Secretary General’s Report to the Annual General Meeting June 17, 2006
Thank you and welcome everyone.
It is once again a great honour to address all of you attending our Annual General Meeting, and to celebrate the many accomplishments of the Canadian Red Cross.
It hasn’t been a full year since we last gathered as Kate Wood just said, but it has indeed been an eventful period. Since the last AGM, we stepped up efforts related to our ongoing priorities... disaster management, international programs and fund development. We also continued to strive to increase efficiencies throughout the Society.
And also during this time, we provided important humanitarian services to Canadians, responded to disasters and crisis at home and abroad, and, of course, continued to prepare for future challenges.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your efforts, and discuss just a few initiatives that illustrate your hard work.
The Canadian Red Cross raised more than $25 million for relief efforts in Pakistan following the terrible earthquake in early October. The funds allowed us to support the direct purchase of shelter material, blankets, building supplies and other goods.
We continue to support initiatives that help survivors reclaim their lives and that help rebuild health and community infrastructures.
As you know, last year’s hurricane season created havoc in the Southern United States. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were the most destructive storms to strike the United States in a century.
The Canadian Red Cross supported the American Red Cross by sending supplies and manpower - Canadian relief workers – 246 I was told – travelled south to help with shelter, feeding, clean-up, transportation and other urgently-needed work.
And the Canadian public was extremely generous, donating more than $25 million to hurricane relief efforts.
In the last year, the Canadian Red Cross continued its tsunami operations. By working with the Federation, we have helped bring relief to more than 1.7 million survivors in the affected regions.
By the one-year anniversary last December, the Canadian Red Cross’ projected total revenues for the tsunami amounted to $372 million, with 93 per cent of that amount now spent and committed.
We are committed to a full recovery in the region, which is expected to take up to 8 years if not more. The goals behind all of our work are community development and sustainability.
In Canada, our volunteers and staff were present across the country following floods, forest fires, evacuations and other emergencies, providing much needed relief, comfort and support.
In the past year, the Canadian Red Cross increased its efforts to promote Humanitarian Values and International Humanitarian Law.
Over 550 activities reached approximately 55,000 people across the country, giving them a better understanding of humanitarian values and IHL. Canadian Red Cross volunteers, staff and overseas personnel now have access to improved training material on humanitarian values and IHL. Over the coming years, all Canadian Red Cross personnel will receive training through classroom or online sessions.
The Detention Monitoring Program is a concrete expression of the Canadian Red Cross’ commitment to protecting lives and ensuring respect for human dignity. In the last year, monitoring teams conducted visits to immigration facilities and detention centres in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. They also participated in a training course for Correctional Service officers working with immigration detainees.
We also continued the important work of Restoring Family Links, tracing hundreds of missing people providing messaging services to hundreds more in places where no other means of communication is possible. The Canadian Red Cross also launched the Ante Mortem Data Collections project, a special outreach program to survivors of the Balkans conflicts who continue to search for missing loved ones.
Regarding Health and Injury Prevention, our international efforts continued to improve the health of the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations. We are active in Central America, Africa, and Asia. We strive to contribute to the Millennium Development Goals that specify targets to reduce the mortality of children under five, reduce maternal mortality, and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis by 2015.
At home, more than 300,000 Canadians were trained in Red Cross First Aid programs, and 5,000 thousand more received advanced specialized training. The Canadian Red Cross also embarked on its first major revision to the First Aid program in 12 years.
This year also marks 60th Anniversary of Canadian Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety in Canada. More than one million Canadians enrolled in Canadian Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety programs. In addition, 21,000 Instructors and Instructor Trainers were certified through a network of 3,800 pool and waterfront Authorized Providers and partners.
Earlier this month, I was in Vancouver for the official launch of a new partnership between the Canadian Red Cross and Swimming Canada. Under the new partnership, Swimming Canada spokespersons will promote safety messages and the value of Red Cross Swim programs. And, Red Cross Swim Instructors will have an opportunity to become part of the future of competitive swimming in Canada by identifying pupils who show potential as future competitive swimmers.
As well, RespectED continues to meet increasing demands for violence and abuse prevention. The programs reach over 300,000 children, youth, adults and communities. We are also working with the Federation to help formulate the best-possible protocols for prevention of exploitation and abuse of vulnerable young people in humanitarian assistance situations, such as refugee camps.
In all of these cases, and indeed in ALL of our initiatives, the work was carried out in the spirit of the Red Cross’ fundamental principles, as well as our shared philosophy of emphasizing the needs and interests of those we serve: victims, vulnerable people, beneficiaries and clients.
In an effort to better reflect this philosophy, there have been a number of changes within the Society since we last met.
The timing of this Annual General Meeting, for instance, was changed to better reflect the start and end of our operational year.
This year, the Board of Governors will have a new President, two new Vice-Presidents, a new Past-President, and several new Governors.
Allow me, then, to welcome our new friends who are joining the Board. And to those who are leaving us, we convey heartfelt appreciation and thanks for their hard work and dedication over the past few years. They accompanied us as the Society faced many challenges: from the final transition of the blood program to management of major disasters, from organizational change to unprecedented involvement in large-scale international development programs.
At this stage of my presentation, allow me to pay special tribute to a special person. Of course, I’m referring to Kate Wood, our outgoing President.
In 1997, as newly appointed Secretary General, I had the pleasure of enjoying a meal with Kate at a Chinese restaurant in Charlottetown. During our discussion, I came to appreciate her profound knowledge of the organization, her Red Cross values and her commitment to the humanitarian cause. I was struck by this gentle woman with the radiant smile and simple ways. I already pictured her as President and, in 2005, I was right!
What a presidency it has been!
Kate became involved in a number of Red Cross committees including a few with complex and difficult mandates. The blood issue comes to mind, especially during the “final stretch” and outcome, which took place a year ago.
Her presidency has been brief but significant, with several major events. There was the membership, blood, volunteers, Society by-laws including space allotted to each Zone, the date change for the Annual Meeting at which we find ourselves today, the Tsunami, Katrina, Rita, Wilma, and the earthquakes in Pakistan and Yogyakarta. On a more personal note, I admit that if I prolonged my own time at the Society, it is thanks to Kate.
As I said earlier, I have had the opportunity of working with her on a number of contentious issues. I have always admired her sense of balance, her ability to find the right tone and the “creative” latitude she allows her collaborators. What grace, what sensitivity and yet what strength when the circumstances warrant it. This may surprise you coming from her. But, no. She told me that when she practises matrimonial law, she most often confronts male colleagues in dispute resolutions. She has learned to negotiate!
Having said this, we have never disagreed on fundamental issues. Moreover, we share a love of nature – canoeing, camping, hiking - . The rustle of the leaves, the quiet lapping of a canoe on the ripples of a lake in the middle of nowhere, the freshness of the morning as you wake up in your tent.
Kate is a study in simplicity. Last Sunday, she was just enjoying a beer, leaning against our kitchen counter, while her endearing husband, Kelvin, my wife, Martine and I drank... champagne.
She has bequeathed to us, her love of the organization, her commitment to helping those who need it most, and her sense of responsibility toward those who count on her.
Kate, the moment has come to thank you. I would like everyone in this room to join me in saying THANK YOU to Kate.
Also of note: Later today, we will be ratifying changes to the Society’s by-laws as Kate Wood said. These modifications, as you are, are the result of extensive national consultation. I believe that they provide for a greater focus on our beneficiaries by allowing Zones greater flexibility to adjust to demographic and organizational differences and to better reflect local needs.
In addition, the Membership program is gaining momentum and we hope that when it is launched publicly, it will engage and invite Canadians to embrace our values and Fundamental Principles, and encourage people to show their commitment to the work of Red Cross. This program should also help establish and increase our presence and visibility in communities all across Canada.
And as you know, the last months have also brought considerable changes to the Society’s senior management.
Chief Financial Officer Larry Mills left the Canadian Red Cross to take on new challenges in China. Let me take this opportunity to recognize Larry’s long-time devotion to the Canadian Red Cross Society and to thank him for his continued support from across several time zones as we go through the hiring process to find a new CFO.
John Mulvihill has agreed to take on the new role of Deputy Secretary General – Development. John will direct his expertise in developing relationships with key contacts in the public and private sectors to help secure new resources.
Quebec General Manager Conrad Sauvé is helping to measure progress on our priorities, while Paul Wharram assumes the role of my Chief of Staff while also maintaining his current responsibilities.
Dear friends, we all know that our work would be meaningless without the devotion of the thousands of volunteers who help deliver our services across the country and across the world. They are the heart and soul of this organization. That’s why a new position has been created with national focus on volunteers and volunteer resource management. Ann Clancy will help us realize our volunteer-related strategic objectives nationally, and will also assume responsibility for the Membership Program. Thank you, Ann, for taking on this important task.
Our staff members also play key roles in all of our operations. I would like to take this opportunity to salute the more than 8,000 employees across the country who help make the Canadian Red Cross such a vibrant organization.
The key to our continued success will be a Society-wide focus on effectiveness. The Quality Management and Effectiveness Office is the culmination of a long history of improvement exercises. It will provide guidance and support to all departments and programs for organizational, strategic and operational planning and evaluation, and for quality and risk management.
As part of our quality management efforts, we have launched a series of peer assessments in an “accreditation-like” approach. A team of managers from one or more Zones visit another Zone to conduct a general assessment, meeting with staff and volunteers, reviewing governance, staffing, plans and operations. These peer assessments are meant to provide both the host and the visiting teams with opportunities for learning, improvement and growth. Ontario Zone has completed this process and National Office is currently being assessed.
I recognize that these changes can be challenging, but they represent important steps towards maximizing our effectiveness, and achieving our full potential as a humanitarian organization Let’s learn from each other. We should be proud of what we do and how we do it.
Together, as volunteers, staff and delegates, - let’s not forget the outstanding work that delegates are doing overseas - we have shown what can be achieved when we mobilize the ‘power of humanity’ - a team working together to help the most vulnerable.
You have all risen to many challenges in the past, and I know I can count on you to do so in the future. It is because of you that the Red Cross continues to be the leading humanitarian organization in Canada. You are the Red Cross.
Thank you.
