Mover’s Edge, November, 2013

CAM’s 2013 Annual Conference

This was the highest rated conference we have hosted in several years.

Attendance was 50% higher than expected – both the conference and the awards dinner were well-attended.
Attendees rated the hotel’s facilities and food as being excellent.
The panel discussion format was very well-liked by all.
The exhibitors had an excellent opportunity to interact with attendees.

As an Association, we learned that we could hold a successful conference outside the Toronto area and we now recognize the value of panel discussions. You will see more conference presentations in this format and also future conferences outside the Toronto area.

Many thanks to Tom Finlay, Doug Kellough and the conference committee for putting together a great conference!

Annual General Meeting

CAM’s committee chairs and officers reported to the membership at the annual general meeting held in Vancouver as part of the annual conference. Of particular note was the fact that CAM’s new bylaws were approved by the members. The bylaws were submitted to Corporations Canada in late October and were accepted as written.

Members approved the slate of directors. All eligible directors returned for another term. Tom Finlay of AMJ Campbell Van Lines in Delta, BC, was installed as the new CAM chairman for 2013/14. CAM’s new Board of Directors is made up as follows:

Chair: Tom Finlay, AMJ Campbell Van Lines, Delta, BC
Vice Chair: Perry Thorne, Greg & Sons Moving and Storage, Scarborough, ON
Secretary-Treasurer: David Ogilvy, Ogilvy & Ogilvy Insurance Brokers, Toronto, ON
Past Chair: Ted LeLacheur, Western Moving & Storage, Edmonton, AB
President: John Levi, Canadian Association of Movers (CAM), Thornhill, ON

Directors:
Jim Carney, Rawlinson Moving & Storage Ltd., Mississauga, ON
Cam Carswell, Country Wide Moving, Saskatoon, SK
Tom Filgiano, Meldrum the Mover Inc., Montreal, QC
Doug Kellough, Salmon’s Transfer Ltd., Richmond, BC
Terry Krulicki, Globe Moving/Premiere Van Lines, Winnipeg, MB
Milton Letkeman, Jay’s Moving & Storage Ltd., Regina, SK
James Marshall, East Coast Moving & Warehousing, Saint John, NB
Steven Young, Household Movers & Shippers Limited, Mount Pearl, NL

Staff: Marian McGuire, Canadian Association of Movers (CAM), Thornhill, ON

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be circulated to members and posted to the website as soon as they are approved by the Board of Directors. In a Board of Directors meeting that followed the Annual General Meeting, the directors approved a set of board regulations. The new bylaws and the board regulations formalize the operations of the Association. They will not materially change the manner in which the Association operates, but will set up-to-date standards for those operations.

The Canadian Mover — CAM’s Magazine and Directory

We are in the final layout process for CAM’s magazine and directory – The Canadian Mover. Tuesday, November 5, is your last chance to send us your edits, additions, and/or deletions. Check out your listing in the previous issue (spring 2013) or online and send us your changes now!

Canadian Federation of Independent Business

The partnership between CAM and CFIB has been up-and-running for almost a year now. Many of you have already joined the CFIB to take advantage of their multi-dimensional benefit programs. CAM members receive membership fee reductions that can offset the cost of CAM membership. Read about the CFIB on our website and make the commitment to join – it can only do you good!

Complaints Resolution

Back in January, CAM introduced its new complaint-handling process and it has been tested this year. The process requires that members resolve complaints in a timely fashion. This does not necessarily mean capitulating to unreasonable demands. It means doing what you’ve promised to do by signing CAM’s Code of Ethics – providing “a complaint resolution process for consumers.” Through this complaint-resolution program, CAM has performed its first arbitration. The results were positive and we now have a procedure that can be used in resolving future complaints.

You should be aware that CAM makes no effort to resolve complaints against non-members. Instead, it records the complaint and refers the consumer to provincial consumer-affairs ministries and Better Business Bureaus.

Total Move Management Receives Award

Total Move Management received the 2013 Mel Johnson Established Business of the Year Award from the North Grenville Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, September 28. This is in addition to being named National Best Agent for Great Canadian Van Lines in May of this year. Congratulations!

New Members

CAM welcomes two new members!

Move for Hunger, Neptune, NJ, USA – This organization works with over 350 moving companies throughout the US and Canada to support the efforts of local food banks.

Penske Truck Leasing, Mississauga, ON, Canada – This company offers truck rentals and leasing for all sizes of trucks from panel vans to tandem axle tractors with sleeper cabs. Discounted rates are available to CAM members.

Job Opportunities

New job opportunities have been posted in the Employment section of CAM’s website. You may wish to check them out.

IF YOU HAVE NEWS THAT CANADA’S MOVING INDUSTRY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, please let us know and we will include it in upcoming issues of this newsletter.