Information sessions on Gym booking procedures have been organized on May 16, 17, 24

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 100th Anniversary Project to be voted on at AGM
• Solar Energy Projects
  
• Supplier Marketplace
• Leagues Alive Conference & Trade Show
  
• Board Development                     & much more

Our newest online resource was launched soft last week and we are counting on Leagues to refer their best vendors, and to make use of the contacts other Leagues have provided.

The new EFCL Board Development Director, Andrea Sage, hit the ground running with her first major project, scheduling workshops for the “Leagues Alive 2012 Conference and Trade Show”, set for Saturday, November 3, 2012 at the Mayfield Inn. This year’s Trade Show will be taking on an exciting twist with a whole new slate of educational programming which will offer something of interest for everyone on Community League Boards. To date, confirmed workshops will include ...

Board Leadership 2012 offers a variety of sessions as well as a great networking opportunity. The event will be held at The Robbins Health Learning Centre on MacEwan University’s City Centre Campus. For more information have a look at the agenda. Registration deadline is Friday March 9, 2012.

If you missed the Winter Event Workshop on January 28, you can still read the event planning material and winter activity suggestions online in our resource guide or download the pdf.  Click through for lots of good sound advice.

KaBOOM! currently has Funding Partners that will cover the majority of the funding as well as provide volunteers to help build a playground in Edmonton in June 2012.  We are working to identify nonprofit, child-serving organizations that would benefit from and embrace the process of a community-built playspace partnership.

The selection jury for Living Local Arts & Heritage Neighbourhood Grants Project met and reviewed applications on Wednesday, November 30th. The winners are . . .

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues is reviewing a plan put forward by a consortium of companies to place a roof over an outdoor skating rink.

 Foster Park Baskett Insurance are very pleased to announce the official launch of our highly anticipated On-Line Short Term Facility Rental Application effective December 1, 2011!    

 Mega-events may trigger the building of iconic stadiums and plenty of promises about a sparkling future.

“An Ounce of Prevention” Special Funding Pilot calls for proposals. The funding is part of a one-time, special project funding opportunity being piloted jointly by REACH Edmonton and the Community Services Advisory Board.  Entitled “An Ounce of Prevention”, this funding will consider proposals that advance the common outcomes of safe and healthy communities and individuals shared by REACH Edmonton and the City of Edmonton’s Community Services Advisory Board

Take advantage of this Telus World of Science Sponsorship program!

This year, once again, at the January 22, 2011 Trade Show people came to share information and it was accomplished with style and fun.  News photo: Canadian Recreation Solutions jump up for leagues!  Photos courtesy of David Dodge, EFCL Vice President

Edmonton’s 154 community leagues will soon see a significant boost in their funding, thanks to the decision reached by Edmonton City Council earlier this week. 

All of the federation’s 154 member community leagues have been asked to make arrangements with their bank to allow direct deposits from the EFCL.

Within our business plan initiatives one of the areas that we felt support should be afforded our community partners and groups is around criminally stressed or challenged areas in the City of Edmonton.

A number of provincial MLAs say the cost of playgrounds could come down if the City of Edmonton would only play along.  At a June 4 meeting with the EFCL at the Provincial Legislature, Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk said groups in St. Albert or Spruce Grove can build the same playground for 50-60% of the cost paid by Edmonton groups, due to the shortage of approved contractors in Edmonton, restrictions on volunteer labor and the standards required by the city administration. For example, he cited the city’s desire for concrete garbage containers, which cost $9,600 each.

 This article has lots of resources for you!

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

EFCL recently met with the City of Edmonton, Fire Inspector, Alberta Government Liquor and Gaming Commission, Edmonton Police, and the Public Safety Compliance Commission. Means of prevention of problem renters were discussed and the following checklist arrived from the meeting.

The following is a quick sample of non-profit groups looking to rent space.  Many more are in the market and any community leagues that are interested in pursuing this are encouraged to contact Beth Hunter at the City of Edmonton (Beth.Hunter@edmonton.ca).

     One of the questions we have received from community leagues is "how can we get wireless internet in our hall?"

 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.

      One of the questions we have received from community leagues is "how can we get wireless internet in our hall?"  If you already have internet in your hall, it is very easy to get a router and begin broadcasting a wireless signal in your hall.

Do you Qualify to Issue Tax Receipts for Donations Through the City of Edmonton?

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.

WANTED: Leagues Willing to Have Money Deposited Into their Bank

Members who sit on community league boards are generally motivated by a sense of service and commitment to the community. Unfortunately, good intentions and altruistic motives are not enough to protect directors from personal liability. Set out below are the main areas in which a director may attract personal liability with the goal that knowledge of the legal responsibilities placed on directors leads to stronger and better boards, which in turn leads to more vibrant and successful community leagues.

Volunteers stand up for your board for the most part because they have a genuine interest in making the community a better place. Nothing deflates the motivation faster than no results. Are board meetings boring or worse yet a constant arguing match? Is one person making it difficult for the lot of you to get anything done? There are a number of definite signs that a board could use guidance or mediation and oftentimes simple preventative measures can stave conflict and be exactly what a board needs to keep itself functioning and healthy. There are several key repetitive problems among not-for-profits and there are tools to prevent problems or deal with a board that is encountering any of these problems.