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The Link-Letter April 16, 2010

v. 5-15

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NEWS FOR AGENCY STAFF

The Seniors Assisted Transportation Society of Greater Edmonton (SATS) has a 380 square foot board room for rent that seats 30 people for meetings, displays, training, etc. Cost is $50 per day for non-profits or $100 per day for businesses (deposit required). Call 780-732-1221 for more information.

The ESCC is looking for a senior centre interested in hosting the next Seniors Transportation Forum. This year’s forum, Road to Independence, was held March 13 and brought together 140 seniors to hear speakers and obtain information on transportation options, drivers licensing and safe driving. Westend Seniors Activity Centre, in partnership with the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council, the City of Edmonton and the AMA, hosted this event. Stakeholders such as Edmonton Transit, Alberta Transportation Driver Fitness and Monitoring, and Driving Miss Daisy set up displays, provided information and answered questions. In order to keep the momentum going, a senior centre is needed to host the 2011 forum. Contact Sheila Hallett at 780-423-5635 or sheila@ for more information.

Looking for a summer student? The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organization’s jobline has special rates for nonprofits. Postings are $25 a month for non-members and free for current members. Post on Edmonton’s only nonprofit jobs website.

The City of Edmonton is reviewing priorities and guidelines for its 2011-2013 Community Investment Operating Grant. The review includes a survey of multicultural, recreation/amateur sport and social service community organizations but it’s also available online. To respond to the survey go here. To obtain hard copies call 780-496-4933. The deadline for responses is April 23.

The City of Edmonton is starting its 2010/2011 gymnasium booking process. The first step is for groups to identify their interest in gym time between September and June. To access applications for specific activities, go here. Fax completed forms to 780-577-3527 no later than April 30. For more information call 780-442-4544 or email gymbookings@edmonton.ca.

EVENTS FOR AGENCY STAFF

1. The Seniors Assisted Transportation Society of Greater Edmonton (SATS) will hold its annual general meeting on April 20 at 6 p.m. at 9907 - 108 Avenue in SATS board room. Call 780-732-1221 for more information.

2. The Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations is offering two social media sessions April 21. Facebook Ready, the morning session, will assist those who want to be walked through getting their social media presence set up on top sites such as Facebook and Twitter. For registration, go here. Facebook Extras, the afternoon session, is for more experienced individuals who would like to explore the many tools and applications available to build their online presence. To register, go here. For information, email Lynn Ferguson at ecvoprograms@ecvo.ca or call 780-429-4962.

3. The agenda for the 2-1-1 Edmonton Networker Meeting on April 21 is built on Resources for Bereavement. Networker meetings are intended to provide an opportunity for professionals to get together to learn more about referring clients to community agencies. RSVP by phoning 2-1-1 or emailing 211edmonton@. Meetings are held 9 to 11 a.m. at The Support Network, 400, 10025 – 106 Street, in the Baker Centre, Edmonton.

4. Alberta’s volunteers are changing, as is the environment within which they volunteer. Update your knowledge by taking Volunteer Alberta’s session on April 23 from 2 to 4 p.m. on the recent Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. Contact Jenna at jmarynowski@volunteeralberta.ab.ca for more details.

5. The Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council will hold its annual general meeting on April 26 at 1 p.m. at the Northern Alberta Pioneers and Descendants Association’s Old Timer’s Cabin, 9430 - 99 Street (Scona Road). ESCC is pleased to present Alice Major, local poet, author and recent recipient of the lifetime achievement award at the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts, as our guest speaker. Her presentation is entitled Poet Meets Policy: Writing the Edmonton Seniors Declaration. The declaration will be launched June 3. For more information call 780-423-5635 or email sheila@.

6. The Edmonton Social Planning Council is offering a Lunch and Learn Series beginning April 28 with a session Housing and Homelessness in Edmonton with Susan McGee, executive director, and Murray Soroka, director, Housing First, Homeward Trust Edmonton. The June session will on seniors issues and elder abuse awareness. For more information, email stephanieh@edmontonsocialplanning.ca or call 780-423-2031 ext. 354.

7. A two-day learning event on Asset Based Community Development will be held April 28 and 29 at the Willowby Community Hall, 6315 - 184 Street, Edmonton. The event is intended for management and front line staff from non-profit and government organizations, as well as community members seeking to “develop new, creative, more powerful ways of partnering with others”. For a poster with more information, go here. To register online, go to ecdss.ca. The event is organized by Early Childhood Development Support Services but the focus will be on learning “the basic ABCD concepts” and should therefore be transferrable to the senior-serving sector. The cost is $175, which includes lunch and refreshments both days.

8. The Canadian Association of Gift Planners will hold its Festival of Dreams annual conference in Edmonton May 12 to 14. The event is an “educational conference for gift planners, fundraisers and professional advisors”. To view the program, find out about bursaries to cover the cost of attending, and to register for the conference, go here.

9. The Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE) and the Native Seniors Centre are offering an Aboriginal Seniors Series. Session 2, How to Work Effectively with Aboriginal Seniors, is May 18. The session will begin with smudging with elders prior to 10 a.m., followed by speakers from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (enjoy stew and bannock). There will also be speakers during lunch. SAGE is location at 15 Sir Winston Churchill Square (northwest corner of 100 Street and 102A Avenue). For more information and to register, go here.

10. The Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations (RCVO) invites you to Convergence, the second session in its So What? Linking Research and Practice in the Voluntary Sector series. Liz O’Neill, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Society of Edmonton and area, is the presenter. The session with be held at Grant MacEwan’s City Centre Campus on Thursday May 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cost is $10. Refreshments provided but participants are asked to bring a lunch. Click here for the events poster or visit to register.

11. Registrations are being accepted for a half-day Physical Activity Forum sponsored by the Alberta Centre for Active Living, Mount Royal University and the University of Lethbridge. The event will address the challenges of including the study of physical activity patterns in the context of disciplines where there is little history of doing this, and make particular reference to the relationship between sedentary behaviour and the built environment. For information on Does the Built Environment Influence Health? go here. The forum will be held May 26 in Calgary (registration free) and June 4 in Edmonton (registration $35).

12. Stony Plain FCSS, in partnership with Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, is offering a Basic Facilitation Skills Training Workshop May 26 to 28 (the registration deadline is May 14). Volunteers, executives and staff members of voluntary and government organizations are invited to learn the core concepts of facilitation, improve their understanding of groups, design facilitated sessions, practise facilitation and receive feedback. The cost is $129. For more information and a registration form, go here.

ITEMS FOR SENIORS

During National Volunteer Week (April 18 to 24), show the commitment volunteers make any given week in Alberta by logging your volunteer hours or the hours of your organization’s volunteers here. You could win a first prize draw of $500 for a non-profit organization of your choice, a second prize draw of $250 for a non-profit organization of your choice or a third prize draw of registration to Vitalize 2010 in Edmonton June 10 to 12. For more information, go to volunteeralberta.ab.ca.

Seniors interested in getting involved with their local community league may wish to attend the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues’ annual general meeting on Monday, April 19, at the Athlone Community League, 13010 - 129 Street (for a map and directions, click here). The meeting is set to run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and is preceded by a dinner at 5:30 p.m. RSVP by email to Stephanie.Hawrylak@. For a look at the meeting agenda, click here. The federation is looking for new board and planning committee members.

Volunteer Edmonton is celebrating National Volunteer Week (April 18 to 24) by inviting community members who are not yet volunteering to a Showcase Session on how to find the perfect volunteer opportunity. The session is free and will be held on April 21 from 12 to 1 p.m. and April 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (pick the timeslot that’s most convenient for you) at The Support Network, #400, 10025 - 106 Street (the Baker Centre). RSVP by emailing Nana Thaver at voled@ or call 780-732-6649. Each session is limited to 20 people. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Multicultural Women and Seniors Services Association will observe National Victims of Crime Awareness Day on April 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 329 Woodvale Road W. Prior to the Every Victim Counts event, new Canadians are invited to send the association their stories about facing crime in Canada, focusing on coping techniques, support provided by the authorities, their knowledge about the legal system in Canada, and their awareness of available resources. Information about the authors will remain confidential. For more about the event and to register, call 780-465-2992. To send in a story, email culture@.

Seniors are invited to play with polymers at Telus World of Science at 2 p.m. on April 21. The Seniors Spring Zing Event will enable participants to make and take home some slime for their grandchildren. Enjoy a coffee and cookie as staff demonstrate other scientific experiments such as creating lightning gel and making fake snow. Then sit back and enjoy the IMAX movie Journey to Mecca at 3 p.m. The cost for the afternoon is $13.45 plus GST, with a reduced rate for groups of 20 or more seniors. Call 780-451-3344 for more information or to purchase tickets.

The City of Edmonton, led by the Office of Great Neighbourhoods, is hosting three Connections 2010 events to inform Edmontonians about city projects, programs and services. The events are scheduled for April 22 at Mayfield Inn & Suites Convention Centre, 16615 - 109 Avenue, and April 29, Alberta Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway Avenue, from 4 to 8 p.m. Some displays and information will be tailored to suit the area surrounding the event location. Free parking is available.

The Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE) is holding a community forum for seniors on Aging in Place - Promises and Pitfalls. Seniors are invited to share their experiences and thoughts to help inform policy makers through participation. The forum is on Friday, April 23, at SAGE, 15 Sir Winston Churchill Square, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $10, lunch included. Registration is required. To register call 780-701-9004. For more information and a poster go here or call 780-701-9008.

The Edmonton Police Service has voluntarily invited independent assessors from across North America to scrutinize all aspects of the services it provides. The EPS invites seniors to participate in this review by attending a public forum on Monday, April 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. in The Meeting Room at Chancery Hall, 3 Sir Winston Churchill Square. If you’re unable to attend the forum, comment by calling 780-421-2098 on April 26 between 3 and 5 p.m. You can also submit written comments to The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Suite 100, 10302 Eaton Place, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215.

Don Wheaton Family YMCA is holding a Senior Health Awareness Day on April 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Adults 50+ will be given free facility access for the day and an opportunity to try out the Y’s Active Older Adult Group Fitness classes. Participants will also be able to attend a presentation on seniors’ health while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. For information call 780-452-9622 or email GroupFitness@edmonton.ymca.ca.

Seniors are invited to learn about Mathemagic at Telus World of Science at 2 p.m. on April 28. The Seniors Spring Zing Event will be both entertaining and educational as staff demonstrate magic squares, perform card tricks and present information about Moebius strips. Coffee and cookie refreshments are included and the magic session will be followed by viewing of the IMAX movie Journey to Mecca at 3 p.m. The cost for the afternoon is $13.45 plus GST, with a reduced rate for groups of 20 or more seniors. Call 780-451-3344 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Park Memorial Funeral Home is holding a free “evening of hope and healing” titled The Wilderness of Grief: Finding Your Way on April 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Westin Hotel, 10135 - 100 Street, Edmonton. The “compassionate program” will be led by Alan D. Wolfelt, author, education and grief counselor. He is director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado. Seating is limited so anyone interested in attending is asked to call 780-426-0050 to register.

Strathcona Place Senior Centre presents the exhibit Happy Trails at the Jeff Allen Art Galley until April 28. The exhibit features photographs by Patt Nearingburg that capture elements of nature throughout Canada and other parts of the world. Best viewing hours are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m. Call 780-433-5807 for more information.

The Memorial Society of Edmonton & District will hold its annual general meeting on May 2 at 2 p.m. in the Edmonton Room at the Stanley Milner Library. The guest speaker will be Sister Patricia Kaliciak. Refreshments will be served. The society believes in “simple and dignified final arrangements planned before death”. For more information, email info@memorialsocietyedmonton.ca or go to memorialsocietyedmonton.ca.

Need a creative stimulus? Join ELLA (Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association) for learning opportunities to enrich your mind and explore new ideas. ELLA’s annual spring session for adults 50+ is May 3 to 21. Take up to five courses daily for three weeks. No exams. No homework. No previous education level required. The total cost is $220 to $245. Choose from a range of courses in the sciences, humanities, fine arts, literature/writing, computers and physical activity. For more information, call 780-492-5055 or visit extension.ulberta.ca/ella.

Volunteer Edmonton’s third annual Festival Volunteer Fair will be held May 12 at City Hall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. “This free-of-charge, ‘one-stop festival volunteer shopping’ event will feature a variety of arts and culture-related festivals and celebrations promoting their volunteer opportunities.” For more information, go here.

To register to attend a How Do I Do My Job? Role Training for Chairs, Secretaries and Treasurers session on May 20 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre go to . The session is intended for individuals who have been in a position on a board for a while but feel there are gaps and areas where they need coaching or training for their role? “Join us to clarify your roles and responsibilities, and to learn how to make your job as chair, secretary or treasurer for your board more effective.”

The Stroke Recovery Association is hosting a public awareness workshop entitled Stroke ... the Next Steps on Saturday, May 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Central Lions Seniors Recreation Centre. Dr. Jeerakathil from the University of Alberta’s Department of Medicine will be the keynote speaker. His session is entitled Getting Organized! How to Stop Stroke from Stealing Minds and Lives. Registration is $15 and includes a full day of speakers, lunch and coffee. To register or for more information contact Gail Elton-Smith at 780-407-8729.

Do you know any local senior playwrights? How about seniors’ theatre groups? FEST (Festival of Edmonton Seniors Theatre) seeks to showcase the talents of Edmonton seniors and will feature a night of performances by senior playwrights and performance groups. FEST runs June 14 to 16 at the Timms' Centre for the Arts. For more information, contact Dhana at 780-984-2979 or dhana@.

The Government of Alberta announced March 31 that “proposed changes to Alberta’s seniors’ drug plan, scheduled to take effect on July 1, have been delayed. Meanwhile, the existing seniors’ drug program will remain available to all Albertans 65 years and older. Questions about existing coverage should be directed to Alberta Blue Cross at 1-800-661-6995 or by email at ab.bluecross.ca. Click here to read the news release.

To learn more about “aging in place” from a personal, rather than a policy perspective, go here. The U.S. National Center on Aging’s website features an Always at Home: How to Age in Place blog that includes an article on the benefits and potential pitfalls of home remodelling.

Senior artists are invited to take advantage of an opportunity to display their art in a show and sale in the Seniors Assisted Transportation Society of Greater Edmonton (SATS) board room at no cost for one month at a time. Call 780-732-1221 for more information.

VOLUNTEER/WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS

1. The Edmonton Celiac Association needs volunteers to assist with Celiac Awareness Month events in May and with a Cycling for Celiacs 11-day trek in August. Numerous other volunteer opportunities are also available. For more information, email cycling_celiac1@ or call 780-482-2708.

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