I write this shortly before Remembrance Day and with the current world crisis, it is important for us to remember the contributions that many have made and are making to ensure our freedom.
The Winnipeg Ostomy Association has hit a rather large bump in the road concerning our financial situation. DEFICIT!!!! In October, we found ourselves with bills owing and zero in the bank. The Chapter meeting in October approved cashing in one of our term deposits in order to meet the immediate need. This leaves us with only one term deposit totaling $2,500. So, in the short term we can pay our bills. However this is not a long-term solution.
To date, our efforts at fundraising have met with mixed success. Helmut Friesen, our 1st Vice-President has done an excellent job in promoting the sale of chocolates. Your executive realizes that more needs to be done. We need someone who has the sole responsibility of fundraising, a Fundraising Chairperson. There are many organizations that do make funds available to charitable organizations i.e. The Winnipeg Foundation, and there are many others. This person would be responsible for researching fundraising possibilities, recommending methods to the executive, then implementing the plan(s). So the call is out. Should you be interested in becoming the Fundraising Chairperson for the Winnipeg Ostomy Association please call myself: Dave Page at 775 -2175 or Helmut Friesen at 888-4014.
October was a very busy month for the WOA. On Friday October 4th a number of our members participated in an informational display at the Health Sciences Center to mark World Ostomy Day. The following Thursday, along with the 16 other member groups of the SMD Clearinghouse, a representative of the WOA participated in an informational display at the Health Information Conference at the Winnipeg Convention Center. On Saturday October 19th the Clearinghouse conducted a Strategic Planning seminar with representatives of all the groups participating. At the monthly chapter meeting Shoshana Scott gave a presentation on Homeopathic medicine followed by a lively discussion. Then on Saturday October 26th a very successful Visitor Training Seminar was conducted at St. Boniface Hospital.
While the pace slows somewhat in November, our chapter meeting on the 27th will feature a presentation by Jim Gawluk, Territory Manager, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Coloplast Ostomy Supplies.
Then in December we look forward to our annual Christmas party, this year on Sunday the 8th at the Norwood Hotel
As this is the last newsletter before Christmas, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy and Peaceful Holiday Season.
Dave
