Organizational Development: History
Organizational Development: History
The purpose of this section is to provide you with a history of the organizational development of the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN). This narrative does not include historical information on the development of the various Caucuses of the OAN. The facts below have been compiled by reviewing documents found in the Ontario AIDS Network’s office and by talking with some brave souls who have been involved since the beginning!
JULY 1986: FIRST OAN MEETING
The Ontario AIDS network held its first meeting, funded by the Ontario Government, through the Ontario Public Education Panel on AIDS, in July, 1986 in Windsor, Ontario. At this first meeting, eight groups from Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Kingston and Thunder Bay met informally to network, support each other and exchange information and resources. Until this time, no mechanism existed to enable a flow of information amongst the different community-based AIDS organizations across the province. The groups attending the first meeting opted to create no structures although there was some discussion about whether the OAN should incorporate. The incorporation issue was revisited several times in the late 1980’s and would absorb a lot of energy at future OAN meetings.
EARLY YEARS, 1986-1989: FEW MEMBERS, HOMOGENEOUS, NO STRUCTURE, NO PROVINCIAL OFFICE
From 1986 to 1989, membership grew from eight to fourteen groups, meetings were small and relatively homogeneous and individual groups were able to volunteer to host OAN meetings, update membership information, prepare meeting agendas and in general handle the provincial business of the OAN. In its first few years, the OAN functioned without provincial staff. There was no board and no way to make decisions between quarterly meetings except to call around to each group. Groups met primarily to network, provide support to each other and share resources. OAN quarterly meetings also began to provide both the provincial and federal governments open, efficient and synergistic contact opportunities with members which became the foundation of an unprecedented working relationship between grass-roots community groups and government bodies.
1989: TRILLIUM FOUNDATION GRANTS and THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OAN
In 1989, the Volunteer Trillium Committee (VTC) was created to monitor two large Ontario Trillium Foundation Grants, a grant program to local groups to assist with the development of agency programs and New Chapter Development Grants. These grants were given to the Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) to be used for the development of groups in Ontario. CAS was also given a development grant of four hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars ($485,000.00) over a five-year period to develop a provincial network, the Ontario AIDS Network. All funds from these Trillium grants flowed through CAS but were managed by the VTC, which also served as the Provincial Fundraising Committee (PFRC). The PFRC oversaw the raising of the provincial New Fundraising Commitment. This commitment involved the raising of private sector money which was part of the grant agreement with the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It also oversaw all OAN Provincial fundraising. The one staff person, Judith English, was supervised by the VTC. This grant program was the beginning of the development of the OAN provincial office and the very first service offered by the OAN office.
SEPTEMBER 1989 and NOVEMBER 1989, OAN MEETINGS: STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE I and STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE II
Since 1986, the issue of incorporation had been discussed regularly. At the September OAN meeting of 1989, the OAN was presented with the findings of the first Strategic Planning committee, which was established to examine the current structure of the organization, the pros and cons of increased structure and the option for increased structure. The original strategic planning committee, consisting of Betty Anne Thomas, Alex Berry and Judith English, recommended increased structure and leaned towards incorporation. They offered three recommendations which were received with mixed reviews. A revised committee, consisting of Alex Berry, Kam Rae, Terri Grant-Galli, Clarence Crossman and Judith English, was struck to continue this work. The new committee reported its results to the November 1989 OAN meeting. They rejected incorporation and added long-term planning to the mandate of the Strategic Planning Committee.
1989-1992: GREAT INCREASES IN MEMBERSHIP FROM DIVERSE COMMUNITIES and THE NEED FOR MORE STRUCTURE
As the disease manifested itself in populations other than the gay white male population, new community-based groups arose and membership in the OAN grew rapidly. New issues arose including cultural and linguistic diversity, women’s issues and the needs of IV drug users. Caucuses developed in the late 80’s and early 90’s to represent the issues of women, PHAs and people of colour to the OAN. In the early 90’s, several important meetings were held to provide the OAN with more structure. In order to continue to grow and be effective, the OAN needed to review and articulate its values and develop goals in such a way as to integrate the new realities of the HIV pandemic and groups involved. It also had to establish an organizational structure that would respond to its values and goals. The failure to take these steps had caused distress and disruption in the organization and absorbed great energy and time at quarterly meetings. At the April 1990 OAN meeting in Guelph, a motion was passed that Michael Sobota and Alex Berry design a format to develop objectives for the OAN. Meetings were consequently organized to establish the objectives, goals, values, a mission statement and statement of principles.
A facilitated afternoon workshop on the goals and objectives of the OAN took place at the July 1990 OAN meeting in Thunder Bay. Member groups agreed that more time was needed to do the work. A special meeting of the OAN was organized on September 15, 1990 and facilitated by David Hoe. Each voting group sent one delegate at the time. Travel costs were paid by the provincial Trillium budget. The final outcome of this meeting was to have Alex Berry summarize the results of this meeting at the September 30, 1990 OAN meeting.
SEPTEMBER 1990, OAN MEEETING: OAN STEERING COMMITTEE CREATED
The member groups at the September 30, 1990 meeting voiced a need to clarify the OAN identity and purpose through a mission statement and goals. An election of a Steering Committee to do business of the OAN between meetings and to review the purpose of the OAN was also recommended. The final outcome of the meeting was an elected steering committee which included four regional members, one PLWA task force member, and two ex-officio: one OAN staff, one CAS representative. The Steering Committee was an interim group which oversaw the development of the Ontario AIDS network and which performed other tasks as requested by the OAN. A budget of six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) for three meetings was set. This meeting also featured an organizational development workshop by Ross Hammond which resulted in the development of criteria for a mission statement.
At this time, the VTC’s focus became the monitoring of the Trillium grant and fundraising through the Provincial Finance Committee.
By late 1990, the OAN had 23 member groups. It still remained, however, a loosely defined network with no clearly defined presence between its quarterly meetings and no on-going administration.
1991: OAN DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS and THE MOVE TOWARD INCORPORATION
The OAN Steering Committee proposed a series of OAN Development Workshops at the January 1991 meeting. The Ontario Ministry of Health provided funding to the OAN to hire Ross Hammond as the facilitator of a series of workshops that would cover values, the mission statement, goals and objectives and structure. On April 27, 1991 a one day workshop on values took place in Kingston. On July 7, 1991 a half day workshop on mission statements was held in London. At the London OAN meeting, the membership approved a Statement of Principles on July 6, 1991. Goals and objectives were dealt with in a one day workshop in Windsor on September 14, 1991. Prior to this workshop, the Ontario AIDS Network’s current mission statement was approved by the membership on September 13, 1991. Issues of structure were discussed in Toronto on December 7, 1991. During this meeting, a motion was made that the OAN should incorporate with a board made up of one representative from each group. The motion was carried. This outcome, a board with representation from each group, was altered at a meeting in the summer of 1992.
DECEMBER 1992, OAN MEETING: FINALIZATION OF BYLAWS
At the OAN meeting in Ottawa, December 5th and 6th, 1992, the membership finalized and passed the Bylaws of the organization.
APRIL 1993, OAN MEETING: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION CREATED
At the April 1993 meeting in Sudbury, the position of Executive Director was created. This was a change of title and responsibility for the existing Provincial Program Coordinator, Judith English.
JULY 1993, OAN MEETING: FIRST BOARD IS ELECTED
During 1992, several important items of business were settled. On April 11, 1992, the OAN approved its membership criteria and requirements for voting and non-voting members and the membership process. The current composition of the board was determined at the July 1992 OAN meeting in Peterborough. The first board was elected in July 1993 in Thunder Bay. Each region of the OAN, the north, southwest, southeast and Toronto and each caucus of the OAN, the PHA, the Women’s (currently spelled Womyn), and People of Color (currently called Race and Cultural Issues) was represented on the board. As well, two HIV+ declared at large seats and one undeclared at large seat completed the board. Eventually the original Volunteer Trillium Committee, which oversaw the Trillium Grant program, responsibilities were assumed by the board.
AUGUST 13, 1993: INCORPORATION
On August 13, 1993, after years of developmental work, the OAN became incorporated. In 1994, it received its registered charitable status number. On April 16, 1994, bylaw no. 1 was approved by the membership. This bylaw was important as it provided the rules by which the OAN conducts its business. The document provides important information on the structure of the OAN, the definition of the lines of authority and its processes: membership, elections, meetings and its board functions and roles. By July 1994, OAN money, which had originally flowed through the Canadian AIDS Society, became the responsibility of the OAN office.
1992 to 1995: DEVELOPMENT OF THE OAN OFFICE, SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
Beginning in 1992, the OAN began to provide several services to its member groups: managing grant programs, mail to its member groups and support to new and more established groups. In the summer of 1993, an administrative assistant was hired to assist the Executive Director administer the Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) Trillium Foundation grant programs and the various projects underway at the OAN. Several project coordinators were hired to manage projects. The OAN office grew further with the addition of a workshop coordinator in late 1993, who was hired to work on the ACAP funded PHA Projects program and the Trillium Foundation funded, SKILLS 95.
Below is a list of all projects completed or underway at the OAN as of August, 1995. For an update on our current services and programs, see the section in your manual called “The Ontario AIDS Network Office: Services, Programs and Advocacy”.
|Project Name |Funder |Grant Amount |
|Local Development Program (CAS), 1989 |Trillium Foundation |$3,211,600.00 |
|New Chapter Development Program (CAS), 1989 |Trillium Foundation |$ 250,000.00 |
|OAN Development Grant (CAS), 1989 |Trillium Foundation |$ 485,000.00 |
|Educator’s Meeting, Kingston & London, 1993 |Ontario Ministry of Health |$ 25,014.00 |
|Ampere, 1993 |ACAP |$ 50,000.00 |
|People of Color Conference, 1993 |ACAP |$ 17,783.00 |
|PHA Projects, 1993 |ACAP |$ 12,000.00 |
|National Demonstration Project, 1994 |Ontario Ministry of Health |$ 3,000.00 |
|Gay Men’s Educators Meeting, 1994 |Ontario Ministry of Health |$ 2,300.00 |
|Ampere, 1994 |ACAP |$ 60,000.00 |
|PHA Projects Program, 1994 |ACAP |$ 155,380.00 |
|Skills Building, SKILLS 95, 1994 |Trillium Foundation/CAS |$ 83,000.00 |
|Educator’s Meeting, London/Windsor, 1994-95 |Ontario Ministry of Health |$ 25,000.00 |
|Ethnocultural and Visible Minority Community Development Conference, |ACAP |$ 30,000.00 |
|1995 | | |
JULY 1995, OAN MEETING: STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE III, REDEFINING THE OAN
Strategic Planning Committee III, consisting of Peter Richtig, Co-Chair of the Board, John S. Burgess-Murray, Past Co-Chair of the Board, Steven Lough, Past Co-Chair of the Board, Jamie Tatryn and Camille Orridge, recently presented the results of a strategic planning questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent to all member groups. The Strategic Planning Committee results clearly indicated a need for the organization to do advocacy work on behalf of its 41 member groups and people living with HIV/AIDS across Ontario. It, however, remained unclear as to which advocacy issues the organization would pursue. Many member groups expressed the fact that they would like the OAN to continue to provide services and programming. It appears the membership wants an organization that provides services, programs and does provincial advocacy.
AUGUST 1995: REDEFINING THE OAN AS A PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATION: SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND ADVOCACY
1995 Charles Roy publishes his seminal work “Living and Serving” the foundation of GIPA (Greater Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS) which would form a core principle and challenge for AIDS service organizations.
By August 1995 the face of the epidemic had changed dramatically, with PLHA’s living longer due to better medication, evidence-informed practices and changes in the delivery systems to clients.
New challenges were also facing PLHA’s poverty, housing, access to work and there were barriers sexual identity, substance use, immigration status, race as well as access to medication for some. Trillium Drug Benefits Program established.
The OAN identified 8 routes to deal with these issues:
Networking, Consensus building, Administration, Information Sharing, Advocacy, Caucuses, Communication and Funding.
Committees:
Social Advocacy and Justice, Communication, Skills Building, Technology, Benefits for ASO’s, In-Reach and Diversity
Caucuses:
Regional: Northern, South-West, South-East, Central,
Womyn’s, Ethno-cultural, PHA, and Gay Men’s.
1996-1999: STRATEGIC PLAN
In 1996 the OAN created its 1st Strategic Plan this was in response to decisions made at the AGM in April. This was seen as a method to identify issues and to form a checklist as to what had been accomplished over the designated period. Among the items to be addressed was the lack of attendance at the Peer Skills training courses, issues no longer represented by caucuses, funding, ethno-cultural and gender issues. Over the years there would be caucuses created and dissolved as the needs arose.
A number of groups were not being represented because of stigma, discrimination and myths within their communities. People were reluctant to be associated with any AIDS Service Organizations or the OAN. This was especially true of the Aboriginal, ACB (African, Caribbean and Black) communities where HIV transmission rates were increasing. It was hoped that the “designated and non-designated” roles on the OAN Board would offer some change in attitudes and thus representation.
Another major point for the OAN membership was the lack of a voice at the provincial and federal levels in regards to funding. Additionally, it was felt that the OAN had not fulfilled its mandate as a voice in the media and as public response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The PHA/OAN caucus offered a short-lived newsletter.
The other area of focus was that of substance use and IV Drug users, many ASO’s adopt harm reduction as their model.
In 1998 new organizations joined the OAN including Hemophilia Ontario broadening the groups that the OAN represented.
Funding issues faced by its membership continued to be problematic so the OAN joined CCORA (Canadian Coalition of Organizations Responding to AIDS) to further advocate for resources.
There is also a designated position on the OAN Board for CAS (Canadian AIDS Society) representative this is holdover from when CAS was the method of monetary transfer from the Trillium project in the early days of the OAN’s creation.
2000-2003
OAN standing committees: Advocacy, Diversity, Membership and Finance.
Working Groups: Fundraising, Technology, Benefits and Honour Roll.
New groups were joining the OAN but the issues of funding still remained a concern of the membership. As their client base continued to expand ASOs had to do more with less money. In addition, co-morbidities were now a factor. Calls were put in for additional funding for Hep C which was beginning to impact the services of ASOs.
The 2002 ‘Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada’ aka The Romanov Report didn’t mention HIV/AIDS specifically but did touch on people with disabilities.
Casey House gives presentation on Harm Reduction to OAN Board of Directors which the board views as them “modelling the way” for other ASOs.
Charles Roy asked to submit an analysis of the benefits offered to ASO employees.
At meetings held at OACHA (Ontario Advisory Committee on HIIV/AIDS) and CSHA (Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS) in 2003 the Romanov report was referenced by OAN representatives.
The Advocacy Committee focused on legislation, housing and treatment as well as the costs of medication. The Diversity committee was encountering difficulties in obtaining members.
Rick Kennedy appointed ED (Executive Director) of the OAN.
2004-2008 STRATEGIC PLAN
In 2001 the AGM identified challenges for the next 4-year plan 1) Clients complex needs. 2) Financial Viability of ASO’s, 3) Lack of Public profile 4) Flexible Training Opportunities, 5) Broaden Skills Training, 6) Transfer of accurate Information, 7) Relationships with other organizations.
The changes in the face of HIV/AIDS meant that PLHA’s were living longer and facing other complex medical issues. ASO’s pointed out that because of these changes their client base had increased some 40%, along with a 15% decrease in real funding, high volume of staff turnovers as well as cutbacks due to decreased funding. Community based organizations were counting more on untrained volunteers to deal with clients but only 49% of people in ASO’s were accessing the training being provided in the Peer Skills building courses launched by the OAN. The reasons cited were distance, lack of funding to send staff and staff shortages.
The OAN developed the following responses.
1) Social Justice/Advocacy members to clarify issues and prepare evidence-based cases for funding “Stemming The Tide”
Joined ODSP Action Coalition
“March for Dignity”
2) Communication Identify Target Audiences, key messages, media relationship. Make OAN the Prime source for any information on HIV/AIDS
3) Skills Building Adapting Skills courses to suit client’s needs,
4) Knowledge virtual network
5) In Reach Make resources available to all. Inclusive.
The OAN PHA Caucus, the only one remaining in 2005, was remodeled to better address the new issues facing the organization. A Forum ‘Future Directions’ was held where it was decided to encourage PHAs to speak out and give voice to the direction the organization should take. The OHTN in 2007 did a follow up study “Living and Serving II: 10 Years Later” a report on the current progress and challenges to the involvement of PLHAs and the organizations created to serve them.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2009-13
The five directions the OAN would pursue Communications, Skills Building, Greater and More Meaningful Involvement of People with HIV/AIDS, Social Justice/Advocacy and Strategic Alliances/ Partnerships.
The OAN began to look at faith-based organization to see what role they could play in developing a strategy to fight stigma and discrimination. The OAN worked with its members to make a case for more funding which resulted with The AIDS Bureau increasing funding by 5% and maintaining those increases. Talks with the ODSP persuaded them to reverse the decision to cut the” special diet supplement” which would have affected some 1300 PLHA’s. Partnerships with the Canadian HIV Legal Network saw workshops being given on HIV and criminalization after the 2012 Supreme Court ruling.
The PLDITM (Positive Leadership Development Institute) joined with the Pacific Network to offer ty PLDI training on the West Coast. Funding from the AIDS bureau developed the OPRAH (Ontario Provincial Resource for ASO Human Resources) a program aimed at ED and Staff. In collaboration with CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) a 3-day workshop was created on managing depression.
Over its 26-year history the OAN has been at the forefront in working for the betterment of the lives of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. The OAN presently has 31 members and 10 affiliates.
With its allies and affiliates the OAN as per its mission statement continues to advocate for its members
Lastly, the OAN, through its Honour Roll recognizes those individuals or organizations who “challenge the process”.
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