2007 PSAC National Women's Conference:

PUBLIC SERVICES …PAVE THE WAY TO EQUALITY!

• CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
• PARTICIPANTS
• CALL FOR RESOLUTIONS

We are pleased to be sending you this Registration package for the 2007 PSAC National Women's Conference, which will be held November 23rd – 25th, 2007 at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, under the theme PUBLIC SERVICES …PAVE THE WAY TO EQUALITY!

We encourage you to personally inform PSAC Sisters in good standing to ensure they are made aware of this conference. Bulletin boards may not always be accessible and additional outreach is very important.

This registration package is available upon request in Braille and/or on diskette (MS Word) through the PSAC Programs Section by contacting Sue Courchaine at 613-560-5457 or by email at courchs@psac.com

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

The objectives at our 2007 PSAC National Women's Conference are to:

1. develop our analysis of the impact of federal government policies and cutbacks on women's equality and human rights
2. understand the importance of quality public services for women as workers and members of society
3. increase PSAC sisters' involvement in the campaign to Defend Quality Public Services and in coalitions working to defend and advance equality rights
4. build women's political capacity and activism in the union, the community and beyond and develop action plans which are effective and easy to implement.

PARTICIPANTS

1. Delegates

   There will be a minimum of 212 delegates selected to attend the Conference.

   A PSAC member who is a member in good standing and who self-identifies as a woman can apply to be a delegate to this Conference.  The selection of delegates will take into account union and equality rights activism, as well as representation criteria (i.e., Region, Component, language and other equity group representation).

   Delegates will be selected by their respective Regions and Components.  The delegates will be entitled to full voice and vote during the conference, including the resolutions process.

   Funding for Delegates:

   Delegate costs to the 2007 PSAC National Women's Conference will be fully covered as per the 2003 PSAC Triennial Convention decision and PSAC Travel Directive.   Costs covered are as follows:

   1. travel costs, including ground transportation;
   2. hotel accommodation costs at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel;
   3. loss of salary;
   4. per diem for meals;
   5. incidental costs.
      

2. Observers

   PSAC members who are members in good standing and who self-identify as women may also attend the 2007 National Women's Conference as observers; however, observers will be responsible for all costs associated with their participation, including:

   1. loss of salary and meals;
   2. hotel and travel arrangements and costs;
   3. the conference registration fee of $150.00
   4. any additional accessibility needs and childcare arrangements.

   Please note that the number of Observers will be limited to the space available at the Conference. They will have voice only during the discussion period after panel presentations. They can attend workshops, if space permits, but may not be able to select the topic. Observers do not have the right to vote during the resolutions debate.

3. Guests

   Members of the PSAC National Board of Directors are eligible to attend the PSAC National Women's Conference as guests.

SELECTION OF DELEGATES AND OBSERVERS

If you are selected as a delegate to this conference, you will be advised by email and regular mail by the second week of October 2007. Observers will be advised at a later date

For further information or assistance:

1. Please call (613) 560-5457.  Leave a message and someone will get back to you within 24 working hours.
2. You may also contact Sue Genge, the PSAC Women's and Human Rights Programs Officer by email at genges@psac.com or Sue Courchaine, PSAC Conference Administrative Assistant by email at courchs@psac.com.
3. The fax number is (613) 236-9402

We look forward to our 2007 PSAC National Women's Conference and see it as an opportunity for our members to continue the important work of pushing the women's equality agenda forward.

Please consult the PSAC website (www.psac-afpc.com) periodically as background conference material will be posted as soon as it becomes available.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

In Solidarity,
Jeannie Baldwin, REVP Atlantic
Robyn Benson, REVP Prairies
2007 PSAC National Women's Conference Co-Chairs

cc:
National Board of Directors
Component National Officers and Head Offices
Regional Offices
Area Councils
Regional Women's Committee (RWC)
Equal Opportunities Committee (EOC)
National Aboriginal, Inuit and Métis Circle (NAIM)
Equity Mailing Lists
Equity Committees
Regional Human Rights Committees
Regional Council Members
PSAC Management Team

APPLICATION FORM

• If you have any questions with respect to the application form or the Conference, call (613) 560-5457. Please leave a message and someone will respond to your inquiry within 24 working hours.
• You may also contact Sue Genge, the PSAC Women’s and Human Rights Programs Officer by email at genges@psac.com or Sue Courchaine, PSAC Conference Administrative Assistant by email at courchs@psac.com.
• The fax number is (613) 236-9402