The Link-Letter Feb. 20, 2009
v. 4-07
For more information click on the links
provided or check out Resources for
Agencies and Event Details.
New items are highlighted.
NEWS FOR AGENCY STAFF
1. The ESCC has become aware of a potential resource for seniors
centres but it raises a few questions. It’s U.S.-based, so do its products
and services translate to the Canadian context? Its website contains
elements of a corporate sale pitch (you need to watch a product video to
get details about how the system works), and it does not divulge
information about costs (presumably you get that information after you
sign up), so is this something we should recommend? To find out what
we’re talking about, go to www.myseniorcenter.com. If anyone has
information about the experience of Canadian centres that have used
these products and services, we’d welcome a call at 780-423-3565 or
email rich@seniorscouncil.net.
2. Alberta Seniors and Community Supports is looking for agencies
willing to assist private guardians with court applications and reviews for
guardianship; assist in providing public education and awareness of
personal decision making options; and assist the public with information
on the registration of their personal directive. “The agency must be able
to offer presentations and facilitate small group discussions. Flexible
hours to meet community requests are critical. Some regional travel
using own transportation may be required.” The assistance would be
provided on a contract basis. For further information or to obtain the
Assistance for Personal Decision Makers expression of interest
package, contact the Office of the Public Guardian at 1-877-427-4525.
Submissions must be received on or before Feb. 27 at 4 p.m.
3. “Using new technology, such as neuron-imaging, as well as new and
increasingly-sensitive psychological tests, researchers have refuted the
stereotype that aging people go into a general mental decline. Instead,
they are finding that diverse brain functions decline at very different
rates and that these losses vary widely among individuals.” For an
ElderWise article on Memory and Aging: Senior Moments?, go here.
4. The Stanford Social Innovation Review has released a new report
that looks at the value of volunteerism, how to capitalize on a volunteer
workforce and what nonprofits could stand to lose if they do not manage
volunteers strategically. Read it here.
5. The ESCC is trying to update our listing of the mileage rates at which
senior-serving agencies and organizations reimburse their staff and
volunteers. Given that gas prices at the pump have recently decreased
from what they were a year ago, we’d like to determine if mileage
reimbursement rates have decreased as well. We’re therefore requesting
that you report your current rate, whether this represents a drop in
response to lower prices, and what your previous rate was if there has
been a change. To be clear, we’d like to hear from as many agencies as
possible on the primary question: What is your mileage reimbursement
rate? This will help other agencies determine whether they should be
adjusting their rates to reflect “market value”. Respond by email to
rich@seniorscouncil.net by noon on Feb. 24 and we will share the
results in the Feb. 27 Link-Letter.
6. The U.S.-based Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Ashoka's
Changemakers are seeking nominees for their Designing for Better
Health competition. The contest will recognize individuals and institutions
that help people make better decisions regarding their health and the
health of others. The competition is open to all types of organizations
from all countries. The deadline for nominations is April 1. A panel of
judges will select 12 finalists, and online voters will chose three award
winners, each of which will receive $5,000.
EVENTS FOR AGENCY STAFF
1. A Fundraising Success: Where to Start & How to Build it workshop
will be held Saturday, Feb. 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at PCL Hall, 5th floor,
Alberta College Campus, Grant MacEwan College, 10050 MacDonald
Drive, Edmonton. Facilitator Tim Haak sees fundraising as an invitation
for others to join you in making your community better and making a big
difference in the lives of others. Register here. The cost is $33.73,
including breakfast, lunch and registration. For more information call
780-497-4780 or go to www.rcvo.org.
2. A Collabor-Nation workshop, designed for nonprofits and charities to
“explore how collaboration can be used to achieve mutual interests and
common good” and hosted by the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary
Organizations, will be held Tuesday, March 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
in the Green & Gold Room (Commonwealth Sports and Fitness Centre),
11000 Stadium Road, Edmonton. The workshop will deal with “what
motivates us to collaborate, what we need to consider when taking a
collaborative approach, and tools that we can use to collaborate”. The
session will be facilitated by Anne Smith. To register, go here. For
information, go here.
3. The 2009 Board Leadership Conference is Saturday, March 21, at
Grant MacEwan College, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It’s geared for both
beginner and experienced board members of nonprofit/voluntary
organizations. Learn about media relations, fundraising, board
recruitment and succession planning, generative governance, cultural
diversity and more. For information, check the program schedule, FAQs
and conference poster. Registration is $55.30 per person. Register at
http://boardleadership09.eventbrite.com. For more information, call the
Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations at 780-497-4780 or email
voluntarysectorevents@macewan.ca.
4. You are Not Alone: A Workshop for Seniors Who Care for Seniors
will be presented March 23, 10 a.m. to noon (with lunch to follow), at
the Edmonton General, 3Y, 11111 Jasper Avenue. The free session will
enable caregivers to meet others who share their experience, gain more
self-confidence, and learn new ways of handling difficult situations.
Presenter Maureen Osis is also willing to coach those who want to
become workshop leaders, and will meet with them right after the
workshop. To attend You are Not Alone, RSVP to Penny Olsen at 780482-8625 by March 13. Lunch is free. The workshop is sponsored by the
Adult Learning Knowledge Centre, an initiative of the Canadian
Council on Learning.
5. Working with Complexity: Social Innovation and Evaluation, a
one-day workshop with Michael Quinn Patton, will be held April 1, 9
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre, 11727
Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton. Patton is the author of Utilization Focused
Evaluation and co-author of Getting to Maybe: How the World is
Changed. The registration fee is $60 and includes lunch. Register at
www.the-family-centre.com/register1. Registration deadline is March
13. Registration is limited. For more information, email
Region6.Planning@gov.ab.ca.
6. A multidisciplinary fall prevention conference, Keeping Fall Prevention
on The Radar Screen, will be held Thursday, April 16, at the Mount
Royal College Conference Centre, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary.
The conference is sponsored by The Brenda Strafford Foundation Chair in
Geriatric Medicine, University of Calgary. For more information, phone
403-292-9330 or email janet.schimmel@janpat.com. To download a pdf
copy of the registration form or to register online, go here. The
registration deadline is April 6.
ITEMS FOR SENIORS
1. The City of Edmonton and University of Alberta have launched a pilot
project demonstrating the use of a citizen panel to gain public input into
the city’s planning and budgeting processes. The Edmonton Citizen
Panel will bring together 50 residents who will spend six Saturdays,
beginning tomorrow (Feb. 21), developing a fuller understanding of the
city’s vision and strategic goals, and discussing how to best use city
resources to realize these goals. The objective is to gain informed citizen
opinion for council to seriously consider in the development of
Edmonton’s long-term budget. To view the first (9 to 10 a.m.) and last
(3 to 4 p.m.) hour of each of the six sessions on a live webcast, go to
www.edmonton.ca/citizenpanel. Seniors can also join a Facebook group
and take part in a moderated discussion by going to
http://www.facebook.com/edmontoncitizenpanel. The six sessions will be
held Feb. 21; March 7, 14, 21 and 28; and April 25.
2. The community is invited to join Seniors Assisted Transportation
Society of Greater Edmonton (SATS) volunteers for a Shrove
Tuesday celebration pancake supper on Feb. 24, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
at the Edmonton Korean Association building, 9636 - 105A Avenue.
Those with tickets bought in advance will have preferred seating, with
service at their table. Those with tickets purchased at the door will have
to serve themselves. But either way, the cost is only $5 per person for
all you can eat. Proceeds support SATS. For more information go to
www.satsofedmonton.org or call 780-732-1221.
3. Westend Seniors Activity Centre, 9629 - 176 Street, will hold a series
of “coffee talks” beginning Feb. 25, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. “This series will
bring interesting and knowledgeable visitors from the community to
engage participants in lively and informative discussions on a particular
topic of interest. The question of ‘aging in place’ kicks off the first
meeting. Will you be able to age gracefully in your community? The price
of admission is a toonie ($2).” To find out more about the series, contact
Steve Renaud at 780-483-1209 or projects@westendseniors.com. Space
is limited to 60 participants.
4. The 2009 Minister’s Seniors Service Awards recognize Albertans who
provide direct service to seniors in their community. Send your
nomination for an outstanding individual or organization by Feb. 27.
The award guidelines and nomination form are available on the Alberta
Seniors and Community Supports website at
www.seniors.gov.ab.ca/awards.
5. The Edmonton Health and Wellness Show, Feb. 27, noon to 8 p.m.
at the Mayfield Inn & Trade Centre, welcomes senior groups to “come for
a fun-filled day with sampling, giveaways and more. We have teamed up
with the Canadian Diabetes Association and will feature their diabetes
expo inside the show. Over 160 exhibits to see and lots of activities to
do.” Call Emily Salsbury at 780-424-9224 or email
sales@kachkargroup.com to book your tour group, or visit
www.edmontonhealthandwellness.com for more information.
6. Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel has launched a Taskforce on
Community Safety and it’s inviting seniors and the agencies that work
with them to provide input. To gather this input on a “strategy and 10
year implementation plan to result in reduced crime and improved
safety,” plan to attend a March 4 session from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at
Westend Seniors Activity Centre, 9629 - 176 Street, or a March 9
session from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Strathcona Place Senior Centre, 10831
University Avenue. Space is limited so pre-registration is advised.
Register by contacting Michelle at place.logistics@yahoo.ca or by calling
780-499-2752. For more information, visit
www.edmonton.ca/safetytaskforce.
7. The Healthy Living Therapies Alberta Association, a non-profit
organization committed to making the services of wholistic therapists
available to the community, will hold a Wholistic Fair and Silent
Auction on March 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Allen Gray
Continuing Care Centre, 5005 - 28 Avenue, Edmonton. The fair will
include 30-minute health sessions, raffles and door prizes. For more
information call David at 780-504-6457, email geeyouareyou@shaw.ca;
or Marion at 780-988-7211, email mumcam@telus.net.
8. Make Tax Time Pay (MTTP) is willing to provide low income seniors
with free volunteer assistance to prepare their taxes. To find the
MTTP site nearest to you, call 2-1-1. All MTTP sites offer tax preparation
services at no charge. There are 24 sites throughout Edmonton that are
open from March to April. The sites do appointments, drop offs and walk
ins, and also offer assistance in Spanish, French and other languages.
Some sites are wheelchair accessible. Click here to see if you qualify for
free assistance.
9. The U.S. National Osteoporosis Foundation is celebrating its 25th
anniversary this year, and the organization is encouraging individuals to
visit its website and download its free 25 Ways to Prevent Falls checklist.
You will find it here. You can also find anniversary links on the same
page to 25 Facts About Your Bones and Osteoporosis, 25 Ways to
Improve Your Bone Health, 25 Ways to Feel Good About Yourself and 25
Calcium-Rich Foods.
10. On Dec. 8, 2008, Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert unveiled the
government’s Pharmaceutical Strategy. One week later, he and
Seniors Minister Mary Anne Jablonski introduced their Continuing Care
Strategy. Now Public Interest Alberta is asking seniors to express
their opinion of the two documents, which it says violate the cardinal
principle of universality, transfer the cost of a needed social benefit to a
select group, skirt Alberta’s tax policy by penalizing seniors who are not
impoverished, disrupt the carefully laid financial plans of seniors, come
at a time of economic crisis when many seniors have already seen their
savings reduced, and put those above income thresholds at the mercy of
the private sector. “The most effective way of convincing government on
these issues is by phone calls and letters to your own MLA and to the
Minister of Health and Wellness, the Minister of Seniors and Community
Supports, and the office of the premier,” PIA states. The Pharmaceutical
Strategy can be downloaded here. The Continuing Care Strategy can be
downloaded here. Both documents can also be obtained by phoning 780427-7164 or 310-0000 (toll free).
VOLUNTEER/WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS
1. Seniors are being invited to make a difference in the life of a child by
becoming volunteer Big Brothers and Big Sisters for as little as one
hour a week. “Bigs and Littles meet in their community to share fun
activities, stories and a little bit of themselves.” Or they meet once a
week or every other week at the Little’s school “to talk and have fun. It’s
not about being a tutor, it’s about being a friend.” For more information,
call 780-424-8181 or go to www.bbbsedmonton.org.
2. STARS Air Rescue’s Edmonton base is looking for enthusiastic seniors to
join its volunteer team. “Volunteers assist the STARS Foundation with
special events, casinos, administration, merchandise sales and base
tours.” Volunteers contribute to keeping fundraising costs low and enable
as much money as possible to be directed toward STARS’ patient care
program. “We provide a complete orientation and many opportunities for
personal growth.” Volunteers benefit through personal skills development,
new friendships, and “a sense of achievement and personal satisfaction in
helping a community-based non-profit organization”. If you are interested
in volunteering, contact STARS Edmonton volunteer manager Nafisa
Taimuri by phone at 780-732-3002, fax at 780-447-5493 or email at
ntaimuri@stars.ca. For more information about STARS, go to
www.stars.ca.
3. Habitat for Humanity needs a volunteer to maintain the organization’s
prefab shop. Duties will include maintaining order in the shop, putting
away tools and equipment, and assisting with loading and unloading
equipment. Requirements include the ability to lift 30 lbs., follow the
instructions of a supervisor, and climb stairs comfortably. Work times can
be flexible: looking for two full days a month or four half-days, Monday to
Friday. If interested, contact Louise Henein at 780-479-3566 or
lhenein@edmotnon.hfh.org.
4. The Works Art & Design Festival is looking for volunteers who are
available June 19 to July 1 for 13 days of “visual art, live music, and
free fun” at Sir Winston Churchill Square. Volunteers select their
schedule, according to when they are available and the jobs they prefer.
From being an exhibit attendant to greeting the public and teaching
children how to make fun art, 15 different positions are available. Perks
include “enhancing your knowledge of local and international visual art,
meeting fascinating people, building marketable skills, receiving prize
awards, attending the wrap-up party, and generally having a great time
in the summer”. For more information contact Caitlynn Cummings at 780426-2122 ext. 230 or volunteer2@theworks.ab.ca, or go here and
download an application.
5. SAGE is seeking income tax preparers to assist in its income tax program
for low income adults during March and April. Volunteers will assist clients
in the preparation of their annual income tax return, and must have
computer skills, good communication skills and an understanding of
preparing income tax returns. A 3.5 hour shift during a weekday morning
is needed. Contact the volunteer coordinator for information by emailing
fswendseid@mysage.ca or phoning 780-701-9015.