Summary of decisions
March 23rd - 24th, 2002
Toronto, Ontario
The Awareness Joint Table welcomed Johanne Bélisle, Director General, Strategic Policy and Research, Canadian Heritage, who has replaced Jérôme Moisan as government co-chair.
1. Research Paper - Issues facing small organizations
Item summary
A research paper commissioned by the VSI Secretariat on the issues facing small voluntary sector organizations, and containing recommendations for the Tables on how to address the needs of these groups within the voluntary sector was presented to Joint Awareness Table members.
Discussion
Members highlighted the importance of integrating these findings into all the initiatives presently being developed by the Joint Awareness Table.
Decision
The proposed initiatives presently being developed by the Joint Awareness Table will take into account the information contained in this report.
Action
None required.
2. Canadian Volunteerism Initiative - Update
Item summary
Johanne Bélisle updated Joint Awareness Committee members on the recent development surrounding the Canadian Volunteerism Initiative.
Discussion
Members of the Joint Awareness Table highlighted the importance of maintaining a continuous link between the proposed initiatives currently being developed by the Joint Awareness Table and the work being undertaken by officials of the Canadian Volunteerism Initiative.
Decision
Co-chairs assured members that existing linkages between the Joint Awareness Table and officials working on the Canadian Volunteerism Initiative would be maintained to avoid duplication.
Action
An update is to be given to Joint Awareness Table members on June 1st, 2002.
3. Consultations
Item summary
Odette Langlais and Sibyl Frei, who were hired to facilitate the Joint Awareness Table consultations were invited to present members with their preliminary findings on the consultations conducted to date.
Consultants gave members a brief summary. Joint Awareness Table members who attended consultations also briefed their colleagues.
Discussion
Members highlighted the importance of integrating these findings into the design process of all initiatives being developed by the Joint Awareness Table.
Decision
None required.
Action
None required.
4. Voluntary Sector Awareness Campaign, Awards Program and Youth Initiative
Three proposed frameworks were presented for the Voluntary Sector Awareness Campaign, the Voluntary Sector Awards Program, and the Voluntary Sector Youth Initiative, respectively. Members expressed their comments and revisions will be incorporated into a new draft of each framework for the next meeting.
5. Summary of decisions of the Joint Awareness Table Meeting held on November 30th - December 1st, 2001
Item summary
Summary of decisions of the Joint Awareness Table meeting held on
November 30th - December 1st to be adopted by members.
Discussion
No discussion.
Decision
Minutes were adopted.
Action
Kyle Cyr to send the summary of decisions to the Voluntary Sector Secretariat for posting on the Voluntary Sector Initiative web site.
6. Corporate and Voluntary Sector Partnership Initiative
The Joint Awareness Table Secretariat has identified mechanisms that are presently been developed, and work that is currently underway between the government, the private and the voluntary sectors to promote and increase awareness of benefits of partnerships between voluntary sector organizations and the private sector. The Joint Awareness Table will therefore not proceed with this initiative, but will keep apprised of progress on the work that is already underway.
7. Aboriginal Reference Group and Regional Communications Officers
Item summary
Havi Echenberg updated members on the video being produced by the Aboriginal Reference Group, as well as the work of the Regional Communications Officers.
8. Government Awareness Initiative
Item summary
At our previous meeting, Raymond Rivet indicated that members of the Joint Accord Table and officials at the Voluntary Sector Initiative Task Force were presently examining ways of reaching senior officials of the Public Service to have the Accord disseminated throughout the Federal Government.
Officials at the Voluntary Sector Task Force are presently drafting a Federal Engagement Plan. This plan will highlight the means to reach senior officials of the Public Service and have the Accord disseminated throughout the Federal Government.
Discussion
Members highlighted the importance of reaching senior officials of the Public Service to raise awareness and position the voluntary sector as a contributor to Canada's social, economic and cultural well-being.
By doing this, governments will see the value of partnership with the voluntary sector in setting public policy priorities and in developing policies and programs that deal with public policy issues.
Decision
The Table approved the proposal to increase awareness among federal public servants of the voluntary sector, and agreed that this would fit well within the federal engagement plan for federal public servants on the Accord.
The secretariat will verify that the Accord federal engagement plan includes a section on the voluntary sector and its contribution to society.
9. Ipsos-Reid Survey on the Voluntary Sector Initiative
Item summary
Raymond Rivet highlighted findings of a survey that the Voluntary Sector Task Force commissioned Ipsos-Reid to conduct. The surveys, conducted in October 2001 and February 2002, questioned Canadian public opinion on the voluntary sector and the government's efforts to support volunteerism and civic participation in Canada.
Discussion
Some members highlighted the importance for the Joint Awareness Table to conduct a similar survey at different stages during the Awareness Initiative to help measure behavioral difference towards the voluntary sector over the course of the campaign.
Decision
It was decided that the concept of "bench-marking" be integrated into the proposed framework of the Awareness Campaign.
Action
None required.
10. Final Report
Item summary
At the previous meeting, co-chairs brought the idea of producing a final report highlighting the Joint Awareness Table findings and recommendations to the attention of members. All members were in agreement with the idea of having a final report prepared for presentation to the Joint Coordinating Committee in Fall 2002.
Discussion
Raymond Rivet indicated that officials at the Voluntary Sector Task Force are designing a template that will be distributed to all Joint Tables for their input.
Once all the information is received, the Voluntary Sector Task Force will compile all the findings in one final report.
Decision
None required.
Action
None required.
11. Other business
-
Joint Awareness Table Co-chairs have been invited to attend the
next Joint Coordinating Committee meeting to be held on April 26th, 2002.
-
Members have decided to keep Jérôme Moisan associated with the work
of the Joint Awareness Table.
