January 2015
TO: AFFILIATES
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
OFL Women’s Leadership Summit
UNIFOR Family Education Centre, Port Elgin
Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3, 2015
We are excited to announce our 2nd OFL Women's Leadership Summit!
I am writing to invite you to sponsor Sisters from your Union to attend. This is a unique
opportunity for women in your union to come together with like-minded trade union and
community Sisters to share information about skill building, strategy and the incredible
opportunities for women in the labour movement.
Women are now the majority of union members. Study after study shows that the future
growth of the labour movement will be primarily women workers, particularly women
workers who are from equity-seeking groups. The Summit will explore strategies to fight for
the workers' right’s agenda, elect progressive governments, build women’s involvement in
unions and strengthen the labour movement today and in the future.
Sisters who would benefit from our Women’s Summit and who are welcome to attend are:
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Women in your union who are displaying leadership qualities – future leaders
New women activists who would like to learn and share information with other Sisters
Women within your union who you would like to encourage to get active and involved
Current women leaders within your union who can share their expertise and experiences
Women at all levels of activism within your union (i.e. Local Union, District, Regional,
Provincial and/or National women activists)
Sisters will benefit from the discussion and participation of leadership panels, learning circle
workshops and key note speakers. They will discover many of the challenges and great
opportunities within the labour movement and our communities as well as the necessity to
reach out to other women with organizing in mind. These skills are especially important in
mobilizing for the 2015 federal election and of course, we will make time for Sisters to get to
know each other and network through new and renewed friendships. A report with
recommendations will be produced following the Summit which will assist in giving direction
for future work of the OFL and our partners.
Please consider sponsoring as many Sisters as possible from your Union to attend the OFL’s
Women’s Leadership Summit, reflecting the rich diversity in our movement.
You can reach Sue Fratric at 416-441-2731. If you have any questions please contact OFL
staff co-ordinating Summit, Sister Carrol Anne Sceviour at [email protected], office
416-443-7670, mobile 416-606-5046 or myself at 416-443-7651.
Thank you for your continuing support and investment in Sisters in your Union.
Yours in solidarity,
Nancy Hutchison
Secretary-Treasurer
c:
S. Ryan, I. Nanda
OFL Executive Board, OFL Executive Council
OFL Women’s Committee
attach.
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Details of the OFL Women's Leadership Summit are:
Where:
UNIFOR Family Education Centre
115 Shipley Ave, Port Elgin
Friday May 1 (7 pm) to Saturday May 3, 2015 (noon)
$150
When:
Registration Fee:
Summit Registration:
Please complete the attached form and return it to Sue Fratric by:
Email:
Fax:
Mail:
[email protected]
416-441-0722
15 Gervais Drive
2nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M3C 1Y8
Accommodations:
Affiliates are responsible for cost and room bookings. To book your accommodations, please
complete and return the attached form to:
UNIFOR Family Education Centre: Fax: 519.389.3222
The following room & board rates include 3 meals per day commencing with supper May 1,
2015 (check-in date) and ending with lunch on May 3, 2015 (check-out date).
Conference rate plus applicable taxes:
Double (sharing with another person)
Single
Delegate and spouse
Children (17 and over)
Children (12-16)
Children (11 and under)
Per Night
$185.00
$260.00
$310.00
$ 50.00
$ 25.00
no charge
Per 2 Nights
$370.00
$520.00
$620.00
$100.00
$ 50.00
no charge
**Affiliates are urged to ask their participants to share bedrooms as there are limited
numbers available. Once full, the Centre will direct participants to nearby hotels (5 minutes
from the Centre).
As always, this Summit fills up quickly so please submit your registrations early to avoid
disappointment.
Transportation to the Centre:
From Toronto:
Bus leaving from Lester B. Pearson International Airport going directly to
the Centre
Bus Arrangements: Grey Bruce Airbus (1-800-361-0393 or 1-519-389-4433 for arrangements
to and from the airport
Tentative Agenda
Friday, May 1, 2015
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Registration
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Plenary
Aboriginal Welcome
Joanne Webb, VP Aboriginal Circle
Opening Remarks
Sid Ryan, President (TBC)
Setting the Stage: Reclaiming Our Future
The Conservative attack on workers’ rights and women’s equality: what we’ve
won and what’s at stake.
Keynote (TBC)
5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Dinner (provided)
9:00 p.m.
Self-organized caucuses
Evening Social Time
Saturday, May 2, 2015
7 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Breakfast (provided)
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Plenary
Nancy Hutchison, Secretary-Treasurer
Women: Building Strong Unions - Building Stronger Communities
Their values and ours! Our view of collective responsibility and action vs. the
conservatives’ “Every man for himself” approach. An Oprah-style discussion
with participants.
Women Growing OUR Union: Panel
A Panel of Stories: “How I won support for my union” “How I challenged
Conservative arguments and won”.
Barb Byers, CLC Secretary-Treasurer, Moderator
11:30a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Our Stories Our History– Margaret McPhail
Introducing an exciting new project on digitizing our women’s movement and
union women’s history.
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch (provided)
Participants will have an opportunity to come together in self-organized
caucuses.
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mobilizing/Knowledge Circles
A combination of issue-based discussions and skills-building with a focus on
communicating ideas, mobilizing and winning
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Self-organized caucuses
5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Dinner (provided)
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Evening Social
Sunday, May 3, 2015
7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.
Breakfast (provided)
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Closing Plenary
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Creating Change Panel
Key upcoming OFL campaigns: Let’s get our message out and advance
these campaigns.
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Moving Forward
Strategy Session
12:00 p.m.
Wrap-Up Remarks
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Registration Form
Organization _______________________________________
Local No ____________________
Address
_____________________________________________________________________
City
_______________________________________
Telephone:
(Home) ____________________________ (Work) ____________________________
Postal Code _________________
(Fax) ______________________________ (Email) ___________________________
Registration Fee $150.00
Please print clearly. Photocopy extra forms if needed.
Last Name
First Name
E-mail Address
Phone/Mobile
Enclosed is a cheque in the amount of $________________ which covers _______ participant(s).
Please complete and return Registration Form with cheque payable to:
OFL Women’s Leadership Summit” no later than April 27, 2015 to:
Ontario Federation of Labour
#202 - 15 Gervais Drive
Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1Y8
Fax: 416-441-0722
Attention: Sue Fratric
Email: [email protected]
(PLEASE NOTE THAT SPACES ARE LIMITED)
If Child Care is required, please return completed form by April 10, 2015.
If Personal Assistance is required, please return completed form by April 2, 2015.
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Child Care Form
Please complete and return by April 10, 2015
Name of Delegate _________________________________________________________________
Organization _______________________________________
Local No ____________________
Address
_____________________________________________________________________
City
_______________________________________
Telephone:
(Home) ____________________________ (Work) ____________________________
Postal Code _________________
(Fax) ______________________________ (Email) ___________________________
Number of children requiring child care ______________
Last Name
First Name
Age
Sex
Health Card #
Does your child(ren) have any special dietary or medical requirements? _______________________
Does your child(ren) have a nap during the day? __________________________________________
I give permission for my child(ren) to participate in an excursion. _____________________________
Any special requirements for your child(ren) – (bottles, diapers, special food) – should accompany the
child(ren). ________________________________________________________________________
Unfortunately, due to prohibitive costs, child care will not be provided if less than ten (10) children
register. If this happens, you will be contacted by phone.
Parents must sign release form and return to: Ontario Federation of Labour, #202 - 15 Gervais
Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1Y8 or by fax 416-441-0722, attention: Sue Fratric or email at
[email protected].
RELEASE FORM: I hereby release the Ontario Federation of Labour from any and all claims for
damages to the safety or health of my child(ren), however caused.
Signature of Parent or Guardian
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Personal Assistance Request Form
Please complete and return by April 2, 2015.
Name
_____________________________________________________________________
Affiliate Union _____________________________________________________________________
Address:
_____________________________________________________________________
City:
_______________________________________
Postal Code _________________
Phone Number (during working hours) ___________________________
Email
_______________________________________
_______ Mobility impaired
_______ Blind or visually impaired
_______ Will you be accompanied by a guide dog
_______ Use of a wheelchair
_______ Will you have an attendant with you
_______ Deaf or hearing impaired
Do you require material in alternate media? _______ Yes _______ No
If yes, please specify: ______________________________________________________
What services, if any, do you require if you are deaf, hearing impaired, blind or visually
impaired?
Please specify: __________________________________________________________________
Do you require special assistance in the event of an emergency? _______Yes _______ No
Please provide details if you require attendant services: ___________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Other comments: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
RETURN TO:
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Ontario Federation of Labour, #202 - 15 Gervais Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3C
1Y8 or by fax 416-441-0722, attention: Sue Fratric or by email at
[email protected].