April 12, 2009
Happy Spring!
As this note reaches you, I am hoping that the sun is shining, there are some flowers blooming and that most of the snow, ice and risk of flooding has gone away. The turmoil that the financial markets has brought to our careers just doesn’t need any help from Mother Nature!
Since we last met in January, I have attended the CFA Institute Board Meeting in Dubai as well as meeting with a few of the Boards of our local societies. As a part of my election campaign, I promised to meet with each Board and to try to attend as many Forecast Dinners as possible during my two year term.
The local society boards that I have met with since January 2009 are: Vancouver, Atlantic and Montreal. I have attended the inaugural Forecast Dinner for the Victoria Society and the Atlantic CFA Society Forecast Dinner.
After the Orlando leaders’ meeting, I am scheduled to meet with the Toronto Society in June and will be attending their forecast dinner in October. Please let me know when it is convenient for me to visit your Board and when you will be having your forecast event.
I continue to be impressed with the depth and knowledge of our local leaders and the passion that they bring to our profession. The programming that you are bringing to your local members is outstanding. Thank you for all of the hours that you contribute.
The economic downturn has not stopped this group from moving forward on their mandate to deliver quality programs and employment opportunities to our members. Job postings are continuing albeit at a somewhat decelerated pace. Our societies are partnering to explore the opportunity to have a part – time administrator that would assist with our national initiatives. Montreal has spearheaded a plan to create a brochure for employers that could be leveraged across the country. As my predecessor, Beth Hamilton – Keen, aptly put it, Canada is known as the “land of best practices”.
I have been an active participant on our National initiatives: the Canadian Advocacy Council and the Canadian CIPM Committee. I would like to thank Ross Hallett and Garvin Deokiesingh respectively and their committees for their valuable contributions.
Some of the areas that have slowed, mostly due to the upcoming resolution of the National administrator, have been the National Polling, Website and Database initiatives. We are hoping to have this issue resolved soon so that we can continue with these important initiatives.
I am looking forward to seeing you in Orlando near the end of April.
Janine Guenther, CFA
Presidents Council Representative for Canada