Important Information Regarding PAN Board Elections - Pacific AIDS ...

PAN Forum and AGM
October 5 th , 2010
Important Information Regarding PAN Board Elections
What Seats are open for Election this year?
During this year’s PHA Forum and AGM, elections for our Board of Directors will take place for
the following seats (potentially 9 in total) (all for two-year terms):
• Northern: one designated PHA seat, one open seat.
• Interior: one designated PHA seat.
• Fraser: one open seat.
• Vancouver Coastal: one designated PHA seat, one open seat.
• Vancouver Island: one designated PHA seat, one open seat.
• Provincial Health Services: one open seat.
What Candidates are being recommended by the PAN Board Selection
Committee?
Based on their qualifications, the PAN Board Selection Committee is recommending to the
membership, the following candidates for election to 6 of the 9 available seats:
Interior
Designated PHA Seat (Forum election)
Chris MacKenzie, Living Positive Resource Centre, Kelowna (incumbent)
Fraser
Open Seat (AGM election)
Charles (Chuck) Osborne, South Fraser Community Services Society
Vancouver Coastal
Designated PHA Seat (Forum election)
Darren Lauscher, Vancouver Friends For Life Society (incumbent)
Vancouver Coastal
Open Seat (AGM election)
Jesse Brown, YouthCO AIDS Society
Vancouver Island
Open Seat (AGM election)
Katrina Jensen, AIDS Vancouver Island (incumbent)
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Provincial Health Services
Open Seat (AGM election)
Marcie Summers, Positive Women’s Network (incumbent)
Chris, Darren, Katrina and Marcie have previously sat on the PAN Board of Directors. They are
endorsed by their member agencies/organizations.
Chuck and Jesse have completed their PAN BOD applications, and are endorsed by their
member agencies/organizations.
Please Tell Me More about these 6 Candidates
Bio for...Chris MacKenzie – Incumbent - Interior Designated PHA Seat
Chris has completed a two-year term on the PAN BOD, last elected in Fall 2008. Chris has sat
on the PAN BOD since 2003. Chris volunteers for Living Positive Resource Centre in Kelowna,
BC. Further bio details not available at time of delivery of Forum/AGM notice package.
**
Bio for...Charles (Chuck) Osborne – Fraser Open Seat
Charles has been a dedicated member of the South Fraser Community Services Society
(SFCSS) Board of Directors since 2004. As a member of the Board Charles has been a strong
advocate for the Society, in particular, the Djaef Mahler Food Bank, one of the few supplemental
high-protein food banks in the lower mainland, and Positive Haven, the SFCSS’ HIV/AIDS
Support Lounge in the community. Charles has also been a long-time volunteer with the
BCPWA Society.
As Charles states on his PAN BOD Application: “I felt the need to step forward because I
believe that in the Fraser region we are greatly underserved as agencies for those with HIV.
From the skills gathered through my work with BCPWA, I hope to invigorate a larger presence
for the work of so many individuals who require better services. I hope to help persons affected
by HIV who feel they don’t belong to anything, as there is nothing at present that suits their
needs. With the opening of Positive Health Services in the new hospital, we will have a chance
to build better and more accessible services for everyone in the Fraser Region. My contacts are
wide and hopefully my network skills will also be valuable to PAN and to share with others.”
**
Bio for...Darren Lauscher – Incumbent – Vancouver Coastal Designated PHA Seat
“Hello all. My name is Darren Lauscher and I currently sit on the Board of Directors of PAN as
the PHA representative for Vancouver Coastal Health Region. I would like all of your support
once again to run for a second term on the Board of Directors.
It has been an exciting time to have been on the Board, a lot of work has been accomplished in
these past two years during which I have served as your Vice Chair. Starting with looking to our
past to shape our future as we transitioned from an Working Board into a Board of Governance,
to hiring an Executive Director, effectively changing our Constitution with all of your input and
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dealing with Ottawa to allow us to obtain charitable tax status!...to partnering with other national
and provincial partners such as CATIE and the Ontario AIDS Network to bring resources and
training opportunities to our membership.
This period of time has been full of new and exciting challenges and joy, from it I have received
a lot of personal growth and support as I and others have worked hard to bring support and
services to our membership that meet the needs at this time. I realize there is still much to be
done as the shopping list is always growing and PAN is a very diverse group of Organizations
with many different needs....although sharing the one commonality that brought us all together
AIDS/HIV. I look forward to continuing the work that we as a group have identified as priorities
and continue to bring my best forward as we work on achieving them.”
**
Bio for...Jesse Brown – Vancouver Coastal Open Seat
Jesse is the Community Engagement Coordinator at YouthCO AIDS Society. He believes he
can make a valuable contribution to the PAN Board through his life experience, strong work
ethic, and desire to affect social change surrounding HIV. He believes his time as a former
board member of YouthCO, and now as staff, has given him the professional tools to assist
PAN in various capacities. Areas of this work particularly interesting to Jesse include youth
engagement, and increasing awareness on the issue of HIV criminalization. He’s eager to use
this opportunity to learn more and strengthen his capacity to continue HIV education and
advocacy within the community.
As Jesse states on his PAN BOD application: “I believe strongly that increased youth
engagement and education is vital to reduce stigma and reduce cases of HIV. I’m interested in
promoting community services (support, education, etc.) in all areas of BC. I have a track
record through my work at YouthCO of educating the public on the realities of HIV and
advocating for HIV positive people. And I’m pretty rad.”
**
Bio for...Katrina Jensen – Incumbent – Vancouver Island Open Seat
Completed a two-year term on the PAN BOD, last elected in Fall 2008. Katrina is the Executive
Director of AIDS Vancouver Island in Victoria, BC. Further bio details not available at time of
delivery of Forum/AGM notice package.
**
Bio for...Marcie Summers - Incumbent – Provincial Health Services Open Seat
“I have been involved in the HIV movement in BC since 1986, first as a volunteer at AIDS
Vancouver, then as a founding member of the first prevention program for women in Canada,
and then as the Executive Director of the Positive Women’s Network since 1993. I attended the
first PAN meeting in the mid 90’s and have been an active member ever since, as a delegate,
Working Group Member and Board Member.
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I am also a founding member of the Blueprint for Action on Women & Girls & HIV/AIDS, sit on
the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Status Report on Women, and was Chair of the Women
& Children’s HIV Care Committee for many years.
I value the voices of all of the people living with HIV/AIDS I have met throughout Canada and
the world and continually learn and grow from these relationships.
I am passionately committed to the goals and vision of PAN and am honoured to be a part of its
evolution and its new directions.”
Will PAN still be taking nominations from the floor?
Yes, we will still be taking nominations from the floor, even for seats where the Board Selection
Committee is recommending candidates. However, we will still require that all PAN delegates
who are nominated from the floor still complete an application and provide proof of endorsement
from their PAN member organization/agency.
What are the ideal qualifications of a PAN Board member?
• Experienced in the field of HIV/AIDS
• Ideally minimum of two years experience working in the field
• Past Committee or Board work experience
• Able to look at the “big picture” and think strategically
• Dedication – in spirit – as well as the time and energy to commit to this volunteer
experience
• Team player – knowing what you bring to the table and being open to what others bring
as well
• Willingness to learn, get involved and stay engaged
What are the expectations of all Board members?
• Adhere to PAN’s Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics
• Attend monthly Board meetings (held via teleconference) – 90 minutes
• Attend (day long) in-person/face-to-face Board meetings – two times per year (typically
coincides with PAN conferences)
• Committee work throughout the year: policy, governance, membership, PHA Leadership,
finance, etc.
• Able to access email and reliable computer access
Where can I find out more & download a Board application?
You can get more information about joining the PAN Board, including obtaining an application
form, by visiting PAN’s website at http://pacificaidsnetwork.org/about/interested-in-joining-thepan-board/.
How can I connect with a Current Board member to discuss my interest?
If you are interested in speaking with a PAN Board member about your interest in running for
election to the PAN Board, please contact the Board Selection Committee via email at
board2010@pacificaidsnetwork.org or contact Jennifer Evin Jones, PAN ED, at 250.537.4082.
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