September 25, 2009
In this update:
A. A Message From the Chairs
B. Essential Information: Getting Ready to Prep for NC2010
C. Conference Speakers!
D. This is YOUR Conference: Meet the Cross-Canada Team
E. What’s Next? From the Communications Team
F. Sponsors
A. A Message From the Chairs
Hi everyone!
We would like to start off this month's letter by unveiling the much-anticipated theme for the 2010 National Conference (you may now commence your desktop drum-roll): “Building people to people connections.” We really believe that this theme embodies the new EWB, especially the push towards a more distributed model – which has been a huge tool for us on the conference team! It also strongly represents the goals of the conference and the spirit of Newfoundland and Labrador. We are positive the atmosphere of this conference will bring us all closer together. (The logo will be on the website next week.)
Our theme and logo competition was driven by Anthony Candelario of the Ryerson chapter, who launched a member-wide contest to find the brightest and the bestest. He discovered our winning entry, developed by Megan Yap from the University of Western Ontario, who was inspired by EWB's new direction – congratulations Megan!
This contest is just one example of how this year’s conference team is made up of members from across the organization. In addition to Anthony and Megan, the conference team has volunteers from Dalhousie, Sherbrook, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Calgary professional chapter – just to name a few. This is a perfect example of how building connections between EWB’s many great people leads to many great results. Remember, the goals and concepts of this year’s working conference were developed by YOU. We believe that this will lead to the most successful conference to date! Our plan is to put delegates to work and put their brains together to develop strategy, plan, dialogue and debate on the most important issues and questions facing us today.
We hope that this year’s conference will allow you all to build connections to help you grow and create greater change. Our membership is our greatest resource and we want this conference to serve as a launching pad for strong connections between people, chapters and the actions and impact they will create. (It’s like Facebook but in person... Imagine!) It will have an increased focus on the sharing of best practices and more time for in-depth conversations within chapters and between executives with common positions. Not to mention, you will get #%$^ done at this conference! Actions will be taken! Members are not only expected to learn, they are expected contribute, to build, and to make this conference their own!
St. John's is a different town with a different beat, a place we feel is the perfect setting for this intimate conference.
If you have any suggestions for the conference we would love to hear them. Our contact information can be found on our conference website!
We cannot wait to see you!!
Chelsea, Ian and Maria
B. Essential Info: Get Ready to Prep for NC2010
A message about conference content and how you can prepare, from our Content Team Lead, Amy Sturge:
As the co-chairs noted in their address above, this conference is all about contribution and accomplishment. Because of this, there are a few things you will have to do in the coming weeks and some preparatory work to do before you attend the conference. During the conference, we will be dedicating a large amount of time to overseas content. This includes a lunch with your overseas group, an African speaker, and a three-hour session to allow you to dive into your overseas sector with your team. These teams will be created when you register for the conference – you will pick one of EWB's overseas sectors, and will be grouped with other delegates who have also chosen that sector. These teams will complete all of their preparatory work together – each delegate will need to do about 10 hours. That's 10 hours between mid-October and January – small beans if you ask me!
Yours truly,
Amy
C. Conference Speakers!
The lineup of keynotes and panelists for the 2010 National Conference should be spectacular. We will be announcing these speakers through conference newsletters on a monthly basis. So far we have confirmed the following two keynote speakers:
Ross Reid
Deputy Minister for the Voluntary and Non-Profit Sector in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John's.
Ross Reid was a Member of Parliament and Minister in the Government of Canada, and has been involved in Canadian politics and government since 1975. Mr. Reid has served as National Director of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, Campaign Chair for the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador and Deputy Minister to the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
From 1994 to 2003, Mr. Reid served with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Ukraine, Ghana, Kosovo, and Afghanistan. He has conducted and advised on democratic development programs in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe with a focus on political parties, elections, parliaments and civil society.
Victoria Anamo
Agricultural Extension Agent with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Talensi-Nabdam District, Upper East Region, Ghana
Victoria Anamo has worked for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) for almost 30 years. She is one of MoFA's few female field workers, and services tens of thousands of farmers in the remote hills of Talensi-Nabdam in the north-east corner of Ghana. Her work includes providing agricultural expertise to farmers, delivering MoFA programming and opportunities, and facilitating the growth of farmer groups. She is involved with EWB's Agriculture as a Business program, and has worked with women's groups to improve their business skills.
Vic's wisdom, compassion and expertise are respected by all who meet her. She is a natural leader in her home community of Zuarungu, where she preaches and counsels community members in need. Widowed at a young age, she raised seven children on her own and endured many hardships in order to see her children graduate from high school. Now she works to inspire others to achieve their own impossible goals.
D. This is YOUR Conference: Meet the Cross-Canada team
As mentioned in the Message from the Chairs, NC2010 is relying on EWB volunteers from across the country. We plan to introduce a few of these volunteers every month. The Newfoundland team will be introduced on the website and the EWBBC in the coming weeks.
This month, say hello to Anthony Candelaro - Ryerson Chapter, Madavine Tom – University of Guelph Chapter, and Sean Boots – University of Saskatchewan Chapter.
Anthony Candelario:
“I helped facilitate the competition for this year’s logo and theme, which allowed our membership to decide the identity of the 2010 National Conference. With Meghan Yap’s concept being the winning submission, I’m excited about what this conference is all about. It’s about building, using our connections between individuals, across Canada and across the globe to create an environment of opportunity for all people.”
~Anthony Candelario led the founding team of the Ryerson University Chapter in 2006 and was chapter president for two years until he graduated with a B.Eng in Electrical Engineering. He is now a participant in the Eaton Leadership Development Program for Engineers in Eaton Corporation’s Electrical Sector.
Madavine Tom:
“Quoi? What? Hein? Huh?
Not being able to understand what people say, or share what you have on your mind at an EWB National Conference, is not acceptable. Every delegate has something to share and something to learn. With a team of volunteers, I am translating all documents related to the conference, ensuring that everyone will be getting the most out of their experience. EWB conferences are usually the highlight of my year and I am really excited to be able to contribute to it while sitting behind my computer screen in Guelph!”
Madavine Tom
EWB 2010 Conference Translation Team Lead
VP Outreach
University of Guelph Chapter
Sean Boots:
“My name is Sean Boots; I'm a political studies student at the University of Saskatchewan. I did the graphic design and setup for the Conference 2010 website. (It's blue! Like the ocean! Coming from Saskatchewan, that's a big deal.)
I worked in the National Office last summer as an IT intern; while we were there Ian Froude (now a 2010 Conference co-chair) cooked us a traditional Newfoundland "Jig's Dinner". It was absolutely *unreal*. So to be honest... I'm actually just in it for the food. (Just kidding! But not really.)
In my spare time I enjoy playing Risk with the awesome UofS EWB exec (global issues are very important to us), losing squash games against my older brother, and trying to convince the entire rest of the country to call hoodies "bunnyhugs"... starting with you. : )”
E. What’s next? From the Communications Team
The communications team is hard at work to make sure that everyone in EWB knows what’s going on, and to make sure that Newfoundland knows what is coming. Our EWBBC division had some recent camera difficulties, but we should be back on the EWBBC soon.
Between now and conference, expect big website updates during the second week of every month, newsletters like this one around the 24th of every month, and approximately two EWBBC updates a month.
Remember, communication is a two-way activity. Send your ideas, questions, criticisms and celebrations to anyone on the conference team. See our contact info here: http://conference2010.ewb.ca/en/contact-us/.
F. Sponsors
To date, our conference sponsors are Hatch, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Chevron, Wardrop, Enbridge and CH2M Hill. We thank them for their support.
Visit their websites for more information:
http://www.hatch.ca/
www.mun.ca
http://www.bombardier.com/
www.chevron.ca
http://www.wardrop.com/
http://www.enbridge.com/
http://www.ch2m.com/corporate/worldwide/canada.asp