President's February Report(posted: February 4, 2020)
- Happy New Year Brothers and Sisters,
Conference Presidents, please share this monthly news with your members to keep everyone connected with what is happening at all levels of the Society. Particular and Central Council Presidents, please share this monthly news with your Vincentian members who may not belong to a Conference, and feel free to email questions or comments to linda@ssvp.on.ca.
SPIRITUAL MATTERS
The February spiritual reflection reminds us that we are “Ambassadors for Christ”. Contact denise@ssvp.on.ca should you have questions on spiritual resources.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Please complete annual reports, both financial and statistical reports, by the due dates noted below and pass up to the next higher Council. Please contact terry@ssvp.on.ca should you have questions on the financial report and contact sarah@ssvp.on.ca with questions on the statistical report. When annual reports are ready to be submitted to Ontario Regional Councils, please submit to annualreports@ssvp.on.ca.
Conference Reports were due by January 30 so all Conferences should now have submitted to next level.
- Particular Council Reports due to Central Council or ONRC by February 20
- Central Council Reports due to ONRC by March 10
- Regional Council Reports due to National by March 31
It is very important that you complete your annual report so we have proper statistics when advocating for persons in need and when requesting donations from Foundations and organizations.
ONRC SPRING MEETING
Be sure to register for the ONRC spring meeting taking place April 17/18 in Waterloo. The agenda and workshops will provide excellent information for you to take back to your Conferences and Councils. Please note that the agenda for the AGA will be circulated separately. This meeting is for all Vincentians and store managers, and is a great opportunity to network with other members from across Ontario.
The meeting will be held at St. Michael’s Parish, 80 University Street, Waterloo. Hotel rooms can be booked at Inn of Waterloo, 475 King Street North, Waterloo, Tel: 519 804 1130; please reference ssvp2020 when you call to book your room.
VINCENTIANS WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE
You will recall that we recognized Vincentians with more than 30 years of service at our last ONRC meeting if you provided their names. We would like to do the same at the upcoming April meeting. Please provide names of these Conference members who have served 30 years or more to linda@ssvp.on.ca before February 28.
SEEDS OF HOPE
The Seeds of Hope project is an excellent way to give young people hope for an education and a brighter future. Check out how SSVP partnered with Employment and Social Development Canada for a sign-up event in Brantford, and with the London Chaplaincy Office at the Southdale housing complex to raise awareness. Please contact Linda Alexander, SOH Project Manager, lmja@bell.net for more information on how to get involved.
OZANAM EDUCATION FUND
Please note that education/school-related awards/bursaries are required to be reported to Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”). Compliance is required with regard to monies that came from the ONRC Ozanam Education Fund, sponsored by the Systemic Change Committee, and any additional amounts that may have been contributed by the Conference itself. Note that the reporting amount is the amount actually paid out in any calendar year. Treasurers received this communication in January directing them to the document now available with instructions on what needs to be done to be compliant for CRA purposes for education/school related awards/bursaries.
SOCIAL MEDIA
ONRC is actively trying to increase our social media presence. One of our goals is to spread the word about work done in local communities, and to share information occurring at the store level (sales, etc.). If you would like to share something, please email heidi@ssvp.on.ca with details. In addition, if you are on social media, please share our accounts widely. Here are the links:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ssvponrc
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ssvponrc
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ssvponrc
NATIONAL COUNCIL
Check out the Vincenpaul-Canada newsletter dedicated to articles from Ontario Region in English or French
WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
Sharing a video of what St. Theresa’s Conference in the Western Region did during the World Day of the Poor weekend to raise awareness, and including the script as the presentation may be difficult to hear. Please share your activities to give others ideas of what can potentially be done this year for World Day of the Poor.
BEST PRACTICES
The Best Practices section on the website shares information received from Conferences/Councils on projects carried out that can be replicated in other communities.
Should your Conference or Council have an activity/project to share, please email phil@ssvp.on.ca.
Feel free to contact linda@ssvp.on.ca or sarah@ssvp.on.ca at any time should you have questions.
Thank you for all the amazing work you do within your communities serving our friends in need.
Linda Dollard, President
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