PIPSC FRASER VALLEY executive meeting - July 13 2025

PIPSC FRASER VALLEY executive meeting

July 13 2025
5:00 PM PST
Meeting location: The Tipsy Barrel, 33720 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2C2
Zoom link: https://pipsc.zoom.us/j/91409025811?pwd=pb4IbyaioFzm35eKGs4rCW7u3Z31eK.1-

MINUTES

Meeting started at 5:10 PM

1. Roll Call (members of the Branch Executive)
   • Terri, Alicia, Stephan, Kaitlin, Brandon (5:25pm), Febin (5:36pm)
2. Approval of the Agenda (M/S/C)
3. Report of the President (M/S/C)

I wanted to start off by thanking two members that served on our executive since the 2023 AGM, but had to step down for various reasons, Dr. Danika Overmars and Dr. Rayna Gunvaldsen. Thank you for stepping up to volunteer for a position with the Fraser Valley Branch at our 2023 AGM and for all your help, support, and contributions to the Branch and to the executive.

The Branch is off to a great start in 2025, having held our first executive meeting on March 4 where we worked to come up with great membership engagement ideas for the year to increase our presence to the membership and revitalize participation.

In 2024, the Branch executive worked to modernize our bylaws and on May 5, 2025, our revised bylaws were approved by the Board of Directors. Thank you to the BC-Y Bylaws and Policies Committee Representative for 2024, Mike Chow, and for 2025, Nikhil Gandhi, for their help to bring our bylaws up to date and moved through the various stages of approval.

On June 5, 2025, we co-hosted an event as a part of the “Dine Out” series with the BC/Y Young Professionals’ committee, which brought together young professionals and young-at-heart members to enjoy an elevated culinary experience in their region. Thank you to Davy Chiu (BC-Y Regional Executive and BC-Y Young Professionals Liaison) for being in attendance and speaking to the membership.

As your Branch President, BC-Y Regional Executive, BC-Y Young Professionals’ Executive, and BC-Y representative on the National Science Advisory Council, I have been steadily busy since our last meeting with many events and meetings. One of the big highlights of the year so far was attending the 80th BC-Y Regional Council at Tigh-Na-Mara resort in Parksville. Aside from attending Regional Executive, Young Professionals’ Committee, and Training Committee meetings, I also had an opportunity to meet with all the other Branch Presidents in our region. We discussed common issues and shared Branch activities. I gave a report to the delegation on our Branch activities over the past year, which was well received. I was one of the members that formed the Elections Committee, where I aided in the process of electing 3 new and 2 current Regional Executives for a 3-year term. As it was the 80 th Regional Council, our very own Alicia Lunz organized an 80’s themed music bingo event for the delegation, complete with a best dressed contest and great prizes!

We are looking forward to what I hope will become the Branch’s signature event – two fun filled days at Otter Co-op Waterpark/The Outdoor Experience!
 

4. Financial Report (M/S/C)

Received $500 from the region for our AGM/holiday event and $800 from Better Together to cover the FV/YPC Dine Out event. Budget reviewed; no amendments made.

5. New Business (M/S/C)
   • Update on Branch Executive
     • Had 2 executives step down from their roles. Will not fill until 2025 AGM elections.
   • Past events
     • YPC Dine Out
       • Was a success!  ~16 people attended Restaurant 62.  If we have the opportunity to do it again we should.  Had Better Together funding, so it did not cost us any money.
   • Upcoming events
     • July/Aug Otter Co-Op waterpark
       • A little more expensive than last year, but we budgeted enough for it.  Terri wants this to become our “signature event”.
         1. Motion to approve the event - (M/S/C)
         2. Motion to approve spending $150 on refreshments (M/S/C)
     • Update on other events
       • ACTION ITEM: Exec to looking into possible fall events and put cost in email for discussion (Pumpkin Carving, Corn maze, Mann Farms, Fright night at PNE)
       • Better Together funding to cover some of the cost depending on price
     • Event with Retired Members Guild?
       • Discussed hosting an event with our RMG chapter, noting that the funds will come from our budget
       • ACTION ITEM: Terri to reach out to RMG President and the National Association for Federal Retirees for potential event
   • Update on Langley proposal
     • Spoke with Vancouver branch and they area agreeable to release the Langley members to us.
     • Still work to do. May need BOD approval.
     • ACTION ITEM: Terri to follow up on next steps
   • Update on Bylaws modernization
     • Bylaws are now up to date. Good for now until PIPSC changes something or we find any issues. Thanks to our BC-Y reps on the BLPC, Mike Chow (former) and Nikhil Gandhi (current) for all of their help and guidance.
6. Upcoming General PIPSC Events and Meetings
   • BC/Y Steward Council – Oct 17-18
   • BC/Y Basic Steward Training – Nov 20-22
   • BC/Y OSH Training – Dec 5
   • 2025 PIPSC AGM – Dec 12-13
7. Next Fraser Valley Branch Executive Meeting
   • Will be sometime in the fall prior to the fall event.
   • Discussion will be about the fall event and FV AGM.
8. Roundtable
9. Adjournment (M/S/C)

Meeting adjourned at 5:49 PM