April 2009 - Association Update

Highlights of the March OPHA Board of Directors meeting

The OPHA Board of Directors had their second meeting this year on March 26-27 at the North York Civic Centre. Some of the highlights from that meeting include:

  • Phil Jackson, Vice President Strategy and External Relations at the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) presented on their Strategic Planning Framework and Start-up Operational Plan. The document can be downloaded from Agency website www.oahpp.ca All OPHA members are encouraged to submit your comments on the framework directly to stratplan@oahpp.ca by May 15th, 2009.

  • Garth Bobb, Connect Consulting Solutions, gave a presentation to the Board on Government Relations and Advocacy to assist board members and workgroup chairs in fine tuning their advocacy skills.

  • The Board welcomed three new workgroups: the Built Environment workgroup, the Injury Prevention workgroup, and the Marketing to Children workgroup. All 11 Workgroup Chairs met and received an orientation to “Our Voice in Action”, our website and their own home page, participated in the Advocacy Committee, and listened to the government relations presentation.

  • The Board completed the update of OPHA’s Strategic Action Plan 2009-10.

  • OPHA now has a working Corporate Sponsorship Policy. Please take some time to review the policy and send us your comments. This is a working document which will be piloted and enhanced over time.

  • The OPHA budget was approved with a significant deficit. Subsequently, OPHA has received word that two of its resource centres will receive significant funding cuts adding further to our deficit position. OPHA staff will work to reduce this deficit through other partnership and funding proposal development.

Staff Updates

We welcome Laura King Hahn to our Heart Health Resource Centre as Program Coordinator, Consultation and Coaching. As you may know, Laura has an extensive background in the heart health world as a heart health coordinator, senior specialist with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and as a consultant with the HHRC. Her knowledge and experience will be a terrific asset to the HHRC, the Ontario Heart Health Network, and the Ontario Heart Health Promotion community partnerships.