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This occasion which took place on June 16 is where we elect our directors for the ensuing year and reflect on the last one. After approving the minutes of the 2010 AGM, the 20 or so people present for this year’s meeting elected as directors for 2011-12: Nancy Baines, Geordie Beal, Matt Blackett, Sid Calzavara, Harriet De Koven, Richard Dodds, Patricia Fleming, Joe Gill, Meg Graham, Greg Kitscha, Eva Macdonald, Brian MacLean, Shawn Micallef, Marc Nufrio, Stephen Otto, Michael Peters, Elizabeth Quance, Ted Smolak, Andrew Stewart, George Waters, and Rob Zeidler. For the first time in several years all 21 places on the board allowed by our by-laws have been filled. Unusual circumstances accounted for this in part. City Council recently vacated its power to appoint Management Boards for several City museums, including Fort York, effectively winding down those bodies. The Friends invited former members of the Fort York Management Board to join our board, and Harriet De Koven, Brian MacLean, and Shawn Micallef accepted. Some others including Bruce Chown and Eileen Costello said they were willing to be involved but in a less formal way. Our treasurer Joe Gill then presented unaudited Financial Statements for the year ending 31 December 2010. These showed that The Friends continue to be in a solid, solvent position going into 2012 and the bicentennial commemoration of the eponymous war, when big changes are expected in how the fort operates resulting from increased visitation and the opening of our new Visitor Centre.
Joe had indicated his desire to retire as chair of The Friends at this meeting, while being willing to continue as treasurer, if elected, and to pilot the Fort York Guard through the important year ahead. Therefore his report to this AGM was more wide ranging than usual, touching on high points in the organization’s accomplishments during his time as chair from 1997 to 2008, and 2009 through 2011. He ended by offering four things that he thought The Friends should concentrate on in the year or two ahead: (1) find stable funding for the Fort York Guard as our traditional sources of support from parking fees shrink or disappear, (2) explore the future status of Fort York within the municipal structure where, clearly, it is an odd duck among the city’s museums, (3) adapt to the new staff structure and expanded operations at Fort York after the Visitor Centre opens, and (4) look to increase the age range and cultural diversity of our membership and board. After termination of the Annual Meeting a meeting of the newly-elected board was held to choose officers for the organization. Joe Gill was appointed treasurer, Elizabeth Quance to be secretary, Andrew Stewart to be vice-chair, and Harriet De Koven and Stephen Otto to be co-chairs. Cochair is a concept we have not tried before, but Joe has left big shoes to fill at a time when things are promising to get even busier. Harriet has experience on the Toronto Museums Board, Todmorden Mills Centre Board, and in the Ontario Government at the level of assistant deputy minister. Stephen Otto was a founder of The Friends and chair in 2008-09 until sidelined by poor health from which he has largely recovered.
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