OW and ODSP allowance will be cut...sort of

This is what I've been told.

OCB= Ontario Child Benefit
NCBs= National Child Benefit Supplement

The OCB starts July 1 2008 and it does include the Back to School Allowance and the Winter Clothing Allowance. The full OCB implementation is being phased in over a couple of years and there will be transitional funding in the interim.

Ultimately, all families will be better off. They will keep their NCBS funds and they will receive OCB as well. The Province is still working on transitional plans for 2008 and there is a commitment to ensure that families are not worse off.

There is a lot of active discussion over issuing Back to School and Winter Clothing in 2008 as the implementation of OCB closely coincides with Back to School. I am expecting to see an Interim Directive addressing this issue before August 2008. There will also be an information package which will be sent to all agencies in Bruce/Grey with explanations around OCB and the impact on our clients.

The first year of OCB has the potential to cost families money.

The transitional plan will address these issues and it is expected that the Province will respond in a positive fashion. Municipal Delivery Agents are strongly advocating for a transitional package which will address all financial matters. All of us want to make sure that our clients receive their full benefits and that no one is penalized during the implementation period.

Not just my voice

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=903114&auth=Doug+Edgar



Local women who are physically abused by their partners are almost three times as likely to face either a weapon or the threat of a weapon than the national average, according to a new two-year study.

“It’s something I think is a very important finding that we as a community really need to look into more deeply, what this is about, because the use or the threat of a weapon is also linked to a much higher level of fear,” said research co-ordinator May Tettero. “It just ups the ante quite a bit.”

Feelings of shame, concerns about losing control over their life if the social and legal systems get involved and a lack of anonymity in small communities may also prevent some women from seeking help or even talking about such abuse, she said.
The study group, made up of 95 women whose partners were registered with The Men’s Program, were divided into one group of 30 women who live in Owen Sound; the rest were included in a group considered rural for the purposes of the study.

“We found that the use or threat with a weapon was significantly higher in the rural area,” Tettero said. “That doesn’t prove anything, but it makes us think that perhaps there is a relationship between that form of abuse within a relationship and abuse in rural areas.”

Is Feminism unreasonable?

The following discussion has taken place in the Sun Times, primarily between myself and Jim Merriam, a bi weekly columnist and editor.

It should be noted that I was a columnist for htis paper for 5 years, but my 'services' were no longer required in November. Actually I was the first female columnist when I started writing "Running With Scissors" 5 years ago. They told me they were trying to keep the paper 'fresh' but they kept all the old boys. But my issue is trying to change the attitudes in a rural community.

A Column he wrote

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=856114&auth=jim+merriam

My letter to the editor in response

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=868579

He buries a response in here (Sisterhood of Perpetual Victim)

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=870001&auth=Merriam%2C+Jim

Someone else wades into the debate

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=879770

Jim full responds here

http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=895188&auth=Merriam%2c+Jim

I am formulating a response to the last column but have nothing submitted as of yet.

From my letter to the editor I got 2 phone calls and 2 emails the morning it was in the paper, all from men, all telling me to keep battling on, and how I was right.

Joachim's letter has also gotten a huge response to people connecting with him.

We're not letting this go.

Focus group rescheduled

The United Way of Bruce Grey and the Rural Women Take Action on Poverty Committee extends an invitation to you, to join February 1st 2008, for a networking focus group for rural women experiencing poverty.

There is no cost to attend this even and we are hoping to have as many women who are experiencing, or have recently experienced, poverty in the region.

Details: February 1st 2008
United Way Centre 380 9th Street East, Owen Sound

Agenda

12 noon lunch – soup and sandwiches (Please advise if vegetarian or food allergies)
1 pm discussion

Please indicate you attendance (we need numbers to ensure we have enough lunch) by calling the United Way of Bruce Grey at 376 1560 or emailing me at eduwbg@bmts.com.

Women's poverty focus group

The United Way of Bruce Grey and the Rural Women Take Action on Poverty Committee extends an invitation to you, to join January 18th 2008, for a networking focus group for rural women experiencing poverty.

There is no cost to attend this even and we are hoping to have as many women who are experiencing, or have recently experienced, poverty in the region.

Details

January 18th 2008, United Way Centre 380 9th Street East, Owen Sound

Agenda

12 noon lunch – soup and sandwiches (Please advise if vegetarian or food allergies)

1 pm discussion

Please indicate you attendance (we need numbers to ensure we have enough lunch) by calling the United Way of Bruce Grey at 376 1560 or emailing me at eduwbg@bmts.com.

Francesca

Forgive me readers....

...it has been many weeks since my last post.

OK I did take 2 weeks off at Christmas, I was trying to get my overtime hours under 150 before the year ended. I had some success.

I also have to realize that failure to post, is not failure in life. It's ok if this gets updated once a week rather than the once a day I'd set myself up for. If I need to post more often I will, but lets focus on at least once a week.

I have been reading around the Internet, at personal blogs, political blogs and just general discussion blogs, for inspiration.

So what is new in the world of the United Way. Well we're still closing out our 2007 campaign, digging for those final dollars etc.

I'm finally getting my office walls at the United Way Centre, I've picked a new colour for my walls - a light white/pink that I call "compassion flower". Oh I crack myself up sometimes.

We're working hard on our budget, but I'm frustrated that the things I want to do are going to be held back due to financial constraints. But that's what a budget is for.

So we'll keep going and plugging away at the issues and the needs of our community, as always.

UNITED WAY AND UNION GAS TEAM UP FOR 2007-2008 WINTER WARMTH FUND

Fund release: Owen Sound December 3, 2007 – United Way and Union Gas today announced the 2006-2007 Winter Warmth Fund, providing financial assistance to low-income families and individuals struggling to pay their heating and hydro bills.

The fund was initially established in Toronto during the winter of 2004 and has expanded to include five utilities, local United Ways and community agencies throughout Ontario. The five utility companies – Enbridge Gas Distribution, Enersource Corporation, Hydro Ottawa, Toronto Hydro and Union Gas Limited – will combine efforts with United Way to coordinate the fund through over 45 community agencies across the province.

Funds for the annual program are contributed by the participating utility companies and are available to their eligible customers.

In the winter of 2006-7 The United Way assisted 19 households representing 21 adults and 20 children with their Union Gas utility bill, in addition many were referred to other resources in the community. “This program helps families that have hit a “bump in the road” explained United Way of Bruce Grey Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn. The ability to sustain the utility payment after the ‘hand-up” is a requirement of the program. “We had people who had unexpected car repair bills, children with medical needs and such” added Dobbyn.

“Union Gas is pleased to work with the United Way again this year to deliver the Winter Warmth Fund to communities across our service territory,” said Greg Ebel, President of Union Gas Limited. “This is one of the many initiatives through which Union Gas gives back to the community.”

How the Fund Works

Families and individuals needing financial assistance to pay their heating and hydro bills can find information about the Winter Warmth Fund at the United Way of Bruce Grey

After a successful application process, one-time funding will be credited directly to the applicant’s utilities account.

Eligibility

Eligible grant recipients include low-income households who are in arrears or at risk of going into arrears on their energy bills and have exhausted all other sources of financial support.

Customers can contact the United Way to determine funding eligibility and to submit an application. The United Way can be reached at 519 376 1560 Monday to Friday 8:30 – 4:30, or on site at the United Way Centre at 380 9th Street East Owen Sound

For further information: United Way of Bruce Grey 519 376 1560

December 6th Remembered

Fourteen young women were killed at l’ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, December 6th, 1989 by a gunman who segregated them by their gender. That event in our Canadian history brought home the face of violence against women in our own country. That day has become a National Day for Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Women’s Reach is a group of women, providing advocacy and support to sexual violence survivors in Grey and Bruce counties. Hazel Pratt of the group says, “Our commitment is to encourage and empower women to become self-advocates for their needs as survivors of sexual violence”. Women’s Reach is organizing a memorial event for 7:00 pm December 6th in the Saugeen Villa Sunshine Room at The Village Seniors’ Community in Hanover. A short program of music and words of remembrance with guest speaker Bonita Johnson-deMatteis of the Nemesis Group Services will be held with refreshments to follow. All are welcome to participate and attend.

For more information about the December 6th event in Hanover, contact Christine Forand at 519-369-1440 or
Hazel Pratt at 519-363-3167.


Thank you for your attention to this important day

Christine Forand
Hazel Pratt

Catching up

It's been busy, in the past 2 weeks I've been to London, Hanover, Collingwood, Walkerton, Kincardine and Toronto for a couple of days. I'm getting behind on a few things and blogging here is one of the things that gets pushed to the side when it gets this busy. But here's a 'catch-up' of what's going on.

A Christmas Carol

Sunday November 25th, 3 pm

Few events hosted by CBC Radio are as eagerly anticipated or as warmly
received as the readings of A Christmas Carol. The readings bring together
the pleasure of hearing a good story, the joy of music of the season, and
the inspired energy of those who want to make their community a better
place.

The 2006 Christmas Carol was a complete success. Over $205,000.00 was
raised! We thank all those communities that helped carry on this CBC
tradition.

For the last 17 years the Christmas Carol has benefited shelters, food
banks, libraries and hospitals across Canada, and brought joy to the
communities that support them. Congratulations on helping make a difference
this season.

Benefiting Keystone Child Youth and Family Services: All proceeds will go
towards the WRAP discretionary fund which will serve the clients directly.

$10 admission

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you

Old-Fashioned Sleigh Ride JOIN SANTA ON

Saturday December 15, 2007

Meet Local Teams and Drivers in parade and at work in a special “All Breeds” Drive.

Choose one of the different Breeds of Heavy Horses/Mules including:

Jim Merriam with his Mule Team
Ross Trask and his Clydesdales
Don Roi and the Suffolks
Durk DeVries and the Percherons
John Ball with his team of Paints
Rick Maas and the Halflingers
Bob Thomas and Lincoln Urbshott with their Belgians

11:00 A.M. Santa arrives and the rides begin. Reservations are needed for 11:00 am only.

Sleigh rides continue until 3 pm. Get together with friends or family and book a full sleigh or come and join another group. Treat your staff to a sleigh ride for their Christmas Social. Sponsor a family for this fun winter outing. Sponsor your favourite team and cheer them on.

Sponsor a “Celebrity Driver” or ride in one of their sleighs!

Free-will donations will be directed to The Women’s Centre (Grey & Bruce) Inc.

For more information and to book a sleigh, contact:
Your Hosts: Durk and Alma DeVries,
or
The Women’s Centre (Grey & Bruce) Inc.
519-376-0755 x 100 or 105

Dual Acre Percherons
One mile north of Shallow Lake on County Road 1/70
Phone 519-935-3156 or 519-935-2462 e-mail dual.acres@sympatico.ca

A little more sane

This week is going to be a bit more sane. I am on training Thursday Friday but otherwise I'm home safe and sound.

Today we're pulling together information for an insert in the Owen Sound Sun Times. We want to tell the community just what it is we've been up to over the past year. We're also hoping to generate some donations.

The campaign is going well, but we've got a long way to go yet.

We've many new and exciting initiaitives planned for the new year and it's going to be very exciting. So what this space!

Crazy week

This week is going to be a little crazy. Monday I am in London for a policy forum on Seniors and I wish to bring the concerns of SAAN and specifically elder abuse to this forum.

Tuesday morning I'm in Hanover to pick up Lesson's fundraising dollars. Lesson's more than doubled their goal of $500! Tuesday night I'm in Clinton for the Annual General Meeting of Epilepsy Huron Perth Bruce.

Wednesday I'm off to Collingwood to meet with TD Canada Trust to work on their campaign for this fall, as well as a meeting with Community Connection on our Volunteer Portal project and an update on 211 as well.

Thursday is our SAAN meeting and Friday brings our Women's Poverty Group together as well as a conference call on Winter Warmth. Starting December 3rd under the Winter Warmth program we will be once again be assisting people with their Union Gas utility bills.

It's just going to be one of those weeks, lots to do, lots of people to see and all and all very positive.

Fall newsletter

Despite the Winterama meetings....
Despite the garden being fully harvested....
Despite the talk of snow in the forecast...

Check our Fall Newsletter. As the autumn is the focus of our campaign, it focuses a lot on the campaign.

So pass it along!

Fantastic news

Hobart Food Equipment has celebrated its 10 year partnership with the United Way of Bruce Grey by blowing the lid of its fundraising campaign.

The 2007 employee and corporate campaign hit an all time high with just over $38 000 being raised in it’s month long campaign. Employee participation for payroll deduction was 70%, a 20% increase over 2006.

With support from its parent company ITW of Illinois Hobart Food Equipment employees have raised almost $90 000 in the past 3 years for the United Way of Bruce Grey, bringing its 10 year total to just under $150 000.

“This has blown our socks off,” said Paul Stethem, head of Human Resources, “our goal was a 10% increase and we achieved an increase of just over 50%”.

“This donation puts us well over halfway to our goal of raising $285 00, to begin to meet the needs in our community” said United Way Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn

Hobart’s parent company ITW matches the employee contribution dollar for dollar. There was initial concern that the rising dollar would negatively impact the campaign, but the employee response was so strong, that the campaign will show an increase despite the current exchange rate.

The current United Way of Bruce Grey campaign total is: $160 387.22

Hobart is the world's leading innovator of food equipment, systems and service and has been around for more than 110 years. Hobart Corporation is a part of Illinois Tool Works (ITW). The Owen Sound plant employs 181. Hobart Food Equipment plants and offices across Canada have collectively raised upwards of $75 000 for United Ways across Canada in 2007.

For more information please contact


Paul Stethem
Hobart Food Equipment
519 376 8886

Francesca Dobbyn
United Way of Bruce Grey
519 376 1560

The United Way of Bruce Grey is handing out cash!

United Way’s Rotary Children's Fund Grants 2007

The United Way of Bruce Grey is handing out cash!

October 31st, 10 am
United Way Centre – 380 9th Street East

Through a partnership with area Rotary Clubs and the Winterama event, held annually in February, the United Way is pleased to announce its second series of grants issued from the United Way’s Rotary Children's Fund.

In the spring of 2007, the United Way of Bruce Grey Board of Directors issues a resolution that youth and children raise all fundraising events, the funds, will also be allocated to the Children’s Fund. These additional events are the Galaxy Film Festival, where teens watch movies from midnight to 7 am, and Homecoming’s Amazing Race proceeds. This resulted in the Children’s Fund growing to over $20 000 for 2007.


Total Funds Requested $ 27 938.13
Total Funds Available $ 21 109.45
Winterama $ 16 862.25
Galaxy Film Festival $ 180.20
Amazing Race $ 67.00

The spirit of the fund

This fund is to assist our agencies in helping children and youth that use their services. If there is a wish list for an agency, for children and youth, this fund is for that wish list. The fund is to improve the lives of children and youth in our community.

The United Way and Rotary Winterama will also renew their partnership for the 2008 event.

Successful Applicants:

GRACE $1 000
To support the ongoing GRACE program

PRANCE $2 500
Towards the purchase of a new horse

Children’s Aid of Owen Sound and Grey $2 650
To support "Youth in Power: Teens in Care" a support group for teens, covers transportation and other related costs

Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services $ 3 000
Resources for the Parent Mutual Aid program and Ontario Early Years Centres

South Grey Bruce Youth Literacy Council $ 2 500.00
Updated learning resources for the tutoring program

Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey $ 2 390.00
Upgrades to children's resources (collapsible cribs, strollers, crib mattresses car seats etc)

Friends and Neighbours Club (CMHA) $ 1 569.01
Hands free microphones for puppeteers

Durham and District Food Bank $ 1 000.00
Purchase a variety of items to assist individuals within the community serviced by the food bank

SHEATRE $1 500
To create a teacher and student guide for "Far from the Heart" a teen based play that address 'date rape'

Grey Bruce Eat and Learn $3 000
Various school healthy eating programs, such as cooking classes, healthier snacks, new fridge etc

For more information contact Francesca Dobbyn at 519 376 1560
-30-

Grand Opening

Grand Opening

Saturday, November 3, 2007

380 9th Street East, United Way Centre Owen Sound

11 a.m. To 2 p.m.

St. John Ambulance, Owen Sound Branch invites neighbours and friends to come, celebrate with us the at 11:00 a.m.Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Grand Opening of our new headquarters at 380 9th Street East, downtown Owen Sound at the United Way Centre.

On Saturday, November 3rd from 11 a.m. To 2 p.m. Bring your Teddy Bear to our Mobile First Aid Station.

Medical First Responder Community Service Volunteers and First-Aid-CPR Instructors will meet you and help Teddy through his emergency. Then come upstairs, have a hands-on experience with an Automated Electronic Defibrillator (A.E.D.) training device, try out your CPR skills on a mannequin and meet one of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs.

There will be hourly drawings for free First Aid Kits. Coupons for your next First-Aid Course and First-Aid information will be available.

At the Grand Opening talk to St. John Ambulance staff about the satisfying volunteer opportunities for people sixteen years of age and older. With the Medical First Responder (MFR) Services advanced first aid training with community experience provides personal and career development.

St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Service takes a volunteer and their dog into a health care facility each week to provide the physical and emotional benefit of regular contact with the unconditional love of a pet.

St. John Ambulance, Owen Sound Branch continues in a tradition of caring established in the community since 1912.

St. John Ambulance…Saving Lives at work, home and play.


Wendy Taylor
Branch Manager
St. John Ambulance
Owen Sound Branch
Phone: 519-376-4813
Fax: 519-376-4981
Email: Wendy.Taylor@on.sja.ca
Web site: www.stjohnowensound.org

Working with your Lawyer

IN CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF LOUIS RIEL

Metis Nation of Grey Owen Sound with

Seana Moorhead, Staff Lawyer
Grey-Bruce Community Legal Clinic

Invites you to an Information Session:

Working with your Lawyer

Legal Aid – How to get? What to expect? Talking to a lawyer. Funding and Appeals – What is available for you? What are my rights? And how do I get them?

Friday November 16, 1 - 3 pm

Metis Office 380 9th. Street East 370-0435

Free, everyone welcome, refreshments.

United Way day at Bruce Power

Jackie and I spent the day at B10, the administration building at Bruce Power. We had a display as well as Jackie's puppets, which were a great hit. We were visited by lots of United Way supporters from Dave Trumble and Kevin McKay to Susan Bissett and Duncan Hawthorne. We signed people up on the spot for pay roll deduction and many others took the forms back to their workstation.

We have already began planning "next years" piece where we hope to be at both Stations as well, and have 3 days on site. For that we will need Dave and Kevin's support in terms of making our visit a fun and informative session rather than a hard sell.

We truly hope that others will sign up and be supportive around the site.

A big thank you to Bev Fry who spent the day with us, got us through security, and fetched and carried, and most importantly, arranged lunch for the three of us.

I also have our 'video' in many different formats as well as on DVD and will show it at the next board meeting as well post the link when I pop it up on You Tube.

Thank you to Jackie who totally rearranged her day to accommodate this day.

Attached is a wonderful picture that sums up the antics of the day...two site fire fighters, Lise (the puppet) and Jackie. Oh my job is so much work....but the perks.....*sigh*.

2007 CN Tower Climb

Owen Sound - An energetic group of staff and volunteers of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) climbed the CN Tower in Toronto in support of the United Way yesterday, raising over $300 for their annual campaign.

Five volunteer puppeteers and the program coordinator of the Friends and Neighbours (FAN) Club participated in the climb, an annual fundraising event hosted by the United Way of Toronto. The fastest member of the group, a fifteen year-old student of WHSS, ascended to the top of the tower in an astonishing 17 minutes and 19 seconds while the rest of the group completed the climb in less than an hour.

The FAN Club, a children's mental health puppet program of the CMHA is a funded agency of the United Way of Bruce Grey.

Volunteers of the FAN Club felt this was a way they could do their part to support the agency that supports them and challenges residents of Grey Bruce to do what they can as well to help the United Way meet it's fundraising goal of $280,000 by the end of the campaign on December 1. Pledges for the Tower Climb are still being accepted at the CMHA office until the end of the week.

Yesterday was Persons Day

In 1867 the British North America Act set out the powers and responsibilities of the provinces and of the federal government. This act used the word "persons" when it referred to more than one person and the word "he" when it referred to one person. Therefore, many argued, the act was really saying that only a man could be a person, thus preventing women from participating fully in politics or affairs of state.

Emily Murphy was the first female magistrate in the British Empire and magistrate of a newly created Women's Court operating in Edmonton. On her first day a defendant's lawyer challenged a ruling because she was not a "person" and therefore not qualified to perform the duties of a magistrate.

Women's groups also began pressuring the federal government to appoint a female to the Senate. Despite the support of prime ministers Arthur Meighen and William Lyon MacKenzie King, no appointments materialized. Governments used the persons argument as an excuse to keep women out of important positions.

If only a man could be a person, then when the act also said only "qualified persons" could be appointed to the Senate of Canada, then only men could be appointed.

In 1927 Emily Murphy and four other prominent Canadian women - Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards - asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the question "Does the word 'person' in Section 24 of the BNA Act include female persons?"

After five weeks of debate and argument the Supreme Court decided the word "person" did not include women.

The group refused to accept the decision and took the Persons case to the Privy Council in England, which in those days was Canada's highest court.

On Oct. 18, 1929, Lord Sankey, lord chancellor of the Privy Council, announced the decision of the five lords. The decision stated "that the exclusion of women from all public offices is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. And to those who would ask why the word 'person' should include females, the obvious answer is why should it not?"

The Famous Five achieved not only the right for women to serve in the Senate but they and their many contributions paved the way for women to participate in other aspects of public life.

Celebrating Rural Women Writing Workshop

Celebrating Rural Women Writing Workshop

Tuesday October 23, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

With Dawna Proudman


What is this all about?

This workshop is to help us tell our stories in a powerful way. Some of us may want to use what we wrote as part of the "Trunk of Poverty" display.

What if I can't write very well?

This is not about spelling or grammar. This is not school! Dawna will create a safe space for us to find our clear and true voices. We will learn to give ourselves support, to give and receive feedback from each other and to recognize the inner critic (the voice in our heads that says "You're no good. Nobody's interested in anything you say.)

Why does this matter?

When we speak our truth we change ourselves and our world in positive ways. In sharing our experiences, we hope to dispell myths about women living in poverty and inspire change in our community.

Who can attend?

Any woman who has experienced poverty at some point in her life. You may want to have your writing become part of the "Trunk of Poverty" display, but this is not required. It is up to you what you decide to do with your writing.


Is there a cost?

There is no cost. Lunch is provided free of charge. If you need help to pay for a sitter or for gas, we will provide that.

Where is this?

In Walkerton at the St. Paul United Church at the corner of Jackson and Jane, across from the jail.

Dawna Proudman lives in Durham, Ontario where she enjoys the space and pace of rural life. As the facilitator of "Just Write!" workshops for adults and "Creative Pursuits" workshops for children, she has worked with groups of 3 to 300 to stimulate and encourage word play and the joy of self-expression since 1993.

Questions or to register call Amy at Women Today (1 888 547 3478) or email May at mbtettero@bmts.com.