CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER

STEPHANIE SMITH

for BCGEU Treasurer
Ready to lead.
A new way of doing things.

I could go into detail about the positions I’ve held, the committees I’ve been a member of and the conferences I’ve attended as a BCGEU activist for more than 15 years, but instead I would rather answer the question that I know you’re asking: “What makes you think you can do this job?”

Yes, the stewardship of our members’ resources is a core responsibility of the BCGEU Treasurer. But the Treasurer is not a bookkeeper or accountant (we have professional staff for that important work). The position of Treasurer is a leadership position, second-in-charge to the President.

Our Treasurer must be ready to step up and be the face and voice of the Union. Our Treasurer needs to be a strong and effective communicator.

I have had the opportunity to bring our members’ issues to provincial, national and even international conventions and conferences. I’ve worked on numerous campaigns supporting our diverse membership and have spoken at rallies and on radio and television. Like you, my stomach churns a bit each time, but bringing attention to the work our members do and the issues we face motivates me. As I continue to expand my skills in this area, I have grown comfortable in speaking out and I am always proud to effectively represent the BCGEU and our members.

It has been a great honour to work with our Young Workers’ Committee at their planning and strategy sessions and to co-facilitate the BCGEU Leadership course at the CLC Winter School. The depth and breadth of the leadership capacity of BCGEU activists when given the chance to show it and when provided the opportunities to expand it is so impressive!

For me, leadership includes mentoring and supporting others and working collaboratively. It’s one of the most vital roles of any leader. I believe strongly in promoting leadership development opportunities for members and activists and I am committed to doing just that as your Treasurer.

As chair of the second largest local in our union (and one whose members are amongst the lowest paid), I am vigilantly aware of whose money we are spending and of our duty to be responsible and accountable. I believe that creative problem solving, a collaborative approach, a willingness to listen and an ability to make sound decisions are what I will bring to the position of Treasurer.

Union policies need to work for our members and activists, not stand in the way of activism. I will work with you and other BCGEU leaders to review, develop and implement policies that support and promote grassroots activism while ensuring that members’ resources are being effectively used.

The BCGEU has significant resources, including valuable assets like the buildings we own. It is important to protect these investments, but we also need to invest in – and enhance – our most important assets, the human ones: our activists and staff.

Working with you, my priority as Treasurer will be to prioritize all available funds to support leadership development, activist learning, professional development and campaigns to protect members’ jobs and the public’s services.

In seeking your support, I am making commitments about how I intend to work with you. I commit to being a leader that brings transparency to decision making. I commit to being a leader who follows up to analyze the impact our decisions have on our members. I commit to being a leader whose decisions will be timely and responsible and will be made in collaboration with your Component representatives and activists. I commit to being a leader that will bring a voice and face to our members’ issues out in the public arena.

And finally, I commit to being a leader who supports and mentors activists to become the leaders our union needs to build a better BC.

Let’s continue the discussion. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. And visit my website at: www.stephanie4treasurer.ca or contact me directly at: stephanie4treasurer@gmail.com.

Back to Convention home page