Annual General Membership Meeting (AGMM) Season is fast approaching, and we wanted to reach out to all our Local Unit Executive members to let you know about what we have been working on for this year. 
 
AGMM Season runs from October 15, 2023 to February 15, 2024, and we are already receiving requests from Local Units for meeting dates! Your Local Unit’s funding and delegate information letters will be sent out prior to October 15 so you have all the important info ahead of your meeting. Please remember we require a minimum of three weeks notice for all AGMMs and any short notice requests due to extenuating circumstances must be submitted to the President for approval.  
 
Don’t forget that your Local Unit Advisors are committed to providing ongoing support to make your AGMMs successful. Please don’t be afraid to reach out to us if you have an idea that you think would make things better for AGMM season. You are the ones running these meetings, so if we can make a change, create a resource or offer something that will make organizing or running an AGMM easier on you, please let us know. 
 
If you would like to have a one-on-one discussion on planning your AGMM, please include the topics you would like to discuss and reach out to the Local Unit Team (LocalUnits@hsaa.ca), with a minimum of two dates and times and we will schedule you some time with a LUA.
While we recommend that forms be submitted within two weeks of your AGMM, the final deadline to submit forms is 9:00 a.m. on February 19, 2024.

The deadlines for submitting finance claims for this year, all receipts, expense claims, including merchandise, must be dated on or before February 29th, 2024 in order to be processed for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Local unit members have until March 11, 2024 to submit their claim for the 2023-24 fiscal year. If you would like to know your current local unit funds amount, please email localunits@hsaa.ca and we will provide that information for you!
Last year we saw significantly fewer AGMM’s held in the last two weeks of the season.

ï»żWe thank you all for holding your AGMM’s sooner and due to this huge success, we will continue to offer incentives for local units to hold their AGMM’s earlier in the season.

By continuing to have local units hold their AGMM’s earlier in the season,it allows us to get as many representatives from your union out to the worksite as possible.  
This year the prize will be a member engagement event organized at your worksite with not only your Local Unit Advisor, but at least one HSAA Board Member! This event would take place after our 2024 Convention at no cost to the Local Unit. 
Once again, we expect some Locals will wish to utilize virtual meeting technology.

In support of that, HSAA has retained our Zoom accounts for the use of any Local that wishes to hold their meeting fully virtually, or provide a hybrid option for members. Using Zoom also includes the ability to run votes right in your virtual meeting (if needed). To book a Zoom account, simply check the applicable box when submitting your AGMM Notice Request Form. 
 
If you are running more than one meeting to complete your AGMM and need an electronic vote outside of Zoom, please specify in the notes/other business on your AGMM Notice Request Form and we’ll be in touch. 
We have also updated the optional AGMM PowerPoint template for you to use for your meetings.

Whether you hold your meeting in-person or virtually will just need to add your Local Unit's information to the slides and then you’re good to go! The PowerPoint template contains information on HSAA campaigns, union videos, information on committees, Stewards and much more! 
We are excited to announce, that the Chairs' Conference is taking place on November 15, 2023 in Calgary! 

The Chairs Conference is a great opportunity for you to not only build on your current skills, but to also network with other Local Unit Chairs from throughout Alberta! The theme of the conference is “Leading your LUE”. Through presentations, discussions, and work groups on the topic, we will educate Chairs about leading their Local Unit effectively. 
  
To apply to attend the Chairs’ Conference 2023, log into your Member Hub at member.hsaa.ca and navigate to the “Events and Workshops” tab The Events and Workshops page is organized by date, so you can find the Chairs’ Conference by scrolling down to the November events section of the list. This is a fully sponsored event, which includes time off from work, meals, mileage, hotel expenses (as per expense rules) and $20/hour for attending on a day off. Hope we will see you there!
With all the rallies taking place throughout Alberta, we want to offer a HSAA flag kit to every Local Unit that would like one.

These flags come with an extendable pole and a stake so it can be put in the ground. If you are a Chair from your LUE, please reach out to localunits@hsaa.ca to request yours! Also, if you are holding an event or hear of any rallies being planned and want any of your union’s rally gear (pop-up tents, heaters, signs, flags, etc.) email localunits@hsaa.ca and we can get these items to you! 
The annual Bill 32 Election is underway.

This is your opportunity to have your say on the future of our Union and decide whether you will opt in to paying the non-core portion of your dues.
 
For years, HSAA has used the non-core portion of our dues to fund charities such as Made by Momma. This non-profit group helps families facing crisis by providing healthy meals, baked goods, essentials for babies, and children’s items. They also do in-home visits and provide other services that allow mothers to rest, recover, and focus on their families and their health.
 
Bill 32 limits us from supporting groups like Made by Momma if not enough of you say YES to non-core dues.
 
Non-core dues also go to our social justice partners such as Public Interest Alberta that lobbies for enhanced programs to benefit the public and is conducting campaigns that include the current effort to protect the Canada Pension Plan.
 
We also help fund our labour partners and affiliates, such as the district labour councils, the Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress to improve working conditions for all.
 
And noncore dues go to members fundraising for a cause or to take advantage of educational opportunities such as labour schools.
 
Since this legislation was made into law, our Union’s ability to fund these types of groups and activities has been significantly reduced. But we know all of them are important to members, so
 we’re asking you to say YES.
 
By now you should have received your Bill 32 Election ballot. It was emailed to you on Monday, September 25. If you didn’t receive the email, reach out to Our Union. Call 1-844-270-4722 or email communications@hsaa.ca
 
The financial breakdown of your dues between core and non-core activities is available at https://member.hsaa.ca/ourunion.
As always, your Local Unit Team and Union are here to support you in your roles as Local Unit Leaders!

In Solidarity,

Cam Heenan,
Local Unit Advisor - North

Erik Carlson,
Local Unit Advisor - South