Kaleidoscope Analogy Fitting for Social Services Sector

I want to draw your attention to a recent article in The Philanthropist - a quarterly journal for those engaged in the nonprofit sector in Canada. It’s called “A Kaleidoscope of Innovation: Designing Community Impact in the Waterloo Region.”

The article is co-authored by Diana Denton, Associate Professor and Director, Communication, Leadership and Social Innovation (CLSI), University of Waterloo, and Tracey Robertson, who conducted research while on leave from her role as Regional Program Manager at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. I was pleased to be invited on several occasions to lend my thoughts to the ideas discussed in this article, which focuses on challenges and issues related to social innovation in Waterloo Region.

In the social services sector, as in many other sectors, change isn’t on the horizon, it is the horizon. We must adapt and respond to constant shifts in areas such as technology, organizational structure, workforce, and the economy. “A Kaleidoscope of Innovation” identifies and explores the unique issues arising from this constant state of flux. I consider it a must-read for anyone working in my field. You’ll find the article on the Philanthropist web site at http://www.thephilanthropist.ca/index.php/phil/article/view/861/738.

This Just In…

I recently learned some great news - our 2010 Celebrity Event saluting Waterloo Regional Police Chief Matt Torigian raised a cool $50,000!

My team and I truly appreciate the generous support shown by those sponsoring and attending the event. These funds will be distributed locally to programs and initiatives supporting our five regional priorities - children and youth, families, newcomers, neighbourhoods and economic security.

Unfortunately, need in our community continues to be on the rise and we’re still seeing significant increases in local demand for social services. As a result, our work is far from over.

At United Way, we’re committed to supporting this community. If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to please join us by pledging your commitment too. By supporting our 3-year, $21 million campaign, you’ll help fuel long-term, sustainable change targeting our community’s key social issues.

Together, we can make positive change happen.

Fond Memories from Our Annual Celebrity Event

Sadly, it’s all over. Our annual celebrity event, which this year saluted Waterloo Regional Police Chief Matt Torigian, has come and gone.

What a great evening! I don’t think anyone had a better time than the Chief himself. Here are some of my favourite moments from the night…

• Being greeted outside Bingemans by the Waterloo Regional Police Service’s mounted patrol unit (I forgot to ask whether the horse I met was King or Watson)
• Listening to the hilarious antics of MC Neil Aitchison, last year's guest of honour
• Watching Chief Torigian dance on the shoulders of friends and family to the music of an Armenian band from Toronto
• Seeing how happy Chief Torigian was to be surrounded by friends and family – including his parents and a 94-year-old uncle from St. Catharines
• Savouring the authentic Armenian pizza brought in all the way from Montreal for the occasion
• Watching traditional Armenian dances performed by Holy Trinity Armenian Church's Sassoun Dance Ensemble
• Hearing guest speakers share their stories while images of Chief Torigian were shown on two big screens (many photos were modified for dramatic effect, including one with Chief Torigian as an American Idol Judge)
• Listening to the beautiful voice of Constable Brian Duyn as he sang “The Prayer”

There were just too many great moments to share them all here. Sincere thanks to the many generous sponsors for this event: Grand View Homes, RIM, Niche Technology, Eagle Towing Equipment, Adobe, Melloul Blamey Construction, McCordick Glove and Safety, Regional Safety, Bingemans, Miller Thomson LLP, Lagrotta Packaging Group, Programmed Insurance Brokers, Innersee Initiatives, Brentwood Livery, David McCammon Photography and Images in Colour, not to mention all who donated silent auction items for the evening, and Knar Jewellers for providing Chief Torigian with a special gift to mark the occasion.

Some Interesting Facts About Our Police Chief...

In honour of our approaching Annual Celebrity Event, which this year honours Waterloo Regional Police Chief Matt Torigian, I thought I'd share with you a few interesting facts about our fearless leader...

1. he hails from St. Catharines, Ontario


2. his family is of Armenian descent, and his Armenian name is Matius (pronounced Matyos)


3. he is an award winning stage actor and he used to perform comedy routines


4. he loves to watch American Idol and has a real knack for picking the winner very early on each season


5. he has two siblings - a brother who is a family doctor and a sister who is a high school principal

There are many other interesting facts about Cheif Matt Torigian that I'd love to share, but I'm told I must wait until the United Way Annual Celebrity Event itself. Tickets are still available, so here are the details:

United Way Annual Celebrity Event Honouring Matt Torigian
Thursday October 28, 2010
7-10 p.m.
VIP reception 6-7 p.m.
Bingemans – Ballroom A

Tickets on sale through www.bingemans.com:
$125 each
or
$175 each with VIP reception

Donations are still being accepted for the silent auction being held at the event, and a few sponsorship opportunities remain as well. Arrangements can be made through our Event Coordinator, Meg Lagrotta, at 519.888.6100 ext. 232 or mlagrotta@uwaykw.org.

I'm really looking forward to this event. Hope to see you there!

Jan

Annual Celebrity Event – Tickets on Sale Now

Each year, United Way of KW and Area hosts an annual celebrity event to pay tribute to an outstanding leader in our community. This year, we are very pleased to have Matt Torigian, Waterloo Regional Police Chief, as our guest of honour.

Join us for a fun and entertaining evening of cops, culture and cuisine - with a few surprises, of course. I don’t want to give away too much, but I can tell you it’s shaping up to be an event you won’t want to miss.

Here are the details:

United Way Annual Celebrity Event Honouring Matt Torigian
Thursday October 28, 2010
7-10 p.m.
VIP reception 6-7 p.m.
Bingemans – Ballroom A

Tickets on sale through www.bingemans.com:
$125 each
or
$175 each with VIP reception

Donations are still being accepted for the silent auction being held at the event, and a few sponsorship opportunities remain as well. Arrangements can be made through our Event Coordinator, Meg Lagrotta, at 519.888.6100 ext. 232 or mlagrotta@uwaykw.org.

Hope to see you there!

Jan

I did it! My very first tweet!

A big part of our first annual Day of Caring involved sharing images and messages about our efforts with others via FaceBook and Twitter. I recall confessing in one of my earlier blogs that this whole social media thing was a little new to me, but I was ready to embrace it full on. And so, this past Wednesday, I did my very first tweet.

Here I am working on it under the tutelage of our social media-savvy communications coordinator and event planner, Meg Lagrotta:



She blogs. She tweets. What’s next, you ask?

Stay tuned…

Jan

Day of Caring – a Day I Care to Remember!

The weather was perfect, the volunteers were enthusiastic and the coffee was great as we kicked off our first annual Day of Caring at Waterloo Public Square on Wednesday morning.

Joining me at the podium was Lisa Drew from 570News, our 2010 Workplace Campaign Chair, along with Theron Kramer, a long-time United Way volunteer and Chair of our Community Impact Council.

I reminded the crowd that United Way is about far more than a symbolic fundraising thermometer. I told them we’re about mobilizing people, ideas and energy to make this a better community. Speaking of which…

After the kick-off event I had the pleasure of joining our sponsored employees and a team from Gowlings at the KW Multicultural Centre.

We had a fantastic time painting a mural on the side of the building.

The image, entitled We Are All the Same, is the work of local artist Pamela Rojas-Perez. The black outline of her mural was already there, all we had to do was find the right colour and carefully paint between the lines.

In total, 21 groups from a number of local employers participated in different volunteer projects, and the response from participants and recipients alike was very positive.

Thanks for caring,

Jan

Our First Annual Day of Caring Approaches

What do you think, would I make a good cheerleader?

As you can see, I’ve been practicing my moves so I can rally the troops at our Day of Caring kick-off tomorrow. Everyone is invited, of course, so be sure to drop by and join the fun from 8-9 a.m. at the Waterloo Public Square. The Starbucks coffee is on us, and you’ll be invited to leave your own personal mark on the Waterloo Public Square. Yes, literally. Sorry, no hints. You’ll have to show up to find out what I mean.

Joining us at the Day of Caring will be Lisa Drew from 570News, our 2010 Workplace Campaign Chair. Lisa will be kicking off our annual workplace campaign at the event, and I just know she’ll outdo me at this cheerleading stuff. Thank goodness I get to go first - she’d be a hard act to follow.

In all honesty, we’re thrilled to have Lisa working with us this year. We couldn’t ask for a more charismatic and caring individual to lead our community efforts.

Thanks for stopping by. See you tomorrow morning!

Jan

Appreciating Diversity

Last blog, I wrote of a recent expedition to Newfoundland. My journey east this summer also took me kayaking and whale watching in Quebec. Dave and I marveled at the magnificent variety of wildlife in the area – including moose, caribou, puffins and bald eagles.

In the quaint French town of Tadoussac, we saw sharks and several species of whale. The area is famous for whale watching because saltwater from the Atlantic mixes with freshwater from the St. Lawrence here, resulting in an endless supply of plankton and other small marine life that comprise a whale’s main diet.

I was awestruck by the wide range of wildlife Dave and I saw in Quebec. It reminded me that diversity is to be admired and held in high esteem, not regarded suspiciously or subjected to discrimination. The same holds true for people. When we respect and value our differences, our communities and neighbourhoods flourish. That’s why United Way supports programs and initiatives that encourage people to accept each other’s differences and work together for the common good.

Thought I'd include a picture of me kayaking, although I'm not sure any picture could do justice to the fabulous scenery we came across.

A ‘Welcome’ Lesson

My husband Dave and I recently had the pleasure of exploring Newfoundland’s southern coast. We traveled by ferry to several outports – small, isolated communities accessible only by boat.

Sadly, outport communities are dwindling in numbers as the cost to maintain education and healthcare in these areas becomes prohibitive for government. Employment, too, is a major concern. To make ends meet, many residents spend a few months of each year working in other regions of Canada where jobs are more plentiful.

We were struck by how welcoming and generous the residents of these unique coastal communities were despite their hardships. The ferry’s arrival was clearly a focal point of their lives. A friendly crowd greeted us at each stop, instilling an immediate sense of belonging. Instead of strangers visiting for the first time, we were treated like returning friends.

I can’t help but think how wonderful it would be if all newcomers to the KW area could feel the way Dave and I did on our journey. United Way supports several programs and initiatives aimed at helping newcomers gain a sense of acceptance and belonging. We also support efforts to reduce barriers such as discrimination and help newcomers find suitable employment.

Here's the Grand Bruit outport. That's my husband, Dave, (right) standing with our guide, Claude, in the second picture.




























The outport below is called La Poile.

Our First Annual Day of Caring - September 15, 2010

I want to send a quick "shout out" (I've always wanted to say that phrase and it seems fitting here, so please indulge me) to CKWR FM 98.5 for having me on air recently to talk about our upcoming Day of Caring on September 15, 2010. Our aim is to connect 21 volunteer teams from local workplaces with 21 community projects that need completing, in honour of our 3-year, $21 million revenue goal. As well, we're encouraging you to get involved by creating your own team, doing something caring in your neighbourhood, and then telling us about your experience. Your ideas and photos may even end up on our new website, Facebook page or Community Heroes blog.

For more information, visit our website or email mlagrotta@uwaykw.org. And don't forget to join us at Waterloo Public Square from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday September 15th for our Day of Caring kick off.

Of course, the underlying message here is that every day should be a Day of Caring. By working together collectively, we can ensure that this community is a great place to live for everyone. All it takes is teamwork and the desire to be change, make change and see change.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

Welcome!

Well, this is it. My first foray into the once-foreign world of social media. I knew it was only a matter of time before my team led me down this path. A critical path, I might add, for many reasons.

The significance of social media - and the fact that it is here to stay - really struck home when I witnessed live Twitter feeds being screened beside the keynote speaker at a conference a few months back. It became obvious to me then that social media was not merely a youth phenomenon, and our Facebook presence, while still important, wasn't going to be enough.

So... we've got a great new web site, we're now on Twitter, and along with this new blog of mine we've got a "Community Heroes" blog to keep you up to date on our fundraising efforts and tell you about the great people in our community helping us change community conditions for the better.

There's a parallel here between the changes United Way is making in the virtual world and those we're making in the real one. As our community and its needs evolve, so too are we. We know that what we do, and how we do it, must be a reflection of these changing times. That's why we introduced our new three-year, $21 million fundraising strategy. And that's why we're mobilizing not only funding, but people, ideas and other resources as well, within the five priority areas deemed critical to the success of our community.

More on this later...

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan