September Is The New May – OSCA Executive Committee and Board Update

Ever since the Firehall has been closed, OSCA’s Executive Committee, the OSCA Board, and OSCA Staff have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure the Association continues to provide some of its essential services and community support. They have also started to make preparations for OSCA’s new (operational and financial) reality, now that all City Recreational facilities have been mandated to stay closed until at least June 30th 2020. Below is a brief update of the types of things the Executive Committee and OSCA as a whole have been working on.

At their March 31st meeting, the Executive Committee agreed that OSCA was ready to start moving away from immediate crisis management associated with the closure of the Firehall and the cancellation of OSCA’s programs. By then OSCA had implemented key decisions such as officially releasing part-time staff and contracted instructors while retaining the full-time staff.

It was clear that despite all the uncertainty, OSCA needed to plan and prepare for the future re-opening. It was necessary to return to managing regular OSCA business, including re-establishing regular Committee and Board meetings using videoconferencing. As such, the Committee agreed to return to the normal cycle of Board meetings, and the first Virtual Board Meeting was held on Tuesday, 21 April 2020.

In addition, the Executive Committee agreed to continue to meet weekly via Zoom to be able to respond to the ever changing nature of the COVID-19 crisis.

Similarly, all OSCA Committees have been advised to continue holding regular (virtual) meetings, and several Committees have already done so.

There is lots of unexpected, extra work. Given these abnormal times, what we would normally accomplish by May is now targeted for September. In other words, OSCA has set itself the goal to prepare for re-opening and an AGM (hopefully in September) and has set out a “Path Forward” to do so. “September is the new May”.

We are sure you can appreciate the time and energy that both OSCA volunteers and staff have been dedicating to the successful running and operation of our Association during these challenging times. And we thank you – the community – for your support and patience as we continue to adapt and continue our work to make sure OSCA will come out at the other end of this as strong as ever.