2004 AGM Minutes

Red Deer Lodge Hotel
Red Deer, Alberta
May 14, 2004

The meeting was called to order at 12:45 pm

I. Acceptance of the Agenda for the 2004 AGM

M/S/C Denny Hycha/Kathy Horne that the agenda be accepted as presented.

II. Approval of the Minutes of the 2003 AGM

M/S/C Joseph Thibault/Randall Sargent that the minutes of the 8th annual general meeting be approved as circulated.

III. Report from the Chair – Joe MacGillivray

Joe MacGillivray provided an overview of the governance and strategic direction of the organization. He indicated that since the Provincial Health Authorities of Alberta conference this past winter, there have been several discussions about the status of PHEN with board members and other stakeholders in the system. Joe indicated that these discussions have helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organization raising some questions that the Board hopes to answer in a systemic manner.

PHEN is known as an educator based on programs such as its distance education course, annual conference and resource allocation conference. There is a good base of support at the grassroots level within the health system. However, PHEN is also a very small organization with limited resources and has had relatively little involvement in health policy at regional or provincial levels. Financial supports of the organization have not increased for some time. This limits the organization’s ability to respond. One of the areas PHEN needs to address is highlighting the importance of considering ethical implications in decision-making, and articulating its own value, with key health system leaders.

PHEN members are encouraged to tell their colleagues about PHEN and its benefits, thus spreading the word through a grassroots strategy. This will help PHEN continue to maintain its credibility and support.

IV. Report from the Executive Director - Al-Noor Nenshi Nathoo

Al-Noor Nenshi Nathoo presented a summary of the annual operations of the Network. He indicated that feedback from members is more than welcome with respect to upcoming projects that are listed.

He indicated that some of the challenges/questions that the organization currently faces include:

  1. The demand for PHEN’s services exists at the grassroots and clinical level, but the policy and management level decisions are the ones that have the greatest impact, in some ways, on the future of the health system. What role ought and could PHEN play in the health policy arena?
  2. How do we know that PHEN is actually making a difference? What are the outcomes of the projects/programs that PHEN provides?
  3. How do we sustain an organization like PHEN which is at present heavily dependent on funding from government and RHAs. It raises questions as to what organizations PHEN should accept money from (businesses, corporation, non-government).
  4. The bioethics community in the province and country boasts representation from a wide variety of health care providers, with an under-representation of physicians. How do we address this?

V. Financial Report

John Boksteyn presented and Al-Noor Nenshi Nathoo provided details regarding the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004. It was noted that the PHEN Board had reviewed the statements and approved them. While revenue remained consistent, expenses were higher than in previous years as a result of PHEN hosting a major conference on the Ethics of Resource Allocation in April 2003. This resulted in a deficit of $11,561.

M/S/C John Boksteyn/Thaine Olsen that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 be approved and accepted as presented.

VI. Appointment of Auditors for 2004-2005

M/S/C Gordon McPherson/ Pat Evans that Deloitte be re-appointed as auditors for the fiscal year 2004-2005.

VII. Proposed Bylaw Revisions

Joe MacGillivray presented the proposed by-law revisions.

M/S/C John Boksteyn/Eileen Grant that the objects of the organization be amended as circulated.

M/S/C Thaine Olsen/Brian Farewell that the by-laws of the organization be adopted as circulated.

VIII. Board Membership, Ratification and Election

John Boksteyn explained the various ways that PHEN board members are appointed or elected. There are 12 positions on the board, 4 elected by the PHEN membership, 4 appointed by the Board itself, and 4 appointed by the Council of Chairs or the RHAs. As of this AGM, there are 4 positions vacant on the PHEN Board – one to be elected by the membership, two to be appointed by the PHEN Board itself, and one to be appointed by the Council of Chairs of the RHAs.

The PHEN Board has appointed Randall Sargent and Margaret Plain to the Board to fill the Board-appointed positions.

M/S/C Joseph Thibault/Glenys Godlovitch that Randall Sargent and Margaret Plain’s appointment to the PHEN Board be ratified by the membership.

John called for nominations for the one position to be elected by the membership.

M/S/C Gordon McPherson that Mary Arbique Vogel be nominated for the vacant Board position

M/S/C Barbara Russell/that Brian Farewell be nominated for the vacant Board position

M/S/C Eileen Grant that Kathy Horne be nominated for the vacant Board position.

M/S/C Randall Sargent/ that Gary Goldsand be nominated for the vacant Board position

John called for nominations 3 times. There were no additional nominations. All four individuals agreed to let their names stand for election.

M/S/C John Boksteyn /Joe MacGillivray that nominations cease.

Each of the candidates presented information about themselves to the membership.

Gary Goldsand was elected to the PHEN Board by secret ballot of the membership.

IX. Members Open Forum

This portion of the meeting is for members to share information and issues that they feel the board and staff of PHEN should be aware of. It is also an opportunity to offer some suggestions for the direction of the society.

Perry Mill wondered what stance PHEN was taking with respect to advocating for ethics being used as a tool for analysis. Al-Noor Nenshi Nathoo explained that PHEN takes a stance of philosophical neutrality with respect to the substance of ethical issues – its job is to help highlight ethical implications, and to shed ethical ‘light’ on issues that might not otherwise have been explored from that lens. However, from a procedural standpoint, it does take the position that exploring the ethical implications of one’s decision-making is important at all levels of the health system.

Joseph Thibault suggested that one link for PHEN from a networking perspective would be to the complementary and alternative medicine communities.

Eileen Grant indicated that PHEN might want to look at different approaches in trying to get information to health managers, such as using advocates within the organizations. She pointed out that often the decision-makers are not aware of the various organizations that contribute to the success of their organization through support at the grassroots level. One possibility is having materials available electronically as they are easier to pass along than hard copy. Corporate social responsibility is an issue that is coming to the forefront and provides an opportunity to showcase the kinds of support offered by PHEN.

Randall Sargent indicated that he would like to recognize the staff of PHEN as they are the reason the organization continues to be able to provide such excellent support to health care professionals across the province.

Thaine Olsen clarified that all PHEN members have the right to vote at the AGM. Both individual and institutional members have one vote.

X. Any Other Business, Questions From The Floor


XI. Adjournment

M/S/C Joe Thibault/Randall Sargent to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was properly adjourned at 1:32 pm.