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Age Friendly Community Committee - Access to Care Letter

8/15/2015

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The following letter to the editor was published in The Golden Star on August 12, 2015.

Dear Golden Community,

The Age Friendly Community Plan (AFCP) process in 2014 sparked serious discussions on Golden's AFCP #1 priority, “Community Support and Health Services.” Several members of the community have expressed publicly and online their frustrations with trying to access care in a timely fashion.

The May 20th, 2015 Age Friendly Community Committee (AFCC) Golden meeting resulted in the creation of the “Access to Care” committee, consisting of residents, physicians and politicians who have studied the problem, outlined broad principles and identified potential solutions.

The problems stem from a number of factors including:

·       No agreed upon protocols for transfer of patients with a given condition. Each case has to be negotiated with Patient Transfer Network and receiving centers, therefore causing delays.
·       Alberta is refusing to accept local patients, even visiting Alberta residents.
·       Patients must frequently travel to Kelowna, Kamloops and even Vancouver.
·       There is pressure to transfer patients out of acute care and into their community where locally, services are limited.

The Age Friendly Community Committee feels elderly residents benefit from staying in their community as long as possible. To do so, all of their needs, including access to medical care must be as readily accessible as possible. When responding to the Ministry’s Health Policy Paper on Rural Health Services, Doctors of BC stated they  “would advise against a standardized approach to implementation of these types of practices in favour of a flexible, incentivized approach.“ The Committee feels this is particularly relevant to Golden.

In fact, the “Access to Care” committee believes that Golden is an anomaly in BC healthcare for the following reasons:

•      Our Regional referral centre, Cranbrook, has limited capacity
•      The closest full service care centre, Calgary is in another Province.
•      Many Golden residents work or have family in Alberta.
•      Golden is frequently isolated due to weather or road closures. During those times, transfers out are frequently not possible.

Some of the solutions considered by the committee include:

•      Increased services at the local level within the constraints of what is deliverable. For example, consistent availability of ultrasound and laboratory services.
•      Improved local support programs for patients that are required to travel. There are financial needs but one must also consider assistance in navigating access to the many available programs.
•      Establish agreed upon referral protocols to the nearest suitable facility to expedite transfers and referrals. This should include access to services in Calgary. Continued health promotion through municipal government activities, education and service clubs.
•      Determine what services we should be providing locally based on the needs of the population and what is safe to provide.

These issues affect every citizen of Golden. Achieving solutions will require the efforts of the entire community and all health care providers.  We hope and trust that Golden’s residents and organizations will collectively and collaboratively lend their voice to push for improvements to health care access for older adults.


Signed,
AFCC Golden - Access to Care Committee


Contact:
Ryan Watmough, Coordinator
goldenloom.ca/age-friendly.html

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GCRS Staff Work as Team to Serve Community

8/13/2015

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Following a public Community Team Prototyping workshop facilitated by Charles Holmes, a group of Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS) staff have decided to focus on regular coordination and collaboration.

Inspired by the workings of the Jasper Community Team model in Jasper, AB, the GCRS team of Connie Barlow, GCRS Executive Director; Renee Quanstrom, Childcare Resource and Referral (CCRR) Coordinator; Jenn Keilty, Early Years Centre; Mike Symons, Youth Centre Coordinator; and Ryan Watmough, Age Friendly Coordinator, have begun weekly meetings to share ideas and challenges and align resources for their programs and Golden.

"We realized that improved coordination and collaboration is needed in Golden and as developmental stage outreach workers, we decided that we would step up and 'walk the walk,'" explained Ryan Watmough, a consultant with the recently completed Community Collaboration project.

"With this group of coordinators, we cover from pre-natal to 6 year olds and young families, youth from 12 to 24, and older adults 50+. We bring the opportunities and challenges from our groups to the GCRS team, which allows us to have a better understanding of the community's needs, overlapping services and gaps."

This group continues to meet once a week, and is experimenting with meeting formats in order to find the one that best fits their needs. Last week, the team tried a walking meeting, which included a stop at the construction site of the new childcare facility and the Food Bank.

Next on the agenda is improving communication and program participation through an improved community calendar.
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Community Team Prototyping

7/24/2015

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A day of Community Team Prototyping took place Friday July 10, 2015; 8:30am - 4:30pm at the Golden Civic Centre. Charles Holmes facilitated the discussion and prototyping. As originally planned, this event could have resulted in the evolution of community-based decision-making and resource allocation in Golden & Area A. Now, it is up to all participants and residents to determine where this process will go - and how deep.

The following notes were summarized by Charles Holmes.

Content:
Charles introduced the group to the work of Peter Block and the 6 conversations of accountability and commitment. Participants had a chance to reflect and practice with this work.
Other content included the Ladder of Inference and dialogue on listening skills.

Reflections on Work in the Community:
In small groups, participants reflected on collaborative efforts that have worked and identified contributing factors.
It was acknowledged that there are many examples of effective collaboration.
Factors that contribute to effective collaboration were posted on flip charts and shared

Commitments and Next Steps:
A number of commitments to next steps were made including:
- Sharing of efforts related to Social Services in the community. A number of people (including Elina & Steph, et. al.) agreed to meet to identify how these could be more effectively integrated.
- Creation of a hub that integrates "back end" services was discussed but no commitment made.
- Of all the actions identified it was clear that the most important to the group is the creation of a Community Team, with a coordinator. The challenge; however, is that there is no funding. It was agreed that Caleb Moss would take the lead in creating a recommendation to be presented to CBT.
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Non Profit Accounting Alignment Workshop

5/25/2015

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Do non profits have to work independently?
How much do local non profits spend on rent, on telecommunications?
Do non profit staff have to be generalists or can they be specialists?


While this started as an event for local Health & Social Service organizations, we have had interest from local Sports & Rec organizations, too. So we opened it up to all community organizations that want to do better, together.

Nancy Gale & Susan Stoddart from Williams Lake will share their story of the
Central Interior Community Services Coop (CICSC), which has brought 5 organizations together for the betterment of each, their staff and the entire community that they serve. Participants will examine this case study and bring their own experiences and challenges with the goal of creating an action plan for themselves, their groups and the community with respect to common challenges in accounting, payroll, grant writing and reporting.

This session is targeted to non profit bookkeepers, coordinators, managers, and board members. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Date:
Wednesday May 27 – 9:00AM – 4:30PM, Civic Centre.

Pre-Event Survey:
Please complete this survey by Monday May 25th so that we can tabulate the results before you come on May 27th.
http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/goldencommunity/non-profit-accounting/
 
RSVP:
Please confirm your attendance by Monday May 25th so that we can plan the complimentary food and other resources appropriately and in advance. nonprofits.gcrs@gmail.com

Learn More:
Please find the link for the Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre Association (CCCDCA) here and Central Interior Community Services Cooperative (CICSC) backgrounder below.
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Community Team Prototyping Coming Soon

4/21/2015

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Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS) has been awarded funding through Golden & Area A's CBT Community Initiatives & Affected Areas Program (CIP/AAP) to execute Community Team Prototyping with The Banff Centre's expert facilitators.

Project Scope Statement:
Well-briefed local leaders and participants will be led through a customized, collaborative learning program that will help explore, design and test our Community Team's supporting documentation, performance 'norms' and measures.

Project Objectives:
1. Community Team Terms of Reference
2. Community Team Roles & Responsibilities
3. Community Team Support Requirements
4. Community Team 3 Year Plan

Anticipated Outcome:
The Community Team will improve community planning, resource allocation and decision-making with respect to public organizations. Good planning needs to come from many networked groups. The hundreds-of-thousands of dollars in funds from-this-community, and for-this-community, can be allocated in a more open, collaborative and meaningful way.

For More Info:
Contact Ryan at nonprofits.gcrs@gmail.com.
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Job Posting: Age Friendly Community Coordinator

4/21/2015

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In cooperation with the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) and Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS), Golden's Age Friendly Committee is looking for their first Age Friendly Coordinator.

The job posting for the Age Friendly Community Coordinator position is now on the East Kootenay Employment website and in The Golden Star. The deadline to submit a resume and cover letter is 2pm on Friday, April 24.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Age Friendly Community coordinator will aim to oversee, promote and encourage implementation of the Age Friendly Community Plan (AFCP) in order to create a supportive, welcoming and vibrant environment for older adults. This person will work
collaboratively with the Age Friendly Committee and community.

Qualifications:
  · Post-secondary education or a minimum of 2-years experience in a related position
  · A demonstrated ability in program support, coordination and event management
  · Experience working on initiatives and/or collaboratives involving many stakeholders
  · Knowledge of needs, issues and services related to older people
  · Self- motivated and able to work as part of a team
  · Experience with grant writing
  · Excellent  computer skills (e.g. creating documents and Power Point Presentations, social media)
  · Excellent communication, time management and organizational skills

Responsibilities:
Oversee, promote and encourage implementation of the AFCP
  · Organize and facilitate presentations, meetings, and events
  · Preapre meeting materials, presentations and reports
  · Research events different funding options to sustain the coordinator's position and ensure the goals of the Age Friendly Committee and plan are met

Wage: $25/hour x 15 hours/week
Contract runs from end of April to January 8, 2016 (Funded by the Columbia Basin Trust; Golden Community Resources Society is the employer)

To view the Age Friendly Community Plan, visit the following link: http://www.goldenloom.ca/age-friendly.html.
Please send a cover letter and resume to Monica De at mde@cbal.org by April 24, 2015, 4pm.
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GCRS Creates YouTube Channel

2/20/2015

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(Golden, BC) Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS) is promoting local presenters to the world through their new YouTube Channel.

To kick-off GCRS’s new YouTube Channel, over 20 videos from the Local Intelligence Gathering in the Golden Civic Centre on Saturday November 1st were published. Over 26 innovative and engaging presenters, from many fields and areas of interest, spoke at the Local Intelligence Gathering (LIG). The LIG event was designed to ensure the community could hear diverse voices, in order to help to build the social, economic, and environmental well being of Kicking Horse Country.

In the future, videos from GCRS and local events can also be added to the YouTube Channel.

To find it, search Golden Community Resources in YouTube. Or click on this link and subscribe to the channel.

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For more Information, please contact:
Ryan Watmough
BSc MBA
Golden Community Resources Society
PO Box 746
Golden, BC V0A 1H0
250-344-8610
nonprofits.gcrs@gmail.com

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It Takes a Village to Raise a Skier

1/6/2015

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(Golden, BC) – Golden has it’s own spin of the ancient African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Golden’s version goes something like this: “It takes a village to raise a skier.”

Thanks to many groups in Golden, the Whitetooth Affordable Ski Program will be supporting 19 local children and youth, from 8 to 17 years of age, as they learn to ski and snowboard.

The Whitetooth Program is led by the Golden & District Community Foundation (GDCF), and supported by the Whitetooth Ski Society Fund (WSSF), which was started with the proceeds from the sale of Whitetooth to Ballast-Nedam.  This fund is invested in the Columbia Valley Credit Union, where the interest is used to provide seasons passes, lessons and rentals to local children and youth with limited family incomes.

Golden Community Resources Society (GCRS), Golden Kicking Horse Alpine Team (GKHAT), Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (KHMR) and the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI-BC) are supporting a total of 19 applications for the 2014-15 program.

“In early 2014, we defined the new Issue Area of ‘Recreation & Leisure’ in our Vital Signs Report.  While skiing and snowboarding costs rise, the continued improvement in the Whitetooth Affordable Ski Program is one way to ensure that all kids have an opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard,” explained Nola Milum, GDCF Board Chair. “We are very grateful that so many local organizations have collaborated on this program. The kids really appreciate it.”

Information on the GDCF’s Whitetooth Affordable Ski Program is available on www.goldencommunityfoundation.ca/grantapps.html beginning October 1st of each year.

About the Golden & District Community Foundation
The Golden & District Community Foundation’s mission is to attract and effectively grow permanent funds; provide leadership and administration that helps in addressing significant community needs; and help donors fulfill their philanthropic interests.


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For more information contact:

Ryan Watmough, Executive Director
Golden & District Community Foundation
PO Box 1485  Golden, BC  V0A 1H0
Phone: 1-250-344-8610
Email: admin@goldencommunityfoundation.ca
Website: www.goldencommunityfoundation.ca


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SFU CED Course Makes Lasting Impact in Golden

12/5/2014

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(Golden, BC) Professionals from Golden and neighbouring communities attended three Simon Frazer University (SFU) Community Economic Development (CED) courses in Golden this week.

Experts on Indigenomics, Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship, Enterprise & Innovation led discussions which filled the minds of the participants. This is the second set of three classes to be brought to Golden through Golden Community Resources Society's (GCRS) Community Collaboration project. The Community Collaboration project develops the capacity and connections between Golden's community developers to improve decision-making and resource allocation.
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SFU CED Course Returns to Golden

11/17/2014

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(Golden, BC) – Local leaders will be going back to school in December.

Simon Fraser University (SFU) Community Economic Development (CED) course is returning to Golden as part of Golden Community Resources Society’s (GCRS) Community Collaboration project.

Golden hosted the first three courses of SFU’s CED certificate in a weeklong intensive summer studies in June 2013. Due to overwhelming demand, the next three courses are scheduled for December 1 – 5 will include: Indigenomics, led by Carol-Anne Hilton, Leadership, led by Ricardo ManMohan; and Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, led by Brian Smith.

CED is a community-centered process that blends social and economic development to promote the economic, social, cultural and ecological well being of communities.  CED encourages using local resources to create economic opportunities, and at the same time, improve social conditions in a sustainable way. Course instructors are experts in their particular field and will be coming from Vancouver and California.

Organized by GCRS, 20 students – from staff to volunteers to business owners – are expected again for this round. Participation is made possible thanks to bursaries from the Columbia Basin Trust and the Vancouver Foundation.

Anyone interested in learning more about the course fees and schedule will need to contact Ryan Watmough at nonprofit.gcrs@gmail.com immediately.  More info about SFU’s CED program is available at http://www.sfu.ca/cscd/professional-programs/community-economic-development.html.


For more information contact:
Ryan Watmough MBA, Consultant
Golden Community Resources Society
250-344-8610
nonprofits.gcrs@gmail.com
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