AGM 2003 - President's Message

Challenges and changes sum up the year 2002 for the Lakehead Social Planning Council.
The first and daunting challenge had been set with the announcement that Executive Director Brenda Reimer was retiring, after 18 years of service. A committee was established and a focus group of community leaders, partners and business representatives took place to develop the profile of a new director. Applications were received, and reviewed, and after lengthy debate, and intense scrutiny, a successor emerged. A successor with a penchant for wacky ties, Duncan Adams. Duncan's experience spans working in the areas of children's mental health, community development and the not-for-profit sector. During the search for a successor, the Social Planning Council learned of sad news, that Peter Barnes had passed away. He was the LSPC's webmaster, and valued member of the Executive and Board, whose wisdom, and insight is missed. Thank you to Peter's family for allowing us to hold Executive meetings in your home when Peter's health was declining. There's a plan to keep his memory alive on the newly revised LSPC website, currently being developed by our Information Technology person, Mark Walther.

The Lakehead Social Planning Council carried on, making more changes, as board members left, and new faces arrived. This evolving board, with a new Executive Director, is setting a course that embraces technology, while continuing to search for sustainable funding, and new projects and initiatives.

Our current activities include Health Canada's Social and Economic Inclusion Initiative, which focuses on youth 16-17 who sometimes fall through 'societal cracks', not having access or a voice in their community. Also, the Community Information and Referral Centre is currently involved in a new project to establish one easy number to access community information, which will bring CIRC to a new level. And, a project that showed itself to be so successful, it needed that word in its name, Successful Aging, wrapped up this year. Headed by Lee Stones, the project developed teaching modules, a comprehensive website, and raised awareness in the community about seniors' issues The Successful Aging project has been a successful experience!

Even more happened throughout the year, with the creation of a Marketing and Development position, which has been filled by a very dynamic team, Jennifer and Paul Wolf. The LSPC is extremely excited about this, and look forward to seeing positive developments. Development is a daunting task, and one that the Board is going to have to be brave and take bold steps forward, with clear ideas on direction, and final destination.

As we take steps forward, and face more challenges and changes, it is important to remember the reason why we assemble as a board and our respective committees. Social Capital, people power, is what makes the LSPC successful. While it is easy to be swept away with issues like technology, or the search for new dollars, or the perfect skill-set of board/committee members, we must remind ourselves that community needs take priority, and a continued positive community presence is important to meeting our mandate.

Thank you can never be said enough, and there's some individuals which need to be recognized for their efforts, first of all, Bev and Marie, for your tireless dedication. Thanks also to Mark for bringing the Social Planning Council forward technologically. Thank you to Bingo Volunteers! Thank you to Daina Maslach, our Events Co-ordinator, who endured the task of planning Christmas Fest for a second year. Thank you too, to Joanne Zamparo and her team at the LSPC table at Christmas Fest, what a success! Thanks also go to Scott Bulmer and his contribution to the Social and Economic Inclusion Initiative, along with wishes of success as he begins a new job. Thank you to Peter Clutterbuck, for his assistance with the SEII project, and his facilitation at the board retreat held in April. Last but not least, thank you to Michael Fox, (Poulin) our past president. Your 'shoes' were a challenge to fill, and your insight is missed.

Finally, congratulations to our new Executive Director, Duncan Adams, and marking your first year with the Lakehead Social Planning Council. Let's go forward with confidence, meet challenges fairly, and continue to break ground in social justice issues and projects.