Special Meeting of OASW Members 

Join us for the Special Meeting of OASW Members to be held virtually on Friday, November 13, 2020, from 12:00 – 1:00 PM

• Update on OASW’s New and Innovative Structure to Support Local Engagement
• Approval of Bylaw Amendments
• Appointment of Auditors for 2020

New Structure: What It Means to Members
In May this year, at our Annual General Meeting, we announced an exciting and innovative new structure to better support local member engagement across Ontario.  

Our new structure supports the transition from Regional and Branch structures to a Local Engagement Ambassador program. 

The new structure will facilitate an increase in local and provincial professional development opportunities for members. Our new model will enable local engagement that is responsive to geographical challenges, increasing transparency on local performance and spending, and decrease administration for volunteers through dedicated provincial supports.

Bylaw Amendments
OASW bylaws have been significantly revised to not only incorporate the changes in our structure, but also to simplify and clarify the language.  These bylaw amendments have been approved by the Board of Directors and are being submitted for ratification at the Special Meeting of Members.

Proxy Form (if you cannot attend meeting)
Completing a proxy form enables those members who are unable to attend the Special Meeting of Members to designate another member who will be attending to vote on their behalf. Proxy forms must be completed by 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 11, 2020 to be valid.

If you have any questions about the Special Meeting of Members, the proxy form or any of the information in this message, please contact the OASW Provincial Office at info@oasw.org.

JOAN MACKENZIE DAVIES LECTURE - May 22, 2020

 

"Resilience and Equity for Leadership"

Life is “Dukkha” – which translates as life is suffering – is foundational to the understanding of resilience. This presentation will explore how the concepts of resilience and equity intersect in social work practice and how they relate to effective leadership. Throughout the talk, the presenter will utilize his professional and lived experience to demonstrate how social workers can use resilience and equity to foster lasting change at micro and macro levels.

Guest Presenter: Msenwa Oliver Mweneake, MA, MSW, RSW 
In 1996, when war broke out in eastern Congo, 15-year-old Oliver witnessed merciless killings of friends, neighbours and family. Through perseverance and determination, after years as a refugee, he emerged as a social worker who uses his lived experience to empower others. He has practiced social work in Africa and Canada as a clinical social worker in mental health and child welfare. Msenwa is interested in how policies affect macro social work, migration and diversity. He is the author of Still With Us: Msenwa’s Untold Story of War, Resilience and Hope and is the founder and director of the Msenwa Foundation, a charity that promotes resilience, hope and possibilities among children, youth and vulnerable women in DR Congo.