1. Chairperson training took place in Victoria from the 17 - 22 Mar 02 and the following Air Force employees attended: Dennis Amo, 22 Wg North Bay, Stéphany Gray, 19 Wg Comox and Violette Bourget from 3 Wg Bagotville. The next Referral Agent (RA) training will take place in Winnipeg in late fall.

2. Mr. Jim Smith, National EAP Coordinator, A1 CHRWM and D Air CMS 5 made an EAP visit to Greenwood on 6 May 02 and had the opportunity to meet with the WComd, the EAP Committee members, UNDE representatives and the HRBM and CHRO staff. Options for providing more awareness training were discussed with both the Committee members and the WComd. 14 Wg's EAP has tremendous support from both the local UNDE executive and the WComd.

3. Following the visit to 14 Wg, A1 CHRWM was able to participate with Referral agents from 5 Wg, 9 Wg and 14 Wg in an Atlantic Region RAP session which was facilitated by the EAP Coordinator in Halifax. Mr. Robert Emond, ADM Fin CS and our EAP Champion was able to spend several hours participating in this session. Ms. Anne-Marie Giannetti, DGCHRPOS and Mr. Jim Smith, National EAP Coordinator also attended the 2 ½ day event.

4. Preparations are underway for the Departmental EAP Symposium which will be held in Kingston from 29 Sep - 2 Oct 02. All National Defence RAs are invited to attend and the National Office assumes the cost for travel, TD and hosting of the event. This year is particularly special as our EAP is celebrating its 20th Anniversary.

5. National Office has designed and ordered beautiful green leather and brass coaster with the EAP 20th Anniversary logo and the EAP website centered upon it. This will be the major promotional item for 20th Anniversary activities this year. Referral Agents, Chairpersons and Regional Coordinators will each receive his/her own coaster during the Kingston Symposium. Local EAP Committees have been provided a few coasters for distribution as thank you gifts for EAP-related activities.

6. As there are some technical difficulties with the RAs submitting their statistics to the electronic reporting system, statistical data is not yet available for the period 1 Oct 01 to 30 Mar 02.

Prepared by: Dianne Joudrey, A1 CHRWM

17 May 02