 November 10, 2004 
A word from the Vice President of the CES for 2003-2004 This year has been both challenging and rewarding. I want to thank Karyn Hicks, past Vice-President, for the wealth of information she provided. This report focuses on three areas of activity: the annual conference; the chapter-driven Advocacy Committee; and, recognition of departing Council members. Conference Review: The annual national Canadian Evaluation Society Conference provides professional development and networking opportunities for members working in the field of evaluation. As the flagship of its service to members, the Conference increases the Society's membership base and generates revenue. It is a welcome event for evaluation-minded people. The 2004 Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was a first time hosting experience for the Saskatchewan Chapter and the home province of President Gwen Keith. Dr. Alan Ryan, a former Contribution to Evaluation in Canada award winner and chair of the event depended on the dedicated energetic efforts of the core planning team of Lori Ebbesen, John Marshall and Grant Wood, planning support from Kari Nicholson, numerous Saskatchewan volunteers, and our efficient Willow Group secretariat. The conference title of "Evaluation: A Cooperative Enterprise" was exemplified in the working relationships of the planners and in its themes: Working with diverse populations; Working intersectorally; Expanding methodological horizons; and, Building evaluation capacity. The conference keynote speakers, Ernest House, Dr. Janice McKinnon and the Honourable Judge Gerald Morin, were chosen to challenge and motivate the audience. The Conference Review Committee, initially established several years ago to review conference activities and results, was reconstituted in 2003/2004, drawing its membership from past, current and future conference host chapters, Council and The Willow Group. Terms of reference have been established and the Committee is ready to begin working on its 2004/2005 workplan with a focus on assisting future conference planning committees. The next conference is an exciting opportunity to work with our American counterpart. The Canadian Evaluation Society and the American Evaluation Society will host the joint conference in Toronto, Ontario in October 2005 under the guidance of chairs Arnold Love and Nick Smith. We know that Prince Edward Island Chapter is working hard on the 2006 conference in Charlottetown. Looking forward, it is with great pleasure that Council announces the locations of two future conferences. Manitoba Chapter will host the conference in 2007; SQEP in 2008. Council looks forward to working with these Chapters. In speaking with other CES Council members, this is a first for Council. We have identified conference locations for the next four conferences. This response from Chapters is another indicator of the support for and growth in the Society. Advocacy: Advocacy continues to be a critical interest of National Council and the Canadian Evaluation Society since its membership expressed a keen interest in the proposed advocacy initiative at the 2001 annual conference in Banff. The 2003/ 2004 Advocacy Committee was made up of representatives from Chapters with cochairs Linda Lee and Karyn Hicks. One of the challenges of the Committee is its changing membership at the Chapter level. This Committee's work has been guided by the broad definition of advocacy adopted by Council. It provides an opportunity for Chapters to share their great ideas and activities taking place at the local level. Through biannual conference calls and one face-to-face meeting at the annual conference, members describe local initiatives such as web site development and partnerships to offer evaluation events as well as challenges such as the need to educate decision-makers about evaluation and its role in program management. This year the Committee worked hard on drafts of two publications, both designed to assist managers in identifying evaluators who have the knowledge, skills and attitudes to conduct effective, efficient evaluations. These documents were presented to Council for review at its May 2004 meeting. We anticipate their release later this year. The second action item identified by the Advocacy Committee was accessing decision-making bodies and legislators in the use of evaluation. Initial meetings by some Chapters with legislators raised the issue that it is senior government officials who really require this knowledge. This action item will be considered once again when the Committee develops its future workplan in September. I would like to thank Linda Lee for her diligence and forward thinking as co-chair of this Committee. She has indicated that she will be leaving that position at this time. We will miss Linda's enthusiasm, broad base of experience and dedication to this issue. Thank you, Linda! Council Retirees: It is with mixed feelings that Council bids adieu to three of its members at the end of 2003/2004 — mixed because while we are sad to see them go, we are ecstatic over the wealth of knowledge and work ethic they leave behind. We will miss the corporate memory and dedicated efforts of Nancy Porteous who served as president and past-president, Lynn Bryant, Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter representative and most recently Member Services Committee chair, and to Tracy Fiander Trask, Nova Scotia Chapter representative who left Council in September 2003. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Many thanks to Kathy Jones and The Willow Group for the assistance provided to this position in 2003/2004. Their work is greatly appreciated. The contract with The Willow Group continues to 2006. Thank you also to all Council and CES members who have helped make this year an interesting and enjoyable experience. Frankie Jordan
National Council Vice President, 2003-2004
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