Aboriginal Reference Group Meeting Minutes

Voluntary Sector Initiative Conference Call Minutes

VSI Budget for ARG Activities

• The $142,500.00 proposed budget is scheduled for activities between now and March 2002;

• More of the ARG workplan activities may be financed by other Joint Tables (ie NVI or CVI) before the end of March;

• One option Pat discussed with the VSI was to do the Accord Implementation consultations through a national survey;

• The VSI indicated that for the video production if Dale Montour was interested in producing this product Dale may have to consider stepping down from the ARG - because it may be seen as a conflict of interest;

• To determine the goal of the video a strategy options paper should be developed for consideration;

• VSI may need to set up a relationship with another organization to pay for ARG activities.

ARG response to Budget

• Perhaps the ARG should appoint a Advisory Team to support the production of the video; (Kim Ghostkeeper volunteered to sit on this group)

• All members agreed that the video remains as a good activity to start on;

• ARG members were pleased that VSI had included research funds for the video;

• Will the video be targeted to the Aboriginal community or to the mainstream about Aboriginal voluntarism?

• An options paper should be started to help determine the focus of the video;

• The ARG should determine a fair biding process;

• Dale Montour should be allowed to bid on the video contract and continue to be and ARG;

• The ARG will determine if a ARG member can also be contracted to work on activities or not - this should not be left up to the VSI;

• The VSI should pay directly for any contracting for the video activities or other budgeted activities for the ARG - simular to how they are now with Pat on contract;

• All ARG voiced concern about the low amount budgeted for co-ordination. Everyone agreed that this must be increased by combining the research $7,500 to the coordination budget of $10,000.00;

• ARG agreed that the Accord consultations should NOT be by a national survey;

• An options paper regarding how grass roots consultations should be compiled should include having Pat do focus groups around Aboriginal country;

DECISIONS

• Letter should be sent to Susan Carter and Havi Enchenburg indicating that the budget is accepted with the following changes: 1) the co-ordination and research budget be combined and be made available for Pat's time; 2) the ARG will develop a fare biding process to ensure that any Aboriginal person or company can be considered for the video production - including Dale Montour, without resigning from the ARG; 3) The VSI should continue to pay directly all activities and related contracts from their offices on behalf the of the ARG. The letter will be drafted and sent to Steering Committee for comment. Send asap.

• Pat was directed to research all the Aboriginal input into the Accord consultations to date, analysis the gaps and opportunities presented for codes of good practice and develop options paper to collect grassroots consultations; Available for conference call Dec. 17th.

• Pat was directed to develop a options paper on the video focus also suggesting a process from beginning to end on the development of the video; Available for ARG conference call Dec. 17.

• Next ARG conference call is scheduled for December 17, 2001 3:00 pm EST.

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