SPC Monthly Minutes (draft) - April 23, 2018

SPC Monthly Minutes (draft) - April 23, 2018

Location: Community Futures Office (11:30 - 1:00 pm)

In attendance (from sign-in sheet): Nancy Gale, Larry Stranberg, Ashlee Hyde, Bree Odd, Shannon Thom, Carla Bullinger, Diane Wright, Marvene Layte, and Jessica Dunn.

Accept Minutes & Agenda

During lunch we:

·   Reviewed meeting agenda for Apr 23, 2018

Add - Nancy Gale - Grant Writing Questions

Motion to accept agenda as amended - MFSC

·   Reviewed meeting minutes from Feb 26, 2018

Motion to accept minutes as presented - MFSC

Grant Writing Questions - Nancy Gale

Nancy asked the group to think of three pieces of advice for grant writing, structure etc. Please share your thoughts about your experiences.

Discussions shared are below:

Applying for grants is hard to navigate

Decisions should be made quicker

From experience, the two tiered application process via Vancouver Foundation was helpful (allowed stage one applications to not be so defined, yet) - they are also flexible (some variance in budget is ok if rationale is included).

Be clear in what you are open to funding (please don't let organizations waste time grant writing if there is little chance of success).

Have specific terms right up front.

In Williams Lake - approx 300 groups, but not a full picture of all the non-for-profits in our area.

Be realistic about expectations of what grant funds can accomplish (e.g. sustainability clauses).

Presentation – Northern Interior Communities Association Coordinator, Marvene Layte

Geared towards organizations applying to the BC Community Gaming Grant Program.

These funds are important in BC (130 Million in funds) - important piece of funding for BC societies as wages can be paid by these funds, and is only for not-for-profits.

Other criteria - a sustainable program that has existed for 12 months.

There have been some changes this past year - handout outlines these changes (specifically dates for applying).

Membership in the Northern Interior Communities Association (NICA) is free.

Marvene is the liaison for Societies in the northern region (Cache Creek to Prince George) and the government body overseeing the gaming grants. She has a relationship with the decision makers and can have questions answered anonymously.

Recommendation - apply early. This gives the decision makers ample time to consider your application.

They are looking for four things:

Community Benefit

Accessible

Inclusive to community, and

Sustainable.

Remember the analysts have no clue who you are - describe your organization (tell your story, include pictures, anecdotals, etc). Clearly define, concisely who you are. Get to the heart of your organization.

Spend time in advance planning what you will say - prepare to tell your organizations story - you can learn a lot in the process.

Also, it is wise to have someone else read your application. Preferably someone who knows very little about your organization.

Don't use acronyms

Make it "real" for them - let your story unfold.

Picture a White board - it only has financials - fill it up with your story and include pictures.

Programs evolve over time - like reading a book (wham - you have only a few pages to capture the reader/analyst).

Note - you cannot add anything "new" once a decision has been made.

They are far more open today than they were in the past.

Capital grant funding (within the gaming grant up to 20K), or separate capital gaming grant funding (match able up to 250K).

Reconsiderations - letter will be sent.

Q: the 20K within gaming grant is included in the 100K max?

A: Yes.

Q: What are the categories

A: Listed in the provided handout, they are:

Arts & Culture,

Sport,

Environment,

Human and Social Services,

Public Safety,

Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) and District Parent Advisory Councils (DPACs)

Goal - spread the word - people need to know about these grants so all non-profits in BC feel included.

Feel free to contact Marvene via phone, cell or email - that is why she is here, for groups to utilize.

Summary - Northern Interior Communities Association (NICA)  functions to provide support to groups, thereby increasing accessibility of gaming grant funding to all groups within BC.

Funding is available for direct service costs (e.g. delivering training to others), but not training for employees (note - volunteers can however get training covered through gaming grants).

Marvene is willing to come back to Williams Lake to discuss how Thrive WL could potentially apply for gaming grant funding.

Action - Jessica will schedule this meeting

THRIVE Williams Lake Project - update

Handout - Summary of Local Picture (was distributed). Research about our local picture in Williams Lake is presented visually.

Service clubs could possibly assist with funding - they distribute funds to other local groups for projects.

Comments on handout:

Poverty is quite hidden - these statistics could apply to your neighbour and you might never realize.

Ask the business community questions (so they have to think about the subject)

Possibly include a story with each statistic (e.g. 21 % of children - include the number of local children who go to school hungry each day).

Roundtable Updates

Ashlee Hyde - United Way

Announcing UW got summer student grant funding, Psychological First Aid was well attended and will host another (May or early June). Red Cross Available- April 30th 6 - 8 pm Room 1254 at TRU workshop on grant writing (for Red Cross funding).

Bree Odd - United Way

New Resiliency Coordinator in Williams Lake - part of her position is to recognize gaps in mental health and wellness. Workshop with Dr. Kristin Buire on Children and their mental well being after traumatic experiences. Another speaker from Fort Mac will also be scheduled for June. Reducing the stigma of mental health is another priority.

Shannon Thom (Workplace BC/ WLES/Horton Ventures)

A formal request for employment services was completed and they are now waiting to hear back. They will post any summer student job descriptions online for free.

Carla Bullinger (CCPL & CTC)

Cariboo Chilcotin Partners for Literacy has an ESL and immigrant settlement services office  with someone there from 9 - 3 pm daily. Conversation classes are on Fridays - looking for guest speakers. Child minding and food is provided. Financial literacy classes still take place. Communities that Care - working on facilitating strategic actions. Outdoor play boxes - two will be installed asap (one at the end of Beauchaump) and there will be one on display at the Children's Festival. These are so families can access free supplies from these boxes to play with their kids.

Jessica Dunn (SPC and CG)

Cariboo Growers Farmers Co-op is now open 5 days a week (Tues  - Sat).

Nancy Gale (Child Development Centre)

Successful first quarter in terms of funding. Youth navigator position is more defined. More positions - supported child development in rural areas (gaps in this area related to inclusivity). Fire recovery work - proposal to increase existing hours for existing frontline staff. Waitlists are reducing. The Autism Centre (6 children when it first opened in 2015, now over 100 in their caseload = 17% of total caseloads). Finally, there is now a full time school aged occupational therapist!

Larry Stranberg (Communities Futures)

At our next SPC monthly meeting the new executive director for the Chamber of Commerce will be joining us (background - 30 years in RCMP) - we are looking forward to this opportunity to consult with business. Workshops - Free workshops this week (poster was distributed and this information was posted to facebook). Advance notice - Bill Erichson workshop on May 30th, Understanding Financial Statements 9 - 12 (next day Financial analysts 9 - 12 pricing and costing your products) at Community Futures (pre-register). Six small businesses were funded this past month.

Meeting was adjourned at 12:51 pm - next meeting is scheduled for May 28th