ANNUAL GENERAL REPORT
OGDEN
HOUSE
SENIORS’
CITIZENS
CLUB
2102 – 69 AVENUE S.E., CALGARY,
ALBERTA T2C 3Y4
PHONE: 403-279-2003
FAX: 403-279-1009
|
2014
OUR MISSION:
WE ARE A SOCIALLY
ACTIVE ORGANIZATION
FOR THE COMMUNITY
Message from President
It has been my privilege to serve as your Board Chair for the past year. I have made
some mistakes, but I have learned a great deal. My job has been made so much easier
with the help of the Front Office Staff: Alexandra Witczak – CEO; Debbie LaRocque –
Program/Volunteer Coordinator; Rick Scott – Mow/Snow Lead Hand; and Jennifer Black
– Filling the Gap. They have been a wealth of information and they have never steered
me wrong.
I have also been blessed with a first rate Board of Directors: Verla Boyle, Paddy Brown,
Shirley Bullough, Carol Finlay, Don Fisherman, Phyllis Gale, Lois Holley, Oscar
LaRocque, Jack Parker, Annie Plaza and Past Chair – Marianne Wilkat. They all have
strong opinions and are not afraid to express those opinions. They are smart, articulate
people who are committed to making sure this organization moves forward and thrives.
In my opinion, it is that commitment that has inspired you the members to do more. You
have taken your responsibility as a member seriously. You have taken ownership,
stepped up to the plate and said: “I know how to do that, let me help” or “Why don’t we
try this?” or “I know someone who can help us with that”.
Together we are stronger and by getting to know and care for each other we are better
people.
Thank you.
Margaret Moffat
Vision
To create an environment within the community which focuses on
individual and group needs of seniors aged 50 plus.
To offer support for seniors through community involvement,
counseling, education projects and Outreach.
To interact with other agencies to improve the quality of life for seniors
in our community.
Board of Directors for 2014:
Board Chair:
Margaret Moffatt
1st Vice Chair:
Carol Finlay
2nd Vice Chair:
Paddy Brown
Secretary:
Phyllis Gale
Treasurer:
Annie Plaza
Directors:
Verla Boyle
Shirley Bullough
Don Fisherman
Lois Holley
Oscar LaRocque
Jack Parker
Thank you all for giving your time and effort, it is highly
appreciated.
Mow/Snow Report
Mow/Snow had a good year in 2014 with 93 snow clients and 110 summer mow clients.
Although there was not much snow this winter the mow crew still had a lot to do. We had
8 new clients sign up for snow removal and so far, with contracts for the summer season
under way, we have 4 new sign ups already. Mow/Snow has received a grant from ATB
Financial for $10,000.00 for 2015 to help with new equipment and another $5,000.00
coming in 2016. This partnership should last for the next several years. We would like
to thank Don Fisherman for his time and effort in establishing this partnership as well as
Bruce Edgelow and John Pirie, from ATB Financial, for their enthusiasm and commitment.
It is a very much needed financial arrangement and, so far, we have been able to
purchase a new tractor, a new snow thrower and a new leaf blower that will be used all
year round for both summer yard cleaning and for winter snow removal. As it has been
in the past, Rick will be supervising the crew and, with his knowledge and expertise in
yard care maintenance, we are sure to have another great summer.
Jennifer Black
Mow/Snow Coordinator
Fund Raising Report
My fund raising was quite successful for OHS in 2014. I have been concentrating my
efforts on raising funds for the Mow/Snow Program as we lost a $50,000.00 grant from
the United Way a couple of years ago. However, we did raise some $20,000.00 this past
year coming from a new partnership with ATB Financial and other donations coming from
The Kinsmen Club of The Stampede City, C.P. Rail and The Nickle family Foundation. A
lot of time goes into researching who will contribute to programs such as Mow/Snow and
the people who will provide funding for these types of programs are few and far between.
Often, several meetings with a potential funder are required followed up with a written
request. By the time all is said and done, it can be 3 - 6 months before getting a reply.
As well, with the economy being what it is these days, every non-profit organization and
charity are seeing a decline in fund raising with existing funds becoming more difficult to
access. It's very hard for small charities, such as OHS, to compete with children's
hospitals and major diseases as these organizations all have highly paid, professional
fund raisers on their staff. However, I hope to approach at least 2 - 3 companies and
service clubs in 2015 plus I'm hoping to build new long term partnerships with companies
through ATB Financial.
Don Fisherman
Fund Raising Chair
Filling the Gap/Outreach Program
Over the past year, the Filling The Gap Program has grown exceptionally well. With this
being our first full year as a program at Ogden house, many things have started to flourish
nicely. The Community Kitchen was a great success with over 30 people having
participated. We learned to cook many new recipes and we got to make many new friends
in the process. Considerable hours were spent assisting seniors completing Seniors'
Special Needs applications as well as assisting them with letters and phone calls. I have
been out in the community quite regularly and have met many new people through my
home visiting program. Sometimes we have tea and cookies and just chat while at other
times we fill out paper work. The overall goal of these visits is to make sure our seniors
are healthy and doing well (most live on their own) and that they are receiving help from
community resources. If a senior is experiencing a particular difficulty then I can make a
referral to the appropriate agency. Some seniors have even come to the Centre to
participate in our programs here and one or two have come to one of our dances. Many
people have benefited in so many ways from the Filling The Gap Program in such a short
amount of time and I look forward to the wonderful times to come.
Jennifer Black
Filling The Gap Coordinator
PROGRAMS REPORT 2014
MEMBERSHIP'S - RENEWALS
MEMBERSHIP'S - NEW
MEMBERSHIP'S - ASSOCIATE
HONORARY MEMBERS
TOTAL MEMBERS 2014
VOLUNTEER HOURS
PEOPLE THROUGH OUT DOORS
WEEKLY EVENTS:
ADMINISTRATIVE
AEROBICS
YOGA
MOVE & MINGLE
TAI CHI
WOOD CARVING
MEETINGS
CRAFTS
TABLE TENNIS
SNOOKER
CARDS
POT LUCK LUNCH
CARPET BOWLING
BAR
QUILTING
FIT 2 AGE
TGIF
COFFEE
OTHER
TOTAL VISITS TO CLUB
240
100
2
3
346
15,990
15,813
889
224
27
1,532
228
588
483
358
2,300
737
920
517
509
140
348
246
834
322
4226
16,178
Trips taken in 2014 included Rosebud Theatre, Stage West Theatre, Canmore, Lama Farm,
Saskatoon Berry Farm. Rentals this year have included the South Ridge Lions Club, Wood
Carvers, Wedding Receptions, AA meetings, Scrapbooking, Quilting Group, Riverside
Condo Association, Wayne Coa’s Board and AGM meetings, Canadian Deaf Blind
Association, South Hope Assembly Church, The Grief Plan, Tae Kwon Do Halloween party,
several Birthday Parties, The City of Calgary Lynnwood Estates AGM, Alberta Health,
CNIB Book Club, Aging in Place.
Debbie LaRocque
Program/Volunteers Coordinator
CEO/Executive Director report
Last sentence in my report for 2013 was:” I hope that coming year under the new Board of
Directors will bring more improvements and positive changes”. My hope came true. Last year was very
successful in every way and full of challenges.
One of the biggest challenges facing Ogden House Seniors in 2014 was the examination of
our old By-Laws and the creation of our new By-laws. Our new Board of Directors took on
this challenge and worked tirelessly through last Spring, throughout the Summer and into
the Fall to complete the new document. Working closely with a consultant who encouraged
an incredible amount of thought and discussion we completed a very stable set of By-Laws
that will become the lead document for OHS for many years to come. I would like to
congratulate the Board for their work and dedication.
Another challenge, and one that we face on a regular basis, is how to increase our
membership. Thanks to the good work of the Program Coordinator and Committee we had
a good variety of health, craft and entertainment programs and activities last year. Our
membership grew in 2014 and we ended the year with 346 members.
Funding and fund raising is always a challenge for non-profit societies and 2014 was no
different for us. Thanks to revenues generated through our raffles, arts and crafts sales, teas
and other activities we managed to raise money to help offset many of our operating costs.
Also, thanks to the effort of our volunteers additional funds were raised through community
partnerships and grants. Building on this, 2015 looks to be a good year for fund raising.
I could write about many more challenges we faced in 2014 but let it be enough to say that
without the dedication and support of the OHS Board of Directors and my staff, last year
would have been far more difficult. I want to thank everyone at OHS who helped make 2014
a good year and I look to 2015 to be even better. I look forward to working with the 2015
Board of Directors as I develop my own goals and objects for the coming year. It is my
intention to blend my plans with those of the Board in order to promote OHS in the
community. I already know, from my discussions with FCSS and United Way that we were
viewed as being very successful in 2014 and that we were a model agency and activity centre
in the senior's sector. Please feel free to talk to me anytime about your thoughts for OHS
and how we can make the Ogden House Seniors' 50+ Activity Centre the place to be.
2015 is our 40th year as activity centre and this calls for celebration or at least for trying to
make this year very special. Happy 40th Birthday to Ogden House!
Alexandra Witczak
CEO/Executive Director
IN MEMORY OF:
BARBARA SCOTT
CHRISTA THOMPSON
JEAN PORTER
KATHY WEEGER
FLORENCE LEMIEUX
IRMA PERREAULT
EVELYN BENNETT
DALE DUPUIS
MARGARET MOORE
APRIL CRIBBETT
KENNETH MACLEOD
BLANCHE BARNES
ROBERTA LABUTE
“When we are sorrowful, look again in your heart…..and
you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which
has been your delight.
-Kahlil Gibran