As I’m sure you’ve heard from multiple directions, 2020 has been challenging like no other year in recent memory.  From Energy Connections to WISE, from our BCUC participation to the Cool It! Climate Leadership program, there is nothing the BCSEA does that hasn’t been impacted by Covid-19. Despite the challenges, we have dedicated and engaged staff, volunteers, members, and sponsors who have pivoted to the new normal.  
On November 21st, BCSEA held its sixteenth Annual General Meeting. As a provincial organization we have in the past, had in-person and virtual attendance. This year’s AGM was entirely virtual. Here are some of the highlights: 
1. Cool It is now in the final year of our EcoAction funding, with a focus on delivering high school workshops.  There has been great interest in our fully online delivery at both the elementary and high school programs, including with the Conseil Scolaire Francophone de la Colombie-Brittanique. 
2. Chapters engaging with municipalities and climate action plans, virtual viewing events, and volunteer engagement opportunities. 
3. BCUC intervention team has done great work on policy development involving low carbon electrification, EV charging, and support for First Nations and low-income communities. 
Also at our AGM, we voted in Diana Sollner as our new Treasurer, for a 2-year term.  The rest of the Board has 1 more year left on our terms, and at next year’s AGM, we will stagger our Board terms to provide more long-term continuity at the governance level. 
We also introduced Nacy Wyeth as our new bookkeeper, who has taken over from our highly esteemed, and greatly valued, Michael Brinsmead, who retired in June.  We welcome both Diana and Nancy to the BCSEA, and our very best wishes to Michael in his next adventures. 
One last thing – the Board is undertaking a series of strategic planning workshops.  This is a regular, annual exercise, but there is greater urgency in this current iteration.  With the pandemic, there has been a distinct change in what BCSEA is able to do in the way of our normal activities.  Like many organizations, many of our normal revenue streams have been reduced.  We will be collaborating with our Chapters on this strategic planning initiative, and are planning a special general meeting in February 2021 to present the results. 
Now that we are in our ‘second wave” of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to look after your health, both mental and physical.  With the upcoming Holiday break upon us, we will not be able to gather with family and friends like we have in previous years.  On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers, I wanted to wish you the best of the Holiday Season. 

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Friday, November 27, 2020