In my previous message, I highlighted some of the many achievements and objectives of our directors and the committees they chair. Since then we have had other examples of how we are delivering on our strategic plan to increase CAP visibility and relationships with external stakeholders. Through the dedication and commitment of our Communications Committee and the CAP staff, the CAP was one of the first out of the gate with the Nobel Prize in physics announcement, including one of the Canadian connections. The result: a significant increase in our social media engagement on Twitter, Facebook and Website activity. The day after Prof. Mona Nemer was announced as Canada’s Science Advisor we hand delivered a letter of congratulations to her and invited her to attend and present at our 2018 Congress in Halifax.
More achievements were readily evident from the reports submitted by many of the Divisions at the Fall Program, Council and Board Meetings held September 29 to October 1, 2017. DAMOPC, DASP, DHP, DNP, DPMB, DPE, DPP, DTP and PPD recapped their achievements surrounding the 2017 Congress. All division executives are working hard to ensure the success of the 2018 Congress at Dalhousie. All divisions will be updating and populating their division webpages at https://cap.ca/divisions/. I encourage you to visit these webpages for more information about the divisions and their leadership and to contact your divisional leadership to assist with contributing to the Divisional News and Resources pages
The CAP Advisory Council is a crucial link between our diverse membership and the CAP Board. In addition to the Division Chairs, the CAP has Regional Councillors representing 10 regions across the country, Membership Councillors representing full, corporate, graduate student members, teachers and undergraduate students, the Editor of Physics in Canada and representatives of the Congress Local Organizing Committee. We are working to create a better flow of information and ideas from the membership to the Board. We have formed a Governance Committee to formalize improved organizational structures and processes, Chaired by Mike O’Neill (former Director of Professional Affairs). Other improvements to our governance will be the addition of new or revamped Board committees for finance, audit & HR, nominations & awards, and equity, diversity and inclusion. High-level policies defining the CAP and Board organization and the conduct of CAP operational committees, technical divisions and working groups were approved by the Board at the fall meeting and will be available on the website in due course.
Should you have any questions about the direction we are taking please speak to a member of the Advisory Council, Board or myself. A complete list of Board and Advisory Council members can be found at https://cap.ca/about-us/cap-leadership/.
Stephen Pistorius
president@cap.ca