Earlier, we reported Paul Barbeau abruptly resigned as president of the Non-Partisan Association. At issue: a resolution, passed on Sunday, appointing Doug Leung and Colin Metcalfe to the association's board of directors. Also included in the email containing that resolution was a "discussion on the direction of the NPA in 2006" by board member Dale McClanaghan. According to Mr. McClanaghan, rather than "reverting to the pre-2001 style of low activity during non-election years...the NPA should be active particularly as our new elected officials learn their new roles."

As a result, he writes, the association should "should continue to strengthen our organization, in two broad-based ways, 1) by continuing our community outreach, youth activities, and membership participation and 2) by working closely with the elected officials at all three civic levels to reinforce the political effectiveness of the NPA." Sounds rather presidential, don't you think? The following is a complete copy of that email, which was leaked to Public Eye.

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From: Heather Chutter
Sent: January 8, 2006 12:46 PM
To: anna lilly; Alex Tsakumis; Andrew Graham; Anna Lucarino; Cameron St. John; Dale McClanaghan; David Choi; Joost Bakker; Judy Baldwin; Marko Dekovic; Matthew taylor; Michelle Custodio; Paul Barbeau; Peter Hyndman; Yvonne De Valone
Subject: Fw: NPA Board - Resolution

----- Original Message -----
From: Dale McClanaghan
To: Heather Chutter
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 9:00 AM
Subject: NPA Board - Resolution

Hi Heather,

Attached is a brief discussion on the direction of the NPA in 2006 and an e-mail Board Resolution. Please forward this e-mail Motion to the Board. If the Motion passes, please extend an invitation to the Tuesday Board meeting.

Introduction:

The NPA has had a successful campaign and has re-emerged with a majority on City Council, School Board and Park Board. Just as in 2002, when the Board had to adjust our organizational focus to supporting elected officials as an Opposition Party, so we must now make a transition to engage the public and support a governing party. No one would endorse simply reverting to the pre-2001 style of low activity during non-election years. It is clear that the NPA should be active particularly as our new elected officials learn their new roles.

We should continue to strengthen our organization, in two broad-based ways, 1) by continuing our community outreach, youth activities, and membership participation and 2) by working closely with the elected officials at all three civic levels to reinforce the political effectiveness of the NPA.

To advance this dual goal, I suggest we add two appointed Board members. Doug Leung and Colin Metcalf can assist in establishing a good support and community network with the NPA, particularly within their political circles which touches many volunteers. Both have similar skill sets: extensive experience as political organizers at the civic and federal level and both contributed heavily in our last campaign. They have established a good track record of working with candidates, Doug Leung at the Park Board campaign and Colin Metcalf on several NPA Council campaigns and in 2005 as the Mayor's campaign manager and as a Member of the NPA Campaign Committee.

Biographical Note:

Colin Metcalfe has been active in politics for over twenty years. He is a long-time Conservative member who has been a spokesman for the Tories in British Columbia for the last three elections. He is co-architect (along with Sam Sullivan) of the kNOwards Campaign, and was the Campaign Director for the subsequent campaign to elect Sam Sullivan Mayor of the City of Vancouver. A well-respected organizer, Metcalfe runs a successful political strategies business, Metcalfe and Associates, with his wife Trish. They have three daughters.

Douglas Leung is a veteran of national, provincial and local politics. He has over twenty five years of prominent experience with the federal Liberal Party and has served as a national co-chair and provincial chief during several elections. He has worked in several successful provincial campaigns over the years with the provincial Liberals. Locally Doug was most recently Campaign Manager to Heather Holden, the new NPA Parks Commissioner, and is currently the Campaign Manager for Stephen Owen (LIB) in Vancouver Quadra. He is the owner of Carlco Developments.

Motion:

Moved by Dale McClanaghan, seconded by Marko Dekovic:

That Douglas Leung and Colin Metcalfe be appointed as members of Board of The Civic Non-Partisan Association.

Best regards,

Dale McClanaghan