
Delegates can expect the topics to be presented in a variety of formats, to ensure active engagement and participation, and to enhance the overall learning experience.

Keep an eye out for more details on the sessions and speakers as they are confirmed, by visiting us online! Check out the sessions and speakers from last year’s Forum here.

What’s Different this Year…

We are making a few key changes to the 2019 Forum from the past several years. First, we will be meeting at a brand new venue located closer to the airport, in Toronto’s west end (see below for details). Our delegates will be pleased to know that the room rates are lower than in previous years, and the parking is complimentary! Second, there will be no Banquet Dinner, allowing for more free time for delegates to relax and/or network with their peers. Third, we have adopted a new, more efficient registration system that is linked directly to our website, and which we think will make the process easier for our delegate and sponsoring organizations (see below for registration details).

Young Directors’ Bursary

The annual Forum is a wonderful opportunity for both new and young system directors, as the learning, mentoring and networking that takes place provides a strong foundation for their role on the board, and enhances their ability to make significant contributions to their organizations.

A few years ago, the Directors’ Forum established a bursary for Directors aged 39 and under, to help cover the cost of their conference registration. All conference sessions, meals served during the conference and the welcome reception are included. It does not cover the cost of transportation to and from the conference, the accommodations, or the evening meals (which are not part of the conference).

This year, three bursaries are available. Applicants will be considered in order of applications received and notified of their status shortly after submission. The deadline to apply is September 6 but applicants are strongly urged to apply well before this date.

Learn more about the bursary and the criteria to apply, and to access the application form.

Registration Opens April 1!

The Early Bird registration rate is $750 + HST per conference delegate, and includes all conference sessions, meals served during the conference (i.e., 2 hot buffet breakfasts, 1 hot buffet lunch, 4 refreshment breaks and 1 drink ticket for the welcome cocktail reception). Dinner is not included and at the discretion of the delegates. The EB rate begins April 1 and ends June 30, so be sure to register soon and take advantage of the lower rate! The deadline to register for the conference is midnight on September 25.

Visit us online to learn more about the registration fees and details, and to access the registration form (at the bottom of the registration page). If you have any issues or questions when using our new online registration system, please contact Jennifer Ross at jross@ontario.coop or by calling her 888.745.5521 x. 22.

New Site & Accommodations

The Executive is pleased to announce that the 35th annual Directors' Forum will take place at a new site, the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale!

This is a lovely venue with a resort-like feel, and is located approximately 15km from Pearson International Airport (a taxi costs approximately $50 to from the airport to the venue). In our search for a new site, we made sure to pick one with plenty of restaurants in close proximity for our delegates to enjoy, and nearby attractions for their companions.

Moving the conference out of the downtown Toronto core also means that we are able to keep the registration fees at a more accessible rate for system directors, as the expenses associated with running the conference increases each year. 

We have reserved a block of rooms at a group rate of $155 (standard room) per night. The deadline to book at this rate is September 10, 2019. We do not recommend waiting until the last minute to book, as once the block is full, we cannot guarantee the group rate and delegates will be required to pay the prevailing rate of the venue.

It is also not the responsibility of the DF to book accommodations for its delegates. Please make your own reservations directly with the hotel by calling the reservation desk at: 1.905.821.1981 (and make sure to tell them you are with the "Directors' Forum"), or directly online. Please note that a municipal accommodation tax of 4% plus 13% HST will be added to the rate. 

Click here for more information on accommodations.

2019 Sponsorship Opportunities

The Directors' Forum is a unique opportunity to invest in the professional development and continuing education of credit union and caisses populaires Board Directors. The system is constantly evolving, as does the Directors' Forum, to ensure that we remain relevant as well as meet and address the unique needs of our directors. 

As a non-profit event, the Forum is funded solely through registration fees and sponsorships. It is not owned nor funded by the Canadian Credit Union Association, Central 1 Credit Union, the Ontario Co-operative Association (OCA), or any other organization. OCA helps support the Forum through an annual project management contract between OCA and the DF.

Credit unions and other stakeholder organizations that support this event with their generous sponsorships or by sending their Directors (or both!), is what allows us to plan and produce this highly-valued conference each and every year. 

We are once again asking for your support. Please view our 2019 sponsorship flyer to learn more about the opportunities available for this year’s conference and how your funds support it, as well as the ways in which we can recognize you for your generosity.


The Executive thanks you in advance for your kind consideration!
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Audrey Aczel, DF Manager, at directors@ontario.coop, or at 888.745.5521 x. 24.

Proud sponsor or the annual Directors' Forum!
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For any inquiries, please contact Audrey Aczel, DF Manager at #1.888.745.5521 x. 24 or via email to directors@ontario.coop
Want to view a past newsletter? CLICK HERE

Copyright © 2019 Directors' Forum c/o Ontario Co-operative Association, All rights reserved.


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