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Discussion key to program success

Workshop provided tools to strengthen your associations

About a dozen people took in the recent Fourth Annual Non-profit Board Skills workshop at Horton Ventures.

The attendees were from all walks of life and areas of British Columbia – Business Association of Williams Lake, Art Council in Burns Lake, a Cattlemen's Association, local community associations and people who were there for personal growth.

Facilitator Jim Sands, senior project co-ordinator for Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) BC, put everyone at ease with a brief background of his experiences in the non-profit sector and the resources of SPARC.

It was a good turnout, says co-organizer Lisa De Paoli.

We were able to be informal and really discuss the needs of the individuals.

"The round table discussions were very interesting. I don't think anyone left during lunch, they just brought their food back to the table and continued participating in the discussions."

Discussions ranged from board recruitment, sustainability, fundraising, board transitions, policies and even the small frustrations that members face during meetings.

The education that attendees received at the workshop not only benefit them personally but the community as a whole De Paoli says, adding there was a lot of networking, talking with others in common whether you belonged to a board, a community association or an arts council.

"These workshops provide people with tools to make their organization stronger, volunteers are an amazing resource and all non-profit groups make a community healthy."

The next workshop on June 14 will be on the changes to the Societies Act. De Paoli suggests people visit the website at lawfornonprofits.ca, which she says is a wealth of information about the New Society Act.

For more information, contact Debbra at the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre at 250-395-5155, or e-mail cfec@cariboofamily.org.