Let us introduce you to what the Conference is all about, what you can expect if you come, and why you should plan to attend!
What is the Annual Multiple Births Canada Conference?
Each year, parents of multiples, volunteers working on behalf of multiples and interested professionals from across Canada and the United States attend the Annual Multiple Births Conference and Annual General Meeting. The Conference is an annual event in May or June of each year and its location alternates between cities and towns of Canada's Chapters hosting the event, determined two years in advance.
Annual Conferences are organized around three main areas...
- The National Organization and the business portion of a national non-profit organization.
- Education - for the parents, the volunteers and professionals.
- The Fun Stuff - friendship, fun and sharing of experiences
The National Organization
Finding out about Multiple Births Canada (MBC) - The national organization's annual conferences are one of the best places to learn about MBC. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk to the volunteers who work with MBC, the opportunity to have your voice heard at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and over the course of the weekend, share in the wealth of information available from the many volunteers who attend.
The Annual Conference and AGM offers a number of opportunities to the multiple-birth community annually. It is a necessary part of MBC's by-laws that the membership meets once a year for an Annual General Meeting. The AGM is a formal meeting where motions defining the future direction of Multiple Births Canada are voted on by the membership. The AGM is held on the Saturday mornings of the Conference weekend, and all members present at the Conference should attend.
The Conference and AGM gives the opportunity for the membership and the Affiliate Chapters of MBC to come together to discuss the business portion of MBC. Together the national Board of Directors, members and representatives of Affiliate Chapters plan the future of MBC. The AGM also offers the opportunity for the national Board of Directors to present the financial overview and Annual Report to the membership.
Throughout the weekend, the Multiple Births Resource Centre (MBRC) - a series of displays representing the work of MBC - is available to Conference delegates to learn as much as they can about the activities of the national organization. The information provided focuses on the programs, initiatives, media involvement, achievements, MBC volunteers, literature and resources offered by MBC. There is much opportunity over the weekend for delegates to meet MBC directors and volunteers, share information, and learn about new programs and initiatives.
Understanding the role the national organization plays within the multiple-birth community is essential, and the Conference allows members and other interested individuals to take full advantage of what has been developed to improve support and services within their chapters and communities.
Education
The Conference includes speakers and workshops on topics related to multiples, general family life, and Affiliate Chapter development. This is your chance to find out more about the unique issues of parenting multiples, to converse with professionals, and to find out what is new and exciting in the multiple-birth community. It is our hope that you will take home this information, share it with other chapter members and families, and in the case of Affiliate Chapters members, use it to further develop your chapter support services.
The host chapter and its volunteers work hard to present speakers and workshops specifically oriented towards families of multiples, Volunteers and Chapter Representatives. New for the 2003 Conference held in Ottawa, some workshops were designed with professionals specifically in mind.
Keynote speakers bring a wealth of experience and information to families of multiples attending the Conference, as do the very reputable workshop presenters and participants as members of the multiple birth community. MBC's Advisory Board members are occasionally invited to be either keynote speakers or workshop leaders.
The workshops are equally exciting and focus on different multiple-birth aspects such as being a multiple, parenting multiples, relationships between multiples and chapter/volunteer development. In addition, there is usually a designated workshop for Chapters to share ideas and learn what is happening elsewhere in the country. These exchanges focus on outreach, meeting the needs of families with older multiples, newsletters, & clothing sales, etc.
Whether you are a parent, volunteer, or are interested in learning more on how to better support the multiple-birth family, there is something for you.
The Fun Stuff...
You may come to the Conference to hear the speakers, attend the workshops, or to find out what MBC is all about, but chances are you will leave with fond memories of the people you met there. The Annual Conference is a wonderful way to celebrate what you share with everyone else there - being part of a family with multiples.
Social events with opportunities to meet and chat with others are an integral part of the Conference. They include the Welcome Reception on Thursday evening, a Friday night social event, and the Saturday night banquet and Making A Difference Awards reflecting the theme of that year's conference. Throughout the weekend are fun filled lunches, free time options and after hour activities provided by the Host Chapter Hospitality Suite.
We hope to see you at the next conference!
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