EFCL, Networking, Advocacy, Programs Training, Workshops, Services

Networking Services

This informal referral service keeps EFCL and, through it all community leagues, in touch with agencies from all orders of government, partner organizations such as sport associations and seniors' organizations, mediation resources and key stakeholder groups. EFCL networking also allows community leagues to stay abreast of the news, issues, and initiatives of the other leagues throughout the city.

 

EFCL's priority is to keep community leagues updated about pertinent government legislation, policies and programs that affect their operations.

Advocacy Activities

EFCL is involved in a number of areas of negotiation on behalf of community leagues. These include EFCL’s work with the City on the Tripartite Licence Agreement, community space arrangements with all Edmonton’s school boards and many planning initiatives such as Smart Growth, walkability initiatives and traffic management plans the City is undertaking. 

Programs

EFCL periodically offers programs for the benefit of member community leagues. Examples include:

 

Infrastructure Assessment Program. Community leagues can arrange for a structural and energy efficiency assessment of their hall at a subsidized rate.

 

Communications/Marketing Program. Beginning in 2009, this is a new initiative for EFCL. The program will outline the basics of developing marketing and communications programs – including how to attract advertisers for websites and newsletters.

 

Procurement of Sponsors, Suppliers and Advertisers. EFCL works to secure sponsors, suppliers and advertisers interested in supporting a range of community league events, activities and initiatives or offering very competitive rates for all EFCL member community leagues. Starting in 2009 we hosted a trade show of league suppliers which is very well received.

 

Preferred Suppliers. insurance brokers Foster Park Baskett supply insurance coverage to EFCL and about 120 community leagues.

 

Green Challenge.  The Green Challenge offers programming information and incentives for retrofits to move toward more sustainable leagues.

Training and Education

Treasurer Training. EFCL’s financial advisor assists leagues with transitions for newly elected treasurers, accounting software recommendations and implementations, grant applications and more. Please contact Linda Crosby at 780-437-2913 or linda.crosby@efcl.org for your financial needs.

 

Planning Advisory. EFCL’s Planning and Development Committee reviews city-wide urban planning issues and makes recommendations to the Board and Membership.  (See P&D Terms of Reference, and the Principles).   The issues in the recent past have included a policy on residential light efficiency, distribution of group homes in neighbourhoods, affordable housing policy, Living Local – recreation facility planning, Transit-Oriented Development Framework, zoning bylaws to improve transitions between small and large built forms, and Family-Friendly Multi-Unit Housing.  Visit Planning Matters for more information.

 

Workshops. EFCL works with other organizations to offer a variety of workshops. The annual Board Leadership Conference, held at Grant MacEwan College, is the keystone event, offering in-depth information on all aspects of league operations (e.g.) treasurer’s responsibilities, volunteer management, resolution of volunteer conflicts and strategic planning and marketing.  We host social media workshops semi annually to help familiarize leagues with helpful tools such as meeting scheduling, twitter, facebook, and more.

 

 

Mediation Partnership. EFCL has developed a partnership with the Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre, which provides full counselling and mediation services for community league boards to help them avoid conflicts or deal with them appropriately when they arise.   Website:  www.mrjc.ca

Promotional Services

EFCL offers a number of events & promotions to help raise the profile of community league activities:

 

Community League Day - City Wide membership campaign

 

Wellness Program with the City of Edmonton. EFCL has arranged for discounted fees for community league members.

 

Discounts with major recreation and sports groups ( see activities under the news )

 

City-Wide Newsletter. EFCL is working on a plan to produce and distribute a newsletter to all Edmonton households describing EFCL and its benefits.

 

Advertising. EFCL places advertisements in appropriate publications on behalf of community leagues to promote recreational activities.

Administrative Services

EFCL Staff support. EFCL staff are a valuable resource to community league board members, offering advice by phone and attending sessions or meetings when required and as they are available. The EFCL office, at 7103 – 105 Street, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Membership Supplies. EFCL coordinates all membership supplies. This includes bulk purchase of membership cards, skate tags, brochures and point-of-purchase membership posters.

 

Community League Bylaw Storage. EFCL keeps copies of most community leagues’  bylaws. Please forward us a copy if you submit new changes to the registries.

 

EFCL Library. EFCL’s library, accessible to community league board members on request, contains historic EFCL materials and current resource materials. EFCL also offers a wide variety of online resources on its website.  Documents stored at www.efcl.org / Resources / Resource Library

 

Online Services

 

 

Celebration and Recognition Services

EFCL regularly hosts volunteer recognition events where key members of community leagues are acknowledged for their contributions and provided with a memento for their service.

 

EFCL also regularly hosts a large-scale gala event to which special guests including elected officials are invited; the event offers high profile recognition of volunteers. 

 

 

Registered Users

We protect all information gathered through the registration process.  It gives you power to add yourself to certain distribution lists or to participate in forums, enroll for events in our calendar, and have access to special community league member eyes only sections.  Tips on how to register are in our FAQ or click Register at the top right of the page.  Most of our services below require registration.

 

Surveys

For the betterment of the community, EFCL and / or the City of Edmonton organize surveys to gather input on issues as diverse as recreation or planning matters.  We use these tools in decision making, both on our actions as your umbrella organization, and as consultant to the City for programs, policy, and planning.  Presidents are invited always to participate.  If the president is already registered, view of the survey is automatic as each arises.  Occasionally we consult other board members, and again,  if they have registered and identified their position in their profile, they too will be automatically added and informed. 

 

Membership Supplies

League Members who have identified themselves as membership directors or presidents can view and order from our membership catalogue - a new one will be posted in December or January.  The process is simple, select items, view your cart to adjust quantities, checkout and enter shipping information, and submit.  Your league will be invoiced.  We acknowledge and clarify any details, and have tips along the whole way.

 

Community League Membership Purchase

Getting with the new millennium and streamlining administrative processes, has lead EFCL to offer online Membership Purchase, effective May 2009.  The process again is simple:

1. The parents who need a League Membership to register their children for sports will be referred to our site by the sports association. 
2. The purchaser will enter their postal code in a field and their appropriate league and a link to purchase a membership appears. 
3. They are encouraged to approach the league directly.
4. Once they choose to purchase the membership online, they must select from options available such as Family, Single, or Senior membership.
5. They proceed to Paypal and an administrative fee will be added to cover our administrative costs such as Paypal fees, cheques, and administrative charges.
6. An order confirmation is e-mailed to the league to notify them a purchase has been made and they may contact their new member with a card, skate tags, and league meeting times, etc.
7. At the same time, an order confirmation is emailed to EFCL and to the purchaser with a verification number to use with the sports registration process.
8. The same email is used as a receipt to present to the league for their card. The league may contact the new member at this point, verify the address, and the league still has a right to refuse membership. For leagues who have a high volume of registrants from sports, we recommend they set a day  or two when people can claim their new membership in the fall. Every league should verify the address with ID and has the right to refuse membership. Abuse of incorrect addresses for cheaper memberships will result in blacklisted purchases.  
9. We suggest that leagues use this opportunity to invite new members to a meeting and to volunteer.
10. On a set schedule, EFCL will forward a cheque for the fees owed to each league.   We will advise when we decide on dates.
11. Sports Associations will use their discretion to check for a card once the season starts.
12. Link to a presentation with sample receipts and notifications

     

     

Events & Activities 

In our calendar of activities we list community league meeting times, EFCL & City workshops, and EFCL special dates.  You can also RSVP and enroll for our meetings and events in the calendar such as our EFCL AGM and EFCL RGM.

 

Community Classifieds

Buy, sell, trade, or seek help here.  This bulletin board is open to registered users. Any content that is not community oriented is monitored.

 

Forums

On some subject we offer forums for you to see and share ideas among fellow community league members.  This is a great opportunity to get some input.  If desired, you can be notified when responses to your questions and comments are received.

 

League E-mail

We recommend that all community leagues use general addresses such as BalwinCLInfo@ gmail.com or ritchie @ yahoo.com .  Best is to get your domain and use a service to provide e-mails like president @ woodvale.org  or treasurer @ baturyn.com      For tips on use of emails check our Resource page on Effective Communications