Minutes, Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Association of Palynologists
August 16, 2022 – Hybrid Meeting; Room PK-6610, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), 201 rue President Kennedy, and on Zoom.

In attendance, in person: Florin Pendea (Meeting Chair and President), Francine McCarthy (Meeting Secretary and Secretary-Treasurer), Estelle Allan (Newsletter Editor), Hans Asnong, Anne de Vernal, Michelle Garneau, Elisabeth Levac, Pierre Richard, Gaelle Turcotte.
In attendance, online: Manuel Bringué (Website Editor), Terri Lacourse (IFPS Councillor), Alwynne Beaudoin, Bianca Frechette, Konrad Gajewski, Julie Loisel, Diana Tirlea; see screen capture images below.
Quorum reached. 4:08 PM, meeting called to order (F. Pendea).

1. Acceptance of agenda
Motion to accept carried (P. Richard/ E. Allan)

2. Approval of the minutes of the 2021 Annual General Meeting – correct version posted on the website
Motion to accept carried (F.McCarthy/ E. Allan)

3. Business arising from Minutes
None.

4. President’s report – F. Pendea (posted)
No questions.

5. Secretary-Treasurer’s report – F. McCarthy (posted)
Summary/ highlights brought up (mainly engagement)

6. By-Law update
Change of address
Motion to change bylaws to reflect change of address to F.McCarthy’s home address; passes with no opposition (F.McCarthy/ T. Lacourse)

7. Auditor’s statement – D. Tirlea (posted)
No questions.
Motion to accept carried (F. Pendea/ A. Beaudoin).

8. Newsletter Editor’s report – E. Allan
Items needed especially for May issue; requests for feedback/type of material covered; M. Bringué suggested biopics of students/young professionals; F. Pendea suggested continuing the Lab visits; T. Lacourse suggested featuring new members.

9. Website Editor’s report – M. Bringué
Statistics show that we are maintaining a healthy presence but not higher than last year… see if increased membership leads to more traffic; WordPress ads: should we investigate the cost of sites without popups or having an institution host it; Former member/ meeting guest H. Asnong suggested LinkedIn as well as Instagram, Facebook; alternate domain suggestion shared.

10. Engagement Team’s report – D. Tirlea with N. Riddick & in consultation with the Executive
Most recent initiative is Instagram account; looking for new members and content. F. Pendea suggested that Membership and Engagement Officer become a formal Executive position; M. Bringué cautioned against using term Engagement and T. Lacourse suggested Membership and Outreach Officer instead (details to be decided by next AGM).
Motion to add Membership and Outreach Officer to the CAP Executive (P. Richard/M. Bringué).

11. Appointment of Auditor
S. Finkelstein is typically willing to act as auditor, so she will be approached ahead of next year’s meeting.

12. Vacant position
President Elect: nominee Jennifer Galloway; M. Bringué summarized her qualifications as a highly competent candidate, and following a very brief discussion: motion to appoint J. Galloway January 1, 2023 for a 2-year term (F. Pendea/ F.McCarthy).

13. Location for 2023 AGM
Several possible locations were suggested for the next AGM: GACMAC? CANQUA? AASP? GACMAC, which continues to be ‘hard-rock’-dominated, is an unlikely venue, given its location in Sudbury in 2023 but Brandon in 2024 may be a possibility, since David Greenwood’s lab is there (although IPC is in Prague then, another option). Since CANQUA was unable to meet in 2022, we will contact M. Peros re. possibilities for 2023. No information on a venue for AASP in 2023 – can contact S. Stukins for details. ISTA (testate amoeba conference) is tentatively planned for fall 2023 in Niagara, and several CAP members have been on the organizing committee of the often re-scheduled (!) event – could be a very small-scale preamble for IPC 2028?

14. Priorities & Goals
2028 IPC? Toronto or Montreal? Crawford Lake/ Niagara outings vs. Lac au Castors on Mont Royal, etc.

15. Other Business
Suggestions for future consideration: funds for ‘Membership and Outreach’? (D. Tirlea); best student presentation funds (A. de Vernal). Executive agreed to meet online for an interim meeting in December that would include President-Elect J. Galloway to discuss the location of the next AGM, Membership & Outreach initiatives, plans for the IPC bid, and suggestions brought up in other business.

16. Adjournment
6 PM motion to adjourn; celebration of Pierre J.H. Richard’s career and contribution to CAP/ APC begins, to follow at the pub!