Jan 28/13 Meeting Minutes

SPC Monthly Meeting Minutes
Jan 28, 2013 - 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Location: GLASS SLIPPERS BOUTIQUE
In attendance (from sign-in sheet): Coleen Onofrechuk, Cody Slinn, Leah Selk, Claudine Kadonaga, Rosanna McGregor, Melissa Newberry, Sue Peterson, Veronica Berg, Alison Barr, Judy O’Neill, Bruce Mack, Jan Fichtner, Carla Bullinger, Krista Niquidet, Anne Burrill, Sharon Taylor, Jay Goddard, Monica Johnson, Shannon Thom and Jessica Knodel.

Accept Mins & Agenda

Review meeting minutes from Nov 26, 2012
Review the agenda for Jan 28, 2013 meeting, and
Sue Peterson & Jay Goddard will introduce a new TRU Transitions Service Learning Project.


Transitions Service Learning Project

Sue Peterson with TRU students Alison Barr and Veronica Borg introduce their Transitions Service Learning Project:

Sue Peterson is supervising a student project out of TRU by students Alison Barr and Veronica Borg to help mitigate the challenges that people who have previously been in care face when their care ends. Many people “in transition” do not have all the skills/experience required to function completely independently in society, yet there is a large gap in services available to them during their transition.

Examples of where these youth often need help with during transition are: where to find resources, how to file tax returns, how to make down payments for utilities, where to get a Medical Services Plan CareCard, etc.

If you have any input or ideas on this subject, or want to get involved, or even just speak to the leaders of this project please contact the team: Sue Peterson Sue@lumen.ca, Alison Barr ajbarr123@live.com, and Veronica Borg Veronicaborg@shaw.ca.

Discussions that followed:

One direction of the school project is to advocate for the creation of a resources book that youth can carry around with them (Langley has a “Black book”). A phone app was also suggested (as most youth carry cell phones).

Melissa from United Way spoke to one of the youth initiative grant that was awarded as a great link to this project’s vision. It is the “Keystone Pamphlet”/guide by youth for youth. Access Williams Lake is another resource database that can help.
Carla spoke of the financial literacy programs offered by the CCPL as a program that can help people in transition.

Rosanna notes that the Friendship Society helps people in transition and two common themes include: how to make a down payment for utilities, and how to be a responsible tenant.

Coordinator Report – Jan 2013

1) United Way Funding: We are happy to officially announce the United Way TNC’s Community Impact Council has granted the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake $8500 in operational funding for the 2012 – 2013. There was a celebration ceremony at the Williams Lake & District Credit Union on Friday Jan 25th with the Community Partners where the media came and took pictures with the large group cheque for $97,000 which was the money raised and invested back into our community by the United Way.

2) Board Executive positions: After the Nov 26 meeting, Jay Goddard allowed his name to stand as Chair. Rosanna McGregor allowed her name to stand as Treasurer. Not all Board members were able to attend this meeting, so the other positions will be discussed at the next Board meeting (to be held at 1pm Jan 28 after the monthly meeting).


3) Monthly Meeting Schedule: Jan – October 2013

Reminder emails will be sent out prior to the meetings with a confirmed location and agenda.

Monday Feb 25/13 – 11:30 am – 1 pm – Living Wage & Poverty Reduction – Location TBA

Monday Mar 25/13 – 11:30 am – 1 pm – Succession & Retention – Location TBA

Monday Apr 22/13 – 11:30 am – 1 pm – Community Collaboration – Location TBA

Monday May 27/13 – 11:30 am – 1 pm – Living Wage & Poverty Reduction – Location TBA

Monday Jun 24/13 – 11:30 am – 1 pm – Succession & Retention – Location TBA

Monday Sept 23/13 – 11:30 am – 1 pm – Community Collaboration – Location TBA

Annual General Meeting – October 2013 – date, time and location TBA
4) Webpage and Facebook Update: Based on the latest stats from the SPC webpage since July of 2012, we are receiving between 350 – 500 visits a week in response to our weekly community updates. This significant increase appears linked to the creation of our Facebook page last year which expanded the SPC’s audience. These weekly emails are also being shared with the media, and most notably, the www.welcometowilliamslake.ca online newspaper has been sharing this information in the SPC updates to their large readership (approx 4000 people are viewing their site at any time). Continue to send your updates for distribution, and share this valuable resource with others.

5) Membership Reminder – Thank you to those who have renewed their SPC Membership for the 2012 – 2013 year. For those of you who need another form, or more information please send an email to spc-coordinator@xplornet.com or call 250-243-2126. Memberships are greatly appreciated to help support the council, but everyone (regardless of membership) is always welcome at the table.

Community Collaboration
1) Overview of what came out of the AGM: See handouts and/or visit http://socialplanningcouncil.blogspot.ca or email the SPC

2) Highlight successful Community Collaboration Projects

a) The Glass Slippers Boutique:

Like the SPC table, Communities that Care (CTC) Community Board is a collaborative group where ideas float around the table, and last January Lora Fairbrother identified the need for the Glass Slippers Boutique to reopen after being unavailable for years due to space and capacity. Lora identified this need at the table and within a few months the boutique was up and running and available in time for graduation.

The Glass Slippers Boutique needed a “home”, resources, volunteers and renewed energy – and our community members responded.

At the SPC table, Danica Hughes heard about the Glass Slippers project and thought of a potential space that could be used. After pursing this idea, the owner of the building where Haines Office World is, donated the space above Haines for 5 years lease free. The boutique contributes to the utilities and the building space is no longer empty = win win for everyone.
Other community organizations pitched in – Mirrors and racks were donated by local businesses, the United Way’s Youth Grant funds contributed to the setup and repairs of the location, Skyline also helped with repairs and donations of dresses started arriving from within WL and other parts of BC. Elementary students helped create the table artwork, and volunteers helped the day of with hair and makeup.
There is a “wish list” for the boutique and it can be found on the Boys & Girls Club website. Mens tuxedos and suits are also needed and donations can be dropped off anytime to the B&G Club.

Now this program is in full swing (served more than 60 grads last year), and the space is also made available as a community board room for organizations that need meeting space.

b) Youth drop-in centre at the Library:

Caroline Derkson noticed a trend outside the Library – Many youth have been using it as a “hang out” spot. This got the group talking and this “potential problem” was creatively solved by asking the youth themselves to help plan activities rather than just “hanging”. This has lead to youth nights at the Library = win win for everyone.

3) Summary – this is “how it happens”.

When people and organizations come together amazing results are the outcome. The right people at the table makes all the difference and this networking process needs to be nurtured, celebrated and continued.

Discuss next steps: What areas in our community would benefit from increased community collaboration, how can we help this process continue; Invite people you know who would benefit from increased collaboration – bring ideas and people to the table. Celebrate successful collaboration efforts.
Inviting new people to the table is also very important from a “Succession and Retention” viewpoint. As Rosanna points out, many very involved people will eventually be retiring and that new fresh faces are faces of the future.

When people have a connection to a collaborative group, there is greater success and less “drop off” happens.

And participating goes further than just attending meetings. Many people who cannot attend meetings can still be involved via this networking. In addition to meetings – a) highlight the meetings direction each month, b) community updates, and celebrate collaborative works in progress, c) support each other via social media (LIKES), d) encourage increased involvement – if you find information useful – pass it on., and e) extend an open invitation for ideas.
Roundtable Updates

Roundtable updates from around the community are sent out via the weekly community updates. Some additional information not sent out by email include:
Deb Radolla – Recreation Services – they are happy to be back at our table as it gives them a pulse about what the community needs.

Danica Hughes– City Council - it is always very encouraging to sit at this table.

Melissa Newberry – United Way – Youth Initiative grants have been awarded. The UW received 21 applications and they were able to fund 7 (three of which are in WL – Keystone Pamphlet, Youth Drop in Centre, and Street Party. Melissa was happy to note that all of these projects have some connections to this table.

Bruce Mack - CCPL – the Reach a Reader campaign last week was a huge success. Thank-you everyone who supported the cause. Volunteers are always needed so please contact the CCPL for more info on how to get involved.

Carla Bullinger – CTC & CCPL – The CTC has brought the Positive Action Program to 22 schools (in 2010 when the project began there were only 3. Carla is always available to talk to new groups and organizations. Everyone is encouraged to get involved.

Monica Johnson – Boys & Girls Club – The National Youth Conference this year is in Kamloops which means they can send more people (last year it was back east). Monica also mentioned that she will be leaving the Boys & Girls Club in April, but that she will continue her work with the SPC and on the local Living Wage campaign.

Meeting adjourned – the next meeting (Living Wage) will be held on Feb 25/13, from 11:30 am – 1 pm, location TBA.