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Directors' Forum News & Updates
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2020 Wrap-Up
2020 has been a challenging year for all and has affected everyone in some form or another. The Directors' Forum was no different. In the Spring, we had to make the difficult decision to postpone the in-person conference and AGM to the fall of 2021. We missed seeing each other - and all of you!
Thanks to the generous support of our 2020 Sponsors, we were able to continue producing and providing system directors with governance tools and information throughout the year, at no charge!
We developed and executed three sessions as part of our Director Discussion Series throughout June, as well as another three sessions as part of our Virtual Governance Series from September to November. We shared all the recordings and materials from those sessions with our registrants, which are available for download here.
We also officially incorporated as a Not-for-Profit co-operative on October 2, and shared the exciting news with the delegates of our first-ever Virtual Forum on October 14! The news was very well received and we appreciate all the kind congratulatory words you have shared with us.
We made a donation to the Dorothy Watson CYL Bursary, in the name of our speakers of the Virtual Governance Series, as well as to Casey House, in the name of the winner of our Credit Union Quiz on October 14!
The DF Board is already busy at work planning five more sessions as part of the virtual series, set to take place from January to June 2021 (learn more below), and we hope that you will join us for more fruitful discussions on topics that are both relevant and of value to system directors across the province - and nationally.
Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all the amazing organizations that continue to support our mission of providing unique learning and networking opportunities for system directors through sponsorships, as well as all those that have participated in our sessions this year. Your continued interest and support of our work motivates us and makes us strive for better with each passing year.
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Board Update
As many of you are now aware, the Directors’ Forum has incorporated as a Not-for-Profit co-operative, now referred to as the Directors’ Forum Co-operative Inc.
The prior Executive held their last meeting on November 26 to discuss the new entity's By-laws, the Directors and officers terms, and to officially dissolve the non-incorporated entity. On the same day, the first AGM was held to approve the new By-laws, confirm the Directors and officers terms, and pass a motion to allow the membership to waive the audit requirements for 2021.
The first official Board meeting was then held, where the quotes for the Director and Officer Liability and General Commercial insurance were reviewed and approved, and the rebranding of the new DF entity discussed. The new Board is set to hold their next meeting later in January, where strategic planning for the 2021 conference year will begin.
Stay tuned for information in the New Year about how you can become a member of the co-operative!
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2021 Conference and AGM
The next in-person conference and Annual General Meeting is scheduled for October 14 – 16, 2021 at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale. The Board will be monitoring the situation in the months and weeks leading up to the event, as well as making plans for all necessary precautions and regulations, as mandated by the Government, should a gathering be permitted.
Stay tuned for more information in the coming months, but in the meantime, please save the dates in your calendar, and join us for the continuation of the virtual series from January to June 2021!
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Our Virtual Governance Series has been a great success, and we'd like to thank all those who have joined us as a speaker or participant. Check out the awesome sessions we have planned for January and February 2021 - registration is now open for both!
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January 2021 Virtual Session
Please join us for the next virtual session, “Do Existing Lending Products of Credit Unions Meet the Financial Needs of Co-operatives?” taking place on January 20, 2021 from 11 – 12:15pm EST.
Credit Unions and co-operatives share a common identity and foundational values as organizations that meet the economic, social and cultural needs of their member-owners. A perennial concern for the credit union and co-operative sectors has been the need to identify opportunities for collaboration to advance the prominence of member-owned models. This session will present the findings of a research project, including:
- What are the unique financing needs of co-operatives in Ontario?
- Do co-operatives believe that their financing needs are being met by banks, credit unions or other non-traditional offerings?
- What do co-operatives believe are the strengths and weaknesses of Libro's commercial lending offerings?
- Are there regulatory, strategic, economic, or other barriers that prevent Libro and other credit unions from providing commercial lending offerings that are perceived by co-operatives as meeting their financing needs?
Join facilitator Anthony Piscitelli (DF Board Chair and Director of Your Neighbourhood Credit Union)and speaker Sean Campbell (Principal Researcher, University of Waterloo, School of Environment, Enterprise and Development), for this free session, open to all Ontario system directors. Registration is required by 10am on January 20, 2021.
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February 2021 Virtual Session
Join us on February 17, 2021 from 10 - 11:15am EST to discuss "Mining the Co-op Advantage," with facilitator Donna Bailey (Client Solutions & Research, Canadian Credit Union Association) and speaker Cory Munden (CEO, Leading Edge Credit Union),
The COVID pandemic has spurred a need for change, and this is the time to revisit our co-operative roots and "co-operate among co-operatives". Reflecting back to some of the learnings from the 2018 Forum session of the same name, Donna and Cory will lead Directors in a discussion on why and how they should be supporting co-operatives, as we move through and past the pandemic into a new world.
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Visit us online to learn more about all the sessions we have planned through to June 2021.
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The Board and staff of the Directors' Forum Co-operative wish you all a very safe, healthy and happy holiday season and New Year.
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2020 PLATINUM SPONSORS
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Click logo for information on Cusource and CUDA Director Training!
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