PCWF Christmas Newsletter

Greetings!

As we head into the holidays and take a much needed break to share the joy of the season with family and friends, we wanted to give you a brief overview of what we have accomplished so far, where we are going, and what you can expect from us in the New Year.

June 2009, was the beginning of a critical yet, transformative period for Phoenix. As many of you may be aware, the retirement of Larry Rooney, our trusted and loyal Executive Director of 35 years, took us in a new direction and on an ambitious new path with the introduction of Desi Benet, our new Executive Director.

Since then, the months have been filled with re-framing and re-structuring our systems, developing new programming and ultimately updating and revising our mission and vision. As a builder of 'sustainable, healthy and just communities', we are currently morphing everything we do and how we do it into an exciting and vibrant model of participatory community, inclusion and team work. We are working from the bottom up in honor of our grassroots beginnings and integrating all of this into a new framework based on assets and assessments.

Our new office chant - 'smaller is better'!

What exactly does all of this mean and how does it affect you directly? The most fundamental change under this framework is the use of your input, feedback and ideas as the basis for change. Through meetings with individual Project Coordinators, as well as the survey we distributed in July, we are creating supports and training based on your needs. Most importantly, all of us are now part of one PCWF Community. As a community, we will be collaborating together, networking with each other, sharing ideas and integrating them into the bigger picture. Our mission is to help you sprout your own wings!

The introduction of SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) meetings have helped us assess your needs as well as gain a deeper understanding of each individual project. We use these meetings to determine where you are on your personal path to 'sprouting your wings' and help you create your action plan and goals for moving forward. All PCWF staff attends these meetings, bringing their ideas, diverse talents, skills and their own brand of creativity to the table. This 'think tank' process enables us to assess what type of assistance, training and support you need to get you where you are going. Plus, it's a lot of fun!

In January, we will hold our first monthly Workshop/Pot Luck Dinner. It is designed on the basis of your answers to the survey we distributed in July. By popular demand, our first Workshop will be, Fundraising Fundamentals. So, don't miss this one! For details and registration see below.

Our move to the Center for Social Innovation in September, 2009 has completely changed the way we operate. It has provided a tremendous example of community at its best, with sharing and collaboration at its core. Daily engagement with other social innovators doing good in the world is priceless. The endless exchange of information, support, ideas, skills and talents has become the backbone of our future success. We love it here! And so will you.

So, if you haven't had a chance to see our new digs at CSI, please call and come for a visit. This is your new home too.

Our agenda for the New Year is challenging, but we think you are worth it! Current plans include; revamping our Membership Plan to offer you more of what you need, upgrading our website to include new features such as web-pages for Project Coordinators; creating a line-up of our monthly Workshops and making some subtle 'tweaks' to our 2010 schedule. So stay in touch.

Also new, as Director of Communications, I will be redesigning the quarterly Newsletter with more of your feedback and input. I want to provide you with the information you want to read about. Through-out the year, I will be joining you in your communities and doing face to face interviews for our Newsletter.

If you would like to contact me with your ideas, stories or to submit pictures for future Newsletters, please write me at natalie@pcwf.ca.

I look forward to working with all of you in the New Year.

Have a wonderful holiday!!

Natalie Capone
Director of Communications, Memberships & Donor Relations

A Message from the Executive Director

It has been a very busy few months for us at Phoenix Community Works Fourndation.

• We have rehired Natalie Capone as our Director of Communications, Memberships and Donor Relations. Shannon Hamilton is back as our Accounts Manager. Bill Benet is acting in a volunteer position as Director of Education.
• We have moved to the Centre for Social Innovation, just a few blocks from our former address. This move has provided us with support systems as well as meeting room space. We also find that we are very energized by this incredibly creative environment.
• We held our first very successful Meet and Greet in September, the first time that many of you have met each other.
• Our programs have been reorganized and we are actively providing support to your projects. This includes our SWOT teams (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) to work with our groups around issues that they are confronting.
• We have rebuilt many of our internal systems as well as redeveloped our web site.
• We have begun to develop a volunteer program.
• We are establishing relationships with other community organizations and groups to expand our presence in the community. We are networking all over this community.
• We have developed our own development plan to ensure that we can continue to support you .

After the beginning of the year we are excited to announce our new networking/pot luck/workshops on the second Tuesday of each month. At our first workshop, we will be providing the “pot luck” as well as providing a workshop on some of the fundraising basics that you need to manage a fundraising project for your group. This workshop will be given by Diane Alexopoulos, who has been instrumental in assisting PCWF with our development and fundraising work.

It has been an incredibly fast paced year. We have all been on a “steep learning curve.” But we should be ready to roll out our new support programs after the beginning of the year.

Fundraising Fundamentals - Workshop & Pot Luck Dinner

Date: Tuesday, January 12th, 2009

Location: Center for Social Innovation 215 Spadina Ave, 4th floor Reception

Time: 6pm - 9pm

Join us for our first Workshop/Pot Luck Dinner! We will be discussing Fundraising Fundamentals, strategies and tips. Apply the information toward creating your own action plan! We will show you how to customize ideas to meet the needs of your individual project.


Free for members and Project Coordinators!

Bonus -Since this is our first Workshop, PCWF will provide the food for the Pot/Luck portion for this first workshop. We will discuss our future 'pot luck' suggestions with you during the evening

Getting into the Building - When arriving at CSI after 6pm, you must call us at (416) 964-3380 to let you into the building. Once you arrive, check in at the 4th floor reception. There will be a sign posted telling you which room or boardroom we are holding the Workshop in.

Registration - Please drop me a line at Natalie Capone letting me know you are coming. This will help us figure out the logistics and determine meeting space requirements.

See you there!

A Special Thanks

To everyone who attended, donated or contributed their time and skills to our annual Acacia Christmas Party, 'Love Offerings! It was held on Nov 20th, 2009 at Whistler's Bar & Grille on Broadview. Thanks for making our children smile.

We couldn't have done it without you!

Upcoming Events - Rooney Roast!

We haven't set the date yet, but sometime in March 2010, we plan to 'celebrate' and 'roast' Larry Rooney, Executive Director of PCWF for 35 years. He will be honored for all his hard work and successes during his long and devoted reign here at Phoenix Community Works Foundation. Larry is one of the original founders and we miss him!

We are still in the planning stages of the event, but will send out invitations and details as we get closer to the date.

This is going to be a blast, so start thinking of ways you want to 'celebrate' or 'roast' Larry!!

Suggestions can be sent to Shannon Hamilton

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!