A Publication for Boards of Directors
Know Your SARC BOARD!
Wilda Wallace North Region Associate Board Representative Wilkie, SK
We live on a farm west of Unity and I have spent most of my married life of 41 years here. It took me a while to adjust as I was not raised on a farm, however, I love the life we have on the farm. Unity is a farming town and a progressive community with a population of around 2500. Two of my favorite hangouts are Rise & Grind Coffee Market, established by our middle son, Taylor, and his wife, Kaitlyn, as well as Fitness Lair founded by our eldest son Riley’s fiance, Lindsey Barber. Taylor and Kaitlyn sold the coffee shop this year and moved to the farm with their son Adair. They are expecting their second child mid-December. Riley and Lindsey live on the farm as well and Lindsey’s gym continues to thrive to meet some very diverse needs of people. She and her staff provide physical and nutritional programs for various groups from CrossFit to Resistance Training as well as Functional Fitness programs for individuals with physical and/or neurological challenges. Riley and Taylor are full time grain farmers carrying on my husband’s family tradition. My husband Gordon is trying to transition into retirement; however, he continues to spends a great deal of time on the farm, especially during seeding and harvest. However, we have found time to enjoy our trailer at Cowan River just out of Big River this year and typically spend time in Mexico in the winter.
We are 100% grain farmers; there are no animals currently on our farm except for farm cats and the occasional animal visitor such as deer, moose, and coyote with now a few antelope in the neighborhood.
I was educated in Administration and Accounting Technician and worked in the field for twenty years until after 1989 when our third son Rhett was born. At seven months Rhett was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Our lives then took a different direction. We encountered a very complex service delivery system that did not have a clear path for access for services, especially for rural and remote families. Thankfully, we had a supportive family and community who assisted us with some financial help as well as childcare to allow us to access the Alvin Buckwold Child Development (ABCD)
program at the Kinsmen Children’s Center (KCC) who provided us with therapies to assist us with the physical support of our son. We stayed at the Ronald MacDonald house in Saskatoon on and off throughout the years while receiving therapies, when Rhett was in hospital and when we were able to access programs in Saskatoon where we met other families/caregivers who too were faced with the challenges of raising a child with medical, physical and/or intellectual challenges. Through these families and various staff at ABCD Program we made different connections to community groups and provincial organizations. I served on the board of directors with the Saskatchewan Cerebral Palsy Association and Saskatchewan Association for Community Living. I was one of the founding families of the Saskatchewan Family Network. Through our journey, we realized that we gained the greatest supports through our connections with other families and caregivers. I served on a national committee to discuss and create a family support document around the needs of Respite for Children with Complex Needs. I had the opportunity to serve on a few provincial committees as well to discuss therapy, respite and social needs for children in schools as well as community.
In 1996 I made a career change to serve as a Family Support Service Coordinator for the Greenhead Health District. My position was funded by the then National Children Action Plan, Community Living Association of Canada, and the Provincial Coming Home and Staying Home with the then Community Living Division of Social Services as well as Regional Intersectoral Committee with support of the local School Division and Health District. While the position and funding evolved through the years to be now funded by the Community Living Service Delivery Division of the Ministry of Social Services and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the goal has not changedto provide support to families of children/young adults with medical, physical and/ or intellectual challenges, to assist them in accessing services and supports to met their needs. I retired from my position in 2021 after almost 25 years. Through this position and as a Director and President of the Board of Directors for Saskatchewan Association for Community Living, now Inclusion Saskatchewan, the work between SACL, CLSD and SARC and community based organizations such as Prairie Branches Enterprises where I now serve as treasurer, I became aware of the work SARC does in supporting agencies in the work they do of supporting people experiencing disabilities in Saskatchewan.
In retirement, I sometimes feel as busy as when I was working, lol. I serve locally on two community groups; Unity Community Resource Center and Unity and District Special Olympics as their treasurer. I serve Prairie Branches Board of Directors as treasurer and now SARC as a board member. I have always believed that if we want change we need to serve with those that provide support to understand the service
delivery system and to help them better understand the needs of individuals and families that they serve, as well as recognizing that not all families have the family and/or community support or the understanding of the complex services system… that they are just trying to survive the challenges that life is throwing at them today.
As a family we believe in self determination for everyone. To allow them to have experiences and then to choose direction in their work, social and community lives. While self directed funding needs to be an option for individuals and their families experiencing disabilities, it may not be a viable one, with many families reasons being as diverse as the individuals accessing support in their community whether it be a place to live and work or services that support them in greater independence and/or their medical needs.
I have found the SARC Board to be very well organized and one of the best functioning boards and/or committees I have been involved with. They have provided me and other members on the board with all the information and resources needed to be active, involved and educated board members. Material comes out typically a week ahead of time before committee and board meetings with not only information on decisions that need to be made but information around other committees and happenings within the organization in a manner that’s easy to get through. Board members support each other with board business and socially.
My hobbies are now my grandson Adair…so blessed to have this opportunity to be Grandma! And, we are now expecting another one. I enjoy getting away to somewhere hot when it’s cold…I am not a cold-weather person. I enjoy meeting people; I won’t always remember names but I hope to remember faces. I believe in supporting families as well as creating service delivery systems that are not complex and recognize the diverse social, spiritual, medical and living needs of individuals. I hope that we can create community that engages and supports equality.
Some words or phrases that come to mind when I think of my time on the SARC Board are: efficient, effective, educated, and supportive. They expect you to ask questions and ensure you understand the issues. I tend to ask a lot of questions…LOL.
Your SARC BOARD at work
The SARC Board welcomed two new members following our Annual General Meeting in June. We are pleased to introduce Leanne Kerr, Executive Director of Canadian DeafBlind Association (Sask Chapter). SARC also welcomed back Marnie Watkin-Pawelko. Marnie was eager to return to the Board after serving the required hiatus before becoming eligible for nomination again. On August 23, Leanne and Marnie attended board orientation which is facilitated by members of SARC’s Executive Committee as well as SARC’s Executive Director and Executive Assistant.
On August 24, the SARC Board participated in our annual ‘welcome back’ and board development session. Aside from the regular ‘back-to-work’ tasks, such as committee representation and selection and an annual review of SARC’s Code of Ethics, Confidentiality, and Conflict of Interest policies, they spent the day exploring and discussing two very important areas.
For the last number of months, Desiree Tirk, SARC’s Trainer/Resource Developer - Leadership, has been completing research on trends impacting membership associations. As part of our current strategic plan, in the priority area of ‘Growth and Innovation’, we set out to “Analyze Member Association Trends”. Desiree presented a high-level overview of her findings which prompted group discussions and further exploration of:
• The evolution of Membership Associations across Canada and internationally
• How Membership Associations are structured, and the different models used
• Emerging trends and best practices
After lunch, Lori Morphy, SARC’s Trainer/Resource Developer - Service Delivery, provided an overview of her recent research and findings with a presentation titled, “Thinking Outside the Box – Service Delivery Scan”. The board learned about a number of innovative residential and day support options in Canada and internationally. They went on to further discuss how service delivery has and continues to evolve and the need for innovative thinking within CBOs.
Team development and building camaraderie between board members is an important part of the August session each year. The day was also rich with laugh-break activities and ended with a trip to a small-town bowling alley for great food, good music, and friendly competition.
We look forward to another exciting year!
Collective Voice 2024 Provincial Election
It’s an election year – let’s make sure the Disability Service sector’s voice is heard!
The Provincial Election is scheduled to take place October 28, 2024, and SARC and the Advocacy Committee have been planning through the summer on a strategy to engage and educate candidates about the sector’s needs and expectations of the next Government of Saskatchewan. These expectations have been outlined in SARC’s Disability Service Sector All Candidates Paper.
As identified by the Advocacy Committee, the voices, influence, and reach of the families and friends of people supported, employees working in the sector, and the boards governing CBOs will be critical to the success of the strategy. On August 7, SARC issued a Call to Action to all Regular and Associate Members encouraging them to participate in the following activities and asking them to encourage their networks of employees, people receiving services, and families to do the same:
EMAIL A LETTER TO CANDIDATES IN THEIR CONSTITUENCY BY SEPTEMBER 20.
Sample letters were provided to Members on August 7.
ATTEND ONE OF THREE ALL CANDIDATE RECEPTIONS BEING HOSTED BY SARC’S ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.
October 1: Saskatoon October 7: Regina October 10: Prince Albert Click here to register by September 25!
The goals of the strategy are to:
PARTICIPATE IN SARC’S SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER.
Facebook X Instagram
ENGAGE WITH CANDIDATES WHERE POSSIBLE (EX. COMMUNITY EVENTS).
Parties will typically advertise their events on their websites:
Registered political parties - Elections Saskatchewan
• Broaden the number of sector champions by educating, engaging, and activating the voices, influence, and reach of families, friends, employees, and board members connected to the Disability Service sector
• Educate candidates about the Disability Service sector
• Build candidate interest in the sector
• Establish and/or strengthen connections with future MLAs
• Express the sector’s expectations of the next Government of Saskatchewan
• Gain candidate and political party commitment to address long-standing issues faced by the sector
• Set the stage for more detailed conversations with elected officials following the election
In August, SARC sent its own letter to all known candidates (and continues to send to newly announced candidates as they are known) and sent a set of questions to all registered political parties to get their viewpoints on community inclusion and sector funding. We will share the responses we receive with our Members when they are available.
Below is a timeline of activities that are currently underway or yet to come: TIMEFRAME ACTIVITIES
September-October SARC to hold pre-election meetings with various candidates.
September-October
October 1, 7, 10
Week of October 14
October 15
October 28
October 30
November 12
Mid-November-January 31
Mid-Late March (anticipated timeframe)
SARC to execute Social Media Strategy – key messages for support of the sector, issues/asks, encouraging people to vote.
CBOs and networks to participate.
All Candidates Receptions:
• October 1: Saskatoon
• October 7: Regina
• October 10: Prince Albert
CBOs and networks to participate.
SARC to share party responses to questions document with Members.
SARC to issue follow-ups to candidates after receptions.
Provincial Election
SARC to send congratulations letters to newly elected MLAs.
SARC to send 2024 MLA Information Package to all MLAs with meeting requests.
SARC to send 2024 MLA Information Package to Members.
SARC to coordinate meetings with MLAs and SARC Members.
Provincial Budget
We need SARC Members and their networks to help spread the word about the All Candidates Receptions and share our sector’s needs and expectations for the first budget of the newly formed Government of Saskatchewan. The voices of organizations, employees, people receiving services, and families are vital to expressing a united front on the issues impacting people experiencing disabilities and service providers.
To date, SARC has been copied on 33 letters from 15 Member organizations. These numbers, as well as registration numbers for the All Candidate Receptions, need to get a lot bigger to have impact. It is not too late to send a letter and get involvedplease do so!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Amy McNeil, Executive Director, at (306) 933-0616, ext. 229 or amcneil@sarcan.sk.ca, or Melanie Weiss, Director of Member Services/AED, at (306) 933-0616, ext. 245 or mweiss@sarcan.sk.ca.
The Advocacy Committee will be hosting three All Candidates Receptions in Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina in October whereby all known candidates from all seven registered Political Parties will be invited. SARC Member organizations (boards, leadership staff, employees) as well as people experiencing disabilities and their families are encouraged to attend. Even if you are not from one of these three communities, please consider attending, as we will be inviting all candidates from across the province and expect to see some interest from nearby constituencies.
These informal mix/mingle events will serve as a valuable opportunity for people who are part of this sector and candidates to get to know each other, share information about the sector, and set the stage for relationship-building with those candidates who get elected. This format also makes it a very friendly opportunity for candidates to build their profiles, pose for a few pictures, show engagement with their communities, and show commitment to the Disability Service sector. Click Here to Register Before September 25!
New Strategic Planning Services - Revisit Your Plan This Fall
by Desiree Tirk
As fall approaches and brings a season of change, it’s an ideal time to reflect on the year, assess the organization’s direction, and plan for the future. Take this opportunity to evaluate lessons learned, reflect on challenges your organization may face, celebrate successes, and revisit your strategic plan.
As you know, having a strategic plan in place is an important tool to have, as it ensures that everyone – board, senior management, and staff – are all on the same page and working to achieve the same goals. Revisiting your strategic plan regularly is crucial to ensure that the plan remains relevant and aligns with the organization’s evolving needs – changes in financial resources, turnover in staffing and leadership, advancement of technology, new trends and opportunities, or community and economic pressures – to name a few. By revisiting your strategic plan, organizations can refine their strategies, make necessary adjustments, and stay on track to achieve their long-term goals.
Take time at your next board meeting to ask:
• Is our organization on course and progressing throughout our strategic plan?
• How is our strategic plan guiding our work? Are the strategies still relevant?
• Do we need to refine our current plan, set new goals, or pivot in a fresh direction?
• Are there new opportunities on the horizon?
• Do we have new leadership? Do we need to confirm and review our plan to better engage new leadership?
• Is it time to develop an entirely new 3–5-year strategic plan?
Whether your strategic plan is nearing the end or simply needing a refresh, SARC has expanded its Strategic Planning services to help guide your leadership through any phase of the process.
• Our People Come First Focus Groups: If your organization is looking to gather input from a variety of stakeholders, including the people you support, then a facilitated focus group can be a powerful tool. Information can be used by an organization to plan, improve, or evaluate services, understand behaviour or motivations, or identify trends and patterns. Focus groups are a great way to engage your community, explore new ideas, and provide insight for strategic decision-making.
Photo by Yosafat Herdian on Unsplash
• Introduction to Action Planning Session: Has your organization outlined strategic goals but isn’t quite sure what actions and milestones are necessary to achieve those goals? Action plans specify what needs to be done, by whom, by when, and help communicate progress, keeping everyone informed, motivated, and accountable.
• Programs and Services Planning Session: Organizations are always looking to ensure programs and services are relevant, fresh, and meeting the changing needs of the people you support. If your organization is looking for ways to evaluate, expand, or change service activities, this session offers a valuable opportunity for discussion, planning, and informed decision-making.
Whether your organization’s strategic plan needs to be adjusted, prioritized differently, or even overhauled, SARC has also updated its one-day Strategic Planning Session process.
• Newly updated Strategic Planning Session: SARC’s newly updated process provides time for critical thinking, collaboration, decision-making, and setting a direction for the organization’s future. During the session, your organization’s leadership will review the mission, vision, and values of the organization, envision success, and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape in which your organization operates. Together, you will identify key priorities, set ambitious yet achievable goals, and have all the tools necessary to craft a roadmap that works towards achieving the mission.
Not only does SARC have a facilitator who can customize and deliver each of the Strategic Planning Services to meet your organization’s specific needs, SARC now offers new pricing and bundling options so your organization can make the most of your time and budget.
For more information on how to schedule any of the Strategic Planning Services, please email us or visit Strategic Planning at SARC Learning Central. If you want more information on strategic planning, visit the ‘Strategic Planning and Leading’ module in ELEVATE.
With a clear vision and a unified commitment, your organization can ensure continued success and maintain its relevance for the future.
About Desiree
Spending the past 25 years working in community development in the nonprofit and government sectors, Desiree brings a variety of experience with developing and facilitating workshops and has held positions as Program Manager, Facilitator, and Trainer. Desiree has over 20 years’ experience as co-owner of a business and holds a Bachelor of Indian Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies.
To connect with Desiree Tirk and learn more about how strategic planning can help your organization, email her at dtirk@sarcan.sk.ca
Curious about what makes a board tick? Join us September 26th at noon as we explore the key roles and responsibilities that drive effective governance and leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned board member or just starting out, understanding these fundamentals is essential for steering any organization toward success. Be sure to grab your lunch and log on.
Join SARC as we host the SARC Fall Conference on October 23-24, 2024 at the Atlas Hotel in Regina.
This two-day conference is a professional development and networking opportunity for executive directors, senior leaders, and boards of directors in the nonprofit sector.
To kick off the SARC Fall Conference, we will be screening the movie
