Representatives of more than 40 non-profit organizations serving the South Shuswap attended a strategic planning and granting evening co-hosted by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and the Arts Council for the South Shuswap.
The evening was facilitated by CSRD Electoral Area C Director Paul Demenok.
Guest speakers included Gary Brooke and Melany Dyer, both board members of the Shuswap Community Foundation, who shared the benefits of opening an endowment fund with the foundation in order to assist each organization towards building financial sustainability.
On behalf of the Arts Council For the South Shuswap, Karen Brown encouraged each organization to share its list of events for 2018 so that a community calendar could be generated.
“Those who have visited the new Visitor Information Kiosks, located at various sites in the South Shuswap, will see a full panel dedicated to a calendar of events for the year, therefore having the discussion now will allow for the panels to be designed, printed and installed in early 2018,” said Brown. “This event’s exercise also assists in resolving conflicting dates so that all organizations can support and cross-promote each other’s activities.”
With a limited audience, especially during the winter months in the region, it is vital that everyone is aware of what the other is doing to ensure attendance and success at each event, she added.
As part of the strategic planning, a discussion ensued regarding the development of a centralized community calendar with a potential option of centralizing event ticket sales and registration for area programming.
The attendees also spoke of the benefits of the organizations meeting two to three times a year to discuss hurdles, remedies, common issues and future initiatives.
To round off the evening’s agenda, Demenok spoke with all non-profit organizations about the importance of submitting their CSRD grant-in-aid needs early.
@SalmonArm
barbbrouwer@saobserver.net
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