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Grant Applications
Community League Resource Guide
Consultation Handbook
Building Strong Communities

Resources For Leagues

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Membership Development

BOOST Your Membership Campaign

Here are some tools to assist a successful community league membership promotional campaign:

  • "Join your Community League" Advertisements - publicize September as Membership Month in your newsletter and on your website.

  • Hold a special event that will draw in residents and communicate the benefits of membership.

  • Post your news on the EFCL Website - send us the details at communications@efcl.org so that we can help publicize your programs and events.

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  • Contact your local school and ask to advertise in their newsletters and on their website

  • Order Customized Membership Brochures - EFCL benefits of membership brochures are available at low cost to hand out at your events, meetings or while out  canvassing. Please contact our office for copies of the 2007 brochure, see Membership supplies.

  • Local media - involve local media in your news/events and tell them your news stories. Community League volunteer executives may contact The Edmonton Examiner Editor Barry Hanson, or "Community Matters" columnist Nancy Rempel at 468-0326, email newsroom@edmontonexaminer.com with newsworthy stories. Try sending out a media release to the other newspapers, television and radio stations too.

  • EFCL generic media release template available in Word (Media_template.doc) or PDF (Media_template.pdf).

  • Community Events Calendars - Submit your event to local newspapers and other publications. For example, try submitting your event on-line to See Magazine, and to The Edmonton Journal's "In Your Community" calendar in Friday's "What's On" section.

  • Local businesses - ask if frequented businesses in your neighbourhood would hang posters, hand out flyers or even sell memberships for you. Laminated signs are available from EFCL to announce "Community League Memberships sold here"

  • Word of Mouth - Talk to everyone about your event!!

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What else can the EFCL do to help you? Contact communications@efcl.org or call 437-2913 to make a specific request or to ask for suggestions.

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Community League Wellness Program

Discounts at City-owned recreational facilities with community league membership.

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues and the City of Edmonton are pleased to offer the Community League Wellness Program. The program allows community league members to purchase an annual pass or multiple admission passes to City of Edmonton Leisure Centres at a substantial savings. 

Present your valid Edmonton Community League Membership Card at any City of Edmonton Leisure, Sports and Fitness facility and choose from:

Product Description
Annual Pass 20% discount on child, youth, adult, senior, and family annual passes
Multi Admission Pass 15% discount on our already discounted multi admission pass (10+ visits)

Program Details Wellness_Rates_08.pdf  (1.4 MB PDF)

Promotional Brochure Wellness_Brochure_08.pdf (3.3 MB PDF)
to help your community league promote this significant benefit of league membership. 

Your community league can obtain free color printed copies of the brochure to distribute. To order yours, please contact the EFCL by email communications@efcl.org or phone 437-2913.

And a Community Wellness advertisement is available to include on your website or in your newsletter.

Full color print ad WellnessAD_color.pdf (900 KB 4" x 4" RGB pdf)
Full color web ad WellnessAD_color.jpg (32 KB 4" x 4" RGB jpeg)

Greyscale ad WellnessAD_bw.pdf (300 KB 4" x 4" pdf)
Greyscale web ad WellnessAD_bw.jpg (28 KB 4" x 4" jpeg)

A number of community leagues also offer their members free community swim times at City owned facilities. Contact your community league to learn whether or not your membership includes this benefit.

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Membership Supplies

 

The 2008 Membership Supplies will be available for order in April 2008. Please check back for details, or contact Gulshan at our office with any questions.

 

To view the 2007-2008 stock, please click the following links for:

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Community Planning and Development

If you are interested in our current projects or desirous to start one, contact our planner, Brian, at 437-2913.

Housing Program

The EFCL is currently engaged in addressing the lack of public consultation involved in City Council's recent unveiling of the 'Housing Program' and other implementation strategies undertaken by the City.

This program allows for neighbourhood school and park sites to be re-zoned for housing construction for first time house buyers. There are 16 community leagues currently affected by this program.

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Neighbourhood Grocery Stores

A grocery store you can walk to is often cited as one of the most important things about a liveable, walkable neighbourhood. But trends away from neighbourhood stores to "big boxes" reachable only by car continue to frustrate many communities.

A variety of community leagues are presently working on projects in their neighbourhoods.

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Redeveloping Contaminated Sites in Our Communities

 

On June 28, 2006 City Council directed City staff to consult with EFCL, developers and other interested organizations regarding a policy to allow limited development of contaminated sites. This consultation will occur over the next few months and compiled into a report in October . Proposed topics of consideration include: whether contaminated site redevelopment should occur, how the proposed process should work and how zoning can enable it while still preserving communities’ rights of meaningful involvement.

If you are interesting in participating in this process, please contact Brian Kropf at planner@efcl.org.

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Smart Choices - for Edmonton Communities

A few years ago Edmonton City Council embraced a concept for urban intensification called Smart Choices. EFCL endorsed the concept since it offers unique opportunities for community revitalization and sustainable growth through new, sensitively designed infill housing, reinvestment in neighbourhood amenities, better transit and pedestrian infrastructure and dealing with derelict or underused properties.

The EFCL Planning and Development Committee is currently engaged in two initiatives:

  1. Creating a Public Involvement Plan (PIP) for current projects underway.

  2. Addressing "Smart Choices"  for specific community league situations.

  3. Offering a network for community leagues who are affected by redevelopment who will share information, experiences and resources.

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Community Operations

 

 

Alberta Server Intervention Program (ASIP)

Are you offering bartending service as part of your hall rental agreement? This might be of interest to you:

ASIP is a new industry-led program that will replace a number of separate association training programs and will be mandatory under Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) policy. Training topics include: legal responsibilities and liabilities, identifying intoxication, handling situations involving minors, and discontinuing or refusing service or sale of alcohol. ASIP is going to be phased in over the next five year to be a  tool in helping to curb the problem of underage drinking, over-consumption, and impaired driving.

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Community Garden - Grant Funding Available

Community gardens are independently operated and typically volunteer run community organizations and may be located on public or private land. The Community Garden Network (CGN) will work with community groups to establish sustainable community garden organizations and locations to enhance your neighbourhood.

A maximum of $5000 is available for each community group.

 

Contact the Community Garden Network by phone at 447-9600 or email at info@edmcommunitygardens.org or visit: www.edmcommunitygardens.org

 

Read More (CGN_Info.pdf)


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Corporate Seal?

Your community league is incorporated under the Societies Act of Alberta and as such has all the powers, rights and immunities vested by law in a corporation.  This enables your community league to enter into legal agreements and contracts. 

In order for an agreement legal and binding: 

  1. The agreement must be signed by the designated signing authorities – which would be those Board members who have authority to sign cheques

  2. The community league must affix its Corporate Seal to the document or the signing authorities must complete an Affidavit of Execution

You can avoid the hassle of completing an Affidavit of Execution every time an agreement is signed by using the community league’s corporate seal.

An embossing seal costs about $50.00 and can be purchased at any Staples or Office Depot store.  The organization’s name on the seal must be exactly the same name as on the Certificate of Incorporation provided by the Alberta Government Registrar.

Please consult your community league’s bylaws for use and storage of your corporate seal.

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Fiduciary Duties 

 

What is Owed to Corporations or Associations by their Directors or Officers. Download Fiduciary_Duties.pdf on this topic.

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Fundraising with Dominion Sportservice

 

Dominion Sportservice is the food service provider for Rexall Place. They offer fundraising opportunities in our concessions department, the volunteers have the opportunity to work as a cashier or food prep. Some of our leagues last year made between $4, 000 to $20, 000 in a six month period.

 

Interested parties can contact Sandra Rafters at srafters@dncinc.com or srafters@northlands.com or call 471-8196.  

 

Handbook of information (DominionFundraisingHandbook.pdf).

 

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User Group Insurance
 Hall Rentals and Third Party Liability

A hall or similar facility presents one of the primary sources of risk within your community league operations, especially when rented by outside users (a third party).

Rental for Private Functions
 Any individual (whether a community league member or not), organization or company renting the hall for a private function, should provide the community league with an insurance certificate.

The certificate should provide a minimum of $1,000,000 comprehensive general liability limit, $250,000 tenants legal liability and name the community league as an additional insured. 

If the function involves alcohol, the renter should confirm minimum $2,000,000 comprehensive general liability of the insurance coverage, including host liquor liability coverage and name the community league as an additional insured.  It is recommended that servers are trained through the Alberta Server Intervention Program (ASIP).

Organizations or companies will typically have insurance and requesting a certificate confirming host liquor liability insurance would not likely be a problem.  If food and beverage service is being provided by a catering company, the caterer will be able to provide proof of insurance.

Where the renter is an individual and they are providing their own bar service, the prudent course of action is to require host liquor liability insurance because:

  •  If there is a claim due to the activities of the renters, the individual renting the facility may be personally named in a lawsuit.  Insurance coverage will protect the individual from exposing their personal assets in the event of a lawsuit;

  • The community league will limit their exposure in the event of a lawsuit due to the renter’s activities.   

The renter may be able to provide confirmation through their homeowner’s policy.  Where this option is not available, we strongly recommend they secure this important coverage through the Edmonton Community League Short Term Hall Rental Program.

Rental for Sport Activities
Any individual, organization or company renting the hall to conduct a sport related activity should provide the community league with proof of minimum $2,000,000 liability insurance that names the community league as an additional insured. This relieves the community league from insurance responsibilities for the sport activity and makes it necessary that the third party provide their own insurance.

Example:

  • A karate club, incorporated as a company, rents a hall for one evening a week for instructional classes. The karate club would need to provide a certificate of insurance naming the community league as, additionally insured.

Individuals who rent a hall for any active games should provide the same type of insurance certificate, regardless of whether the individual is a community league member or not.

Community League Activities and Programs
Any activity or program operated by the community league within the community league’s facilities is covered under the league’s insurance policy. This includes community league events where alcohol is served and the community league is operating the bar service.  When alcohol is served, it is recommended the servers be trained through Alberta Servers Intervention Program.

For more information, please contact:

 

Jason C. Bossert, B.Comm., CRM
Foster Park Baskett Insurance Ltd.
#200, 17704 - 103 Avenue
Edmonton, AB  T5S 1J9
(780)930-4188 Direct Line
(780)486-0169 Fax
(800)668-3213 Toll Free
E-mail: jason.bossert@fpb.ca

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Hall Rental Form template (Word Doc)

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Hall Rental Tips

For the safety and security of your hall and renters:

  1. Ask for confirmation of identity (driver's license) to confirm that the person is actually who they say they are, and take a photocopy to keep with the file.
  1. Use caution when a renter is paying with cash, or if there is a different name on the cheque and/ or liquor license, than the person making the rental.
  2. Request and check the references listed on the rental agreement.
  3. Request detailed information on the music and food services on the rental application.
  1. Require information about liquor service - amounts and type of liquor that will be available at the event. The name of the liquor permit holder should be on the rental application.
  1. If you deem necessary, drop by the hall during set-up or during the event in order to trouble shoot, be of assistance and ensure the security of the hall and renters.
  1. Require a "co-signer" (older adult/relative) on under 18 and some young adult rental requests.
  1. Include provisions on the agreement to charge damages in excess of the deposit to the renter - include room to record the details of pre and post rental inspections.
  1. Include a clause in the rental agreement that a renter/activity in the hall can be asked to leave or cancelled if agreements made in the rental agreement have been broken.

  2. Policies surrounding about "last minute" rentals (require a minimum two weeks to complete reference checks) or limit these types of rentals to renters familiar to the community league.

 

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Outdoor Rinks

Important information for outdoor rink operations this winter 

 

Pre Season Inspection

Generic Items In All Rinks: 

Sharp protrusions near gates & doors. File/grind down any sharp edges off of metal hardware.

Gaps/Joints. Run a hockey stick along the kick (bottom) of the rink and if the tip of the stick gets caught, either fill the joint or replace kick to reduce the gap.

Check for smooth operation of all gates and hardware and apply a small amount of oil. 

Specific Items In Wooden Rinks

  • Replace/re-ecure broken or protruding nails on playing surface.

  • Re-nail loose boards/planks. You can take a rubber mallet/hammer to the back of the rink and walk the perimeter hitting every board on the joints and identify any loose ones.

  • Splinters and/or chips. File down or replace boards badly damaged.

  • Using a sharp object poke at the wooden posts at ground level and check for signs of rotting wood. 

Specific Items In Steel-Dasher Rinks 

·   1. Replace broken or protruding screws on playing surface.

  • If your rink is not made of galvanized steel check for excessive rusting. 

 

  2. Chain-Link Fence Issues:

  • Re-tie together broken links. The old standard of 9-gauge chain-link would tend to curl after a few years of use. It exposes the bottom edge and makes a snag hazard.  

  • Make sure you curl/bend it back away from the ice.

·   3. Condition of boards, gates and chain link fencing

  • Ground slope: inspect the rink perimeter and fill in low spots where water will run out under the boards

·   4. Water supply equipment including hoses, nozzles and couplers

·   5. Snow blowers, tractors or any other snow removal equipment needs servicing

·   6. Replace worn out scrapers, shovels and brooms

·   7. Examine hockey net tubing for cracks and torn netting 

 

Rink Staffing

In the vast majority of cases, people paid to flood and maintain the ice surface or work in the rink building as an attendant should be employees of the community league.  The alternative arrangement is where the community league contracts a company to provide ice maintenance service. 

 

Three essential considerations for establishing an employee / contractor relationship from the Canada Revenue Agency:

 

 1. EI and CPP

· remittance of premiums for EI and CPP as well as the ability of the worker to collect EI once the ice rink is closed

· The Canada Revenue Agency has specific guidelines to ascertain whether someone providing service to a company or organization is considered a contractor or an employee. The address below will lead you to more details.

 http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4110/rc4110-e.html#P151_10536

 

2. Workers Compensation

 When the community league employs a rink maintenance worker or rink attendant, WCB coverage protects workers in the event of serious injury.  If the community league has contracted a company, the company must have WCB coverage to protect their workers.

Significant problems can arise when the community league “contracts” a community league member or a local resident.  

This creates a situation where a private individual is providing service without WCB protection, thereby exposing themselves to substantial risk of lost income and medical expense should they be injured while working at the community league rink. 

 

3. Liability Insurance

· An employee of the community league is covered under the community league’s insurance policy, as are volunteers.

· When the league contracts a company to provide service, the company should provide proof of insurance (as well as WCB coverage).

 If the community league retains a private individual under “contract” to work at the rink, this individual can personally be held liable in the event of proven negligence or possibly even held liable in the event of accident.  The community league’s insurance coverage may or may not extend to cover a “contracted individual”.

 

 In summary, when staffing your community league’s outdoor rink, either:

· Employ workers as staff or Contract a company rather than an individual.

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Reuse Fairs

Formerly known as a Garbage Fair or Reuse Roundup, is a one-day community event where unwanted but reusable household items are collected and passed on to charities, non-profits, artisans and schools that need them. Some examples of typical items include milk jug lids, onion bags, keys, corks, broken jewellery, nylons and old calendars.

You can find more information, including how to organize a Reuse Fair in your community, click on:

http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt/gateway
/PTARGS_0_0_271_213_0_43/http%

3B/CMSServer/COEWeb/environment+waste+and+recycling/
waste/reuse+and+reduce/

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Reuse and Recycle Directory

Did you know that Edmonton has a Reuse & Recycle Directory, which lists organizations that will accept donations of used goods?  You can check it out at www.edmonton.ca/reusedirectory  At this time of the year, when people are resolving to clean out their basements, garages, and closets, it might be a good idea to have your organization listed.  Or, donate your stuff now to the program! 

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Parliamentary Procedures at a Glance

 

The EFCL is offering one free copy of Parliamentary Procedures at a Glance to each community league in care of the League President. This is a very handy reference, "to the rules of group leadership," based on Robert's, Rules of Order.  This resource will help you structure meetings and other activities of your organization, providing answers to your questions and offer you proven methods of order.

 

Interested Presidents or Secretaries can contact our office for their copy.

 

We hope that this will prove to be a useful resource and a help along your way.

 

 

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Communications

The Edmonton Examiner Can Help With Your Newsletter

The Examiner is dedicated to being a strong partner at all levels within the community and has identified some key areas of focus for 2005/2006. These areas of focus can help you with your newsletter!

Editorial:

  • Strengthening lines of communication and access to community news

  • Front page redesign with a spotlight on social and charitable agencies

  • Feature Community Spirit

  • Feature information on your Community

Advertising:

  • Support opportunities for existing strong community newsletters, to increase frequency and type of communication to residents, increase membership drive success, or enhance enrollment in sport and recreation programs

  • Design and publication opportunities for communities that wish to enhance their current communications with residents

  • Provide filler space that may be accessed in support of specific events (bingos, membership drives, etc.)

Distribution:

  • Carrier recruitment partnership to continuously improve the Examiner's ability to communicate your news and events.

Whether it is making your newsletter look more professional, or a lack of time to pull something together the Edmonton Examiner can help.

Contact Michelle Simmons with the Edmonton Examiner at 482-8739 to discuss opportunities for the Examiner to help you communicate with your members.

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Workshops and Education

Board Development Program

The Board Development Program offers you information on:

Click here to resource on line information on these topics or click here to contact the Board Development Program for more information or to receive topical newsletters.

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City of Edmonton Planning Academy

The City of Edmonton's Planning Academy offers a series of courses designed to provide a better understanding of the planning and development process in Edmonton.

The City developed the Planning Academy to:

  • help Edmontonians better understand and participate in the planning process
  • help Edmontonians better understand the roles, rights, and interests of all parties involved in the planning and development process.

Upcoming Workshops:

  1. Getting a Grip on Land Use Planning (6hrs, $35.00) Nov. 13 & 20, 2007 6:30 - 9:30 pm.
  2. Transportation Elective  (6 hrs. $35.00) Nov. 17, 2007 9:30 am - 4:30 pm.
  3. Come Plan With Us: Using Your Voice (6 hrs. $35.00) Nov. 24, 2007 9:30 am - 4:30 pm.

For more information phone 496-6242 or email planning.academy@edmonton.ca

or visit www.edmonton.ca/planningacademy

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Socio-economic Trends in Edmonton

‘Tracking the Trends’ is an overview of socio-economic trends in Edmonton. Focus areas include: demographics, education and employment, cost of living and housing, income and wealth, and government income support.

To download highlights of the report, visit http://www.ecvo.ca/issues.htm  or to see the full publication, go to the Edmonton Social Planning Council’s website at http://www.edmspc.com/publications.aspx 

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Recreation Directories

Recreation Directories for Seniors

The following are links to the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council's 2007 Directories for:

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Extra Resources

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