Bulletin
Minutes of August 24, 2016 Meeting
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Benton Street, Kitchener
Chair: Troy Stuebing
Announcements:
Birthdays: Peter Ringrose (H)
Club Anniversaries: Paul Dietrich (H)
Wedding Anniversaries: Brad and Lesley Enns
Cathy(H) and John Brothers
Ed Simon and Dee were married a couple of weeks ago in Italy.
Mac and Poppy Graham adopted 2 boys.
- Kathy Loveys spoke about her trip to Guyana and she plans on filling suitcase with medical supplies and school supplies for approximately 100 kids. She is also looking for children’s sandals to take.
- A couple more volunteers needed for the POGO Run for Kids Cancer Sunday, Aug 28th at the Museum on Homer Watson between 7:45am and Noon – Maria Horner volunteered
50/50
Pot this week was $88. Troy, Leo and Maria all had their tickets drawn, no winner.
Speaker
Kourtney Beckman, CFRE, Fund Development Manager, Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.
Kourtney has been in the philanthropy field professionally since 2000 and became a Certified Fundraising Executive in 2010. Kourtney has held various non-profit roles with The National Ballet School, University of Waterloo, St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation and now Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region where she is the Fund Development Manager. She is a past director of the Board of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and serves on other community volunteer roles with the KW Community Foundation, Oktoberfest, and Autism Speaks Canada. Her experience ranges from national campaigns, sporting and gala events, communications writing, leadership and legacy giving to strategic development planning and individualized stewardship plans. Today she is very proud to be a part of the SHE DESERVES IT campaign and helping our community “Move Beyond Violence”.
Kourtney spoke about the two women’s shelters for abused women and children in the region that began in 1978.
Anselma House – Kitchener currently hold 45 beds
Haven House – Cambridge currently holds 30 beds new location will have 45 beds (including 30 private bedrooms and washrooms).
In the process of rebuilding Haven House at 10 Acorn Way in Cambridge. Open House is planned for September 8th between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.
The centre is funded to run 58 beds and unfortunately often run over that. They never close the doors to anyone in need. Average stay is 6-8 weeks but have had families stay much longer due to unforeseen circumstances.
Unfortunately they see a cycle of violence as they are now serving the 3rd generation. They are looking at ways of reducing violence in the K-W region as there is approximately 4-8 homicides a year by their partner. They want to get the word out for everyone in the community to get know people who may need help as we don’t really know what goes on behind closed doors. If you suspect anyone needing there services please tell them about the centre.
November is Women Against Abuse Month. There will be a Gala held on November 26th at the Hacienda Sarria with Chuck Winters, a retired Canadian Football player, serving as ambassador for Women’s Crisis Services as it tries to complete fundraising for the new build of Haven House in Cambridge. This is a $9.4mm project to be completed with no Federal support. They have $2mm left to raise.
Facts:
- 10 classrooms of children in shelters and 5x as many children are treated in an outreach
program.
- 36-42 Average Age of Women in the shelter
- 3 women are over 80
- 80% of the kids are 10 and under
- Women who have pets stay in abusive relationship 2 years longer. Now working with the Humane Society to find foster homes for these pets to encourage women to leave sooner.
There are ways to HELP – Fundraisers/Board of Directors/Volunteers!
Upcoming Speaker
August 31st, Peter Jennings – Shark Assault: An amazing Story of Survival.
