President’s Blog

By Jim Mullin

Our world is changing rapidly in ways we could not have imagined even a few days ago. These changes are impactful and will continue for the foreseeable future. As a sport and as citizens we have a moral responsibility to do everything possible to support our communities’ efforts to withstand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We want you to know that we are researching every angle possible on the issue as it applies to our sport.

We often talk of community being one of our most durable pillars of the sport. We need to live up to those words and that concept by taking these steps not just for ourselves and our families, but for our parents, grandparents and all senior citizens, as well as high-risk, vulnerable residents in our communities including cancer patients, people with disabilities, transplant patients and the immunocompromised and others. In doing so we aim to ensure that we can each feel confident in the security of both our present and future physical and economic health.

Should you need to communicate with your colleagues, please contact them by phone or via computer during this time.

Please review the following article and simulations to fully understand the massive positive benefit that “Social Distancing” can and must have to fight this virus effectively:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

As we work through the hiatus, the staff, key committees and I are in regular communication.

Starting on March 2, we started to evaluate information on COVID-19 through traditional governmental sport channels, public health channels at the federal, provincial and local levels, along with other published information. This process allowed us to be the first NSO in the country to take an informed position based on the safety of our participants and the community at large by issuing a personal contact, training, practice and play ban until further notice on March 12. We are applying our Code of Conduct to ensure participant safety.

We are in somewhat of a fortunate position in regard to our national events this summer. We have time for the COVID-19 response to take hold where we may be able to stage our various regional and national championships. During the month of May we have a number of deadlines which apply to events from June to August. If these events are postponed, we are in discussion about possible substitute competitions within the calendar year as a “Plan B”.

If we can’t proceed with a face-to-face AGM, our bylaws permit us to meet via electronic means in the same fashion we exercised in October.

The Finance Committee is in communication on a daily basis to ensure the sustainability of the organization through this time. The work continues as we are dealing with variables which change on a daily basis.

The Business Development Committee continues to work on the Football Canada strategic plan with two meetings in early April. The Bylaw Review Subcommittee survey has closed and the information will be discussed and applied to a redraft for Governance Committee review.

This is the space for members and the public to watch for new information as it develops. If you have any questions, you can fire me an email at anytime at jim@northern8.com 

This post is also available in: French