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Atlantic Regional Executive Meeting Minutes



Rodd Brudenell, PEI – August 16, 2025


CHAIRPERSON:
Mark Bellefleur

 

EXECUTIVE:
Christine LeDrew, Secretary
Lori Rowe
Carolyn Hynes
Leslie Hill
Tamara Critch
Mike Pauley
Kimberley Keats (Virtual)
Paul Hubley
Chad Lacoste
Greg Hues

 

REGRETS:
N/A

 

  1. Welcome and Directors’ Opening Remarks

Mark called the meeting to order at 9:05am. Mark welcomed everyone to the meeting and welcomed the new executive members. Mark noted that the executive should have read all the reports before the meeting so the presenter will not read them out. 

 

  1. Ice Breaker

Kim proceeded with a light fun Ice Breaker. Greg volunteered to do the Ice Breaker for the October meeting. 

 

3.   Agenda

Mark asked for any additions to the agenda. Mike added 13. E – New Branch application. 

Motion # 1 Carolyn Hynes moved, and Paul Hubley seconded that the agenda be approved as amended.  CARRIED.

 

  1. Approval of Regional Executive Minutes
  1. May 22, 2025

Mark asked if there was any additions or corrections to the May 22nd minutes. There was no changes required. 

Motion # 2 Carolyn Hynes moved; Lori Rowe seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. CARRIED.

 

  1. June 2, 2025 - Zoom

Mark asked if there was any additions or corrections to the June 2nd minutes. There was no changes required. 

Motion # 3 Mike Pauley moved; Greg Hues seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. CARRIED.

 

  1. Action Items Review

Mark reviewed the Action Items, and the document has been updated accordingly. It was noted that there is no meet and greet event at Steward Council. The Board of Directors will be attending our director’s dinner and noted to invite the past executive members. No seasonal social at the November meeting but will host a meet and greet for November 27th from 5-7pm. Calendar of events will have to be updated to reflect this change. Discussion occurred at meeting the day before about rotating the location of the charity to the different provinces. 

 

Motion # 4 Carolyn Hynes moved; Christine LeDrew seconded to rotate the charities we donate to throughout the provinces as we do the events. CARRIED.

 

Discussion occurred on accommodations to members at events and would like further requests in the registration form. Atlantic Young Professionals Committee to inform regional director the budget and how much the event would cost. Discussion occurred on steward council, and the National Steward Officer is on the agenda and our virtual steward check-ins. Other regions have started to not accept terms on steward training. Executive discussed terms and the sunset funding terms. 

 

  1. Calendar of Events
  1. Review of Meeting Quotes Spreadsheet

Mark went over Meeting Quotes Spreadsheet, and this information does not give enough details to decide, not all the properties requested have been listed. Discussion occurred and we require the other quotes. Mark would like the spreadsheet to be revised to include a breakdown of rooms, meeting space, food and a total cost. 

 

Action: Donna to provide the total cost with breakdowns (rooms, meals, meeting rooms) for the quotes and obtain the other properties requested. 

Action: Donna to confirm why there is 3 meeting rooms instead of 1 for executive training in November. 

 

  1. Schedule remaining meetings – Exec Nov 2026, Exec/TC Jan & Mar 2027, ARC 2027

Mark went through the upcoming calendar of events, and a few meetings need to be determined. The executive discussed the 2026 November extra training, and it is hard to determine without knowing the National AGM date. Executive will BF this selection until the next meeting. Carolyn noted the training committee discussed January 29-30 for January 2027 Executive and training committee meetings. March 19-20, 2027, were discussed at training committee meeting for executive and training committee meeting dates. Discussion occurred on having the meetings at the PIPSC office and being able to book our own hotels. BF this item until next meeting to determine the logistics on utilizing the board room at the PIPSC office. 

 

Action: Donna to put Extra November 2026 training date on October agenda. 

Action: Mark to look into logistics of the main board room at Halifax office. 

Action: Donna to put 2027 executive and training committee meeting dates on October agenda. 

 

7.  Regional Director’s Report

Mark advised that his Director’s Report is on the drive and not much has happened since the last meeting. Some focal points are:

  • Corner Brook event occurred and was a good vocal group. 
  • Attended COO hiring interviews. Recently hired a new Chief Operating Officer. It was questioned will there be checks and balances in place to ensure they act accordingly. 
  • Has been invited to attend and confirmed attendance to Northern NB branch, St. John’s Branch, and Lake Melville Branch.  

 

Chad asked Mark if he would be sending an update after every board meeting as per the previous regional director. It was noted that no other regional directors do this and will not occur. 

 

Motion # 5 Mark Bellefleur moved; Carolyn Hynes seconded that the Regional Director’s Report be approved as presented. CARRIED.

 

8. Training Committee Chairperson’s Report 

Carolyn stated her written report is located on the google drive. Some main points are:

  • Continued working on 2026/2027 budgets. 
  • September Basic Steward Training participation selection completed. 
  • Steward Council preparation continues with education to confirm availability of 1.5 hour modules. 
  • Continue to seek facilitation opportunities for member facilitators. 
  • November 2025 extra training is confirmed as Executive training and will select two member facilitators to deliver this training. Looking to have one seasoned member facilitator and one newer member facilitator. 
  • New Steward Guide for cvent/concur/travel policy guide is now waiting feedback from executive.
  • Approved three lunch and learns. 

 

Carolyn noted that we have to look into a different topic for the EROs at stewards council as they are not familiar with the new course Navigating Change. It is too late now to have a member facilitator to deliver a course as it is not enough time for them to prepare properly. Carolyn has spoken with the Halifax office, and they will determine what topic works. The training committee decided to not have a guest speaker due to the cost and has agreed to do a steward panel. Mike will talk to Glenn to get a volunteer from the NB Groups. 

 

Action: Executive to review steward guide. 

Action: Executive to provide steward panel names to Carolyn. 

 

Motion # 6 Carolyn Hynes moved; Christine LeDrew seconded to have a seasoned steward panel as the guest speaker slot at the steward council. CARRIED.

 

Motion # 7 Carolyn Hynes moved; Chad Lacoste seconded the approval of the training chairperson’s report as presented. CARRIED.

 

9. Atlantic Young Professionals Committee Report

Christine noted her report is on the google drive.  Some main points are:

  • Held stand alone meeting July 11 pm and July 12 am. 
  • Hosted a family friendly bowling event July 11th 
  • Erika will take over as Chair of the committee at the October meeting. 
  • Committee would like to host a member engagement event Thursday evening at steward council from 5-7pm at Dirty Nellies. Seeking executive approval. 
  • Discussion occurred on hosting another virtual information session in the fall. 

 

Motion # 8 Christine LeDrew moved; Leslie Hill seconded that the AYPC host a member engagement event Thursday of Steward Council from 5-7. CARRIED.

 

Motion # 9 Christine LeDrew moved; Greg Hues seconded that the AYPC report be approved.  CARRIED.

 

  1. Financial Reports
    1. ARE Financial Update

Paul noted that there is a very healthy balance for the Atlantic executive as of July 30th. Bank account is reconciling to the income statement. There are still some cheques to be settled today.  

 

Motion # 10 Paul Hubley moved; Leslie Hill seconded that the financial report be approved as presented. CARRIED.

 

Motion # 11 Carolyn Hynes moved; Christine LeDrew seconded that the executive provide a donation in memorial of Paul’s dad. CARRIED.

 

Action: Carolyn to make memorial donation to cancer society in honor of Paul’s dad. 

 

  1. Committees of the Board Reports

The regional executive reviewed the reports on the google drive that were submitted. 

  1. BLPC

It was noted that there was a by-law change at the AGM and there was problems last year about approval of group/subgroup by-laws. After almost 8 months later they came back in the wrong format.

  1. YPN 

Mark suggested they have a table at the national AGM. 

 

It was questioned why there was no finance committee report. 

 

Action: Mark to follow up about NR Group by-laws.  

 

Motion # 12 Mark Bellefleur moved, and Tamara Critch seconded that the Committees of the Board reports be moved as presented.  CARRIED.

 

  1. Steward Council: Final Agenda

Carolyn noted that this topic was discussed in her training chairperson report. It was noted that the wording of awards dinner on the agenda for Friday night needs to be changed to Trivia Night. 

 

Action: Donna to change awards dinner on agenda to Trivia Night. 

 

  1. New Business 
    1. AYPC Update – Christine LeDrew

No need to be on the agenda twice. 

  1. AYPC Selection Process – Christine LeDrew

Carolyn explained the previous selection process. She brought forward the AYPC members thought of it being one per province and then selecting 4 based on the application. Carolyn thinks we should still have two per province. If the application is deemed not to be complete, then the executive has the discretion to select another. The executive will ensure to vet the applicants properly going forward. 
 

  1. Selection of AYPC Members

Discussion occurred on the positions up for selection. Carolyn asked if there is an exit interview on why members do not reapply. What are the barriers and why are people not interested? Leslie suggests having a 15-minute slide show at the steward council. Greg suggested bringing it up at the branch/group presidents meeting to get it circulated there. 

 

Action: Christine to give Carolyn a blurb for the SC introductions. 

 

Need 2 positions from PEI, 1 from NL, 1 from NB, and 1 from NS. 

  

Motion # 13 Lori Rowe moved, and Greg Hues seconded that Alexandra Payne be selected for the NS position.  CARRIED.

 

Motion # 14 Carolyn Hynes moved, and Kim Keats seconded that Tiffany Snow be selected for the NL position.  CARRIED.

 

Motion # 15 Leslie Hill moved, and Paul Hubley seconded that Hallee Hunter be selected for one of the PEI positions.  CARRIED.

 

There are two positions to be filled, one for 2 years from NB and one for 1 year from PEI. Leslie and Mike will reach out to young members in the areas and to let Christine know as soon as possible. 

 

Action: Christine to encourage branch/subgroup presidents to have young members observe one of their meetings. 

Action: Christine to reach out to the members that applied and not selected to keep being interested. 

Action: Donna to send Mark a copy of approval and denial AYPC selection email before informing the members. 

 

  1. ARC Evaluation Review

The executive discussed the evaluations provided. It was noted that the delegates were happy with President Sean O’Reilly. It was noted there was issues with translation. One item was all delegates had to evaluate all sessions even if they were not part of it. Carolyn noted that the delegates liked the meet and greet type event. There were a lot of compliments on Paul’s financial documents. 

 

Action: Donna to put N/A as an option on components on the evaluations. 

 

  1. New Branch Application

It was noted that a few folks in DND Gagetown are interested in starting their own branch and there are some members there that are not happy with this decision and do not know what to do about it. What is the rationale for this separate branch? Paul suggested that the members that are not happy to write a letter to the decision makers to tell them about their stance on the situation. Further discussion occurred. 

 

14. Round Table

Tamara noted that from the group perspective we cannot do a caucus on the night before the AGM this year as it has to be completed by 630pm. She was wondering what the region will do. Mike asked if anyone is extremely busy as a steward as he is finding it non-stop lately. Further discussion occurred on this topic. Mark noted that if there is anything you want him to bring to the board of directors to reach out to him. 

 

Action: Mark to ask if the financial forum is mandatory. 

 

Motion # 16 Paul Hubley moved, and Mike Pauley seconded that the meeting be adjourned. CARRIED.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:27pm.

 

Published on 23 January 2026