Opening Doors for Children since 1908

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2010

2010 was another interesting year for CHAS.  We felt the recession was still a reality in Calgary and with each fund raising event, we wondered with trepidation whether our efforts would be successful.  We certainly don’t want to take our past successes for granted but each opportunity showed us that as a group, we can’t be deterred and success followed success.

 As this was my first term as president, I wondered what the work load would be like for me as I was handed the gavel by Wanda McNeil last February.  I can only say that while I am familiar with the support which comes from CHAS members, I was not prepared for the support that everyone has shown me as president.  Heide McClintock and Joan Andre as vice-presidents were always there to lend a hand and I think during one meeting, we all took turns chairing the meeting.  That is teamwork.  Patricia worked so diligently to lead us financially and to make sure our moneys were well looked after – I had complete confidence in her abilities.  Bette Woofter was our window to the world and represented us properly with all thank you’s and correspondence. 

Anthea recorded our minutes efficiently and with such a sense of humour and good sense.  Not a usual combination in a recording secretary.  Our advisory planning team of Elaine Machtmes and Carole Brawn were so thorough in their investigations of potential spring ideas and while they perhaps were discouraged when negatives outweighed positives they perservered and I believe a spring event will materialize for 2011. After the success of the 100th anniversary and the work that Lenore Hoover and Anthea Mendham had undertaken as historians, unfortunately there wasn’t a lot for Sonny Milne to do as our 2010 historian.  But again – not to be deterred – Sonny excelled at getting restaurants on side for the golf tournament.

Donna Radzichowsky has done such a wonderful job with our website. Where Bette Woofter represents us to the world with her correspondence, Donna Radzichowsky shows the world who we are.  I’m very proud of the website and the professional site she has continued to create.  Updates included the addition of our current CHAS roster (along with individual pictures ) available to members only.  As well, we now are a member of CanadaHelps and have a link to their websiste.  CanadaHelps is a website through which registered charities, in Canada, can receive online donations.   Our Publicity Committee lead by Lenore Hoover noted that as CHAS moves toward a more active website and better communication with the public, we are trying to get members and the public to use the website.  Their goal for 2011 will be to move all items used by CHAS members into a usable format on the website, wherever possible.  Also a newly updated donation card was implemented.

We have settled back into Lakeview this year after contemplating a move and Mary Kalyniuk has looked after our social needs admirably.  We like the round tables and occasional table assignments as we continue to encourage social interplay.  We just never seem to have enough visiting time.  We have watched our membership move and grow and Sandy Gibson has looked after our new members.  To those members who have come this year, we hope we have given you reason to stay and become involved.  We’re very happy to have you among us.  2010 also saw our CHAS annual membership dues increased from $40 to $60. In 2010, $64,767.22 was raised at our casino held on January 17th and 18th.  Those moneys will be used for camperships in 2010 and 2011. 

The Easter Party at the Children’s Hospital was led by Terry Haws and we are so aware of the size of the new hospital and need for the facilities.  This year we invested in another bunny costume so we could have 2 bunnies working in the units. On May 29th, CHAS collaborated with Gala Girls and Inn from the Cold under the leadership of Susan Desbarats and held a fundraiser at Chinook Scotiabank Theatre with a premier showing of the movie, Sex and the City 2.  The event raised $41,000 with all proceeds benefiting Inn from the Cold and directed towards Services for the Homeless in Calgary. 

The 28th Annual Golf Tournament raised $165,000 for the purchase of cardio-respiratory monitors for the Alberta Children’s Hospital.  Cathy Todd and Jan Bellis lead the day of golf and had sold out the field of 144 golfers on June 15 – I’m sure that’s a record.  The day – to quote Cath’s report – was awesome.   33 volunteers were involved.   We had the support of Acumen Capital Partners this year as they directed the proceeds of their Stampede party to CHAS and the golf tournament.  We were happy that Rob Laidlaw now has the CHAS golf trophy proudly displayed in Acumen’s offices as he was on the winning team at our tournament. 

We hosted a Strategic Planning Session at the home of Jeanette King in October.  Under the leadership of Jan Ewens, Robin Beddis, Wanda McNeil and Sandra Lyons, we discussed issues of the day including who to support and what to support, fundraising ideas and membership issues.  The report from the day has been circulated this money and I think we all agree that this type of day is very important for CHAS to have from time to time. 

Elizabeth Pineo  lead another successful bridge luncheon at the Calgary Golf and Country Club.  With the support of the Kahonoff Foundation’s donation and an anonymous donation , our net profits were in excess of $35,000 which were directed towards the CUPS Calgary Urban Project Society’s SEED program. 

The CHAS Holiday Luncheon was such a wonderful affair at the BMO Centre where a Christmas wreath was used once again to depict the circle of friendship that exists within this organization.  Professionally decorated wreaths highlighted the silent auction and $25,000 has been given to Hull Child and Family Services for their New Roads Program.  Karen Owen was our guest speaker and spoke about the new world of social media. 

Another aspect of our year is to encourage our knowledge of groups we support and with that in mind we had many interesting guest speakers.  Little Warriors, a group whose focus is to teach adults how to recognize, prevent and react responsibly towards child sexual abuse; Saifa Koonar, President and CEO of ACHF;  the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Stanley Jones School; Hull Child and Family Services; Ken Hughes, Alberta Health Services Board; Patti Brewin, Campaign Director of Easter Seals Alberta spoke at Camp Horizon; and presentatives from Heart Beats all spoke to us this year. 

Lastly, I would draw your attention to the allocations that CHAS has made in this past year.  Thanks to Heide McClintock who so capably led the Requests Committee, we should all be very proud of our efforts.  $346,380 were raised for the ACHF and community projects.  These are good facts to have at your fingertips as you discuss what you do in your spare time.  Congratulations to you all.

In the coming year, I feel our emphasis may be on mental health.  Both the golf tournament and the holiday luncheon are looking at ways to support this important initiative.  I look forward to working with all of you to continue the friendships and commitments we have all made to CHAS. 

Dorothy Woolstencroft,

President, 

February, 2011