Sleeping Children Around the World | Annual Report
March 1, 2010 - February 28, 2011
“Change is in the Air”
People are the strength of SCAW. It is interesting how a shift in one
major cog in the wheel can lead to a number of changes. Coincidently, based
on discussions being held related to our Strategic Plan initiative we had
identified “change” and “sustainability” as major challenges that SCAW
would face in the future.
Early in 2010 we came face to face with these
challenges.
Clarence Deyoung, one of our directors and a leader in many
aspects of SCAW’s life decided that it was time to focus more of his time
on his family and the move that his family was making back to its roots
in Antigonish.
What followed was a planned process of changed roles with
all of our folks putting the welfare of SCAW above their own convenience.
Clarence took a thorough, active role in mentoring those assuming his roles.
We are still involved in this process. During the course of this past
year we have had a number of retirements and a number of new volunteers
have joined the team. What we have discovered is that when voids occur
there are good people ready to step forward. We have also learned that
when thinking about “sustainability” it is important to bring in more volunteers
to “share the load”.
2010 was SCAW’s 40th Anniversary and we celebrated
on October 2nd with over 170 friends of SCAW in attendance at Humber Valley
United Church. The timing was perfect. The event helped to remind us of
the past and focus us on the future…a very bright future.
Our committees
with their devoted members continue to provide a solid foundation and sense
of direction for SCAW’s day-to-day operations.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(Meetings, May 7, 2010, October 1 and Jan.14, 2011)
CHAIR: Laura Harper
It is at the Executive Committee meetings that all of SCAW’s other committees
report/seek input and then carry out the “Actions” that are agreed upon.
A portion of these Executive Committee meetings was allotted to the discussion
and finalization of the Strategic Plan. This Plan was completed and sent
to the Board for approval, direction, implementation and ongoing review.
The Executive Committee was used as a forum to discuss Policy initiatives/changes
related to SCAW’s distributions. A variety of draft policies (Medical Health
Form, Legal Release Form….) were discussed and sent forward to the Board.
Under this umbrella of the Executive Committee the following “Actions” were
initiated/implemented by the other individual committees.
Under
this umbrella of the Executive Committee the following “Actions” were initiated/implemented
by the other individual committees.
DREAM TEAM
CHAIR: Duncan Macgregor (Duncan passed on the reins as “Chair” of this
committee to Committee member Grant Clark)
- Trademarks now registered, “SCAW, the 100% Charity” and “Sleeping Children
Around the World, the 100% Charity”
- 2 new lapel pins
- Corporate connections/partnerships
with Consonant and Arjo Huntleigh
- Book on Murray Dryden’s life (With
God Nothing is Impossible) being distributed
- Identifying Media Volunteer(s)
on each distribution team
- Focus on consistency of all messages on the
story of SCAW
- The 40th Anniversary Celebration
- Increased media exposure
with assistance from Tamara and Kelly of Maverick PR
- Grant Clark makes
the final 40 in CBC’s “Champions of Change”
- Information Leaflet is
now available in Spanish
- The 2011 SCAW Calendar
- Ongoing initiatives
within the Foundations and Grants Group to connect SCAW with these organizations
- Continued
to be the contact point and a resource for The Pinehurst Club.
THE PINEHURST CLUB
The Pinehurst Club held its second annual breakfast at the Royal York Hotel
on May 5 2010.
- Over $120,000.00 was donated to SCAW’s Legacy Account
- Christine Magee
was the speaker
- Paul Might was the recipient of The Pinehurst Award
FINANCE COMMITTEE
CHAIR: Bob Barclay
- Initiated the Annual Audit of SCAW
- John Martin resigned as a Finance
Committee member but stayed as Pinehurst Club member.
- Joseph Shaw joined
the Finance Committee and will oversee the investment portfolio as was
done in the past by Paul Might.
- Kevin McAdams and Nancy Vince joined
the Finance Committee
- Monitored the donations received and advised
the Board regarding the number of bedkits that could be distributed.
- Kept the Board informed as to the monies available from the Legacy Account
used to pay SCAW’s administrative expenses.
- Confirmed SCAW’s Investment
Policy with the Legacy Account: a 10 year bond laddering strategy
- Started
the process to initiate Pre-authorized debit donations
- Saw the number
of online donations continue to increase (30% of all donations)
- Initiated
and managed the successful establishment of SCAW USA.
As of February 28, 2011 the financial picture for the 2010/2011 fiscal
year was:
- Bedkit Donations: $2,240,000.00 (down slightly)
- December
Bedkit Donations: $830,000.00 (up slightly)
- Pinehurst Club Donations:
$128,000.00
- Bedkits Funded: 70,500
- Countries of Distribution: Philippines,
Bangladesh, India, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Zimbabwe and Nicaragua.
DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE
CHAIR: Clarence Deyoung (During the year Richard
and Joan Hryniw assumed the duties of Chair and Secretary of the Distribution
Committee)
A
new group was created to deal with more sensitive/confidential/urgent situations
related to personnel and specific distribution issues. This was called
The Core Group.
The Distribution Committee had oversight over 5 distinct
sections: Evaluation of Each Distribution, Team Leaders, New Countries
for Distributions, Making the Teams, Mosquito Net Research.
The leaders of
these sections became:
- Evaluation of each Distribution: Duncan Macgregor
(for India, Nicaragua and Honduras), Dave Dryden (for Africa, the Philippines
and Bangladesh)
- Team Leaders: Ted Swanston
- New Countries for Distributions:
Richard and Joan Hryniw
- Making the Teams: Laura Harper
- Mosquito Net Research:
Clarence Deyoung
The Distribution Committee
- Held 2 Information Sessions for new traveling volunteers (there are
60 new volunteers on the waiting list)
- Held a Team Leaders’ Meeting
- Held a Team Members’ Get-Together at Pinehurst.
- Continued research
into the usefulness of LLIN mosquito nets in all of our distributions
- Developed a new Parent Interview Form
- Selected and assigned a number
of new Team Leaders
- Provided input to Sheridan students for their practicum
on SCAW’s process for selecting volunteers for distributions
- Was pleased
to report that the 2011 distribution to Chennai marked the 25th Anniversary
of SCAW and the Rotary Club of Ambattur
- Referred issues dealing with
personnel, cancelling distributions, to the Core Group
CORE GROUP
- Monitored the Sri Lanka situation and decided to deliver 4000 bedkits
in July 2011
- Monitored the political situation in Zimbabwe until a decision
is made about the 2011 distribution
- Monitoring the Mumbai leadership
situation as to whether or not to return in 2012
ADMINISTRATION
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Linda Webb
Linda continues to be the “centre of the wheel” in all that goes on with
SCAW. The following items/events fell under her supervision this year:
- Organized the Annual Spring Fling for the House Volunteers
- Trained
a number of new volunteers for “28”
- Established/constructed a fireproof/secure
saferoom in the basement for all crucial SCAW documents
- Provided input
to Sheridan College students on their practicum related to SCAW’s donation
process
- Managed the majority of the equipment and forms related to
the team Leaders and the distribution teams
- Coordinated with Maurice
Kowanetz (Computer Program) and Milton van der Veen (Website and Photos)
TECHNOLOGY
Maurice Kowanetz
- A new on-line shopping cart has been developed, with the goal to test and
make available to donors as part of the SCAW web site before the Christmas
2011 season. The new on-line shopping cart will make it easier for donors
to donate bedkits, purchase cards/calendars/books, and see their previous
on-line donations.
- Small changes continue to be made to the SCAW donation
program to keep it current, including a revised bedkit analysis section
giving more flexibility to see donation trends over the years.
- Finally,
the office technology (computers, printers, etc) continue to serve SCAW
well, although there is a requirement for a faster printer in order to
more accurately count distribution labels by only printing them a week
or 2 before a distribution.
THE WEBSITE
WEBMASTER: Milton van der Veen
The SCAW website is being constantly changed/modified/updated as Milton willingly
accepts requests from our Executive Director and the standing committees
for new initiatives or enhancements to existing content. Specifically:
- Making the online donation process easier for the donor
- Adjusting
the look of the Home Page to match with current initiatives
- Updating
The Policy Manual
- Showcasing upcoming events on the Home Page
- Introduce
strategies to improve everyone’s ability to find and store email communications
(e.g. one topic/email thread)
Milton’s involvement extends well beyond the website. His ongoing tasks
include:
- Preparing the SCAW laptops for each team leader
- Coaching the team
leader in the use of the laptop
- Downloading the photos and reports
from the SCAW laptops when they are returned following the distribution
- Preparing the bedkit photo CDs to be developed by Loblaws
- Monitoring
the SCAW cameras
- Managing the process of preparing the Trip Reports
for publication
- Managing of the SCAW Information Leaflet (now in English,
French and Spanish)
During this current year Milton has added refinements to all of the above
tasks.
THE OFFICE (28 Pinehurst Crescent)
Due to water again in the basement the patio area was removed, totally landscaped
and the window well raised….so far so good!
Our house volunteers with the
assistance of the volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints have kept the house and property very tidy and presentable.
THE BOARD
CHAIR: Dave Dryden
There were significant changes this past year in our Board’s membership.
Duncan Macgregor, Maurice Kowanetz and Richard Hryniw were asked to join the
Board as Directors. Clarence Deyoung and Ken Graham, after many years’ involvement
with SCAW, retired as Directors.
- SCAW received the Kiwanis World Service Medal and $10,000.00
MY LEARNINGS
The ability to change is not limited by age, if there is a need for change
and a purpose …….passion trumps age.
Thanks to all of you “young at heart”
volunteers!
Dave
Submitted by Dave Dryden, Chair
SCAW Board of Directors
March, 2011