The one-day event will serve as a strategic planning session. All participants will be asked to take part in a follow-up process (via e-mail), culminating in the production of OSPE's Strategic Plan. This document will guide our activities for the next two or three years.

What to expect (please read carefully)

• The Assembly will begin with a presentation by Ipsos-Reid, a professional opinion research firm, of findings from focus groups, a telephone survey, one-on-one interviews and an online membership survey conducted in September and October.
  
• The research looks at engineers and engineering from every possible angle - with input from members, students, media, policy makers and, for the first time, the general public.
  
• Later, breakout sessions will tackle a number of topics flowing from that research, and recommend options for action for OSPE.
  
• Member input from the breakout sessions will be incorporated into a draft plan that will be distributed by e-mail to all participants within ten days.
  
• Participants will have one week to consider the draft and fax back their comments.
  
• The second draft will be presented to OSPE's Board of Directors in December for approval.
  
• The final document will be provided to all participants, and shared with OSPE members online and in person through a series of presentations in 2002.

Selection of participants

• Each of PEO's 38 chapters will be invited to send a participant to the Assembly; there will also be 38 participants from OSPE sectors. Full OSPE members may attend as members-at-large (see registration form below).
  
• The number of participants from OSPE sectors will be roughly proportional to the sector size. For example, the latest salary survey indicates that approximately nine percent of engineers are employed full-time in the public sector; therefore, three or four of the 38 sector participants will be selected from that sector.
  
• Sector participants will be selected by lottery. All full OSPE members who've indicated their primary sector affiliation will be entered in the lottery (more information about choosing your primary sector). Those selected will be invited to attend the Assembly as sector participants and their travel costs will be paid by OSPE.
  
• Once selected, official participants will be sent a registration form.
  
• Official participants are eligible for reimbursement of travel costs and registration fees.
  
• Beyond this, all OSPE full members who are not sector/chapter participants are welcome to attend the General Assembly as members-at-large. Space is limited and registration for members-at-large will be on a first come, first served basis.

Every General Assembly participant must be a full member of OSPE and must have an e-mail address.

Registration forms for members-at-large must be received by November 9, 2001 and be accompanied by a cheque to cover the $40.00 registration fee.

Who will be there?

• 38 OSPE Sector participants
  
• 38 PEO Chapter participants
  
• 6 invited guests from the allied engineering community
  
• 20 (approx.) OSPE members-at-large
  
• 9 OSPE Board members
  
• 9 OSPE Staff members

Date: Saturday, November 17, 2001
Venue:Holiday Inn Select
Location: 970 Dixon Road, Airport Strip, Toronto, Tel: 416.675.7611; reservations: 1.800.465.4329

OSPE has reserved a block of rooms at a rate of $110.00/night. Members requiring accommodation should contact the Holiday Inn directly and identify themselves as OSPE General Assembly participants.

For more information contact us at info@ospe.on.ca.