November 2008 - Association Update

Annual General Meeting Highlights

OPHA held its Annual General Meeting on Monday, October 27th as a highlight of our annual conference — The Public Health Summit — which was presented in partnership with the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) and Niagara Region Public Health. A synopsis of the resolutions and position papers adopted at the recent AGM is featured in the Our Voice in Action section of this e-bulletin and can be downloaded from our Listing of Position Papers and Resolutions.

President, Carol Timmings presented the Annual Report 2008. In addition to the traditional presentation of our financial operations, this year’s report offers a comprehensive account of OPHA’s various operations—programs, workgroups, collaborations with other organizations, and features a profile of each of our Constituent Societies. If you would like a hard copy, please contact our Board and Member Relations Officer.

The OPHA Board of Directors has appointed a new auditor, BMO Dunwoody, for 2008-09. A new slate of officers was elected to the OPHA Board to assume duties beginning January 1st..

OPHA’s New Website - Rebranding

OPHA’s highly anticipated revamped website (still www.opha.on.ca) was launched at the recent Public Health Summit to rave reviews. Congratulations to our Chief Information Officer, Dorothy Birtalan, for her tireless efforts and extensive work on the website, and to HBS Marketing for the design. One of the features of the website is our Members' Lounge, which offers a wealth of resources to OPHA Members. Many people — OPHA staff, workgroups, and Board members — contributed their time and talents to the writing of the web site. Thanks to all for giving OPHA a new look. Watch for additions and refinements in the coming months.

Progress on Core Competencies

OPHA has received funding from HealthForceOntario to further our work on Public Health Core Competencies. Read the details in the Program Updates section of this e-bulletin.

OPHA Celebrates 60 Years of Public Health Advocacy

Mark your calendars for November 1–4, 2009 in Toronto at the Marriott Eaton Centre. OPHA will be celebrating its 60th birthday under the theme Public Health: Celebrating our Past; Building for the Future. The OPHA Constituent Societies are participating the 2009 Conference Committee. Stay tuned for further developments.

Staff Update

Tina Wadham has joined the OPHA as the Project Coordinator for the HealthForceOntario Performance Management Framework for Public Health Core Competencies Project. Tina comes to us from the Ontario Science Centre where she was the Recreational and Family Learning Experience Leader. With a variety of experience in program and staff management, Tina has contributed to improved employee performance management practices at a number of organizations by offering management training on Effective Supervision, by reviewing organizational performance management records and making recommendations, by facilitation program feedback sessions with staff and by designing and delivering healthy workplace solutions. Tina has worked in the fields of health promotion, training and development and recreational programming and she is excited about joining the OPHA team. Tina can be reached a twadham [at] opha.on.ca or at extension 255.