NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2024

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The Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations is a membership organization for the civic sector in the Northwest Peace Region, serving charitable and non-profit community organizations in the City and County of Grande Prairie and beyond.  Our member agencies and clients represent a broad region. They range from; small rural agricultural groups to large agencies providing services to families and individuals in distress, through to indigenous agencies, cultural agencies, sports groups & more.

Normally I’m optimistic and cheerful, but lately, I've been overwhelmed in sheer frustration. Plans are unraveling, delays are frequent, inefficiencies are everywhere, I'm reacting in ways that feel so alien, it's as if I'm watching a stranger in my own shoes.

To illustrate I went through a drive through for a breakfast order. The customer service rep stated that ‘breakfast was over, it’s our policy.’ This was at 8:30 in the morning! In a huff, I found myself on hold for 17 minutes and 39 seconds with the franchise's customer service, all the while thinking, "This is nuts." Eventually, clarity dawned, and I hung up, realizing the real issue wasn't the lack of a yogurt parfait, but my own overblown reaction.

Health-wise, it's been a challenging year and a half. Already compromised I managed to catch the new wave of cold/flu that was going around. So there I am on the first night of this round, debating whether to call an ambulance or first sweep the kitchen floor. Obviously, I couldn’t let anyone in if my floor needed sweeping while at the same time I’m worried that I might not make it till morning. My thinking progressed to: if I didn’t make it to morning, it would be someone else’s problem. I then googled all my symptoms, decided survival was about 50/50 and tried to sleep.  

I had naively thought my final year before retirement might be a good time to experiment with the latest trend towards work-life balance. What I have deduced is that there is no such thing, if anything this past year has been mostly about hanging onto the crevasses and trying to stay put on the aerial high-wire between commitments, expectations and practicalities. 

This year's been an exercise in navigating the chaos called the Alberta Health Services and juggling the needs of the organization. I gave up on keeping my personal life in some semblance of order. At the end of each day, I count it a victory simply to have weathered the storm.

It would seem fate has a sense of humor, echoing the adage "the Gods must be laughing"—and at my expense, they're thoroughly amused. In all, it's been a year of embracing the madness, acknowledging my overreactions, and remembering to laugh along with the cosmic jesters. In the end, we’re all just trying to survive. :)

Cheers,

Carol-Anne

The Association is excited to celebrate National Volunteer Week (NVW) - April 14 to 20, 2024 and shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of volunteers and volunteer organizations in our region and across Canada. This year we have partnered with Pizza Hut, Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities and Grande Prairie Regional Sports Connect to make National Volunteer Week better than ever! This Year’s Celebration includes:

CELEBRATION CUPS

Member agencies be part of the NVW celebrations by picking up a Celebration Cup from our office at 101, 10101 100 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB, starting April 2, 2024. Each package includes party favours and a curated list of activities and suggestions that organizations can incorporate into their celebrations. Share your NVW activities on social media with @VolunteerGP and #NVW2024 to amplify the reach of your efforts.

MEET ME AT THE MALL

Back by popular demand, our spring session of Meet Me at the Mall coincides with National Volunteer Week, running from April 16 to 19. Member Agencies seize this opportunity to showcase your organization's offerings to mall patrons and join in the NVW celebrations. Contact us at 780-538-2727 or email admin@volunteergrandeprairie.com to reserve your day and time. Let's make this NVW unforgettable!

PIZZA HUT’S SLICE OF APPRECIATION

This NVW, we urge non-profit and charity Executive Directors to recognize the hard work of their Volunteer Boards. Thanks to Pizza Hut, each board member can enjoy well-deserved appreciation and a gift. Nominate your Board by visiting https://www.volunteergrandeprairie.com/nvw2024.



Board nominations are due April 10th, 2024.

WORKSHOPS

Exciting learning opportunities are on the horizon! We're partnering with Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connect and Grande Prairie & Area Safe Communities to bring you insightful workshops during NVW. Stay tuned to our social media & website more information coming soon!

Organizations let us know how you are celebrating National Volunteer Week!

Share your events on our community calendar at https://www.volunteergrandeprairie.com/events-calendar/submit-an-event/ or email your plans to info@volunteergrandeprairie.com.

Follow us at @VolunteerGP on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.

With the new year comes a new set of income tax brackets. Understanding 2023 income tax brackets can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Knowing your options and understanding the structures will help you plan ahead and be prepared for next years tax season. 

What is a tax bracket?

It is a system to help governments to determine how much tax a person has to pay; this method is used to ensure that those individuals who make more money are paying their fair share in taxes comparing with those ones that are making less.

How do I know which Tax Bracket I fall into?

You have to calculate the total of your income for the year (this includes wages, salaries, capital gains, interest earned, etc.) minus any deduction or exemption that may apply depending on your situation.

Can I lower my tax bracket?

Fortunately, there are some ways to reduce your taxable income, these are some tips:

• Keep complete records (do not loose any invoice of deductible expenses!)
• File your taxes on time
• Hire a family member (If you own a business and hire a family member, their salaries count as a tax deduction for your business)
• Invest in RRSPs and TFSAs
• Write off looses (If you’ve ever had a non-paying customer, experienced a capital loss or your business was targeted for theft, you can include those losses as legitimate tax deductions).
• Deduct home office expenses (if you work from home)
• Claim moving costs (If you moved at least 40 km to run your business, you can claim a number of related costs including transportation and storage fees, realtor commissions, and charges for connecting or disconnecting utilities).

Volunteers are an important part of any Non-Profit/Charitable Organization. Recognition is an important component of volunteer retention. When volunteers feel appreciated and important, they are more likely to feel connected to the program and continue their involvement.

A terrific way for your organization to thank your volunteer and let them know how much their contribution is appreciated is to nominate them for Tim Hortons Volunteers of the Week!

Tim Hortons Volunteers of the Week program is a FREE recognition program, open to everyone in Grande Prairie & Area presented by the Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations and Tim Hortons.

Those nominated for Volunteers of the Week are recognized on our website and social media sites, receive a letter of recognition from the Association and a gift from Tim Hortons. Volunteers of the Week recipients are also entered into our Volunteer of the Month Draw! The Winner of this draw is recognized as Volunteer of the Month with their picture on our website and social media sites, they also receive a $100 GIFT CARD from our sponsor Tim Hortons!!!



Nominate you volunteer today at https://www.volunteergrandeprairie.com/tim-hortons-volunteers-of-the-week-nomination-form-2/.

The Northwest Alberta Sport Excellence Awards is a night to honour the achievements of amateur athletes and the coaches, volunteers, officials, sport leaders and corporations that support them. The awards will recognize accomplishments from January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023.

The event covers the region from Fox Creek to Slave Lake and the NWT & BC border.

Doors open at 6:30. Program begins at 7:30. Dress is cocktail/business attire.

Event located at Clarkson Hall, Evergreen Park

Tickets Available at https://evergreenpark.ticketspice.com/2024-northwest-alberta-sport-excellence-awards

*Note: Hors d'oeuvres will be served. Please communicate to your guests that dinner is not served at this event.

IDEAS TO HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 2024

Spotlight Volunteer Stories:

Share inspiring volunteer stories through social media, newsletters, or local newspapers. Highlight the impact they've made in the community.

Thank You Video:

Create a heartfelt video expressing gratitude from staff, beneficiaries, and community members. Feature personal messages, testimonials, and images of volunteers in action.

Social Media Challenges:

Launch social media challenges encouraging volunteers to share their experiences, photos, or stories using a specific hashtag. This can help spread awareness and appreciation.

Thank-You Cards and Notes:

Encourage community members, beneficiaries, or staff to write thank-you cards or notes expressing their appreciation for volunteers. Collect and distribute these notes during the week.

Volunteer Photo Exhibition:

Create a photo exhibition showcasing volunteer activities and the impact they've had on the community. Display the exhibition in a local community center, library, or online.

Themed Dress-Up Days:

Have a week with different themed dress-up days to bring a sense of fun and unity among volunteers. For example, a "Superhero Day" or "Crazy Hat Day" could add an element of joy to the celebration.

Outdoor Movie Night:

Organize an outdoor movie night in a local park or community space. Feature a film that celebrates community and volunteerism and invite volunteers to enjoy a relaxed evening together.

FEBRUARY 2024 VOLUNTEERS OF THE WEEK

Centre for Young Parents nominated Janice Scott

Grande Prairie Council for Lifelong Learning nominated Fiona Donovan

Grande Spirit Foundation nominated Tammy Yaremko

Wolverines Wheelchair Sports Association nominated Lori Boulet

Grande Prairie Friendship Centre nominated Daniel Smith

Northreach Society nominated Mackenzie Beck & Raven Williams

County of GP nominated Amber Rickey

Pregnancy Care Centre nominated

• Tanya Swanberg
• Adyne Bell
• Kristin Plett
• Filomena Janzen
• Carole Belec
• Chole Kaut



Camp Heal-A-Heart nominated Heather Watson

CMHA, Alberta Northwest - Recovery College nominated Scott Topley

Church of Christ nominated Wes Attwood

PARDS nominated Nick Williams

Volunteers of the Week receive a $5 Gift Card & Travel Mug from Tim Hortons! They are also entered into our Volunteer of the Month Draw!

All Volunteers of the Week nominees (excluding those nominated by the Association) are entered into the Volunteer of the Month Draw.



Volunteers of the Month receive a $100 Tim Hortons gift card and are featured on our website and newsletters!

February 2024 Volunteer of the Month

The Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations would like to thank Tim Hortons for sponsoring our 2023 Volunteer Recognition programs.

source: https://comicskingdom.com/dennis-the-menace/

source: https://www.cathyguisewite.com/comic-strip

source: https://comicskingdom.com/family-circus

source: https://spudtoons.com

Volunteers are an important part of any Non-Profit/Charitable Organization. Recognition is an important component of volunteer retention. When volunteers feel appreciated and important, they are more likely to feel connected to the program and continue their involvement.

A terrific way for your organization to thank your volunteer and let them know how much their contribution is appreciated is to nominate them for Tim Hortons Volunteers of the Week!

Tim Hortons Volunteers of the Week program is a FREE recognition program, open to everyone in Grande Prairie & Area presented by the Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations and Tim Hortons.

Those nominated for Volunteers of the Week are recognized on our website and social media sites, receive a letter of recognition from the Association and a gift from Tim Hortons. Volunteers of the Week recipients are also entered into our Volunteer of the Month Draw! The Winner of this draw is recognized as Volunteer of the Month with their picture on our website and social media sites, they also receive a $100 GIFT CARD from our sponsor Tim Hortons!!!



Nominate you volunteer today at https://www.volunteergrandeprairie.com/tim-hortons-volunteers-of-the-week-nomination-form-2/.

The Association acknowledges the homeland of the many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis people whose ancestors have walked this land since time immemorial. I am grateful to work, live and learn on the traditional territory of Treaty 8.

Disclaimer of Liability: This newsletter contains links to third-party service provider websites. Grande Prairie Regional Association of Volunteer Organizations is not responsible and assumes no liability for the content or materials available on any linked third-party sites.