December Staff Meeting
The December Staff Meeting will be held on Friday, December 19 at 1:00 p.m. in room #2-4 (followed at 2:00 p.m. by the Holiday Party)
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Mini Gingerbread Village - RAFFLE!
Get your tickets today for a chance to win this homemade mini gingerbread village!
Tickets are only $2.00 (or $5.00 for 3 tickets), and are available at reception at the 82 Street location . Winner will be announced on December 19!
Submitted by Katrina Paufler
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Weekly Newsletter Contest!
Congratulations to Miranda Bestman, for correctly guessing that the pictures from last week were Derrick and Chissa!
Now... who is this tiny tot? Think you know? Send an e-mail to kpaufler@emcn.ab.ca with your guess – first person who correctly identifies the baby will win a prize!
Submitted by Katrina Paufler
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Submitted by Katrina Paufler--------------------
Congratulations
Congratulations to Chissa Schmuhl on her article about Christmas in the Philippines, published in the December issue of Boyle McCauley News (page 8).
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Your Benefits Made Easy
The EMCN website now has available for you all the crucial Great West Life information. Under the “Staff” section of the website, you will find a folder entitled “Great West Life”. Here you will find all the pertinent Great West Life information. Here is a sample of what you will see:
1. Printable Great West Life Claim forms
2. “How To’s” on completing your Claim forms
3. Address on where to send your claim
4. Important phone numbers
5. Link to the Great West Life website
6. Link to the Login page for Great West Life members
7. The EMCN Plan Booklet in pdf format (searchable)
Have a question about your claim with Great West Life? Simply call the 1-800 number with your personal account number and the Group Policy number and you can ask for updated information on your account, or other benefits questions. Go ahead have a look…..
Submitted by Steve Winkler
Staff Room and Room #2-4 Clean-Up
There are a number of items in the kitchen (ie. scrabble games, extra platters, etc.) and in room 2 -4 (clothing, binders, etc.) that I am going to remove. If you'd like any of this stuff, ie. binders, clothing, please take them before Friday this week. I'd like to clean up before the Holiday party.
Once we determine the stuff is no longer needed by the agency we will phone Bissell centre and have it removed.
Thanks.
Submitted by Helen Rusich
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A Milestone Reached!
Here’s some pretty remarkable news!
As of September 30/08, the total of loans approved surpassed $1 Million!
($412,550 through EMCN, $627,209 through Momentum = $1,039,759.)
This $1M represents 235 loans.
This is an important milestone for IAF, as it speaks well to our funders.
Thank you, Sergio (and everyone else at EMCN) for your hard work and helping to make this happen. I hope you take as much pride and satisfaction in this accomplishment as the IAF board and I do!
Cheers!
Dianne Fehr
Executive Director
Immigrant Access Fund
www.iafcanada.org
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Professional Programs – Information Sessions
Accountants’ Bridging Program
Engineers’ and Technologists’ Integration Program
Payroll Certificate Program
Submitted by Chissa Schmuhl
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Interpretation or Translation Duties with City of Edmonton
The City of Edmonton is looking for the names of people who could help with interpretation or translation duties that might arise if there was ever a major emergency of some sort in the city. If any staff of EMCN would be willing to be included in a registry of people who might be able to help out in such a case, please send your name as well as your work and home contact information to Jim at mailto: jgurnett@emcn.ab.ca by December 5. This is an update of a list the City created several years ago but almost all the names of people from EMCN that were on that original list no longer work here and they need to have current information about anyone who would be willing to help.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Tom Jackson’s Singing for Supper
Poster
Public Service Announcement
For Immediate Release
December 3rd, 2008
Edmonton’s Food Bank is currently feeding approximately 11,000 people per month through our hamper program and an additional 250,000 meals and snacks each month. Forty percent of those we feed are children under 18.
Tom Jackson’s Singing for Supper
Join life long philanthropist Tom Jackson and his guests, Beverly Mahood and Amanda Stott, will be sharing their music talents with Edmontonians on Friday, December 12, 2008 at Robertson Wesley United Church (10209 -123 Street). Doors open at 5:30pm with performances beginning at 6:30pm. Opening act is the Robertson Wesley Ringers. The cost is only $20 per ticket with general seating.
Tickets available at:
Ticketmaster by calling 780.451.8000
Or
Edmonton’s Food Bank by calling 780.425.2133 (purchaser is asked to pick up from the Food Bank 11508-120 Street Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 4:30pm).
Your support in announcing this event is greatly appreciated.
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For more information:
Debbie Theuss, Special Events & Community Relations
Edmonton’s Food Bank
P: 780.425.2133, C: 780.446.0801
Fay Lucy, Senior Program Coordinator
Edmonton’s Food Bank
P: 780.425.2133, C: 780.868.1293
E: specialevents@edmontonsfoodbank.com
Submitted by Karen Gabert
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You Can Go!
The Edmonton YMCA has a new program, You Can Go!, to support more youth deciding to enter post-secondary education and to assist them to find available funding. It is associated with the Millennium Scholarship Program.
They have individual counselling and also offer workshops. Information is at www.youcango.ca or you can call 429-YMCA if you might be interested to have a workshop delivered to a group you are working with at some time.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Freeskool
Freeskool: Sunday, December 14th
Address: 9540 111 Ave
Cost: FREE!
Bring your friends, your skillz, and some food to share!
11:00-12:00
Mingle Sesh!
Eat some delicious vegan food! Meet somebody new and awesome! Check out the Edmonton Anarchist Black Cross distro and the Pride Center reading Library!
12:00-1:00
Learn how to Knit!
This workshop will be on the very basics of knitting. Needles and yarn will be provided, but if you have some, please bring them along so's we'll be sure to have enough for everyone.
contributer:Kate
1:30-2:30
Learn about the Lubicon struggle
Screening of the new Amnesty International documentary on the Lubicon filmed this summer, then an overview of the background issues the Lubicons face, and then questions/discussion/action.
contributer: Dietland
3:00-4:00
DIY Beltmaking!
wondering what on earth pop and/or beer can tabs are good for, or why on earth some people seem to be collecting them lately for that weird girl who gets so excited for them? come find out at the next freeskool, where you can learn how to make your own simple yet awesome belts, bracelets, and or necklace type items just in time for christmas!
contributer: Sara
4:30-5:00
DIY Sewing!
Learn to patch those holes in your pants, or stitch together a holiday gift! All you need to know about hand sewing! Bring some things you'd like to sew, or some fabric to practise on.
contributer: Adriaan
For more information or to get involved, please contact edmontonabc@riseup.net.
Freeskool is a decentralized network in which skills, information, and knowledge are shared without heiarchy or the institutional environment of formal schooling. The open structure of a free school is intended to encourage self-reliance, critical consciousness, and personal development. Freeskool is open to everyone and is intended as a means for autonomous individuals to faciliate shillshare within their communities.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Canadian Mental Health Association – Edmonton Region – Workshops Winter 2009
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)*
January 15-16
February 26-27
March 19-20
Mental Health First Aid*
January 22-23
February 19-20
March 26-27
*13 Category A credits for Social Workers
The Youth Suicide Prevention Workshop
January 14
Suicide in Children Workshop
February 25
SafeTALK
February 4
Counselling the Bereaved
January 14
For more information or to register please contact:
CMHA -Edmonton Region
800, 10045 111 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2M5
Tel (780) 414-6300
Email: main@cmha-edmonton.ab.ca
www.cmha-edmonton.ab.ca
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Employment Opportunity / Alberta Avenue Business Association
Learn about our work, visit us online at: www.alberta-avenue.com
We're seeking the services of a Part-Time Administrative Assistant, starting January 02, 2009. We are looking for someone with Simply Accounting experience and working knowledge of MS Office. 12 Hours a week, flexible. Require good people and communication skills. Own transportation required.
Please fax / email resume to: Joe Holtz, E. D.
Fax: 780.477.1378 / E: aaba@telusplanet.net
# # #
Courtesy: The Community Networks Group ® Telephone: 780.474.6058 PS. Wish to be removed from our E-LIST? Receiving duplicates? Be kind & let us know. Reply to this e-mail or call the number above. Muchas Gracias!
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Community Dialogue on Affordable Housing in the Richest City
Action for Healthy Communities will hold its next Community Dialogue on Affordable Housing in the Richest City on Jan. 7 at the Edmonton Korean Canadian Association Hall, 9636 - 105A Avenue at 6:30 p.m. For more information, go here or contact program director Chris Ford at 780-944-4687 or actioncf4@shawbiz.ca. Dialogues help people "connect to their neighbours and to people of other cultures" and sometimes result in community initiatives eligible for seed grant funding of up to $1,000. A community initiative is "a small project initiated by a group of three or more individuals interested in improving the health and well being of their community".
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Call for Abstracts
The Canadian Council on Social Development invites proposals for workshop sessions at the Canadian Social Forum. Five key theme areas have been identified, each touching on current efforts to reduce poverty in Canada.
Some sessions will explore innovations in communities across the country; others will present more global ideas and approaches to stimulate discussion and debate. All workshop sessions will help identify what concrete steps Forum participants can take to act on poverty eradication.
All abstracts must be submitted by January 6, 2009.
Go to www.ccsd.ca/csf/2009/ for full details.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Edmonton Christmas Meals List 2008
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Memorial for Homeless Persons – 2009
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Food Today Tomorrow Together Registration is now open
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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AASCF First Annual Conference - Strengthening Today - Building Tomorrow
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Edmonton Food Security Network / A special Invitation
Info: 780.328.5423 / E: sgibson@earthsharesolutions.ca
The Edmonton Food Security Network (EFSN) wants to grow into a formal organization to facilitate activities, growth and sustainability of the network. We're considering registering as a non-profit.
Context: EFSN is an informal group of people concerned about hunger, poverty, malnutrition & social justice. EFSN' activities have included sharing information, resources, creating opportunities for working together, improving the access to food for children/families & increasing public awareness of food insecurity.
This upcoming organization development gathering will be facilitated for those in attendance interested to initiate the process of creating a formal non-profit Society. We invite you to join at our next meeting planned for:
Thursday Jan. 08, 2009
6-8 p.m. / Location: TBA
RSVP by December 20, 2008 to:
Sylvia Gibson / T: 780.328.5423
E: sgibson@earthsharesolutions.ca
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Donating Blood
We don't specifically have a marketing campaign to attract new immigrants but we do work closely with many ethnic communities across Canada, many of which would include new immigrants.
For more information on our eligibility requirements, please visit www.blood.ca. One policy that has been known to prevent many Canadian travellers and new immigrants from some countries is our Malaria policy. You can find more information on that on-line as well. Depending on how long an individual has stayed or lived in a malaria-risk zone, he or she may be ineligible to give blood for a period of one year or three years.
Here is the link to our Malaria policy.
http://www.blood.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/E_malaria-deferrals
Another policy that may affect immigrants who have lived in the UK or certain parts of Europe at a specific time is our vCJD policy, which can be found at the following link:
http://www.blood.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/Indefinite%20Deferral?OpenDocument#02
All this said, I would encourage any individuals who are interested in donating blood to call us at 1888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283) and ask to speak to a registered nurse if they are unsure of their eligibility.
Canadian Blood Services also has a program called the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, which recruits potential stem cell donors across the country. The eligibility requirements to become a stem cell donor are a little different than blood donation, so I would encourage you to visit www.OneMatch.ca for more information.
OneMatch is in particular need of more ethnic donors to join the registry. Currently 83% of registrants are caucasian, which does not reflect the ethnic diversity of Canada. Ethnic donors make a better match for recipients from the same ethnic background, which is why we are focussing on recruiting more diverse donors to the registry. If you are able to share this information, that would be terrific. As I mentioned, more information is available on-line.
I hope I've answered your questions. If you have any other questions, please feel to email me. If you have any eligibility question please call our toll-free number above for more information.
Take care,
Candace Korchinsky
Communications Specialist
Canadian Blood Services
"Helen Rusich"
To candace.korchinsky@blood.ca
Subject Re: Your Comment Card
Thank you, that was helpful. I look forward to seeing and hearing the new video. Can you tell me if any marketing is being done to "attract new immigrants". I work at a large settlement agency and wonder who is eligible and who is not.
On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 8:33 AM,
Hi Helen,
We received your comment card asking about a video that shows what happens to blood after a donation. Canadian Blood Services is currently putting together a video which will explain this to donors. At this time I don't have a completion date, but it is in the works. Once it has been completed we expect to be able to air it in clinics so donors can learn more about what happens to their blood after they donate.
Until the video is finished, we do have some resources on our website at blood.ca that you might find helpful.
If you click on the link above you'll find information about what happens to blood after you donate.
Thanks Helen! Take care and have a great day.
Candace Korchinsky
Communications Specialist
Canadian Blood Services
Because there is an on-going need for blood. Save a life today by calling 1 888 2 DONATE.
Submitted by Helen Rusich
