e-Bulletin, May 2009
(CESO | SACO electronic newsletter)
Table of Contents:
New Newsletter format
CESO | SACO newsletter goes green
By Alex Gillis
CESO will soon launch a monthly electronic newsletter--and it needs a snazzy name! The e-newsletter, which will be launched in the next couple of months, will contain organization news and updates, volunteer opportunities, profiles of great assignments and much more. CESO will no longer print “FOCUS,” as the e-newsletter will allow us to send news more quickly while decreasing printing costs and saving paper.
If you have suggestions for names for the monthly e-newsletter, please send them (along with ideas for content if you like) to: Alex Gillis (Public Engagement Manager at agillis@ceso-saco.com).
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Annual General Meeting 2009
CESO | SACO 2009 AGM
By Josie Marchese
You will have received an e-mail notice about the upcoming CESO 2009 Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held in Toronto on June 12 and 13, 2009. The guest speaker is award-winning journalist Judy Steed.
Judy's talk to CESO will include her Boomer Tsunami PowerPoint presentation, in which she demonstrates why we need to take responsibility for ourselves to enjoy the unprecedented gift of longevity. She will discuss the exciting opportunities open to aging boomers -- with CESO serving as an exemplary employer, offering tremendous opportunities to learn, to grow, and to give back, which is critical to finding meaning and purpose in life.
Click for the on-line AGM Registration Form.
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Renewed support for VCAs
Canada announces five years of renewed support for Volunteer Cooperation Agencies, including CESO | SACO
By Alex Gillis
On April 22nd, CESO President Don Johnston met with Canada’s Minister of International Cooperation, Bev Oda, along with representatives of non-governmental organizations, for some good news. The Minister announced: “I am pleased that the renewal of the Volunteer Cooperation Program, with the help of Canadian NGO partners, means Canadians will continue to contribute their diverse experience to help those in developing countries.” CESO is now finalizing a $13-million, five-year program. For details about the Canadian government’s announcement, please see: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/NAT-422125937-MXB
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National Volunteer Week
CESO honours VAs during National Volunteer Week
By Josie Marchese
Activities were planned during National Volunteer Week for CESO staff to show appreciation for the volunteers that donate their time on a weekly basis to perform a range of important and integral tasks in CESO offices across the country.
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CESO Clubs
CESO | SACO’s volunteer network just got bigger
By Alex Gillis
CESO volunteers have re-started CESO Clubs in White Rock, BC, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, bring the total to 10 Clubs in Canada:
- Calgary and Southern Alberta
- Guelph and Mid Ontario
- Montreal
- Niagara
- Ottawa-Hull (National Capital Region)
- Quebec City
- Vancouver and North Shore
- Victoria and Nanaimo (Vancouver Island)
- White Rock and Surrey, BC
- Winnipeg
The Clubs plan a range of activities, usually lunch/dinner events with speakers who talk about international development, Aboriginal programs, increasing chances of obtaining assignments, and other topics.
To join a CESO Club or to get more information about the next event, please visit the on-line CESO Clubs listing.
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Global Citizens for Change
CESO and our coalition: Global Citizens for Change
By Alex Gillis
After assignments, many returned volunteers are bursting with ideas about how to improve future assignments and even how to improve the organization itself, especially in terms of Communications and Public Engagement. This willingness to give feedback (both positive and negative) isn’t unique to CESO. We’re part of a coalition of organizations--Global Citizens for Change (GC4C)--that sends volunteers overseas. This month, GC4C, launched a major initiative to survey returned volunteers about their needs and wants. Please take time to complete the 10-minute survey in English or French before May 18, 2009. The results will help the coalition to design materials for all returned volunteers in the coalition, including CESO’s volunteers.
The English survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=e2NQT4gBwMnnMsnPJI0HGQ_3d_3d
The French version:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=hVKBocmQb6YmBgc_2fQESQ_2bw_3d_3d
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National Services highlight
Promoting Healing at Waseskun
Waseskun is a Cree word referring to the time just after a storm, when the dark clouds begin to part, the blue sky appears, and the first rays of sunlight shine through.
By Carol Kim
The Waseskun Healing Center, located in St-Alphonse-Rodriguez, Quebec, originated in 1988 as a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, receiving residents from the Native court on the nearby Kahnawake reserve in the foothills of the Laurentians. Shortly after, the Center signed a contract with both the provincial and federal governments accepting residents from the prison system. Today the original spirit and commitment to healing at Waseskun remains, assisting Aboriginal men from the courts or prison system, as well as those requiring long-term intensive treatment related to drug and alcohol abuse, family violence, sexual abuse, anger and stress management, and other community or family concerns. The aim is to facilitate the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional healing of these men based on holistic teachings to help them regain balance in their lives. Elders and their helpers are an integral part of the process, offering their knowledge through teaching, programs, ceremonies and celebrations.
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“It was a very enriching project for me, and most importantly it was a win-win situation."
Maxime Bolduc, Volunteer Adviser | The original building, erected in 1988, is still being used and is the only Healing Lodge east of Manitoba. This means Waseskun draws from three different regions and receives more applications than it is able to accommodate. The Waseskun Healing Center requested the services of CESO to assist in developing plans for a new building, with plans to start construction next summer. Waseskun wanted to consult with the CESO Volunteer Adviser (VA) before meeting with the architect, so that the client could discuss expectations and constraints with someone beforehand, and reduce the time and costs incurred in discussing these issues with the architect.
CESO paired the client with a VA, Maxime Bolduc, who possessed the necessary business skills, as well as professional experience working for an engineering consultancy firm. Maxime first met with the client at the Waseskun Center to establish its needs and prepare a work plan. After a series of meetings, the VA proceeded to prepare an outline for approval and revision. The VA was very enthusiastic and dedicated to what he considered an enriching project. Strong collaboration and understanding between the client and the VA enabled the VA to draw plans that were consistent with the client’s needs, but also sensitive to Aboriginal culture. As an example, he was able to mix the traditional teepee shape with contemporary building design to create a structure that would be both inspiring and comforting to residents.
The conceptual plans have since been approved and the client is currently working towards raising funds for this building, as well as choosing a competent architect and contractor to make the plan a reality. Both the VA and client are pleased with the results, and in addition to having the VA return to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Waseskun, the client has expressed an interest in other services that CESO has to offer. As a result of the assignment, the client can now begin to move ahead with the new building.
Once the building has been completed, Waseskun will be able to accommodate more First Nation and Inuit men in need of rehabilitation so that those individuals will be able to reconnect with their families and communities and break the cycle of violence, incarceration, and drug abuse that afflicts so many of them. At the end of the project the Executive Director of the center Stan Cudek spoke to VA Bolduc and said: “Thank you for your availability, your patience, your cooperation and your enthusiasm regarding this project.”
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Bequest/donating to CESO
Is it time to consider a bequest to CESO?
By Josie Marchese
There are various ways of donating to CESO to ensure the organization’s important work in governance and economic development continues and grows. Here a just a few options:
In Memoriam – Honour the life and memory of a departed loved one, colleague, friend, neighbour or a fellow volunteer. Individuals or groups may donate in memoriam. CESO sends a sympathy card to the family of the departed with an individual personal message. The donor receives a tax receipt and a thank you letter.
In Honour – Celebrate a birthday, retirement, wedding anniversary, the birth of a grandchild or any other significant event. The donation can be sent either from an individual or a group. CESO sends a tribute card to the honoree with an individual personal message. The donor receives a tax receipt and a thank you letter.
Bequest -This alternative is preferred by people who would like to wait to give to ensure they have enough money to cover their retirement years. Some of our volunteers have informed us that a gift to CESO is included in their will. After discussing this option with their lawyer and children, they’ve decided that it’s the best way to donate.
Donating now to CESO is quick and easy. Click for the on-line donation form.
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Updates
CESO staff and information Updates
For internal news and information about CESO staff and programming, Login to the Bulletin Board on the CESO Web site.
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e-Bulletin is the monthly newsletter of CESO | SACO (Canadian Executive Service Organization)
For submissions or inquires, please contact: Alex Gillis at agillis@ceso-saco.com
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