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Our programs can only run as long as we have a minimum number of participants registered in them. Therefore, it is very important to register for programs at least a week before the programs start. Don't be disappointed, sign up early! In the event of severe weather, please contact the Centre at 905-615-3207. Please listen to the recorded message to ensure that your program will take place.
Greetings from your Board of Directors for year 2011! The Board of Directors thanks all members for their support and dedication to the Centre. The year 2010 was a challenging one for the Centre as we faced the task of balancing the budget, creating new programs, increased membership against the current economic tide. This year, 2011, your Board’s vision is to pursue new corporate funding. It is an ambitious project and your Board, as a unified force, will be going into the wider community to secure the corporate funding.
Why Corporate Funding? The Centre, SOOAC, has served the Mississauga Community for almost 19 years as our Mission Statement requires. We have reached out to diverse groups in the community. The Centre fills a very special need by providing services to older adults enabling them to live interesting and active lives. However, as you are aware, the Centre is not publicly funded and it is the Board’s wish that the wider community acknowledge our existence and support the services we provide. Also, over the years on occasion we have dipped into our reserves to keep our programs viable. It is necessary to strengthen our reserve fund so the Centre can operate as a fiscally responsible organization.
In addition, the City of Mississauga, as a healthy thriving community, is predicting an over fifty population growth of 36.8% by 2026. (Older Adult Plan, July 2007). It is imperative that SOOAC plan for this growth by being proactive and taking the initiative to provide additional services for older adults.
To plan effectively for the future of the Centre, we need corporate support, long and short term. Long term corporate funding will provide some financial stability re operating cost thus allowing the Centre to expand services and adapt to off-site locations where and when necessary. The Centre will be able to offer more opportunities for all members to participate in programs they enjoy and maintain their active lifestyle.
Your Board is aware that there are many charities chasing after and accessing philanthropic organizations. We need to tap into these resources. With creative and strategic planning, a positive approach and attitude, our project will be successful. Your Board, collectively, has over a hundred years of work experience from challenging jobs. This is our opportunity to put our experience to work for you. Wish us luck.
Please note the Annual General Meetings on June 24, 2011. We are recruiting for a number of positions, so please consider joining this outstanding, high achieving team.
Hats off to:
Laura – for an entertaining and fun-filled New Year’s Eve event.
Gift Wrap Volunteers – Students and adults- for going the extra mile and exceeding our goal.
Thank You.
Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Grant Update:
Last season I informed you of the wonderful news we received from OTF that we were approved for a grant of $219,000 over 3 years to expand our programs into the community. Older Adult Centre has grown so rapidly over the last couple of years, reaching over 1,600 in membership, that we realized we needed more space to continue to meet our members’ needs. We initially thought this would mean that we would program in one location in Streetsville, but instead we are going to try three different locations, two in Streetsville and one in Meadowvale.
Starting the week of April 11, 2011, we will be offering Tai Chi Beginners, Co-ed Fitness, Zumba Gold, International Dance and Computer workshops at the Streetsville Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 139 and Drawing by Design and Acrylic Painting courses at Vic Johnston Community Centre in their meeting room. We are also going to offer some wonderful programs in the beautiful Meadowvale Village Hall. This historical building, with lots of natural light, will be the perfect location for Yoga, Co-ed Fitness, Crane Qi Gong, Line Dance Basics and Games Day.
In order to make this happen, we will be hiring a Community Engagement Coordinator who will develop and coordinate the programs and events at the new sites. We will plan Open House Events at each location including the Open House and Strawberry Social at Meadowvale Village Hall on June 3, 2011.
Your membership at Older Adult Centre (SOOAC) entitles you to participate in all of these wonderful programs at a members’ rate. For an introductory period, we are also offering these programs, at a slightly higher rate, to seniors in the community who are not members. We hope that all will want to become members of SOOAC, but we want to let them give us a try.
Please refer to the maps below for directions to the new locations. We also have more detailed maps available on our website. Please enjoy these wonderful new programs.
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Please see 2011 Spring Brochure 13.3 MB for Complete Program Information.