Cash Your EFCL Cheques Before the Account is Closed

In order to promote community league membership month and our September 18th Community League Day, we will be hosting a special promotional event, press conference and aerial photo in Churchill Square on Monday, September 13th. Together with City Council and other partner organizations we will be replicating a map of Edmonton with helium balloons and a patchwork quilt promoting the various events happening on Saturday September 18th.  We will be taking the photo at 1030AM from the roof of Stanley Milner Library.

City council’s Community Services has recommended that the city create a $1.5 million/year capital construction/renovation fund for community leagues. 

 Much fun was had the EFCL football toss and    Leila Rombano of Ridgewood Community League is the lucky winner of the Oilers Jersey up for grabs at our booth at the well attended event.

The EFCL has decided to file for membership in REA CH Edmonton, a new organization that is designed to coordinate crime-prevention initiatives in Edmonton. The organization’s first meeting was on June 22 at Santa Maria Goretti hall.

EFCL has chosen Servus from the financial service providers who responded to our request for proposals.  Servus is now offering special rates to community leagues and its members . . .

The EFCL was most disappointed to see the Edmonton Public School Board vote to close five schools and the elementary program at Spruce Avenue school on April 13. By a vote of 6-3, the trustees chose to close McCauley, Parkdale and Fulton Place Schools. Eastwood and Capilano schools were closed by a vote of 8-1.

 City Council has directed city staff to work on a new artificial lighting policy— focusing on outdoor street lights. The staff have been directed to consult with the EFCL and the Light Efficient Community Coalition.   A report is to be submitted to Council in November. 

Neighbourhoods USA Annual Conference, much like Vitalize, is a wonderful place to get tips and tools for operating neighbourhood associations. EFCL decided to send a representative this year to the conference in Little Rock, Arkansas

As with all new processes communication and details need sorting out.  This update addresses concerns we have heard from leagues to date.

 The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues is urging both Edmonton school boards to adopt a new strategy to deal with surplus place in public schools.  The strategy is quite simple. It calls for the boards to work with partners, such as community leagues, to find productive uses for surplus space – as opposed to shutting down the school.

EFCL extends a welcome and a thank you to the three new members of our team who accepted a great and exciting responsibility by coming aboard.

 The EFCL Board of Directors has determined that it is time for the federation to obtain charitable status and is taking this recommendation to the membership at the April 19 General Meeting.

 For the Green Challenge Leagues that attended the presentation evening at Montrose Hall on March 19 there was a wheelbarrow full of information and inspiration from our six presenters.

The EFCL is encouraging all of its member leagues to provide a free, one-year membership to any new resident of their community.

 The EFCL Board of Directors has agreed to sign a three-year agreement with Heritage Days, which will see us continue to operate the rest centre pavilion right next to the bus loop - the same place we were last year.

A number of Edmonton community leagues are searching for ways to welcome newcomers to our city. At a recent meeting of the EFCL’s Integration Project, four leagues recounted their efforts to reach out to recent arrivals. 

Community leagues around the city are beginning to plan events for community league day, which has been set for September 18.  In its inaugural year, Community League Day is designed to bring people together in neighborhoods throughout the city, through activities planned by the city’s 152 community leagues.

The City has brought all the facility booking staff into one Facility Booking Unit. This includes staff that book the major facility groupings in and around our Multi-Purpose Recreation Centers (Arenas, Pools, Fieldhouses/Flexi-halls, Gymnasiums, and Sportsfields) together with the staff who manage the rentals/bookings in our Attractions (ex. Fort Edmonton, Muttart Conservatory, Valley Zoo)

Picture a mix between The Amazing Race, Corporate Challenge, City Chase and a GIANT scavenger hunt all rolled into one-- with a focus on building our neighbourhoods and communities.

Public interest in climate change and energy, the economy and the environment have prompted considerable innovation and enterprise for commercializing clean technologies and sustainable communities. (whether the results of Copenhagen will contribute to fusing or fragmenting, frustrating or financing, the various initiatives, we’ll know better in the coming weeks). The Alberta Council of Technologies and the AB Chapter— Canadian Green Building Council, propose the following forums for the purpose of helping define the status of clean technologies in Alberta and advancing their commercialization.

 Community League Board Members arrived in hoards as we opened and from the comments they got what they came for.  Many popped by the EFCL booth to thank us for in one place bringing them together with so many contacts relevant to league operations.  Photo courtesy of David Dodge, EFCL Vice President

One of the City’s key projects in 2010 is the new southwest recreation centre, which will advance City Council’s goal of Edmonton becoming one of Canada’s most livable cities. The centre will be a place where people of all ages and abilities can gather to learn, exercise, relax, meet and have fun. Here’s an update on the project:

Please note that Edmonton City Council recently approved a two-year extension to the standard license agreement most community leagues have signed with the City of Edmonton.

 Same discounts - some changes to accessibility.

Take advantage of mass media that are willing to promote community activities.  Find out how to get your free advertising!

 It’s interesting to see how our “living local” idea is picking up steam. No sooner does the EFCL start talking about a campaign that encourages people to find activities close to home – such as community league events – and all sorts of groups want to get involved.

WANTED: Leagues Willing to Have Money Deposited Into their Bank

The Green Challenge hosted an information evening on November 21 at Riverdale Hall. The conversation and idea sharing flowed along with the wine among the 62 attendees, and two more leagues signed up for the challenge now bringing the total of Leagues that have made a commitment to lowering their carbon footprint to 42!  

You will want to read the “Integrated Transit and Land Use Framework” if your neighbourhood is within 800 meters of an existing or proposed LRT Station. This Framework was brought forward as information to Executive Committee of Council on November 3^rd, and will be brought to Council with Zoning Bylaw amendments for consideration in 2010.   The land use changes may impact your neighbourhood long before you see an LRT station.

 Become an EFCL Representative on the Oil & Gas Working Group. Bring a citizen’s perspective to the group which advises the City on oil and gas issues and makes recommendations on safe urban development practices adjacent to oil and gas facilities.  For more information contact Bev Zubot at EFCL.   780 437-2913

In memory of our past board member Edo Nyland, the EFCL Board has voted to approve $2000 worth of scholarships to pay half of the tuition for community league members to become certified through the Planning Academy workshops. 

 The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues has asked the province to leave the disbursement of casino revenue alone, as changes are neither justified nor required.  In a letter to the Solicitor General Fred Lindsay, the EFCL stated that there are a number of good reasons for keeping the current system intact.

HOW DOES MY LEAGUE GET PROMOTED ON TV? At our Volunteer event we headlined two of the wonderful Shaw League Features whose subjects were selected from last year’s winners. Again this year, Shaw will be sending crews to film these amazing heroes and their projects in the community.  Additional coverage includes CBC Interviews with volunteers, and calendars in the Examiner and televised on SHAW. 

UPDATE YOUR EVENTS IN THE EFCL.ORG CALENDAR –

There was never a better time to get on board with posting your league activities in our calendar.   At our RGM on October 19, we announced the expansion of the SHAW TV NEWS to include listing community league events. They are also expanding their coverage in their news pieces they have been doing once a month for the past year.  Joining them are CBC and WinterLight Festival . . .

Evansdale President & EFCL Vice President, David Dodge with daughter Jenna are the captains of the game for the coin toss at center field.  The rest of the EFCL Team had great fun tossing footballs  at Community League Game Day with the Eskimos on October 9th

n September 22^nd 2009 in an effort to raise the profile of the EFCL office (7103 105^th Street beside the tennis courts) the EFCL hosted an open house for all of our community league presidents, partner organizations and partners with the city.

 The Crowds turned up from over 10 different leagues around the City to enjoy the sunny day and cheer Mayor Mandel on as he kicked for Community Leagues. 

For the first time the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues partnered with the Heritage Festival and hosted the “EFCL Rest Centre”- a pavilion that provided shelter from the elements and fun activities for children of all ages

City council’s transportation and Public Works Committee is reviewing the idea of reducing speed limits on residential roads and has asked the city administration to consult the public. EFCL has been asked for its input by the city’s traffic safety branch.

Kick one through the uprights with Mayor Mandel who will open this great social and media event to launch the Annual Community League Membership Campaign

To address the issue of funding, on June 22, Community Leagues, Tennis Alberta, Tennis Edmonton gathered at EFCL Central Office for a meeting to seek City’s, Provincial and or Federal funding to refurbish our community courts.

Canada Day prize winner, Shayne Daly of Lee Ridge, holds up is Edmonton Eskimo autographed football won from the EFCL booth at Mill Woods' celebration.

The EFCL & the City of Edmonton formally released the Community League Resource Guide at EFCL’s Annual General Meeting.

The EFCL is pleased to announce that it has selected Edmonton-based RMRF (Reynolds Mirth Richards and Farmer) as its legal advisor for the next three years. The firm will also be recommended supplier to the federation‘s 149 member leagues over the three-year term of the contract.

The City of Edmonton is working with Boyle Street Community League, the YMCA and the Inner City Youth Development Association (ICYDA) on a major redevelopment of the community league hall and park site at 104 Avenue and 95 Street.

The City is considering lowering the speed limit on our community’s roads. Historically EFCL supported lowering the speed limit and is working with Traffic Safety on the issue

Two volunteers from the neighbouring communities have worked for decades to see their communities’ vision for a new commuter route through McKernan / Belgravia, come to life.

John Logan of Bonnie Doon Community League has been awarded the prestiguous Lieutenant Governor’s Leadership for Active Communities Award.  This award was founded  to recognize teams and individuals who “create places, spaces and opportunities for people to be active and engaged in their communities, using recreation as a catalyst.

Traffic Safety is a priority with Leagues. EFCL is working with traffic safety initiatives to reduce community accidents.  Let us know what you are thinking.

The EFCL Street Team will be a group of volunteers that help identify recruitment opportunities and help encourage other Edmontonians to get involved in their city! We will be meeting once a month until our membership campaign kick-off in September

Shaw TV is working together to present monthly special features highlighting outstanding community people and projects. 

It gives me great pleasure to introduce four new staff members at the EFCL.   Three of the people (two full-time and one part-time) are new positions, which will definitely help us improve our service to the leagues. 

The EFCL is looking forward to the creation of a new tripartite license agreement that governs the way community leagues are able to use city land and the facilities the leagues have constructed.

Some time ago the leagues were asked to participate in a survey that was intended to draw results on issues, concerns, and roles of leagues, EFCL’s role and support methods, preferred methods of communication and engagement. The results have been tallied and the final report is online.

EFCL , and ultimately City Council, needs feedback from Community Leagues on two of the most significant documents for Edmonton’s future – a new Municipal Development Plan (MDP) Bylaw 15100  and new Transportation System Bylaw 15101

Several sources of funding are available for retrofits and upgrades toimprove energy efficiency and to go green.  Join the World Green Movement!

Hockey Moms & Dads turned hockey registrars have remained loyal to the concept of Community by still requiring a community league membership to participate in EMHA hockey. Joining the bandwagon this year is the Knights of Columbus who procured over $10,000 in membership sales.

Most community leagues would like to see another promotion with the Edmonton Eskimos and a strong majority support the inclusion of paid advertising on the EFCL’s website and newsletter, according to feedback received from representatives attending the Oct. Regular General Meeting.

Edmonton City Council has postponed a decision on the relaxation of rules governing secondary suites, partially in response to concerns raised by the EFCL.

The EFCL has approved a new policy that determines the role of the EFCL and that of its member leagues when it comes to presenting policy positions to various levels of government. The policy was passed by the EFCL board at its Oct. 9 meeting and the membership at the Regular General Meeting on Oct. 18.

EFCL Director, Allan Bolstad comments on EFCL upcoming activities.

The articles are in our news, or you can view them in a pdf newsletter format.  Enjoy news on everything from budget, to infrastructure, to treasurer training, to spring flowers. . .

The Edmonton Federation of Community is taking applications for Phase Two of its infrastructure assessment program.  Similar to Phase One, the program is designed to review the structural condition and energy efficiency of community league halls.

To help the city have insight into the volunteers that make up the richness of growing neighborhoods, Shaw Cable has approached EFCL to interview outstanding volunteers over the course of the next year as a source for a series of community league highlight spots on their news channel.   Eastwood is our first featured league.

Since being launched October 1, the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit (SCAN) has received more than 150 complaints about problem properties and has successfully resolved 56 of those complaints.

FREE MONEY!  Don't Miss Out on Information including available funding, development in your neighborhood, volunteer & team building, & more!  Update EFCL with your contact information NOW!

An opportunity now exists for community leagues to let Edmontonians know about their accomplishments and activities through the Examiner’s new UR Edmonton website. Individuals can register on UR Edmonton, then start posting meeting schedules and sports registration dates, articles on community events, blogs on issues facing communities and photos of community leagues in action.  It’s also a great way to win up to $2,000 for your community league. 

Community Leagues highlighted at Eskimo Game on October 4th.