Committees

Please note that as per our bylaws, the chairperson of a committee cannot be an elected executive member. If you are interested in chairing a committee for which a chairperson has not been found, please contact the Exec Liaison person. If you are interested in joining a committee and seek more information, please contact either the chairperson or Exec Liaison.

Beginning Teachers

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Heather Poje-Fascinato

-Promote the involvement and participation of beginning teachers in the Association;
-Address the needs and concerns of beginning teachers;
-Review the beginning teachers’ programs, resources, structures, policies and procedures at the local level;
-To support beginning teachers in their professional and union endeavours.

Building

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Kyle Sutter

-To review the needs of maintaining the building and grounds of the Waterloo OECTA Unit office;
-To make recommendations regarding regular maintenance and improvements to the building and grounds of Waterloo OECTA Unit office;
-To oversee improvements and maintenance;
-To report to Unit Executive and Council of Association Reps.
-To approve expenditures of up to $750, and to recommend to Unit Executive any expenditure that exceeds that amount.

Continuing Education

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Ed Wyse

-Promote the involvement and participation of Con Ed teachers in the Association;
-Address the needs and concerns of Con Ed teachers;
-Review the Con Ed teachers’ programs, resources, structures, policies and procedures at the local level;
-To support Con Ed teachers in their professional and union endeavours.

Finance

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Mark Devlin

-Monitor expenditures of the Unit;
-Formulate a proposed balanced budget based on:
*The review of previous budget,
*The review of financial statements,
*The solicitation of spending estimates from Officers and Committees of the Unit,
*The goals and priorites established by the Unit;
-Receive budget proposals for incorporation in the budget to be approved “In Principle” at the Unit Annual General Meeting;
-Review the budget approved “In Principle” and formulate a final budget to be approved at the Fall General Meeting;
-Monitor the investments and securities of the Unit;
-Provide input/guidance to Committees on all financial concerns affecting the spending of Committee monies.

Health and Safety

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Christine Stockie

-Be informed of issues, trends and problems in the area of occupational health and safety and the workplace environment;
-Identify members’ needs and to recommend actions that the Unit should pursue to address these needs;
-Inform the members of all aspects pertaining to occupations health and safety and the workplace environment;
-Advise the Unit in matters pertaining to occupational health and safety and workplace environmental issues that require attention;
-Present such health and safety seminars, conferences and workshops as needed and directed by the Provincial Executive.

Human Rights

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Dorothea Kruger

-Inform all members of the current trends, issues and problems as they pertain to equal opportunities for members based on race, creed, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and mental or physical ability;
-Recommend actions to ensure barrier free and discrimination free workplaces;
-Assist our students to recognize and appreciate the contributions of people of different races, creeds, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations and mental or physical abilities;
-Support and promote school based projects that highlight human rights and social justice issues;
-Provide workshops and assist in the development of local committees to address the concerns of members based on race, creed, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and mental or physical abilities.

Legislation

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Jeannette Cowen

-Study all matters pertaining to the Unit Constitution, By-laws, Policies or Procedures and report on such matters to the Annual General Meeting;
-Monitor and advise the Executive Council on the effects of all changes proposed to the local Constutution, By-Laws, Policies and Procedures, in light of the Handbook;
-Promote member awareness of the Unit, Provincial Association and OTF Constitution, By-laws, Policies and Procedures and legislation affecting education;
-Review the Unit Constitution By-laws, Policies and Procedures;
-Make recommendations annually or as deemed necessary, on changes that could expedite or align the business of the Unit with actual practice;
-Consider submissions from any body within the Unit;
-Seek, receive and direct all resolutions, submitted for consideration at the Provincial Association Annual General Meeting;
-Maintain a current copy of the Unit Constitution, By-laws, Policies and Procedures.

Nominations

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Joanne Levato

-Be composed of members appointed by the UE and subsequently ratified by the Council of Association Representatives, with the Past President as Chair;
-Review and revise the standing practices for election of all elected Unit executive and Bargaining Unit executive positions;
-Present proposed standing practices for election to the Council of Association Representatives for ratification
Ensure the ratified standing practices for election are publicly available to all members, once ratified by the Council of Association Representatives
-Ensure compliance with the standing rules for elections
-Educate members on the roles and duties of any Unit and Bargaining Unit elected position
-Members of the Nomination Committee forfeit their right to stand for an elected position of the Unit executive or Bargaining Unit executive in the immediate elections, except for the Unit President who is an ex-officio member of all committees

Political Advisory

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Mike Kearns

-Establish contact with local politicians;
-Establish contact with outside agencies and teacher organizations;
-Monitor issues relevant to education in Ontario and in particular to Catholic Education;
-Report to the ETO and Executive Council pertinent facts and recommendations for action;
-Take direction from the ETO and Executive Council, regarding political issues;
-Establish ad hoc committees as required, to pursue specific individual issues.

Professional Development

Chairperson: TBD
Exec Liaison: Simon Dallimore

-Plan local workshops for members subject to the approval of the Executive Council;
-Review and select all Young Authors / Best Practice submissions;
-Participate in the planning and operation of Professional Activity Day(s) allocated to the Unit;
-Liaise and co-operate with the Board and other educational groups regarding workshops and local professional development activities;
-Distribute funding as per established criteria for: i) workshops, ii) conferences, iii) seminars, iv) other professional development;
-Review the established criteria for distribution of funds.

Recognition

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Carol Knight

-Establish awards, bursaries and grants;
-Set the criteria for awards, bursaries and grants subject to the approval of Executive Council;
-Review the established criteria for distribution of funds;
-Establish procedures for presentation of awards, bursaries and grants;
-Publicize criteria, applications, nominations and the presentation of all awards, bursaries and grants;
-Receive and treat all information from nominations and applications as confidential;
-Select recipients of awards, bursaries and grants based upon established criteria;
-Consider requests for donations according to established criteria;
-Receive no less than five percent and no greater than seven percent of the Unit’s Fee Return for distribution on a yearly basis.

Social

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Ted Mukhar and Colleen Harrington

-Planning social functions for members;
-Implementing plans for social functions after receiving approval of the Executive Council.

Spiritual Development

Chairperson: Not decided
Exec Liaison: David Geraghty

-Support the spiritual growth of members by planning and implementing spiritual activities and celebration;
-Develop a long range plan for the spiritual development of members.

Status of Women

Chairperson:
Exec Liaison: Maria Sousa-Rovers

-Advise the Executive on ways to enhance the status of women in society, both nationally and internationally;
-Develop recommendations for the Executive to assist the unit in establishing programs to educate members about international women’s issues;
Make recommendations to the Executive for possible action related to the status of women;
-Make recommendations to the Executive on outreach to community-based women’s organizations;
-Inform all members of the current trends, issues, and problems as they pertain to the status of women locally, nationally and internationally;
-Support, promote local, national and international organizations and causes that advance women’s issues.