Page 6 Shootin’ the Breeze April 17/13
Serving Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Waterton and surrounding communities
Spring cleaning on a grand scale
By Brad Quarin Community-minded individuals in Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek will soon have a chance to take spring cleaning beyond their own homes. Pitch-in Week, promoted by national environmentalist group Pitch-in Canada, is a time for volunteers to clear out litter in town, starting April 21. “It’s a good thing to do,” says Diane Burt Stuckey, Pincher Creek’s director of community services. “It’s kind of a community pride thing.” The efforts in Crowsnest Pass will be concentrated on April 25, when volunteers will meet at the parking lot of the Blairmore Legion at 9:30 a.m. Tracey Linderman and Kim Lutz, who work for the municipality, are helping organize the cleanup effort in co-operation with the Crowsnest Conservation Society. Kim says Crowsnest Pass has taken part in Pitch-in Week twice before and usually a dozen or fewer people have taken part. “We definitely need more volunteers,” she says, wondering if there is a lack of awareness of the program. However, Tracey says the town is advertising this year with posters and radio messages, and although only 10 people took part last time, their efforts were effective. “We did an awesome job.” With help from Pitch-in Canada, the town will provide garbage bags and gloves, and the group that meets at the Legion will then decide how to divide the work. Some may bring suggestions of areas to clean. “We are flexible for the locations,” Kim says. The project focuses on public lands, and Kim says the creek near Sobeys and Main Street in Blairmore usually need attention. Individuals don’t need to register beforehand, and Tracey urges people to come out to the Legion. “We’re happy with whoever we get,” she says. The job offers a chance to go out and work with others, as well as enjoy coffee and snacks. “It just gives them a chance to clean up our community,” Tracey says, which helps town pride. Kim adds many people are talking about beautifying the town. In Pincher Creek, the Pitch-in period will actually last a month, until May 21. Diane Burt Stuckey, who with the recreation office is promoting the program, explains they make it a month because it often snows during the designated Pitch-in Week. Pincher Creek has been participating in Pitch-in campaigns for a few years now, Diane says, and runs it through the Communities in Bloom committee. The town gets points for tidiness and having citizens involved in the community. This year, Pincher Creek will have two activities. The first is Operation Clean Sweep, in which youth groups, school groups or any other groups can be assigned parts of the community, like a hillside or part of a creek. The town will provide garbage bags and gloves. The second is the 20 Minute Makeover, in which anyone can take 20 minutes out of April 24 to collect litter around homes or workplaces. As Diane notes, asking for 15 or 20 minutes isn’t much. “Anybody can do it,” she says. The town is co-ordinating the activities, so if a group is working on an area, they should notify the town. This will make sure there is less overlap in areas groups are taking care of, and helps the town know how much garbage has been collected. The town has sent information and registration forms to schools and will advertise in the papers. At least six groups took part in Pitch-in activities last year, and 12 to 15 groups in other years. Groups who register with the town will receive certificates for their work. It’s a chance to go out, get some exercise and make the community look tidier, Diane says. The town can’t do it alone, and if everyone helps it makes a huge difference. Diane is hoping this year will see more participation in the cleanup activities. “We’ll try to promote it a little harder,” she says. To learn more, visit www.pitch-in.ca .
SASCI
Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative
is pleased to offer
“Fundraising Capacity-Building for Non-profits” A workshop series that will deliver in-depth information related to key aspects of fundraising in the non-profit sector To present this workshop series, SASCI has engaged the services of highly respected and experienced fundraising specialists. Throughout the series, they will engage with participants, offering clarity and guidance through the most perplexing non-profit challenge known as fundraising. Session 1: “Run with the Big Dogs” The roadmap to becoming a registered charity Presenter: to be confirmed Date: Wed May 1 Time: 1:00 – 4:30 Location: Ramada Inn, Pincher Creek Session 2: “Why Should I Give You Money?” How to prepare a strong and compelling “case for support” Presenter: Dr. Charlotte S. Caton Date: Wed May 15 Time: 1:00 – 4:30 Location: Ramada Inn, Pincher Creek Session 3: “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places” Discovering where the ‘real’ money is and how to access it Presenter: John Webster Hochstadt Date: Wed June 5 Time: 1:00 – 4:30 Location: Ramada Inn, Pincher Creek Session 4: “Connect the Dots” Matching your organization’s needs with the operating guidelines of funding agencies Presenters: Jane Brenner – Executive Director of Taber Adult Learning George Hall – Executive Director, Community Foundation of Lethbridge Date: Wed. June 12 Time: 1:00 – 5:00 Location: Ramada Inn, Pincher Creek
Participation in the program is free, and open to representatives of non-profit community service organizations and charities in southwest Alberta. To register for one or all of the sessions, please contact David Green at sasci@telus.net or leave a message at 403-627-1750. (venue details will be provided to registered participants) Partners in program delivery: Rural Community Adaptation Program (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development) Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative