The 519 Church Street Community Centre

Archive for the ‘Board of Management’ Category

An Annual Celebration

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Hundreds of photos - a year’s worth of memories - were projected overhead while over a hundred of The 519’s members, neighbours and friends sat down to a hearty meal.  For many, this was a time to reconnect with old friends and to meet some new ones. For others this was an opportunity to celebrate an organization which holds a special place in their heart.  For everyone it was an enjoyable evening worth remembering.

Last night’s AGM was a fantastic success for The 519.  With a huge turnout of members and a record-breaking number of candidates for the Board of Management, it is clear that the community feels a strong connection to its Community Centre and our work.

Mathieu Chantelois reflected on the past year and tenure on the Board as he stepped down as Chair, Maura Lawless spoke to the successes of the year and where we’re headed in 2010, and we all said goodbye to three dynamic community activists whose term on the Board came to a close: Joan Anderson, Marv Lucey and Donald Middleton.  Salah Bachir, Honorary Patron of The 519, spoke to Mathieu’s dedication to the Centre and Janet Rowe, Program Manager at The 519, gave a presentation on trends, successes and future directions in our programming.

The most exciting part of the evening however, was the election of new Board Members.  16 Candidates stood for election to 7 positions on the Board of Management.  With each of the Candidates presenting a unique set of skills and abilities to the membership the ballot decision wasn’t easy.  In the end one member of the Board was re-elected and 6 new directors joined the Board.

Check out the pictures from last night’s event here. Biographies of the newly-elected Board Directors are included below.

The 519 Church Street Community Centre’s Newest Board Directors

Pascal Dessureault

Pascal Dessureault is an accomplished member of our community, having served as President of his Student Union, as a Board Director of the Liberal Party of Canada (Quebec) and as the Press Secretary for the Montreal Outgames.  Pascal moved to Toronto three years ago to attend the University of Toronto and is excited to bring his energy, skills and sense of initiative to the Centre.

Natasha Garda

Natasha was re-elected to the Board of Management of The 519 after having already served on the Board for one term, including a year as Vice-Chair of the Board.  Natasha is a former Chair of Pride Toronto, a member of the Sexual Diversity Studies Advisory Board at the University of Toronto and an active and dedicated member of The 519 family.  Natasha is a teacher by profession and co-developed and co-implemented a program for at-risk female youth in Toronto.

Jodi Hoar

A former Executive Director, Board Director and Community Developer in various sectors, Jodi brings a wealth of experience to The 519’s Board of Management. Active in the start of the London AIDS Committee, a mediator in Restorative Justice and a former hospital Chaplain, Jodi is excited to share her broad experience and perspectives with the Board team.

Troy Jackson

An organized, dynamic and passionate community activist, Troy is excited to join The 519’s Board.  His involvement with Blockarama at Pride, Salaam, Africans in Partnership Against AIDS and many other organizations has prepared him well to help lead The 519.  Currently enrolled in “Daddy, Papa and Me” at The 519, Troy is excited to be part of the work we do at The Centre.

Lee Mark Schofield

A volunteer with the McMaster University Alumni Association, Scouts Canada and Big Brothers, Lee will be an asset to The 519’s Board of Management.  As a physician, Lee’s keenly interested in creating an open and supportive environment for the LGBT community and especially for LGBT youth.

Rudy Ticzon

Rudy has eighteen years experience in public affairs, community relations, policy development and communications, gained from working in the public, private and non-profit sectors.  Currently, he is the Community and Policy Advisor at the Law Society of Upper Canada, working with diverse communities and engaging various stakeholders in law, government and the education system.

Kira Vallen

Kira is a founding member of the Southwestern Ontario Association of Trans (SWAT), a former volunteer with the Elgin-Middlesex Training Board and a former member of the St. Thomas Auto Employee’s Credit Union Board of Directors. A regular outreach volunteer at The 519, Kira is brings a broad experience in Social Work, Labour Relations and Communications.

Tags: AGM, annual meeting, Board of Management, Janet Rowe, Jodi Hoar, Kira Vallen, Lee Mark Schofield, Mathieu Chantelois, Maura Lawless, Natasha Garda, Pascal Dessureault, Rudy Ticzon, Salah Bachir, Troy Jackson
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We’re looking for new Board Members!

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

It’s a great time to join The 519’s Board of Management!!! The construction of the building is coming to a close – we are refocusing our energies and transforming the Centre. In order to make this transformation possible, we are seeking diverse, interested and passionate community-minded people who are interested in playing a role on the Centre’s Board of Management.

As an organization we are committed to recruiting people who represent the diversity of our communities. In particular we are seeking to increase our representation of women and trans persons who represent a cross section of age, race, and ethno-culturally diverse communities and brings with them expertise and experience in the following areas

• Resource development, fundraising, and event planning
• Public policy, networking and community engagement
• Non-profit board governance and board committee experience
• Human resources and organizational development

As a policy-based Board, The 519’s Board of Management provides vision, leadership and oversight to the organization. Members are expected to come prepared for meetings, participate and be engaged in decision-making, strategic planning, and various fundraising initiatives.

General expectations include:

• Willingness to work collaboratively with other Directors to maintain positive relations among the Board, committees, Centre members, staff and our communities to promote the Centre’s mission and the communities with which we work
• A willingness to develop and share your knowledge, skills, connections, and expertise to enhance the Centre
• A willingness to advance the strategic plan and support the Centre to diversify its revenue base

Important Dates:

New Membership Deadline: August 30, 2009

Nominations Close: September 20, 2009

Annual General Meeting: September 30, 2009

If you are interested in making a difference and giving back to your community, click here for more information and a copy of the nomination form or call the Centre at 416-392-6874 for more information.

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