The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada
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Prepared by Zhidan Guan, ITOWSG Secretary

This Meeting Was Held Virtually

Present:

Daniel Shen (President), Beverley Miranda (Vice-President), Zhidan Guan (Secretary), Bobson Wong (Treasurer), Liming Sun (Member at Large), Nghia Lam (Member at Large), Nancy Desroches (Member at Large)

Absent:

Pierre Leger (Member at Large), Robert Metcalfe (Member at Large)

The President of the IT Ottawa West Subgroup, Daniel Shen, welcomed all executives and called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
 

AGENDA

                MOTION: To adopt the agenda as presented.  M/S    Zhidan/Daniel   CARRIED.

PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES

MOTION: To adopt the August 6, 2024 meeting minutes as presented.  M/S   Zhidan/Daniel CARRIED.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

  • Fight against RtO campaign - led by PSAC and PIPSC.

Daniel went to the rally, walked from downtown to McNabb Park, and saw many people join. It was a successful event. However, many things needed to be improved in terms of organizing it, such as the lack of signs and flags related to RtO from the PIPSC side; the parking being too far, and the need for shuttle buses to carry people back to the parking place.

Nancy, who watched the rally on the TV news, also noted the absence of PIPSC’s signs and flags. This lack of visibility may have impacted PIPSC's overall presence at the event.

TREASURER’S REPORT

  • Bobson presented the Financial Statements and the Cheque-Register Report from the beginning of the financial year to the end of last month.
  • He also answered questions from Liming and Nancy.
  • Daniel also helped Bobson explain some of the questions.
  • Bobson will contact PIPSC Finance to ask whether the meal cost will be automatically included in the yearly budget.

ACTION ITEM: Bobson will get the update from PIPSC Finance about the second page of the new signature card form.

ACTION ITEM: Bobson will ask PIPSC finance whether the meal cost will be automatically included in our yearly budget (Six times/year).

EXISTING BUSINESS

  • Executive apparel

Daniel contacted the store about the Dri-Weave Golf Shirts for the team’s approval. They did not have all the sizes, but they would give us some other samples. He will follow up later.

ACTION ITEM: Daniel will proceed with the purchase of the executive apparel.

  • Paintball event

Skipped ~ Robert did not attend the meeting.

Beverley: Suggesting Robert to create a detailed list for the expense, including what we left, so that we can make a plan for the following year.

ACTION ITEM: Robert will call the Paintball company to get the receipt with the detailed spending we had for this session and create a list.

  •   Lunch & Learn sessions at ESDC/DND (Bobson, Daniel, Nancy, and Robert)

Daniel: The ESDC Consultation team was in Ottawa in August, but they did not have time for it. They will be back again at the end of November. He will organize the event during that time.

Nancy: She will discuss this with Robert and manage to book a date and time in a conference room.

ACTION ITEM: Daniel will contact the ESDC Consultation team and discuss with them to organize a Lunch & Learn. The subject will be RtO-related Grievances and Consultation Business.

ACTION ITEM: Nancy and Robert will investigate the possibility of having Lunch and Learn in DND.

  • Skyline sporting event for September and October

Zhidan: He will work with Pierre to draft the survey with an English and French version.

ACTION ITEM: Zhidan and Pierre will work on soliciting interest in Skyline sporting events through a survey.

  • T2200 tax specialist guest speaker

Zhidan: He has already contacted an accounting firm that is interested in providing our members with an information session for the next tax season. He asked for the budget for this type of session.

Beverley: She also wanted to get a quote from her friends.  

ACTION ITEM: Beverly and Zhidan will get quotes from accountants as a speaker for a tax-return session or seminar before the 2025 tax season.

  • Email access for the subgroup GD Inbox

Robert: Gmail differs from MS Outlook, which can delegate the rights to other user accounts.

Skipped ~ Robert did not attend this meeting.

ACTION ITEM: Daniel and Robert will investigate the possibility of the email delegation functionality to the Sub-Group General Email Inbox.

Round Table

  • Beverley: She would organize a Lunch and Learn in SSC and contact the management to get permission for the event.

ACTION ITEM: Beverley will organize a Lunch and Learn in SSC.

  • Daniel:
  1. Navigar: He would organize a Lunch and Learn session on this subject.
  2. Dues increase: Since executives have many thoughts about the subject, Nancy was appointed to write an email to PIPSC finance about the financial justification. Bobson and Daniel will help her to find where to send the email.

ACTION ITEM: Daniel will work on a Lunch and Learn session about Navigar.

  • Zhidan: As the secretary, he requested a laptop for ITOWG’s business.  

              M/S  Zhidan/Bobson  CARRIED.

ACTION ITEM: Zhidan will purchase a laptop on behalf of ITOWSG.

NEXT MEETING

       ●     Date: October 1st , 2024

       ●     Virtual or In-Person: In-person   M/S   Linming/Beverley  CARRIED.

ADJOURNMENT

                MOTION Adjournment.  M/S Nghia, Liming.  CARRIED  8:33 PM

ACTION ITEM SUMMARY

  1. ACTION ITEM: Bobson will get the update from PIPSC Finance about the second page of the new signature card form.
  2. ACTION ITEM: Bobson will ask PIPSC finance whether the meal cost will be automatically included in our yearly budget (Six times/year).
  3. ACTION ITEM: Daniel will proceed with the purchase of the executive apparel.
  4. ACTION ITEM: Robert will call the Paintball company to get the receipt with the detailed spending we had for this session and create a list.
  5. ACTION ITEM: Daniel will contact the ESDC Consultation team and discuss with them to organize a Lunch & Learn. The subject will be RtO-related Grievances and Consultation Business.
  6. ACTION ITEM: Nancy and Robert will investigate the possibility of having Lunch and Learn in DND.
  7. ACTION ITEM: Zhidan and Pierre will work on soliciting interest in Skyline sporting events through a survey.
  8. ACTION ITEM: Zhidan and Beverly will get quotes from accountants as a speaker for a tax-return session or seminar before the 2025 tax season.
  9. ACTION ITEM: Daniel and Robert will investigate the possibility of the email delegation functionality to the Sub-Group General Email Inbox

10. ACTION ITEM: Beverley will organize a Lunch and Learn in SSC.                           

11.  ACTION ITEM: Daniel will work on a Lunch and Learn session about Navigar.

12.  ACTION ITEM: Zhidan will purchase a laptop on behalf of ITOWSG.

Published on 8 July 2025