Attendees:	Alan Morgan, Administrative Director, CGC Antoni Lewkowicz, Committees Director, CGC Peter Bobrowsky, International Director, CGC, representing CANQUA Paul Robinson, Education Director, CGC Bob McNutt, Past President, CGC Jeremy Hall, Issues Director and President-elect, CGC Ron McMillan, Financial Director, CGC Dirk Tempelman-Kluit, President, CGC Gilles Arseneau, Financial Director-elect, CGC John Gartner, Past Business Manger, CGC Bryan Fryer, President, MAC Richard Grieve, Chief Geoscientist, GSC Chris Bunce, CGS Don Lawton, In-coming Chair, CCCESD Jean-François Couture, President, GAC
Agenda Items Note *** Denotes Action Items
Welcome and Introduction	The President welcomed the participants and the agenda was approved without amendment or additions It was noted that there was not a quorum, and it was decided to review the action items from the 102nd Council meeting and delay any further discussions until a quorum was assembled, a quorum comprising of one third of the voting members or four members. A quorum was reached during the discussion of the strategic plan.
Action Items From 102nd Council meeting	Paul Robinson moved and Brian Fryer seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the 102nd Council meeting, and this was unanimously approved. The action items are as follows: The Financial Director was instructed to implement the fee increase. Invoices have not yet been sent out The Financial Director with the help of the Business Manager was asked to prepare a new budget on the above assumptions and circulate to Council via email for approval before the June meeting. This was done. Micki Allen, John Gartner and Bob McNutt were asked to investigate the concept of a management team and report to Council. This was done and forms an agenda item of this 103rd meeting. The MAC / CGU / CANQUA / GAC should nominate an individual to develop terms of reference for a strategic plan for geoscience for Canada for the GeoCanada 2000 meeting. Brian Fryer agreed to lead this initiative and Richard Grieve to advise. This is an agenda item of this 103rd meeting. John Gartner and Alan Morgan will proceed with the final design and distribution plans for the census, to take place in the fall of 2000. This was done and forms an agenda item of this 103rd meeting.
Strategic Plan for Earth Sciences	Richard Grieve tabled a discussion document regarding a "Strategic Plan for earth Sciences in Canada". This three page document, is summarized as follows: Strategic Intent: While the 10 recommendations of the original 1995 Barnes report on the future challenges and trends in geoscience in Canada were never implemented, it is the intent of this document to initiate a discussion of a process to build such a framework, and explore the creation of a Strategic Plan for the Earth Sciences in Canada, and so effect recommendation 10 in the Barnes Report. Context: At a recent Geological Society of America meeting, a special session on future research in the Earth sciences highlighted the increasing importance to people of the Earth sciences, "if we can get our act together". In general, decision-makers look on the Earth sciences as esoteric and little used in decision making, resulting in poor support from government funding agencies. In 1998 the federal / provincial / territorial governments in Canada signed the Intergovernmental Geoscience Accord (IGA). The majority of what the GSC delivers now is in partnership with others. The partnerships would be stronger if there were some instrument akin to the IGA for "all" Earth science knowledge providers, and some indication of priorities. It is suggested that these priorities be timeliness and immediacy and potential for a major advancement in knowledge. Potential Action: The CGC sponsor a workshop to determine if there is a collective willingness to build cooperation within the community. Attendance should be restricted to 20 attendees, 5 from government, 5 from industry, 5 from academia and 5 from other science groups. The workshop would be professionally facilitated, and NRCan would pay for the costs of the workshop, but attendees would have to pay for their own travel expenses. If at the conclusion there was agreement that something akin to a Canadian Geoscience Accord was feasible, then a second workshop should be held. A questionnaire would be sent prior to this second workshop to the Earth science community, and the purpose of the second workshop would be to produce a framework for a "Canadian Geoscience Accord". Summary: The time is now. The CGC can be the vehicle, the Earth Science Sector (NRCan) can be the enabler and the community the participants. Following the presentation of this document, a full discussion ensued for the next 1½ hours. Many of the faults of the CGC were aired and the general theme of the discussion was that the Earth science community in Canada had to get its act together if it was going to survive in a meaningful way. With the poor attendance at this meeting, some questioned the resolve of the Earth science community to even want to achieve a consensus and to work together for a common cause. It was agreed that a better effort had to be made to relate the Earth sciences to society. The above discussion document needed more expansion, and it was moved: By Jeremy Hall, seconded by Paul Robinson that," Brian Fryer, Richard Grieve, Jean-François Couture and Jeremy Hall explore the possibilities of holding a future workshop, along the lines suggested in the discussion document, with the theme of How To Connect People With The Earth Sciences." The motion was carried.
Business Manager or Management Team	John Gartner reported on the process to investigate the possibility of hiring a management team to carry out the administrative functions of the CGC. A request for a proposal (RFP) was sent out to three management team companies. One declined a response but the other two responded to the RFP. A sub-committee of the Board, composed of Bob McNutt, Jeremy Hall, Alan Morgan and John Gartner reviewed the responses. They heard verbal presentations from both respondents and unanimously chose the firm of Base Consulting and Management Inc. of Toronto, who had the lowest bid and seemed best suited for the assignment. Their quoted price was $37,750 / annum in response to the scope set out in the RFP. The sub-committee recommended to the Board of Directors that this management team be hired for a period of one year, and the Board accepted this recommendation and places this recommendation before Council. There was a general discussion, with one dissenting voice that favoured the hiring of an Executive Director, knowledgeable about the geosciences and possibly a volunteer, paid a small retainer. Another member said that he could not make a decision without further details of the RFP and response. However, many voiced the opinion that the Board had followed a proper process of investigation and recommendation concerning a management team, and that Council should follow the recommendations of the Board and hire the management team. The following motion was made: Moved by Paul Robinson and seconded by Alan Morgan, that, "The CGC accept the recommendation of the Board to hire Base Consulting and management Inc to manage CGC affairs for a one year contract as per their proposal, within the proposed budget and starting as soon as possible." Vote: For – 8, Against – 1 Abstention – 2 The motion was carried
Budget	Ron McMillan distributed the financial statement for March 31, 2000. A copy of the statement can be supplied by contacting the Financial Director Gilles Arseneau atgar_rpavan@idmail.com . The balance sheet showed that the surplus for March 31, 2000 was $279,892, which was just $619 less than the surplus of $280,511 at the end of the 1999 fiscal year. Thus, the Council was able to employ the part-time Business Manger and not have to substantially dip into its capital. This was because the fee for IUGS was received after the fiscal year end and because of income made on the Mineral Geoscience review. The deficit for the year was only $619. The budget for 2000-2001 was also presented, as follows: Revenue $K Memeber Society Dues 15 Associate members 1 NRCan 70 Proovinces Surveys 2.2 Interest 2 Publication recovery (Careers Booklet) 4 Total Revenue $94.2 K Expenses Operating Presidents Office 1 Financial Director 3.5 Administrative Director 1.2 Management Team + Expenses 60 Executive Travel 20 Council Meetings 1.5 Memberships 0.7 Publications 3.5 Depreciation 0.5 Subtotal $91.9 International $45 Other Census 14.5 CGEN 6 EdGeo 5 EarthNet 4 Subtotal $29.5 Total Expenses $166.4K (Deficit) ($72.2K
	There was discussion of the budget items, and general agreement that the budget seemed realistic. It was pointed out that since the management team would only start in mid June that their expense would in reality be less than budgeted. It was then decided by a friendly motion to reduce the management team budget by $10K down to $50K. Moved by Ron McMillan and seconded by Paul Robinson to accept the budget with the management team reduced to $50K. Carried unanimously.
Census	John Gartner reviewed the letter that he had sent to all members earlier this year outlining the timetable and costs to complete the census. The costs were budgeted at $14,500 and the Management Team with instructions and help from John Gartner and Alan Morgan will activate the sequence of events.
Other Issues	CGC must broaden its attractiveness to a wider constituency, and to do this some changes may have to be made with the name and the logo. International funding will be discussed with Canadian representatives of IUGS and IGCP regarding future funding levels. The president will meet with these representatives to explore these issues. A list of outstanding issues before the Council was presented, as follows: Strategic Plan Public Awareness of Geosciences – schools and decision makers International Activities Marine Geoscience including ODP Capacity Gaps Research Funding Water Climate / Global Change Registration Mapping in Canada Broadening the Scope of CGC Arctic Mineral Deposits Research Radioactive Waste These potential issue topics were generally discussed, and questions regarding how the Council will deal with issues in the future were raised. It was suggested that perhaps "discussion papers" be first written and debated and then a final "policy position paper" be written and distributed to decision-makers and the public. International issues will be a focus in the fall CGC meeting.
Other Business	List server. It was pointed out that CGC now has a list server at the University of Ottawa, and will member societies give their members' email addresses to CGC to place on the server, or will this be up to the individuals themselves to place on the server. The list server should be advertised in member newsletters, and of course will be offered on the census forms. There will be new federal government guidelines on grants that might affect how CGC receives its grant from NRCan. Ron McMillan moved and Peter Bobrowsky seconded a motion that "CGC only pay documented expenses or properly submitted invoices. The motion was carried unanimously. The CGS is willing to continue with the climate change issue in conjunction with other members. CGS will be issuing a report on the accreditation of geological engineering program in September. CGS would like to see continued consideration of groundwater issues in Canada.
Presidents Oral Report	In preparation for the Annual general meeting, the President gave an oral report, as follows: The CGC continued to be proactive with the Business Manager's office providing leadership during the year; International issues were raised and debated during the year with the result that CGC committed to maintaining $45K to international affairs or review each year; During the year the base of CGC was broadened with the inclusion of the B.C. & Yukon Chamber of Mines as paying observer to CGC The Cathro report on the Mineral resources program of GSC was completed; The CGC finished the 1999-2000 fiscal year by maintaining its surplus at about the same level as 1998-1999; The census was organized and planned for implementation in the fall of 2000 CGC supported the PDAC brief to the Mine Ministers meeting in Prince Edward Island; This is the last meeting for Bob McNutt, Ron McMillan, Alan Morgan and John Gartner and the president thanked them all for their contributions to CGC over the years.
Next Meeting	Future Council meetings will be as follows: October 27, 2000 – Board of Directors in Ottawa October 28 – Council in Ottawa, Ontario February 2 & 3, 2001 - Board and Council in Vancouver, B.C. May 31 & June 1, 2001 – Board and Council in St. John's Nfld
Adjournment	Paul Robinson moved that the meeting be adjourned, and it was at about 5:00pm.