Friday, January 02, 2015
Dear Members: As the calendar advances to 2015; I want to wish each of you and your family a healthy, safe and Happy New Year.
AMAPCEO is at a critical juncture in our history and as we turn the page to start a new chapter, I am excited to have taken office on January 1 for a two-year term as AMAPCEO’s new President. The days ahead present opportunities for growth and progress in our labour relations and the opportunity to build a united community supportive of our common purpose – that of defending good jobs, unionized workers and public services in Ontario.
The greatest strength in our Association is an engaged and educated membership. As a former Workplace Rep, Chapter Chair (in Ottawa), OPS Zone Coordinator and Treasurer, I have seen and felt our strength first hand. In my new role as President of AMAPCEO, I commit to each of you to continue building our collective capacity and resolve. Building a strong foundation that enables a thriving member-driven Association for our future must start by valuing the diversity of voices and opinions of members.
Later this month, I will be initiating a series of workplace meetings around the province to hear directly from members about your ideas on the future direction of AMAPCEO. More information about upcoming meetings, including dates and locations will be posted on the website, so stay tuned. For regular updates, I encourage you to please visit www.AMAPCEO.on.ca.
Together, I know that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of professional workers in Ontario and I am eager to build member capacity with a new education and member engagement program, a robust strategic plan and stronger relationships in the broader labour movement and in the community.
Since my election at our Annual Delegates’ Conference on November 29th, I have been transitioning to my new responsibilities. I am grateful for the co-operation and advice provided by my predecessor, Gary Gannage, and thankful for the service provided to the membership by outgoing Directors on the Board; Theresa Anderson-Butcher, Gazira Chan and James Dawson, all of whom concluded their terms by attending the OPS bargaining debrief and our final Board meeting in December.
I am looking forward to continuing to work with Vice-President Sally Pardaens and Secretary Barbara Gough, with whom I served on the AMAPCEO Executive in my former role as Treasurer, and also with continuing Board members Earl Alexander and Leslie Barber. I want to extend a warm welcome to Chris Harper in his new role as Treasurer and to Dianne Colville, Hugh Montgomerie and Glynn Robinson, who have joined the Board as new Directors. I am sure I speak for my Board colleagues when I say that we look forward to working in common purpose with all of AMAPCEO’s activists - Chapter Chairs, Delegates, Workplace Representatives, members of Employee Relations Committees, Health and Safety Reps, Standing and Ad Hoc Committee members and Information and Building Coordinators – as we represent the interests of AMAPCEO members in both the OPS and all seven of our Broader Public Sector units.
With your ideas, energy and unity, we can - together - build the future AMAPCEO that will take us beyond 2015. I look forward to meeting with each one of you and building our community to make a difference this year and for many years to come, so let’s get on with it!
Please feel free to contact me at bulmer@amapceo.on.ca or follow me on Twitter at @BulmerDave.
Warm regards,
Dave Bulmer
President