MULTIPLE BIRTHS CANADA/NAISSANCES MULTIPLES CANADA

PO Box 432, Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A4

Toll free: (866) 228-8824

INFORMATION CIRCULAR

BO-03-12-05-#1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2005

Monthly Activity Report

Wasaga Beach, ON: Multiple Births Canada (MBC) is pleased to provide ongoing updates to its members, chapters and colleagues. Your commitment to Supporting Multiple Births Together is of great importance to Canada’s multiple-birth community.

Chapter Representatives: Please forward the information below to your Chapter Executive and members.

This Monthly Activity Report is a new initiative designed to keep MBC members informed on the work being performed by the Board of Directors on behalf of all multiple-births individuals, families and supporters in Canada. Our brief review of February 2005 does not include the many activities coordinated in the business office by our Business Services Manager or other key volunteers who dedicate countless hours to MBC at the national level.

Worked with Diane Myers to submit an Ontario Trillium Foundation Application for “Building the Future.” The board contributed about 80 hours (in total) and Diane spent about 120 hours on this initiative in February. Standing ovation to Diane, who actually devoted about 500 hours to this project over the last year! The goal of this effort is to continue enhancing services we offer to all MBC chapters and members via a funding grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Attended bi-weekly organizational meetings for Back to Basics Retreat.
Attended board business meetings on alternate Sunday evenings.
Sent out 15 national fundraising/sponsorship letters in addition to a number of calls requesting donations for Back to Basics, encouraging sponsorship of MBC activities and requesting additional discounts for our members.
Completed 2004 year end financial statements with MBC accountants.
Contacted over 150 North Bay businesses requesting support for National Multiple Births Awareness Day.
Laid the groundwork for reviving the North Bay MBC chapter.
Lined up participants for a pre-test of the Multiple-Births Challenge in South Temiskaming. Please note: check the current RFN for details on this experience – it was sent by email February 10^th. It will be in your upcoming issue of Multiple Moments. Or, visit -- http://www.multiplebirthscanada.org/english/documents/RFNMarch2005.pdf
Contacted and confirmed support from BTIO for the Multiple-Births Challenge, the company that manufacturers “Baby think it over”. The mechanics for Multiple-Birth Challenge is also described in the current RFN – see above! Please note: any chapter wanting to organize this initiative in their community should contact MBC Vice-Chair, Gail Moore. She’ll arrange for you to have free use of these dolls and explain the mechanics of the learning experience.
Started planning the media kit to be distributed on National Multiple Births Awareness Day. Please note: most of the kit will be available on the MBC website by the end of May. You are encouraged to download what you need to localize the story with your media.
Ongoing negotiations with a potential corporate funding partner.
Continued work on the programming and logistics of Back to Basics Retreat.
Continued registering delegates for Back to Basics – we’re over 40 strong now!
Welcomed two new national volunteers – thanks Karen and Maria!
Assisted a mother of multiples and member of Twins, Triplets and More Association of Calgary with a class assignment for a Nonprofit Management Program in benchmarking multiple-birth support groups.
Represented Multiple Births Canada as part of the VSO Canada VOICE study tour on Volunteer Management and Network Development, to three delegates from the Philippines to share best practices through cross-cultural dialogue. The VOICES network in the Philippines is similar to Volunteer Canada.
Began calls to individual chapters in Canada with the assistance of Shelly Blizzard-Jones (MBC Rep Liaison).
Began discussions about the Annual Report and planned work moving forward in order to complete it.
Handled all MBC correspondence, including responses to requests from expectant parents of multiples, potential workshop presenters, students requesting assistance with school projects and chapter volunteers.

For details on some* of these activities, see the current copy of Report from National (RFN) inserted in your upcoming issue of Multiple Moments. This issue was emailed on February 10^th and is also posted online at http://www.multiplebirthscanada.org/english/rep_national.php, as are all past issues of the Report From National.

*Note that some activities took place after RFN went to press.

Multiple Births Canada/Naissances multiples Canada

Toll-free (in Canada): 1-866-228-8824

Tel: 705-429-0901

Fax: 705-429-9809

http://www.multiplebirthscanada.org/

mailto:office@multiplebirthscanada.org

2005 Back to Basics Volunteer Development Retreat – May 27 – 29, 2005 – Canadian Ecology Centre in Mattawa, Ontario

National Multiple Births Awareness Day – May 28^th, 2005

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