January/February 2003
Page 2
From The President's Desk
Another year has come and gone, and what a year it has been! For sports fans the high of the Olympic Games early in the year to the Blue Bombers failing to win the Grey Cup, to the Anaheim Angels winning the World Series for the first time.
The world in which we live has changed dramatically in the past year and now the probability of war draws ever closer and nowhere is safe from the threat of terrorism. As we witness these events we can only hope and pray that peaceful solutions can and will be found to these situations because the alternative is unthinkable. Our thoughts must go to those ostomates in areas of the world threatened by war and the increasing difficulty of their obtaining Ostomy Supplies.
MDA on the Move
For almost six years now, Ostomy Supplies have been distributed from the Materials Distribution Agency on Church Avenue in Winnipeg. During that time, the services offered by MDA have expanded greatly. Recently, they have had to rent a third warehouse on a temporary basis. Obviously, a much larger facility is needed. Some time late this spring, probably May, MDA will be relocating to a large warehouse facility on St. James Street just south of the Notre Dame intersection. For the past six years MDA has served ostomates across Manitoba well in the distribution of our supplies, and I am sure that this excellent service will continue. I hope to have the Chief Operating Officer of MDA, Susan Boulter, attend one of our Chapter meetings to explain what MDA is all about.
Secretary
This announcement should have been made in the last newsletter but I blew it, I am not infallible it seems, but what else is new? Last September, Lorrie Pismenny volunteered to act as secretary for the Winnipeg Ostomy Association, therefore we welcome her to the executive committee.
Finances
In the last newsletter your executive brought your attention to two issues:
- the need for a fund-raising chair person
- the financial situation
To this point, and I write this at the end of December, no one has come forth to fill the role of the fund-raising chair, so the call it is still there, we very much need someone to take over this responsibility.
Please Volunteer!
The financial situation is pretty much the same. We did cash in one of our GIC's totalling $2,500, which has allowed us to meet our present expenses, but that is not a permanent solution. This leaves us only one GIC totalling $2,500 in savings. We are very grateful for the memorial donations in memory of Ab Foreman, and the donations many of you have made over and above your membership fees. This has given your executive confidence that we can overcome our financial difficulties.
Membership Fees
Also in the last newsletter you read that your executive is proposing raising the annual membership fees to $40. We asked for input from you in the form of a letter or e-mail to this proposal. The response to this date has been underwhelming, one e-mail and a few comments enclosed with some of the Membership renewals recently received. Speaking personally, I am in somewhat of a quandary, as I am sure is the rest of the executive. I am not too sure just what this lack of response indicates. This issue will be up for discussion at the January chapter meeting and is to be voted on at the chapter meeting in February.
Chapter Happenings
Two very successful events roundup the year 2002 for the Winnipeg Ostomy Association. At our November chapter meeting, Jim Gawluk, the new Territory Manager for Coloplast Ostomy Supplies joined us with a display of supplies and explained his desire to have Coloplast Supplies listed on the Manitoba Ostomy program. His presentation was very informative and enjoyed by all. Many questions were asked and Jim managed to answer most of them, well at least some of them. Rhonda Loeppky, E.T., then assumed the hot seat and answered questions from the floor.
On December 8th, many of us gathered at the Norwood Hotel for the WOA Christmas party. Our guest speaker, Donald Fontaine, regaled us with many hilarious stories of his life as a barber. The Silent Auction was a huge success and we are very thankful for all who donated items. As always, the Norwood Hotel served up an excellent meal. The evening was enjoyed by all!
That's it for now, see you at the Chapter meeting on January 22nd.
Dave
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