Events under 'Workshops'

This skills-based, three-part module is intended to improve your skills in budget review, financial decisions, and communication about important financial matters. It will build awareness and understanding of setting budget priorities and making financial decisions, among other skills.

Part I-Setting Operating and Capital Budget Priorities

February 28 @10-11:30

• Legislative framework and Council’s role in municipal finance
• Relationship between the strategic plan and budget priorities
• Identifying and setting priorities
• Operating and Capital Budgets
• Decision making

Part II-Financial Statements and Reports

March 2 @ 10-11:30

• Interpreting Financial Statements & Reports
• Ensure proper Financial Controls are in place
• Financial Condition Index

Part III-Monitoring Budgets

March 4 @ 10-11:30

• Monitor budgets and make appropriate adjustments
• Asking staff important financial questions
• Communicating budget decisions to the public

Co-Facilitator: Bonnie Coulter, CPA, CA, Director of Corporate Services, Town of TruroFacilitator: Greg Herrett, CPA, CA, CAO, Municipality of the County of Cumberland

February 28, March 2^nd & 4^th, 2022 (10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)

Virtual Workshop using the Zoom Platform|  All sessions are interconnected, so attending all three is essential.

Registration Cost: The cost to attend is $300 if you register before February 14 and $350 after February 14, 2022

Registration for this Workshop can be found here

This Workshop can only accommodate 25 registrants and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Virtual Workshop using Zoom Platform

February 28, March 2^nd, and 4^th, 2022 (1:00 – 2:30 pm)

This financial management module is designed to build awareness and understand how to create long-term financial strategies, prepare and use operating/capital budgets, review financial statements and other performance indicators, and prepare year-end statements. We will also look at best practices with respect to financial planning.

Workshop Objectives

• Ability to review, analyze and reach valid conclusions about financial statements and other indicators of a municipality's financial performance
• Understand how to gather, organize, analyze and interpret information essential to developing a long-term financial strategy
• Understand how to prepare operating and capital budgets
• Recognize the important factors when communicating budget contents to Council and the public
• Supervise the preparation of year-end reports, including audited financial statements
• Review of best practices with respect to financial management planning

Registration

To register for this module, please complete the following online registration form. *Note: If you register multiple individuals, complete one registration form per individual. We can only accommodate up to 25 participants in this Workshop, and attendance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The cost to attend is $300 if you register before February 14 and $350 after February 14.  Once you have registered, a calendar appointment with a zoom link for each session will be sent to you. If you are a non-member, ask your municipality about using one of their training vouchers to get a discount. Please call Rebecca Kolstee for more information (902) 240-1857

If you wish to cancel your registration, you must adhere to the AMANS Event and Training Cancellation Policy.

Financial Planning 101

Get ready. Get set. GO!

Wednesday, March 9, 2022:  10:00am – 11:00am

Many of us know we can do better in planning our finances but only a few know where to start. Whether you use a financial planner or not, understanding the basics of financial planning is important to ensure you're on the right track.

While the task of getting started may seem daunting, it doesn't have to be. All you need is some motivation, determination and elbow grease. Your time spent today will pay dividends in the future.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

1. Understand & apply the key elements of financial planning
2. Protect what you have
3. Avoid high interest
4. Pay yourself first
5. Understand the importance of selecting where and how you invest
6. Learn the importance of having a current and valid will 

Key Highlight: By learning the basics of financial planning, you will help improve your financial fitness.

Your Finances and Covid-19

Ordinary wisdom for extraordinary times.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022:  10:00am – 11:00am

The past weeks and months have been a challenging time for many people across the globe. While our primary focus remains on our physical health and of those around us, we also understand the role that finances play towards our mental health, stress levels and overall wellbeing. This module focuses on how to make sense of fluctuating markets, managing when income is reduced, and debt reduction strategies.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

1. Identify how to handle your investments during these dynamic times.
2. Understand key strategies and how they can help you reduce debt while improving cash flow.
3. Create a plan to keep on top of cash flow during times of reduced income.

Key Highlight: We’re here to help you navigate the current financial landscape.

Executorship & Wills

Learn about the risks and responsibilities of this important role

Wednesday, March 30, 2022:  10:00am – 11:00am

It’s often referred to as the hardest job you never applied for. Being an executor has long been considered an honour but today the job entails significant time commitment, knowledge, effort and personal risk. Canadian families need to understand the role before choosing their executor and before agreeing to act as executor for a friend, parent or another family member.

Where there’s a will there’s a way, but without a will, you have what’s called intestacy and that can be a huge problem. This is a major issue for Canadians. In fact, it’s estimated up to 70% of us don’t have a current or valid will. Most don’t even understand what can cause a will to become null and void.  After completing this module, you will:

1. Know the general steps and timelines of an executor’s role
2. Be aware of and executor’s personal liability
3. Understand how the role of executor has changed significantly over the past 20 years
4. Know which characteristics to consider when choosing your own executor
5. Learn how you can assist your executor in doing their job
6. Know about the different types of wills in Canada
7. Understand the top ten reasons to have a will
8. Realize what happens when you don’t have a will
9. See what happens when an estate has insufficient funds to make payments
10. Know when to review and update your will

Key Highlight: Understanding the executor’s role can prevent countless problems in estate administration for your family.  Having a current and valid will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family when you pass away, and ensuring your parents have valid wills can protect your sanity when they pass away.

Registration

To register for any of these workshops please complete the following online registration form. *Note: If you are registering multiple individuals complete one registration form, per individual. We can only accommodate up to 40 participants in these workshops and attendance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The cost to virtually attend is $50 for Members| $60 for Non-Members. If you register for all three sessions, you will receive a 15% discount – Members: $127.00 | Non-members: $153.00.

If you wish to cancel your registration you must adhere to the AMANS Event and Training Cancellation Policy.

Virtual Workshop using Zoom Platform

Thursday, March 10, 2022 (12:30 – 4:00pm)

Do you sometimes have to work with irritable, frustrated, distraught, angry, or demanding taxpayers, homeowners, contractors, developers, employees from other departments, members of the public? In this highly participative, skill-building, practical virtual Workshop, participants will identify & practice effective techniques to handle these challenging conversations. As a participant, you will discover tips and skills to:

• calm clients faster with specific phrases that work
• identify words you use that trigger emotional clients
• manage & defuse situations before they escalate
• practice & receive specific feedback
• create a Plan of Action to implement new skills immediately

Facilitator: Joyanne Landers, Elephant Ears Training

Joyanne Landers has gained a solid reputation as a facilitator and trainer over the last twenty-five years. Her clients describe her as “dynamic,” “powerful,” and “thought-provoking.” She builds on her wide-ranging experience guiding managers and employees in public and private sectors throughout Canada to create shifts in how they relate to their work, colleagues, and clients. She stimulates participants to challenge their perceptions. Joyanne has the ability to lead workshops that are practical and easy to apply in real-world situations. Her plain talk, humour, and boundless enthusiasm are contagious. Joyanne holds a Master of Education degree.

Registration

To register for this module, please complete the following online registration form. *Note: If you register multiple individuals, complete one registration form per individual. We recognize that not all front-line staff may be AMA members; therefore, all participants receive the member rate. The early bird rate is $250 until February 17, 2022. If you register after February 17, the cost is $300. We can only accommodate up to 20 participants in this Workshop, and attendance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you wish to cancel your registration, you must adhere to the AMANS Event and Training Cancellation Policy.

Municipal Elected Officials Session

This session is a joint initiative with NSFM

Friday, March 25, 2022 @  9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Village of New Minas - Louis Millett Community Complex  (9489 Commercial Street, New Minas)

Ever wonder why some municipality’s council meetings only take 40-50 minutes while others take 4-5 hours? Ever wonder why some municipality’s council meetings are smooth and efficient while others look and feel more like a governing party versus her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in great debate and critique? The difference is almost always directly tied to efficient and effective use of rules of order and meeting processes.

Strong staff reports, clear motions, and a detailed review of issues prior to council meetings by elected officials are a cornerstone of good governance and decision-making. As a team, staff and Council jointly hold full responsibility and accountability for ensuring this happens.

This session will provide municipal staff and elected officials with the context surrounding why we have rules of order and meeting processes, how to make clear motions and amendments, when to approve, accept or adopt reports and what it means to do so, preparing meaningful and relevant minutes, voting, quorums, conflict of interest procedures, basic decorum, lots of meeting process discussions, and several quizzes from both Robert’s and Bourinot’s Rules of Order. The entire day will involve real-life examples from Nova Scotia municipalities and simulation exercises. And the best part is that there will be no PowerPoint slides!

Facilitator: Chris McNeill, former Registered Parliamentarian, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Queens Municipality

Registration

To register for this module please complete the following online registration form. *Note: If you are registering multiple individuals complete one registration form, per individual. Cost to attend is: Early Bird rates until March 11 is $250. If you register after March 11, the cost is $300.

We can only accommodate up to 30 participants in this workshop and attendance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you wish to cancel your registration you must adhere to the AMANS Event and Training Cancellation Policy.

Municipal Administrative Session

Friday, April 1, 2022 @ 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Summer Street Industries (72 Park Street, New Glasgow)

Ever wonder why some municipality’s council meetings only take 40-50 minutes while others take 4-5 hours? Ever wonder why some municipality’s council meetings are smooth and efficient while others look and feel more like a governing party versus her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in great debate and critique? The difference is almost always directly tied to efficient and effective use of rules of order and meeting processes.

Strong staff reports, clear motions, and a detailed review of issues prior to council meetings by elected officials are a cornerstone of good governance and decision-making. As a team, staff and Council jointly hold full responsibility and accountability for ensuring this happens.

This session will provide municipal staff and elected officials with the context surrounding why we have rules of order and meeting processes, how to make clear motions and amendments, when to approve, accept or adopt reports and what it means to do so, preparing meaningful and relevant minutes, voting, quorums, conflict of interest procedures, basic decorum, lots of meeting process discussions, and several quizzes from both Robert’s and Bourinot’s Rules of Order. The entire day will involve real-life examples from Nova Scotia municipalities and simulation exercises. And the best part is that there will be no PowerPoint slides!

Facilitator: Chris McNeill, former Registered Parliamentarian, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Queens Municipality

Registration

To register for this module please complete the following online registration form. *Note: If you are registering multiple individuals complete one registration form, per individual. Cost to attend is: Early Bird rates until March 11 is $250. If you register after March 11, the cost is $300.

We can only accommodate up to 30 participants in this workshop and attendance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you wish to cancel your registration you must adhere to the AMANS Event and Training Cancellation Policy.

Virtual Workshop using Zoom Platform

Wednesday, April 20, Friday, April 22 & Monday, April 25, 2022 (10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)

This skills-based training module is intended to improve municipal administrators’ knowledge with respect to human resource management. This module will build awareness around developing performance management systems, managing employee performance and establishing goals to achieve objectives. Participants will also learn management within the unionized environment. This is the second of our two modules to be run in our HR Module Training Series. Completion of the first is not a prerequisite for this module.

Workshop Objectives

• Review development of performance management systems
• Establish, implement and evaluate performance management systems
• Learn how to review position descriptions to identify behaviours and competencies relevant to the position
• Learn how to conduct a gap analysis with each individual
• Understand how to allocate resources and build training plans into a performance management system
• Dealing with positive and poor performance
• Understand how to have tough conversations
• Review procedures for progressive discipline
• Establish metrics for attendance management and increasing productivity
• Understand respective rights and responsibilities within a collective agreement

Registration

To register for the workshop please complete the following online registration form. *Note: If you are registering multiple individuals, please complete one registration form, per individual. We can only accommodate up to 30 participants in this workshop and attendance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration details: the early bird rate is: Member: $250 and Non-member: $300 until March 31. Registration after March 31 - Member: $300 and Non-member: $350.  Ask your municipality about using one of their training vouchers to get a discount. Please call Rebecca Kolstee for more information (902) 240-1857

If you wish to cancel your registration you must adhere to the AMANS Event and Training Cancellation Policy.

Virtual Workshop using the Zoom Platform

Diversity in the workplace may signify the existence of different perspectives, ideas, and approaches. Still, it takes a culture of inclusion for these differences to lead to enhanced creativity, innovation, and successful outcomes. Some municipalities in the province have started developing diversity plans, and others are underway. In this free information session, you will hear from some municipalities on what they have done, the lessons learned, and tips for getting started.

Facilitator: Eric Levy, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, Region of Queens Municipality

Thursday, April 28, 2022 (10:00 – 11:30 a.m.)

Registration for this Workshop can be found here