We expect to have quite a busy year in 2009, thanks in large measure to some additional funding granted by city council last week.

As detailed elsewhere in this news, we will be hiring a community development officer to work on a variety of partnership projects, such as the cultural integration initiative the federation has been contemplating for some time.    (see job ad)

This will see community leagues matched up with various cultural communities, in order to help integrate newcomers into the community league movement and provide them with opportunities to develop their own programs.

Additional city funding will also let the EFCL ramp up its marketing program, to help raise the profile of member leagues and open up new fundraising opportunities. These include the development of sponsorships, bulk purchases from suppliers and the sale of advertising on EFCL and community league web sites and newsletters.

All of these initiatives will be piled on top of the work the EFCL already had underway, which is expected to be considerable during this winter alone. For example, work has started on a new edition of the community league resource guide, which is a comprehensive document designed to help leagues in virtually every aspect of their operation.

Next week the EFCL will begin to lay the groundwork on development of a new tripartite agreement, which is the document that outlines the type of activities and facilities community leagues are able to develop on the land they have under license with the city.

Shortly after Christmas negotiations will begin on a new City of Edmonton/EFCL Partnership Agreement, which outlines the role and responsibilities of each organization in all the areas where they work together.

The EFCL also hopes to complete work on its 2009-2013 business plan and long-term financial strategy this winter, which will lay out the kind of activities it wants to undertake and how it hopes to pay for them in the long haul.

All in all, it will be a busy time for the people around here – but a good time as well. It’s makes everyone here feel good when we are able to accomplish some things for our community league members. And this year we’re poised to do a lot of that.

On behalf of the staff here at the EFCL let me wish all of you a happy and restful Christmas break. We look forward to working together on many fronts in the New Year.