EAWLC Policy Information Sessions

East and West Learning Connections (EAWLC) has developed and adopted a series of general policies to serve as an expression of  its core values as a new, federally-regulated Not-for-Profit Corporation. Grounded in Canadian values of fairness, openness, and respect for human rights and equality, these general policies are meant to guide the behaviour of all those who gather under the umbrella of the EAWLC, to foster an environment of trust and mutual respect, and to celebrate diversity.

During the summer of 2021, the East and West Learning Connections will hold 5 online information sessions for members and volunteers to review our first five guidance policies. You can read the policies by clicking the links listed in the agenda below.

Our Vice President, Ian White, will lead the sessions.  We cordially invite all our members, volunteers and guests to join this GROUP STUDY PROJECT!

The goal of these sessions is not only to learn about EAWLC’s principles and practices.  IN THESE sessions, participants will be encouraged to raise questions and learn from each other’s experiences at work or in life, giving us the opportunity to share our understanding of Canadian values, social norms and workplace cultures!  Our Board of Directors, members and volunteers are from All walks of life, and with different cultural backgrounds. So developing a common understanding of how we, as individuals, and collectively as an organization, should conduct ourselves in the Canadian context is vital to finding our place within that context.

 

The Sessions will start on Wednesday July 21 and run every Wednesday to August 18.  All sessions will begin at 8 PM Eastern Time and run for about an hour and a half, depending on questions.

 

To join, please click below Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88604280294?pwd=YWdWdjIxbE84TVlkK0FwVGJUblg4dz09

Passcode: 123

Meeting ID: 886 0428 0294

 

Agenda

For inquiries, please email us at info@eawlc.org.  Thanks!

We look forward to seeing you there!

2 thoughts on “EAWLC Policy Information Sessions”

  1. We collect questions before each session for discussion at the meeting. You are welcome to come with your own questions as well as real scenarios to help with the understanding of the policies.

    Some of the questions on Code of Conduct

    2.0 Purpose
    “The private conduct of each volunteer and Director is a personal matter except when such conduct compromises the reputation, image, or integrity of the Organization.”
    – what kind of private conduct could damage the organization’s reputation, image or integrity?
    -Board member’s personal opinions, comments: personal freedom of speech vs public image for the organization

    3.0 Policy

    2. Refrain from condoning, participating in, or engaging in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation
    – What could be misrepresentation?

    7. Maintain complete confidentiality regarding Organization affairs and decisions, during and after their tenure with the Organization; refrain from relaying information they may have had access to as an Organization volunteer or Director that is not available to the public, including but not limited to information about colleagues, Organization members, affiliates, or other community organizations
    – What kind of things volunteers/members can share with friends or the public about their experience with or in the organization? What are some of the no-no scenarios?

    10. Follow approved communications protocols and policies in regard to public comments, including media contact and the use of social media
    -What are the protocols and policies?

    11. Refrain from engaging in public criticism that would jeopardize the reputation of the Organization, including in person or through traditional or social media, both during and after their tenure with the Organization
    – Is this like putting down on people’s freedom of speech? What are the options for volunteers/members to criticize the organization or its leaders/members?

  2. We collect questions before each session for discussion at the meeting. You are welcome to come with your own questions as well as real scenarios to help with the understanding of the policies.

    Some of the questions on Conflict of Interest Policy

    3.1 All voting Directors are prohibited from using their position as a Director of the Organization to directly or indirectly benefit themselves, their spouse, or their children, or any other family member by:
    • “accepting gifts”,
    — See below questions specifically about gifts.
    • “giving preferential treatment or creating the appearance of giving any preferential treatment”,
    — What are some examples of the preferential treatments?
    • “making personal use of Organization resources”
    — How about social network resources? Is there an appropriate way for board directors, or members, to use the organization’s social network resources?

    3.2 Gifts
    (1) All Directors are prohibited from accepting gifts, if a reasonable person might conclude that the gift could influence the Director when performing his or her duties to the Organization;
    (2) Subsection (1) shall not operate to prevent a Director from accepting a gift of nominal value given as an expression of courtesy or hospitality if doing so is reasonable in the circumstances.
    — How to define “nominal”? What kind of gift is acceptable, and what are unacceptable? How about treats like a meal, a ride or personal help in daily life?

    3.3 Disclosing confidential information
    (1) A Director shall not disclose confidential information obtained during the course of his or her tenure as a Member of the Board of the Organization, or at any time thereafter, to a person or entity unless the Director is authorized to do so by law or by the Board.
    — In social gatherings we may introduce people to each other. As a board director, we may be more familiar with more members. What fine line do we need to keep to promote the connections among people while not violating privacy or confidentiality policy?

    3.5 Participating in decision-making
    (1) A Director shall not participate in decision-making by the Organization with respect to a matter that the Director is able to influence in the course of his or her duties if he or she could benefit from the decision.
    — Can you give some examples when a director should inform ethics executive of possible conflict of interest before a meeting or decision-making process begins? Can he or she participate in the discussion?

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