Board Orientation Strategies Workshop - Don't Miss It!

Hey District B Community Leagues - get some orientation and inspiration for your board members - check out our upcoming workshop! Get Your Board Into Gear  A well planned orientation is a great way to give new board members a positive direction: New Board members need to feel like they’re an integral part of the Board as soon as possible.  If they don’t feel comfortable voicing their opinions, you’re all losing valuable input!   Information is what will help everybody feel at ease. Board orientation is a process to thoughtfully provide Board members with the precise information they need regarding their role in the organization. Getting Board members comfortable with Board responsibilities and participating in meetings is a key objective.  Not only do the new directors start contributing right away during the meetings, they also develop a good working relationship with the veteran Board members. Attend the Board Orientation Workshop on September 27, 2012,  6-9PM EFCL Offices, 7103 – 105 Street  RSVP Andrea.Sage@efcl.org

Community League Day 2012 Photos

What a day!
More than 90 community leagues across Edmonton held Community League Day events that involved everything from dunk tanks to volunteer rink rehabilitation work bees. I managed to get to Belvedere, Rosslyn, Lago Lindo and Kilkenny community leagues, all from EFCL district B. Delwood and Evansdale held their events the week before. What an amazing job by our city's community leagues. Belvedere pulled out all stops and hosted a carnival like event that started at 10 am and finished at 10 pm on Saturday. Participants seem to particularly enjoy dropping Belvedere president Mike Kleparchuk in the dunk tank. But Councillor Tony Caterina and Const. Sylvia Kozina also took their turns getting dunked.
Here are some photos from Rosslyn, Lago Lindo, Kilkenny and Belvedere community leagues:



These photos are posted as a slide show at the EFCL's Flickr site, you can download full resolution images of your league's events there.

Also check out the Edmonton Journal blog on Community League Day, the Edmonton Sun photos and check back with the EFCL website for more photos! Also see the Journal story on Newton Community League.

EFCL Sep. 2012 Board Meeting Highlights

Hi Everyone, I hope you are out enjoying Community League Day 2012. Check out the EFCL Community League Day Map to find an event in your community. 

Download the Sep. 2012 EFCL Board Package

September Board Meeting Notes

1. Thirty Five Leagues Land A CLIP Grant

The EFCL was pleased to see so many leagues take advantage of the city’s Community League Infrastructure Program (CLIP) in 2012, its first full year of operation. Altogether, 35 leagues received a grant, for projects big and small. Under an agreement with the EFCL, the city has agreed to provide $3 million in annual funding to help leagues build new facilities and repair existing ones. The deadline for 2013 applications is March 4. The city is also holding two workshops to help leagues understand the program. They are set for 7:00 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, Oct. 22 and 24, at the Central Lions Seniors Centre (111 Ave. – 113 St). 

2. Federal Infrastructure Grant Deadline Looming (Get a rink roof-see item 6 below)

Leagues are reminded that the deadline for applying for federal infrastructure funding is Nov. 19. The EFCL has been lead to believe that this program will not be extended. As much as $250,000 in matching money is available to repair, renovate and enhance league facilities. Details on project eligibility and application forms are available at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.

3. Third General Meeting Recommended

The EFCL will be bringing a recommendation to the general membership at the fall RGM that we hold a general meeting early in the new year to review the federation’s budget and annual work plan. This will mean that we will have three general meetings from now on. The fall regular general meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. dinner), Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Britannia Youngstown Community League (15927-105 Avenue). This is our solution to the budget approval challenge we faced. We promise to make this meeting more interactive and more fun!

4. Leagues Invited to Take Part in 50th Anniversary of Minor Hockey Week

Edmonton Minor Hockey has asked its partners to join with it in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Minor Hockey Week, which is set for January 11-22. Discussions are focusing on one or more legacy projects to which proceeds from the tournament could be used. The EFCL has also decided to ask Edmonton Minor Hockey to hold the opening game of the tournament on an outdoor community league rink. It will also be encouraging leagues to hold informal shinny tournaments during minor hockey week so that all children, including those not involved in organized hockey, can enjoy the week.

5. Registrations Now Open For “Leagues Alive”

The EFCL is now taking registrations for “Leagues Alive”, the conference and trade show it is hosting at the Mayfield Inn on Saturday, Nov. 3.

This will be an excellent opportunity for league executive members to talk with suppliers, attend some interesting workshops and network with volunteers from other leagues in Edmonton. Members of Edmonton city council will be on hand to share lunch with our volunteers.

Admission is free but delegates need to register for the conference sessions to ensure a spot.

6. Rink Roof Workshop Set

The EFCL is holding another workshop for leagues interested in covering, or partially covering their outdoor rink. At least two new suppliers will be in attendance. The session is set for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the EFCL office (7103-105 Street). Rink roofs are one of the projects that are eligible for federal infrastructure funding, in a program that ends Nov. 19.

7. Snow Busters Program Back in Action

The EFCL is pleased to report that the Snow Busters Program offered by the Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE) is back on track.

The program asks interested community leagues to identify a primary contact person or “Snow Buster Leader”, who will be responsible for identifying people who are willing to shovel snow for seniors in the community. SAGE will provide the leader with the names of seniors who have paid for the service. The rates range from $70 – $100 per month for the service, depending on the size of the job.

SAGE will retain 10% from each customer’s monthly payment to cover administrative costs, with the remainder going to the community league. The league can decide whether or not to pay the snow shovellers or use the money as a fundraising scheme.

SAGE attempted to introduce this program last year, however the agreement was very demanding of both the leagues and the snow shovellers. The latest agreement calls for the snow shoveller to use their “best effort” to clear the walk and the league will no longer assume any liability for accidents.

8. EFCL Looks To Improve League Engagement

The federation is applying to the city for some funds to help it engage its member leagues and in turn, help leagues engage their members on the many civic issues we attempt to deal with each year. Whether is it is traffic safety, social housing, crime prevention, land use planning, or recreation programming, both the federation and its leagues are continually trying to get proper feedback from their members on a regular basis. The EFCL is exploring the idea of holding more workshops, using professional polling techniques and making better use of its district and area council meetings to get additional feedback. Council will consider the request this fall as part of its 2013 budget.

9. Help For Aboriginal and Refugee Children

The EFCL is also looking for some financial support from the city to set up a program to cover the sports registration costs of aboriginal and refugee status children. The EFCL realizes that they are many children in low income who need assistance, but has decided to target these two groups as part of its cultural inclusion exercise. The federation believes that many of these children are not coming to the leagues or minor sports organizations in part because their families know that they cannot afford to pay.

10.EFCL Teams Up with Catholic Social Services

The federation has decided to team up with Catholic Social Services (CSS) to manage the next stage of its cultural inclusion exercise. The focus will be to work with individual leagues to identify the cultural background of people living in or near the community, that are not involved with the league and then develop a strategy to engage these people. The EFCL and CSS have jointly submitted a grant application to Immigration Canada to hire two cultural outreach workers to help with this exercise.

11. Community League Art Inventory

The Edmonton Arts Council has graciously offered to give leagues some advice on how to preserve and/or restore any artwork they may have on their grounds, or on or in their buildings. The Arts Council would also like leagues to let them know what they have in the way of art, so they can create an inventory of public art. Leagues can contact the council at 424-2787.

12.Vacant School Site Review

The EFCL is closely monitoring the redevelopment of vacant school sites into various forms of housing, including eight sites that are currently slated for seniors housing projects. It is also supporting the request of a number of leagues to be given access to reports that assess the need for parkland in their community, as well as any cost-benefit studies that were done to determine if the former school site is the best location in the park for a housing development.

Thanks to Allan Bolstad for the update. If you have any questions, comments or input into any of these items please get in touch anytime.

David Dodge

President and District B Rep. EFCL

Tricycle Race at Community League Day launch 2012

The launch for Community League Day 2012 came in the form of the Tour de Edmonton, a Tricycle Race for young and old at Churchill Square on Wednesday, September 15. Here are a few photos from the launch courtesy of Dr. Rob Agostinis. 

Cheers,
David Dodge
EFCL President and District B rep.

EFCL Community League Day Map

Hello EFCL District B,

Click to see the EFCL Community League Day map of events.

Here is a list of District B Community League Day events. I know Evansdale held their event last week and that Steele Heights had a late summer event. If you are holding an event not on this list please reply and let me and Val know. We will add it to the map at the EFCL site. 

Here are links to pdf documents of events sorted by district  and  events sorted by region of the city

DISTRICT B

Belvedere Fall Festival

Mixed Slowpitch tournament, Beer Gardens with Entertainment, BBQ & Concession, Best Homemade Pie in Town Contest, Car Show, Dunk Tank, Petting Zoo, Kids games, entertainment, & prizes.  Come and visit with your neighbours!!  10–10 pm, 13223 - 62 St

13223 - 62 Street

Lisa, info@belvederecl.com, 780-476-1224 

http://www.belvederecl.com/

Delwood Fall Festival

Sep 8 - Wrestlers,Hypnotist,Car Show,Beer Gardens,Teen DJ Dance,Bike Parade,Dunk Tank,Longest Golf Drive,Jumpy Things,Face Painting,Petting Zoo,Concessions, Fireworks, REMAX Hot Air Balloon Rides,Raffles,Bingo,Food Bank donation & more 10-10pm

7515 Delwood Road

http://www.delwood.ca/

Lago Lindo 2nd Annual Fall Festival

Jumpy things, games, corn on the cob, hot dogs, beverages and much more! 12-3pm

17123 95 Street

Alissa Tremblay, lagolindosocial@hotmail.com 

http://www.lagolindo.ca/

Rosslyn Community League Day

BBQ 12-2pm, Garage Sale 10-2pm, Fun & Games! Swim passes with membership purchase.

11015 - 134 Avenue

dcsydor@telus.net to reserve a $10 table.

The media event to launch Community League Day is Wednesday at noon at Churchill Square. I hope to see many of you on Community League Day - good luck with your events!

David

Leagues Alive 2012 Conference and Trade Show

The EFCL is pleased to announce that our 3rd trade show, entitled "Leagues Alive 2012 Conference and Trade Show" will feature a series of workshops specially designed for community leagues.

This year’s Trade Show will be taking on an exciting twist with a whole new slate of educational programming which will offer something of interest for everyone on Community League Boards.  To date, confirmed workshops will include education regarding:

Board Governance Basics     Role of the President Consensus Building

Connecting with your Community Volunteer Engagement; and Recruitment      Community Gardening

Crime Prevention Developing Policy Bylaw Review

SAVE THE DATE:
November 3, 2012  at the Mayfield Inn
16615 109 Avenue,     Saturday, 8:30 to 4:30 

Watch the EFCL website for more details as the date approaches.

David Dodge

EFCL President and District B Rep.