Trout Unlimited Canada??? AGM

[Neil Waugh]

Comes in the mail a letter from TUC CEO Jeff Surtees informing me of our national annual general meeting on June 18.
Not a lot of fireworks. Just audited statements and re-appointment of the external bean counters.
Clearly no rousing discussion about expansion and more effective government lobbying appears to be scheduled for the invited general membership to join in on.
Plus a "slate" of directors put forward from an unspecified "Nominating Committee" to be voted on.
These include:
David Byler - Calgary
Fred Calverley- Calgary
Glen Rumpel - Calgary
Rafi Tahmazian - Calgary
Brian Pyra - Calgary

The only other nominee for this "national" board for the two year stint is Dave Williamson of Toronto. I'm sure these are all fine, dedicated fellows who will do an incredible job managing the money I help raise and promote cold water conservation. This is not in anyway meant to question anyone's skills, ability and commitment to the cause.
But surely there's a perception problem of balance here.
Especially if you are presenting yourself as a national conservation organization, which, sad to say beyond it's Alberta and southern Ontario power bases, is not exactly expanding and flourishing.
Couldn't this committee have found one qualified person with a 780 area code?

[duffy4]

I wonder what the membership numbers are and where are those members located? And where was the birth place of TU Canada?

[Jeff Surtees]

Neil,

Thanks for your comments. The board members of TUC are listed on our website here - http://www.tucanada.org/index.asp?p=197

We currently have seven board members from Alberta, three from Ontario, one from the maritimes and one from BC.

We also list the members of our National Resource Board, from whom we receive regular advice on science matters. They are spread out across the country.http://www.tucanada.org/index.asp?p=2064

Any member with the support of six members in good standing can put their name forward. Terms are two years.

You are certainly correct that our work has been concentrated in Alberta and Ontario. We do have new chapters in Quebec, BC and Saskatchewan this year. We would love to expand further but these are challenging times both in terms of funding and finding volunteers.

Please take a look at our website from time to time to see what we are involved in. That is our best communication tool. Or just call me (403 221-8363). Love to hear your thoughts.

Duffy, we currently have approximately 3000 members, mostly in Alberta nd Ontario but a few in each of the other provinces. The organisation was started in Montreal in 1973.