GTA Branch Planning Meeting, June 17, 2025
Present:
Kuini Chuen (President) Nicole Henshaw (VP) Roy Philip (Treasurer)
Nuşin Brown (Secretary) Nathanael Mathi Vini Khurana
Delores Sui Lalita Jeethan Stan Buday
Mathan Mahalingam
Absent: Yu Gao
Opening: Welcome by Kuini Chuen at 6:10 pm. Approval of the 2025 Planning Agenda. Motion to accept the Agenda: Moved by Nuşin Brown, seconded by Vini Khurana. Agenda was approved.
Review of Planning Meeting Minutes 2024 (includes budget review): 2024 Planning Minutes were reviewed and approved. Motion to accept the previous planning meeting minutes: Moved by Nuşin Brown, seconded by Nicole Henshaw, motion carried.
Review of Branch Calendar from 2024:
Summer social took place at the Pilot on June 18th
A picnic was not held
Labor Day Parade was held on September 2nd
Executive meeting was held September 9th
The Tilt Arcade event did not take place
Zoo Day on October 20th was very successful. 104 people attended in total, including members and their families. The first come first serve approach did not work with 2600 members due to high demand for this popular event. A random draw was held among those who RSVP’d to have a fair selection process for attendance.
Midland Holiday Event was held December 11th
Executive meeting was held December 16th
Winter social was held on January 30th 2025 at the Union Social
Executive meeting was held February 13th
Steward Appreciation Dinner was held in March
The ORC was held March 28-29, 2025 in Windsor
The 2025 AGM was held at the Granite Brewery April 28th
Action items were completed. Mailing lists were given out. Contact information for Executive members was updated, roles were assigned.
Branch Calendar 2025-26:
We typically organize 2 main networking events at a central location, and smaller location specific events.
|
|
Date |
Event |
Organizer/Lead |
|
2025 |
June 29 |
Pride Parade |
Announced by the ORE. |
|
July 29 |
Summer Networking Social |
Kuini and Nicole to organize. |
|
|
September 1 |
Labor Day Parade |
To be announced by the ORE. All to attend if possible. |
|
|
*September 12-13 |
Steward Council |
*No events/meetings to be planned on these days. |
|
|
September 17 |
Executive Meeting |
Lalita to organize. |
|
|
*October 16-18 |
Basic Steward Training |
*No events/meetings to be planned on these days. |
|
|
October 19 |
Toronto Zoo Day |
Kuini to organize a zoo team mid-August. Members will have to RSVP for tickets. |
|
|
November (TBA) |
Tilt event |
Kuini to organize. Date TBA |
|
|
*November 12-15 |
Advanced Steward Training |
*No events/meetings to be planned on these days. |
|
|
December 11 |
Midland Holiday Event at Queen Victoria Pub |
Yu and Vini to organize. |
|
|
*December 12-13 |
PIPSC AGM |
*No events/meetings to be planned on these days. |
|
|
December 17 |
Executive Meeting |
Nicole to send out invite. Location TBD. |
|
|
2026 |
January 28 (TBD) |
Winter Networking Social (Post Holiday Winter Blues) |
Stan to organize at The Frog. |
|
February 17 |
Executive Meeting |
Kuini to send out invite. Location TBD. |
|
|
March 25 |
Steward Appreciation Dinner |
Kuini to organize (avoid March Break week). |
|
|
April 8 |
AGM |
Vini and Nicole to organize |
Officer Roles and Responsibilities:
Secretary: Nuşin Brown with Nicole Henshaw as backup
Treasurer: Roy Philip, assisted by Delores Sui and Nathanel Mathi
Communications Officer: Yu Gao, with Lalita Jeethan as backup
Membership Officer: Nathanael Mathi with Mathan Mahalingam as backup
The Membership Officer investigates rands, contacts them via a generic email and assists them in signing up by providing a membership link to the PIPSC website.
The remaining one-year Member-At-Large position vacated by Nicole Henshaw when she became VP was assigned to Vini Khurana.
Action Items:
- Membership officer to send a template letter to Rands to explain what the Union does
- Communications Officer, President and VP to manage the gtabranch@pipsc.ca email account for event RSVPs and member questions
- Nicole Henshaw to send invites for Exec meetings
- Delores Sui will look into ordering promo items
Financial Report and budget planning 2025: A request for the yearly allocation was made in 2024. The 2025 allocation will be requested soon.
Anticipated expenses are:
$XXXX for 3 networking social events (Summer, Tilt and Winter)
$XXX for the Midland Holiday event
$XXXX for Zoo event
$XXXX for steward appreciation
$XXXX for executive meetings (over and above what PIPSC refunds)
$XXXX for the AGM
$XXXX for promotional items
Branch priorities: Priorities from last year were reviewed. Ongoing priorities are:
- Info sessions
- Member engagement (also a big priority for PIPSC)
- Union building – Fostering solidarity
- Geographically organized networking events
- Rands
Round Table/New Business: No other items were brought forward.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm. Kuini made a motion. Next meeting will be on September 17, 2025.