WHERE WE WERE
The Canadian Infantry Association (CIA) was in severe decline before 2020. There were many reasons for it, and to be honest, self-inflicted wounds. Just before the pandemic, the CIA leadership of the day started to address the issues. They conducted a special governance and operational review led by Gary O’Brien, which addressed the CIA’s need to be “re-engineered.” A new President, Brendan Bulger, took up the challenge, but COVID hit and the untimely passing of Brendan Bulger left the CIA in limbo. Further, a new Council had not been constituted so there was no one to move the CIA ahead. The CIA was on life support, and it looked like it was going to flatline.
WHERE WE ARE
A group of dedicated individuals, some who had been former Presidents and/or CIA Council members, who believed that having a national infantry association was more needed than ever in these turbulent times got together. The first business was to decide whether to let the CIA to pass into history or revitalize it. The decision, after a lot of soul-searching was to resurrect it. A Leader was elected, and the name of the Group was called the “Revitalization Team” (RT).
The RT has done a lot of work in setting the CIA up for future success. This meant getting “into the weeds,” so to speak. This meant getting things in place so a duly constituted board of directors (BoD) could take over the reins from the RT and make the CIA a highly relevant and respected military association representing all, no matter their rank, Infanteers, serving and veterans. That work would not have been successful without our champions across the country helping out, led by our Colonel Commandant MGen (Ret’d) Richard Blanchette and the cooperation of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps (RCIC) Leadership.
The RT has worked hard to have the CIA is a position to have a duly elected BoD take over. This has included, but not limited to:
· Redefining the Vision, Mission and Purposes of the CIA
· Determining the Pillars of the Association: strategic governance; education & professional development (CPD); Advocacy with stakeholder engagement; Capacity building.
· Designing a new Governance structure, which includes re-establishing the grassroots Branches and the potential to add “specialty” Branches to reflect unique Infantry trades.
· Establishing new by-laws that are congruent with the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (CNCA) so that, in time, the Association can become registered under the CNCA and obtain registered charitable status. Along with that, policies and procedures for a BoD to manage the association.
· Sending out Updates and interesting items to members of what is happening in the major conflict zones and on geopolitical events and activities to keep members informed.
· A new modernized website.
· Re-establishing a partnership with the RCIC Leadership.
· Re-establishing our position as a founding member of the Conference for Defence Associations (CDA).
· Developing a partnership with American Military University (AMU) as an avenue for members to pursue academic interests.
· In the process of contacting other military associations, veterans support groups and international military associations.
WHERE WE ARE GOING
The RT wants to hand the Association over to a duly elected board of directors. The RT, have done all the foundation work for a duly elected BoD to be able to fundamentally and strategically “govern” the Association to shape its future.
We see, soon, a that Nominating Committee will be established to find worthy candidates for the BoD, followed by an election where post-election the successful directors will, among themselves according to the by-laws, and decide the Executive Committee and Committee Chairs according to the established governance structure.
Then we see the new BoD, with stakeholder engagement developing a formal strategic plan and a blueprint to operationalize and execute that Plan.
The day will come when Members can network with each other across the country and access relevant education and information from other Branches; veterans can receive support through the CIA, and members are celebrated publicly for their successes via the Association’s website.
Robin C. Hesler
President, CIA
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