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The Link-Letter July 29, 2011

v. 06-30

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NEWS FOR AGENCY STAFF

1. When researchers at UCLA combined a weekly tai chi exercise class with a standard depression treatment for a group of depressed elderly adults, they found “greater improvement in the level of depression — along with improved quality of life, better memory and cognition, and more overall energy — than among a different group in which the standard treatment was paired with a weekly health education class”. To read more about the study, go here.

2. The Boland Survey of Not for Profit Salaries and Human Resource Practices is now underway. Agencies that wish to become involved must contact Peter T. Boland & Associates Inc. and register for participation. To do so, go here. There is no charge to fill out the survey, only to purchase the final report. Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council is encouraging its member organizations to take part and will pay for an analysis of our sector. The analysis will be shared with member organizations. The deadline to submit data is the end of August. For details about the survey, go to .

3. New Horizons for Seniors Program grants support projects that aim to address one or more of the following objectives: “promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations; engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others; expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse; supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors”. The deadline to get in on the NHSP’s current call for proposals is Sept. 16. For more information, go to .

4. The deadline to apply for a grant through the City of Edmonton’s Community Facility Partner Capital Grant Program is Sept. 16. For more information, go to edmonton.ca/grants. “Funding will support capital projects of the following types: preserve (capital maintenance/rehabilitation); enhance (expansion/redevelopment); build new (construction of a new facility); and project planning.

EVENTS FOR AGENCY STAFF

1. The New Horizon for Seniors Program is offering Edmonton and area information sessions on its grant application process on Aug. 3 at Canada Place, Suite 202, Conference Centre, 9700 Jasper Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Aug. 4 at the Old Timer’s Cabin, 9430 Scona Road, from 1 to 3 p.m.; Aug. 9 in Stony Plain at 5120 - 41 Avenue from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and Aug. 11 at the Bent Arrow Society, 11666 - 95 Street, Edmonton, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To RSVP (space is limited), contact Denise Bond by phoning 780-495-3366 or emailing denise.bond@servicecanada.gc.ca.

2. The early bird registration deadline for Grey Matters, the 2011 Alberta Seniors Services Conference to be held Sept. 22-23 in Calgary, is Aug. 15. The early bird rate is $195, while the regular rate is $245. To check out the conference program, in order to select the sessions you wish to attend, go here. To access the registration process, go here. The conference will be hosted by the Kerby Centre in partnership with Alberta Seniors and Community Supports. The keynote speaker is Colin Milner, founder and chief executive officer of the International Council on Active Aging.

3. The Alberta Continuing Care Association is seeking sponsors and exhibitors for the 2011 ACCA Tradeshow and President’s Dinner. This year’s event will take place Oct. 4 and 5 in Edmonton at the Mayfield Trade Centre. The deadline to register for sponsorship and/or a booth is Aug. 15. For a registration form, go here. For an event brochure, go here.

4. The Alberta Caregivers Association will hold its eighth annual fundraising luncheon, fashion show and silent auction on Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre. “Join us for fabulous fashions and a delicious lunch.” Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling 780-453-5088. For more information, go to .

5. The next session of an Improving Nonprofit Governance online course will be offered Sept. 26 to Feb. 27. The registration deadline is Sept. 16. “This program will help executive directors deepen their understanding of nonprofit governance and use a variety of tools in working with their boards in improving the leadership of their organization.” To register, contact Dawne Walker at 902-494-8837 or dawne.walker@dal.ca.

6. The Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network will present its first conference Oct. 3 and 4 at the Radisson Hotel South in Edmonton. The event is open to professional front line staff, volunteers who are working with seniors, family and friends. More information is available here. The early bird registration deadline, at a rate of $195, is Aug. 31. The rate for the month of September will be $225.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SENIOR-SERVING SECTOR

Mill Woods Seniors Activity Centre is seeking a part-time public relations and fundraising coordinator. “Your main responsibility will be to plan, implement and analyze public relations strategies to advance the organization’s goals.” For more information, go here. To apply for the position, submit your resume to pearl.millwoodsseniors@ or mail it to Mill Woods Seniors Activity Centre, 2nd Floor, 7207 – 28 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6K 3Z3.

The Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit wants to hire a part time administrative assistant to work on its capital campaign. When it’s constructed, the centre, which is a project of 630 CHED Santas Anonymous, will provide 70,000 square feet of multi-tenant, non-profit centre and volunteer workshop space. The centre is expected to become a “small working village of charitable organizations sharing resources and talents for enhanced program delivery. It will provide affordable and dynamic office and warehouse space to non-profit organizations in need -- and become a legacy of goodwill for decades to come.” For more information, go to jerryforbescentre.ca or santasanonymous.ca. For a complete job description, go here.

Westend Seniors Activity Centre is looking for a new program coordinator. The successful applicant will plan and coordinate programs, activities and events for seniors fulltime. Applicants “must have related education and experience with seniors and with volunteers”. They “must be flexible, detail orientated, energetic and computer literate”. For more detailed information, go to . To apply for the job, fax your resume, including salary expectations, to 780-484-7738 or email it to HR Consultant, Westend Seniors Activity Centre, at recruitment.echrss@shaw.ca. The deadline to apply is July 31.

The City of Leduc is looking for a fulltime seniors outreach coordinator to be responsible for “assisting senior citizens to maintain an active involvement in the community”. The successful applicant will help seniors identify and act upon their social needs, and assist the community in meeting seniors’ present and future needs. For a complete job description, go here. The deadline to apply is Aug. 2.

ITEMS FOR SENIORS

1. The City of Edmonton is offering free guided tours of City Hall. During a tour, you will “learn about municipal government, discover Edmonton’s past, and marvel at City Hall’s art and architecture. You may even have a chance to see city council in action! The building is wheelchair accessible and has elevators for your convenience. The tour is fun, informative and set to the pace of your group.” If you want to include lunch or refreshments as part of your excursion, check out the Kids in the Hall Bistro. For more information about what’s available, go here. To book a tour, go here or call 780-442-1385.

2. Many of today’s seniors lead healthier lifestyles than they did in their 20s. The results of a poll reported in the Daily Telegraph indicate “older adults are reaping the benefits of better diets, more exercise and increased free time”. They eat more healthy food than they did when they were younger and, free of the pressures of working life and raising a family, they dedicate more time to exercise. “The poll found that seven in 10 people over 50 were doing more exercise than in their youth.” To read the article, go here.

3. Social media sites typically go after a younger generation but earlier this month, was unveiled as a “memory-sharing service targeting nostalgic seniors”. Named after French novelist Marcel Proust, the service tries to “solve the age-old issue of writing in the blank white box” by creating topic prompts. “Rather than leave sharing in the hands of otherwise un-tech-savvy elders, Proust helps the process move along with questions: What is your most memorable birthday? When was your first kiss? And so on.” To check it out, go to .

4. “A recent report released by Comfort Life Media calls into question the widely held assumption that aging at home is preferable to moving into a retirement home.” To read more of the article summarizing the report, go here. It includes a link to the full report. Keeping in mind that Comfort Life operates retirement communities and that its analysis is “a financial case study of the real costs of aging at home”, it does provide you with a free workbook that may enable you to figure out what’s best in your particular circumstances.

5. The Art Gallery of Alberta is holding a soup can drive in conjunction with its Andy Warhol: Manufactured exhibition in support of Edmonton’s Food Bank. Visitors are encouraged to bring cans of soup (or other non-perishable food items) throughout the run of the exhibition, which is on view until Aug. 21. AGA visitors can purchase oversized cans of soup at the gallery’s Shop AGA to donate, with net proceeds donated to Edmonton’s Food Bank as well. The food bank experiences a challenge during the summer months when many local residents are on vacation. More information is available at .

6. Aging in Place Project Mill Woods is offering a free Computer Summer Camp for Seniors Aug. 23-25, 1 to 4 p.m. daily. Learn how to operate a computer, email friends and family, and get information from the internet. “Avoid isolation at home during cold winter days and stay fit, physically and mentally. And of course, join us for snacks and entertainment.” The camp will be held at the Mill Woods Edmonton Public Library, Mill Woods Town Centre. For registration and more information, contact Rosalie Gelderman at 780 496 5938.

7. Elections Alberta will conduct a province-wide enumeration of electors from Aug. 26 to Sept. 19. “Elector information is kept confidential and used to update the List of Electors in preparation for the next provincial general election. Electors who are not at home during the enumeration period may use Voterlink to provide current elector information online.” Voterlink is accessible at voterlink.ab.ca. “Elections Alberta is an independent office of the Legislative Assembly that provides non-partisan administration of the electoral process.”

8. Canadians have a new opportunity to recognize the exceptional contributions that volunteers make in their communities. The Prime Minister's Volunteer Awards recently issued its first call for nominations. “The awards will recognize individuals or groups of volunteers, businesses and nonprofit organizations in five regions across Canada, and will offer a national award in two categories: one for lifelong achievement and one for new volunteers. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 9. For more information and to submit a nomination, go to pm.gc.ca.

9. The Bernadette N. Swan Social Care Foundation will hold its annual Grandparents Award of Distinction Gala Banquet and Silent Auction on Sept. 10 at the Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel, 10222 - 102 Street. “Join us in celebrating the importance of grandparents' role in inter-generational relationships, in family relationships and to the community.” The event also serves as a foundation fundraiser. For ticket information, go here.

10. The Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE) is presenting a Seniors' Housing Forum for the general public on Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central Lions Seniors Recreation Centre, 11113 - 113 Street, Edmonton. The event is free, including lunch and parking. Participant registration opens Sept. 1. Register by phoning 780-423-5510, ext. 310. “The goal of the forum is to educate participants about the range of housing options and community resources available for older adults and to guide individuals in planning appropriate future housing for themselves and/or significant others.” For more information, go here. To read a related article, go here.

11. The Jewish Senior Citizens’ Centre will present four Learning in Retirement six-week lecture series in October and November. The series are on Critical Issues in Contemporary Society, Modern Israel: Problems and Possibilities, Our Modern World Meets Jewish Tradition and Broadway: New York’s Street of Dreams. The registration cost for each series is $65 and the deadline to register is Sept. 27. For more information and to access a registration form, go here.

12. To nominate a “local hero” for a Stars of Alberta Volunteer Award, go here. “Volunteers are the local heroes who help make our communities great and you can help us pay tribute to their dedication and generosity.” The deadline for nominations is Sept. 30.

VOLUNTEER/WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR SENIORS

1. The Kaleido Family Arts Festival, Sept. 9 to 11, is seeking volunteers. “As a volunteer, you get to meet the artists, make friends, attend parties and, of course, enjoy great art, all on 118 Avenue. And don't forget our famous t-shirt making event for volunteers only. We need to fill a variety of positions, from ushers to bartenders to technicians and beyond, and we’d love to have you join us.” For more information about the festival, go to kaleidofest.ca. For more information about volunteering, contact Andrea at kaleidovolunteers@.

2. Eldercare Edmonton is a non-profit organization that provides day programs for seniors, as well as caregiver support. “We are currently seeking board members to serve on our board of directors. We are looking for people with an interest in seniors services in the community. Financial or accounting experience is an asset. Besides serving a worthy cause, serving on our board of directors will allow you to gather important skills in non-profit management, learn more about the seniors’ sector and meet new people.” For more information, contact Renée at r.lacoursiere@eldercareedmonton.ca or 780-434-4747 ext. 4.

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