OSCAOSCA and Its Board
The Old Ottawa South Community Association (OSCA) is a group of community volunteers whose goal is to make Old Otawa South (OOS) a pleasant, fulfilling, and meaningful place to live. OSCA strives to improve quality of life in the community in a variety of ways, including:
- offering social events to strengthen community bonds and help neighbours get to know each other
- providing educational, sports, fitness, and recreational programming to the community, including the enriching after-school programs that are so important to working parents
- working actively to promote and protect the interests of the community with regard to planning and future development in and around OOS
- ensuring that the community's interests are effectively communicated to the public, City of Ottawa, and other governments and agencies whose activities may affect OOS
- keeping the community informed about activities and opportunities of interest to the community
- initiating new programs and policies from time to time to benefit the community
OSCA is managed by a board of up to 20 volunteers from the community, who form the OSCA Board of Directors and Executive. A variety of committees made up of interested OOS residents and Board members help run OSCA's activities. There is a committee that manages OSCA's program offerings, one that looks after zoning, development, and traffic issues (OSWatch), and one that deals with environmental issues (ECOS). For a complete list of committees, click here.
In the early months of each year, the nominating committee seeks to identify members of the community who wish to be nominated for the following year's Board. All OOS residents are encouraged to express their interest to OSCA, either by phone at 613-247-4872 or by email.
The activities of OSCA and the Board are governed by the Association's Bylaws, which are subject to review each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is held on the first Tuesday in May.
OSCA Monthly Board Meeting
The OSCA Board normally meets in the Community Centre at the Old Firehall on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, but is currently meeting in its temporary location at Southminster United Church. Meetings are held from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The Board does not meet during July and August.
Issues such as new developments, City planning, or activities at City Council that affect Old Ottawa South are discussed, and the committees present their monthly reports. Motions may be presented and decisions taken regarding actions the Association may take on these issues.
Interested members of the community are encouraged to come out to observe, or participate in, monthly Board meetings.
Each month's agenda is published on the website before the meeting so that OOS residents interested in the issues to be covered can attend the meeting if they wish.
All agendas, minutes, and reports are also published on the website.
The OSCA Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGM takes place on the first Tuesday of each May at 7:00 pm at the Old Firehall. The 2010 AGM will take place on May 4th at OSCA's temporary location at Southminster United Church.
At every AGM, the President, Executive, and Committee Chairs present their annual reports, including the annual financial report. Other current business that members raise may be discussed, including any proposed changes to Association policies or bylaws. Then the nominations for the next year's Board are presented and voted on by all "members in good standing", who are any OOS residents who have been registered OSCA members for at least 3 months prior to the AGM.
Any OOS resident is welcome to attend, whether or not they are registered OSCA members. In fact, this is a good time to register, and find out more about the community, especially if you are new to the neighbourhood.
Every year's AGM is different depending on the issues of the day, but it is always interesting, and always concludes with a delicious wine and cheese.
So keep an eye out for the March OSCAR, and on this website, for this year's AGM announcement, and mark your calendars for May 4th, 2010!
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