2014-15 Annual Report for Membership

1
VEGMIN LEARNING
SOCIETY
Box 442, 4923 – 50 Street
Vegreville, AB T9C 1R4
Websites: www.vegmin.com
www.aroundvegreville.com/vegminsociety
(780) 632-7920
Fax:
(780) 632-3224
e-mail: vegmin@vegmin. com
Annual Report
July 2014- June 2015
(For AGM September 15, 2015)
Proposed Mission Statement:
VegMin Learning Society
advocates for the learning needs of adults by providing barrier-free, flexible
and affordable learning opportunities in the Town of Vegreville and the
County of Minburn.
Goal Statement:
Adults in our community will acquire the working,
business and literacy skills to contribute to our community’s economic and
social growth.
Objectives:





Accessibility of learning opportunities will be improved
Opportunities to acquire foundational skills (basic literacy and ELL) will be increased
Gaps in education, training and learning will be closed
Volunteers and other resources will be mobilized
Individual and community problems will be solved through coordinated learning
initiatives
2014-15 Governance Board Members:
Chair: Wes Stefanec
Vice Chair: Derek Christensen
Secretary/Treasurer: Elaine Kucher
Directors at Large:
Lisa Topilko
Lil VanYken
Dwayne Hlady
Tammy Pocock
2014-15 Programs:
Employment Enhancement
Arts and Crafts
Literacy & GED
English Language Learning (ELL)
Community Issues
Video and Web Conferences
General Interest
2
September 16, 2015
AGM
AGENDA
1. Welcome & Introductions
2. Call to order/Confirm Quorum (30%)
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Approval of previous AGM Minutes – March 4, 2015
5. Approval Financial Report
6. Appointment of 2014-15 “Accountant of Record”
7. Presentation of Proposed By-Law Revisions
8. Presentation of 2015-16 Meeting Dates
9. Executive Director Report – Power Point Presentation
10. Adjournment
11. Next General Membership Meeting (Holiday Celebration)Wednesday November 25, 2015
12. Next Annual General Meeting – September 14, 2016 11:30 AM
Visit us on www.vegmin.com
Like us on
Follow us on
(as of Sept. 4/15, we had 177 likes)
@VegminLearning
(as of Sept. 4/15, we had 614 followers; following 735; and tweeted 4,595 times)
220 hours of Tutoring for 11 learners
Foundational Literacy: 53 learners
ELL: 39 Learners
Employment Enhancement: 111 Learners
Community Issues: 798 Learners
General Interest: 162 Learners
Total: 1,174 Learners
Where were our learners from?
Vegreville, Mundare, Lamont, Willingdon, Hairy Hill,
Two Hills, Edmonton, Camrose, Wainwright, Killam,
Daysland, Provost, Coronation, Lavoy, Ranfurly,
Innisfree, Minburn, Mannville, Viking, Holden,
Tofield, and Ryley
3
2014-15 Revenue - $142,251
2014-15 Courses
Offered:
CALC
Literacy
Com. Issues
VC/Go-to-Training
Gen Interest
2014-15 Expenses - $147,375
CALC
Literacy
Com. Issues
VC/Go-to-Training
Gen Interest
2014-15
Staff:
Holly Cependa
(Executive Director)
Heather WoodruffMacDonald
(Administrative Assistant)
Tracy Giffin
(VC Facilitator & Casual Relief)
Volunteer Stats:
42 volunteers
+400 hours

2014-15 Events:
Literacy Day Celebration
Fall Registration Night
Senior’s Health and Wellness Conference
Holiday Celebration
Adult Learner’s Week
Wendy Brook Festival – Reader’s Theatre
Bucks for Books -2 Hot Dog Sales
Senior’s Week –Mindful Art- Vegreville
& Tips For Aging Drivers - Innisfree
40 Years of Learning Celebration
Tutor Training; GED Prep; Readers
Theatre; Learning Circle; Learner’s
License Prep; English for
Newcomers (all levels); SMART Bd
Training; Computer (Basics, Word,
Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint,
Publisher, & Technologically
Challenged?); Excel Workshop –
Innisfree; First Aid & CPR (all
levels ); Being an Executor; Small
Claims Court; Enduring Power of
Attorney; Protect your Assets –
Vegreville & Innisfree; Info,
Identity Theft & the Law; Adoption
and the Law; Living Together & the
Law; How to Protect Yourself from
Elder Abuse; Alternative HealthSelf Massage; Diabetes and You;
Non-Profit Org’s & the Law;
Separation & Divorce; Public
Consultations that Rock; Tools for a
Brighter Tomorrow; Recruiting and
Retaining Effective Board Members;
Busy Minds for ALL Abilities;
Mature Drivers – Innisfree; Bifocal
View of Driving – Innisfree; FCSS
Programs- Innisfree; Policies,
Procedures & By-Laws; Adult
Mental Health First Aid; Applied
Suicide Intervention Skills Training
(ASIST); Canadian Firearms Safety
Course (Non-restricted &
Restricted); Little Warriors Prevent
It! Workshop – Vegreville &
Innisfree; Acrylic Painting; Joy of
Drawing; Art in the Afternoon;
Hatha Yoga; Personal Safety
Seminar; CPR & AED Training for
Volunteers
2014-15 Video Conference Stats:
12 VC sessions
36 local participants
Hosted 2 remote sites for
Computer Classes
2014-15 Web Conference Stats:
2 (Vegreville & Innisfree)
10 participants
4
2015-2016 Priorities, Barriers & Goals
Learners:






Variety of ages
Literacy Learners
Newcomers to Canada
(ELL/ESL)
Underemployed
Want to learn a specific
skill/retraining
?
Changes to Community:






?
Population is growing
Transient
Live here, work elsewhere
Loss of community roots
Diverse cultures
Families are dispersed (adult
children move away)
Barriers:















Mental and/or physical
health
Transportation
Childcare
Financial
Time
Facilities
Technology
Self-awareness
Fear/stigma
Family violence
Trust relationships
Housing
Information for tenants and
landlords
Shift work
?
Gaps:






Limited local instructors
Lack of suitable facilities
Facility costs
Communication/Partnerships
with other community
programmers
Lack of support groups
?
5
Ideas:
Issues:




Health issues and
awareness
Facilities and costs
Work with others (groups
and/or communities) to
avoid duplication of
programs
?



School Rep (student or teacher)
on VegMin Board
Evaluate current practice and
change accordingly
?
2015 -16 Goals
1. Provide programming in Foundational Literacy & Essential Skills, English
Language Learning, Community Capacity and General Interest.
2. Increase access to learning by removing as many barriers as possible.
3. Partner with other learning providers (local & remote) to enhance learning
opportunities.
4. Work with other programmers to address and reduce community issues.
5. Promote lifelong learning within the service area.
6. ??
Partnerships:
Alberta Works; CALS; Vegreville Parent Link; AHS -Health Promotions; Vegreville & Area FCSS; Vegreville Ag
Society; Senior Citizens Sunshine Club of Vegreville; Vegreville Centennial Library; Village of Innisfree Library;
Innisfree Ag Society; Mannville, Minburn, Innisfree FCSS; Rural Elder Abuse Prevention (REAP) Coalition;
VALID Assoc, WJS Alberta & Life Opportunities Program; Central Taxi; Baron’s No-Frills; Vegreville & Dist.
Coop; Prairie Crop Management; Vegreville News Advertiser; Highway 16 News; SPUR & CFCW;
Memberships:
Vegreville & District Chamber of Commerce; Community Learning Network; Volunteer Alberta; Alberta Assoc. of
Municipal Districts & Counties
A big THANK YOU to our learners, donors,
volunteers, partners, instructors and staff!
YOU are our greatest asset!