Minutes of March 3, accepted.

Contract Issues
The comptroller's suggestion to change the notification period for the FCH agreement from 60 days to 30 days is being discussed throughout the province.

The Federation is addressing the issue with the assistance of the lawyer who was originally involved in the negotiations. She will be involved should it become necessary, however right now she is only being informed of the situation.

The FAFP has also been approached by the ministry for input, although they were not involved in the original negotiations

Some on call indicated that they were feeling that foster parents are becoming more and more disillusioned with all the demands MCFD is making that they will cease fostering. This may mean that only new inexperienced foster parents will be available to care for children, thereby possibly putting those children at risk. Due to the higher expectations around involvement with birth families, special skills etc., and inexperienced homes may burn out earlier,

The Vice President will request an update from Clara.

SW Student Letter
The letter from a SW student was discussed. The delegates felt that they would be able to get foster parents to participate in this project. The Vice President will contact the student to gather more information. The information will be e-mailed to the board for further discussion.

Treasurer's Report
The schedules A & B for the 2004/05 contracts will be e-mailed to the board with a request that any concerns be forwarded to the provincial office no later than April 13, 2004. The contract amount reflects the executive's full funding request of $114,435.40.

The Treasurer has had no feedback on his Regional Accountability request for yearly statements. The deadline for receipt is May. The Treasurer has devised a form and sent it out. Local and regional treasurers may revise it to suit their needs.

FOK is in the midst of closing down the regional council and moving authority to locals.

A request was made for year-end financial statements to be sent to the board once they are received. The consensus was that, going forward monthly statements should be supplied. The Vice President and Office Administrator will be meeting with the BCFFPA bookkeeping services to discuss some issues.

The vehicle lottery and United Way information is currently on hold, due to time restrictions for the Treasurer.

President & Vice President Report

North Meetings.
The Vice President and President had very productive meetings with foster parents and MCFD in Dawson Creek, Prince George and Terrace. The minutes of these meetings will be forwarded to those present at the meetings for sharing. These meetings gave everyone a chance to become aware of the work of the provincial BCFFPA and to gather and share information around issues and concerns.

The three-legged stool concept was shared with all parties, and it is hoped that these meetings will lead to positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Hotel Meeting
The Vice President was in the Interior region to attend the G AGM, and took the opportunity to meet with staff hotel staff involved with our Provincial AGM.

Area G AGM
During the G AGM the Vice President shared information around the function of the BCFFPA at the provincial level and outlined both MCFD funded and non-funded services offered.

The group of foster parents in Kamloops has agreed to assist in gathering a list of caregivers available for childcare during the AGM. They are also looking at trying to billet some out of town foster parents.

FOK Executive Meeting
From Area G, the Vice President traveled to FOK and met with various regional and local executives to outline the provincial services. One of the issues discussed at the FOK meeting was the disbanding of the FOK regional council, in order to use the resources to work with FEK, FWK and G to form a macro regional council. There is a request for a meeting room to be available for Interior Region local and regional executive on June 10th in Kamloops so that the discussion can continue. The office will arrange it.

There was a motion made to increase the telephone expense for the executive positions in view of the new method of conducting business via fax and telephone.

01/04/04:MSC: (Betty Davis) Move that the President and Vice President telephone costs be increased to $30.00 per month with no receipts and that the Treasurer and Secretary telephone costs be increased to $20.00 per month with no receipts. Unanimous

Membership in other Organizations
Although the BCFFPA is holding membership in CFFA, FCFS, and the BC Council for Families, there is no ability for other organizations to hold membership in the BCFFPA through organizational memberships. It was felt that the membership should be in the neighborhood of $100.00 per year. There is work needed on a special resolution for 2005 to allow for this. The Parliamentarian will be asked to assist.

AGM Nominations
Frank Hetherington does not plan to run again this year. Sheila Durnford is running for President, with Melanie Filiatrault running for Vice President so far. Sheila Davis expressed an interest in running for the position of Secretary, and The Treasurer Ross MacDonald informed the board that he is not planning to run due to family commitments.

CFFA Poster Contest
To date there has been one poster received. Foster parents are encouraged to share the information with the children and youth in their care.

MCFD Liaison Report
The FH Draft Standards are still in process, as well as the Draft Standards for Caregiver Support Services. They should be out in mid-April for a final review. MCFD will send them to the office for distribution.

The Assistant Deputy Minister - MCFD is unable to attend the AGM in June as he is away for the month of May and will be unable to fit it into his schedule. The Interior Regional Executive Director will be asked to attend.

The Service Transformation Manager will be attending the Contract Managers Meeting in the next couple of weeks. One topic for discussion will be the issue of shortening the date for termination of foster parent contracts.

She will be providing a letter to the BCFFPA with regard to the reasons for the changes to funding which took place in 2002/03.

Extended Health and Dental Agent
Ian Bideshi is interested in attending local AGM's around the province to give information regarding programs available.

AGM Update
The Vice President proposed that some provincial funds be allocated to each region to assist them in sending some foster parents to the AGM. It was decided that there would be $500.00 per macro region available. The regional delegates will be responsible for ensuring that the dollars are allocated properly. In addition to that some locals and regions have other money available for this purpose.

02/04/04:MSC: (Nancy Germain) Move to allow $500 to each Macro Region to go towards expenses for voting members to attend the AGM. Regional Delegates to provide an accounting Unanimous.

Regional Concerns
There were no concerns brought forward at this time.