We have nearly 150 volunteers at the Centre. Every volunteer is invaluable; however, some have taken on extremely heavy loads in their efforts to keep the Centre viable. I am sure some of the new Board members were surprised at the demands of their roles. However, none have flinched in their duties as we strive to further improve the running of the Centre. Sadly, in the last month we have had two resignations from the board for health and/or family/lifestyle considerations. Gwen Austen resigned as a director-at-large and Roy Wren has resigned as vice-president. We are sad to lose both and wish them the very best for the future. We will miss Gwen for her welcoming attitude and for organizing the volunteers. When I took over as President, Roy was of immeasurable value to me as a resource on how things were and should be. He helped steer us out of the dark COVID era, and we owe him a massive debt of gratitude. The SSAC is about people helping people, building a place that we can call our home away from home.
This month saw the passing of Ron Atkinson. Ron was Vice-President when he was responsible for shepherding the building of the extension to the Centre, which was completed in 2019. Then, Ron and many other volunteers were truly building the foundations of the Centre. My personal knowledge of Ron was from chatting with him and his lovely wife Diane, while they waited for Bingo to start. Knowing how important he was to the Centre, I wanted to gain his perspective on the task ahead of me. It was obvious he cared immensely about the Centre and was concerned about what my approach would be. In the end we agreed that it is consideration of the needs of our members that must be the priority.
The building of the extension to the SSAC was only possible because of a massive funding and donation drive at the time. The generosity of members completes the foundation pieces. Those who are able, can feel good about donating to the Centre to help it to flourish by providing service to all members. A member recently asked me, “How can I donate?” The answer, currently, is to come to the front desk or phone in, and we will provide you with a tax receipt for donations above $25. Over the next months we will be formulating specific programs where you will know how and for what your donations will be used. In addition, we will be developing the ability for on-line lump sum or monthly donations through our website.
It is encouraging that at the last board meeting a positive operating surplus of $6,594 was reported and for the year to date that number is $9,747. However, the constant need for donations and fund raising is exemplified by the fact that soon we will have some essential substantial expenses. An extra freezer is being purchased to cope with the volume of frozen meals required.
Three new security cameras were recently purchased to ensure we have no blind spots in our surveillance of the exterior of the building. Director John Keller and volunteer Chris Hadaway are installing them at no cost for their labour. The HVAC inspection revealed many issues concerning our building heating and ventilation system. The first phase of maintenance has been approved by the board and includes new programable thermostats to better control the Auditorium heat and air conditioning and some vital maintenance of the entire system.
We have a new monthly expense that will benefit us all. With the addition of Liz Mathews as the part-time Sou-chef, along with our chef Emily, and Centre Manager Gill Smith, we achieved the minimum number of employees required to be eligible for enrolment in an employee benefit package. We want to be responsible employers and the board voted unanimously to pursue the best possible benefit package for them. Treasurer Alison Kowalewski interviewed representatives of six insurance companies. She was then joined by Director Mark Garland, in doing their due diligence comparing packages. The board approved their recommendation to deal with CSBT – Community Services Benefits Trust. This is a not-for-profit company offering group health benefit plans for social and community service organisations. Staff coverage will commence June 1st.
The upcoming Flea Market and monthly dances are important sources of extra revenue for the Centre. Please support these fun-filled activities and bring a friend or two. Together we can build a strong foundation for a sustainable future for the Centre.
