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.
The
following is a brief summary of the Board of Directors’ Spring Interim Meeting
held on-line, the weekend of March 3-5, 2006. Topics and activities
included:
3rd
Quarter Update on Financials: This review confirmed expenses and
revenue are in-line with budgeted figures.
Currently, MBC is doing slightly better than anticipated; however,
revenue must grow. MBC has a three-year vision (see below) that compels us to
find new revenue sources and more volunteers. These needs were also discussed during
the weekend.
Preliminary
Discussions of 2006-2007 Budget: Discussed components
needed for 2006-2007 budget and MBC’s capacity for generating additional funds
for operations.
Strategic
Plan – 2006-2008: The
three-year vision includes translating MBC resources to meet the needs of our
francophone and ethnic families, offering more support and programs for chapters
and members, reaching out to more families with multiples in areas presently not
served by MBC or a member chapter and being more pro-active on advocacy
issues. The Board of Directors will
present the complete plan at this year’s AGM in May in Chatham.
EI
Advocacy: As
MBC continues its efforts to have the federal government recognize the unique
needs of multiple-birth families as they relate to EI benefits, it is apparent
that more Members of Parliament being engaged in this initiative will provide
MBC with a louder voice. For this
reason, MBC will soon give chapters the tools needed to make an impression on
their local federal MPs.
Conference
2006 Update: The Board of Directors has three
opportunities to speak to delegates at this year’s conference. Programming for each session was
discussed. Friday afternoon topics
will focus on chapter needs and issues.
The AGM on Saturday morning will feature the introduction of the
2006-2008 Strategic Plan. Saturday
afternoon is a moderated chapter exchange.
Chapters are encouraged to give us direction on suggested topics as soon
as possible, and a reminder that any topics for the AGM agenda need to be
received by March 31, 2006.
National
Multiple Births Awareness Day 2006: The lead program, in Chatham, will
feature the personal stories of MBC members as they relate to this year’s
theme: Raising awareness of the unique risks of
multiple-birth pregnancies and the post-natal issues faced by parents and
multiples. The event
planner kit will include NEW National Multiple Births Awareness Day stickers and
a media package featuring clippings from last year’s cross-Canada
celebration.
Annual
Report 2006: Last
year, the 2005 Annual Report was delayed to allow the Board to include some
essential information; this year the intent is to return to the tradition of
presenting the Annual Report at the AGM.
Design and content were discussed.
Fundraising
Campaigns: Responding
to the financial needs of chapters and MBC, the silicone bracelet initiative
featuring the universal message “Supporting
Multiple Births Together” was approved. The goal is to get orders for 1,000
bracelets by March 31st to allow us to move forward with a cost
effective purchase. The Kids
Futures Program was identified as another opportunity. As well, engaging
national corporations in partnerships and with donations was discussed. A donor recognition policy was finalized
and a strategy was developed.
Chapter
Development Committee: It
was recommended that up to eight people sit on this committee including Board
members, members of MBC chapters, and members of non-affiliated clubs. The goal is to develop strategy and
recommendations to get non-member clubs to rejoin MBC and/or create an outreach
campaign in cities without a chapter or non-member group.
MADA
Awards: The need for volunteers to sit on the
selection committee was discussed.
As well, the introduction of two new awards – Media Awareness and the
Dionne Adult Multiples Making a Difference Awards will result in extra costs and
guidance from the Board of Directors.
NEW
Volunteer Positions: Needs were reviewed
and resulted in the identification of this list of required
volunteers:
MBC
members who want to make a difference nationally, for all Canadian
multiple-birth families, will hopefully see a position that matches their
interests and step forward. It was
noted that this is a prime opportunity for members who may have been involved on
the executive of their local chapter who now want to grow their skill sets and
stay involved in multiple-birth issues as their multiples become more
independent.
Multiple
Births Canada/Naissances multiples Canada
PO
Box 432
Wasaga
Beach, Ontario L9Z
1A4
Toll-free
(in Canada): 1-866-228-8824
Tel:
705-429-0901
Fax:
705-429-9809
mailto:office@multiplebirthscanada.org
http://www.multiplebirthscanada.org/
National
Multiple Births Awareness Day
– May 28th
The
content of this email is not intended to be a substitute for professional
medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical
condition.
Multiple
Births Canada Information Circulars (ICs) are a mass email service managed by
the Board of Directors of Multiple Births Canada and is for information sharing
purposes only. Opinions and
conclusions expressed through this service do not necessarily reflect the views
of either the Board of Directors or the caring volunteers of Multiple Births
Canada. If you wish to be removed
or added to this list, please contact the Business Office.