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.
1. DRAFT Strategic Plan –
In the fall of 2005,
the Board met to discuss this year’s completion of the 2003-2006 Transitional
Plan, the MBC accomplishments during this period, and the direction it should
take for the next three-year period 2006-2009. A SWOT (Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and a PEST (Political,
Environmental, Social and Technical) review were performed to assess our current
situation and begin developing our strategic priorities. Since that
weekend, consultation has taken place with national volunteers and with Chapter
representatives. That work resulted
in the presentation of a DRAFT Strategic Plan at the 2006 Annual General Meeting
(AGM). Before the Board can finalize this document, we would like to invite
input from members. Please review this
outline and send your comments and suggestions to chair@multiplebirthscanada.org by
August 1st, 2006. You can find the DRAFT Strategic Plan in the Member’s only section of the MBC
website.
2. Chapter
Outreach Committee Update – In February of this
year, MBC submitted a request for volunteers to join a new committee. The
objective was to dialogue and develop recommendations for the Board on how MBC
might interest non-member groups across Canada to consider affiliation with
MBC. As a result, eight people, including Board members Nicole Fisher and
Gail Moore, formed the Chapter Outreach Committee and began an email
discussion. The Committee has representation from Kitchener-Waterloo,
Temiskaming, Prince George, Calgary, Durham Region, Newmarket (& TPOMBA),
Ottawa, and Halifax. Two members are Board members who belong to local
Chapters, three are from other Chapters, and three are from non-member
groups. The discussion resulted in some suggestions and ideas.
This
exercise confirmed the importance of communication. It has opened the door
to further discussion, reviewing options to consider for the return of
non-member groups. The Committee believes that to renew relationships we need to
address some important issues, specifically—membership structure, how MBC uses
the membership fees it receives, and how to better communicate to non-member
groups MBC’s role as Canada’s national organization for the multiple-birth
community.
At the 2006 AGM, the
Board announced that it is committed to making this initiative a
priority and will work with all those interested in developing possible
solutions. Further the Board encourages others who want to add
suggestions and comments to the discussion to do so by sending an email to communications@multiplebirthscanada.org.
After the AGM, an
invitation was sent to the eight committee members asking them if they would
like to continue to participate on this Committee. Six members have agreed to carry
on; two will need to be replaced. The forum will proceed as soon as
replacements are found. If you are interested in joining this committee,
please email communications@multiplebirthscanada.org.
3. MADA
Winners – For those who may have
missed the news on our post 2006 conference report Information Circular, here again
are the winners of this year’s Making a Difference Awards presented in Chatham
on May 27th at the National Conference:
More detailed
information on the 2006 Making A Difference Award winners will be posted on the
MBC website very soon under Volunteer
Recognition.
4. New
Volunteers – While developing the
DRAFT Strategic Plan, an updated wish list for volunteers was also
created. The Board shared that list with our members last month.
Consequently, our Volunteer Coordinator was contacted by a number of new
recruits who saw a job or position that suited their abilities. Please
join us now in welcoming these new faces:
A reminder that there
are still many opportunities available for volunteers who want to get involved
at the national level, to access the full list, check out the Volunteer Opportunities page on
the MBC website.
5. Serono
Donation – In response to the
letters MBC sent to Canada’s three major fertility drug companies recently, the
Business Office received a cheque for a donation of $2,500 from Serono. Due to
timing and budget restrictions, two other companies were not able to help MBC at
this time. We will be contacting these companies again over the next few months
to encourage a donation to MBC in their next budget year.
6. Perfect
Party Discount & Fundraiser – Eliminate
the mad rush out to the mall to find party supplies for your family’s next
celebration. MBC has negotiated a
new Discount and Fundraiser that will make everyone’s life simpler. A Perfect Party is just that - all
the pieces and parts you’ll need to celebrate in style, all in one box!
It’s affordable, easy to buy, and delivered right to your door quickly!
You receive 10% off your purchase while Perfect Party also donates 10% of all
purchases to MBC. MBC is currently fundraising for a new computer and your party
supply needs can help us to reach our goal! Remember to click-through the MBC
website – look for the little green party box found on every
page!!
7. Twins
Festival in Montreal – The organizing committee for the
Just for Laughs Twins Festival in Montreal, July 21-23, invites multiple-birth
individuals and families to register and take part in its famous Twins Parade
taking place on Saturday, July 22nd at 4:30 pm. This summer, the
9th edition, the parade’s theme will be “vacation and the beach”, and
for the occasion, Sainte-Catherine and de Maisonneuve streets will be
transformed into a gigantic blue wave. All participants, multiples and
spectators are invited to wear beach attire for the occasion.
For details and to register, visit
the Just
For Laughs website or call
1-800-9DOUBLE (1 800 936 8253). Twins, triplets and others, identical or not,
should register before July 20,
2006 for a chance to win
one of many prizes, including two trips for two to
Cuba.
8. Research Study of Parents’ Lived
Experience of IVF Treatments & Selective Reduction – Jocelyn
Dye-Grech, RN, MSN, PhD Candidate, currently with the Faculty of Nursing,
University of Alberta, is asking multiple-birth families if they would like to
be involved with a major study she is undertaking. In sending this request, Jocelyn says,
“Not much is understood about what the experience is like for parents that use
IVF to get pregnant. Sometimes the
mother is implanted with more embryos than the parents desire in order to
increase the chance that at least one baby will be born. When this happens, parents might then be
advised to reduce the number of embryos because of the risks related to multiple
births and prematurity. Parents
that have undergone IVF and pregnancy reduction are needed for a study that will
allow health care workers identify better ways to care for parents in these
situations.” This information is
also being collected for Jocelyn’s doctoral dissertation. Check out the Research
section of the MBC website for more details.
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
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