Annual Report - Program and Membership Director – 2010/2011

I am pleased to provide you with my annual report. I would like to start by thanking the members, the Board of Directors, contract staff Vic Warkentin & Marnie Loewen, and our many volunteers for all their assistance. It is your support that helps me with the management of the office and the programs of the Association. Your dedication and positive outlook makes a difference.

It is my responsibility to provide information on Cerebral Palsy, the Association, services and programs for our members and all others who request it. CPAM has a mailing list of 360 members of which 190 are currently paid up. Brochures, library materials, and family & adult resource packages are available to members, parents, extended family, caregivers, as well as to students and professionals. Information is also made available through the Association newsletter INFORM and from our website. CPAM makes referrals to other organizations and service providers. Numerous referrals to other agencies have been made this past year.

Supporting our major fundraiser, the Stationary Bike Race; requesting financial contributions from Altona/Gretna, Carman, Morden and Winker rural United Ways; as well as writing funding proposals to Foundations like the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams and the Dr. Alfred Deacon Foundation fall under my duties.

I enjoyed organizing the Member’s fall BBQ and the Retreat Weekend held at Camp Arnes in May. The hand made costumes was remarkable and the talent was brilliant. The Happy Holidays party held in December is another very successful and enjoyable event. An educational session on the Rights and Responsibilities of Persons with Disabilities was held in April of 2010. All of these member events would not be possible without the support of volunteers many of whom are here tonight and I truly appreciate your help and support.

I manage the day to day operation of the Association performing routine office duties. The administration of the Grant and Scholarship programs, with assistance from our Grant Committees and Accountant, are heart warming duties indeed. Other duties include providing support to members and advocating by making phone calls, attending meetings and writing letters.

I represent CPAM on two Coalitions which are made up of representatives from self-help, advocacy and service organizations. The first, the Children’s Coalition, provides a unified voice to respond to changes in policy and procedures affecting all children with disabilities and their families. The Coalition currently holds public forums on education and transition issues. The Coalition also meets yearly with Children’s Special Services giving CPAM an opportunity to express areas of concern affecting children.

The second, the Disability Support Coalition, works with the Public Interest Law Centre and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. This Coalition will continue to meet as needed to address a variety of Human Rights complaints related to disability.

I have had the pleasure of making formal presentations on Cerebral Palsy to elementary and high schools as well as Red River Community College. Members often assist with these presentations and I thank those who shared their personal experiences and stories.

CPAM’s Leaving High School program resulted in awarding congratulatory plaques to 8 members. I was invited to personally present several of the plaques. It was an honour to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of these students.

CPAM sent 4 of our members on the April 2010 Dreams Take Flight trip to Disney World in Florida. I assisted the parents and children selected by the Dreams Take Flight organization with the enormous amount of paper work that is needed to prepare for a day at the Magic Kingdom. This truly is a wonderful duty for me especially when I hear about the marvelous time that is experienced by everyone.

The Personal Support Worker program, which provides limited financial assistance for the use of the services of another individual to support an adult member in ways that contribute to their physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well being, had 31 applicants.

Barrier Free Manitoba is a non-partisan, non-profit, cross-disability initiative that promotes effective legislation for the removal of existing barriers and the prevention of new barriers. CPAM continues to support this initiative.

CPAM was approached during this fiscal year to endorse a video about 2 children with CP. A student from the Creative Communications department of Red River College received CPAM’s support of this venture and the video will be reviewed for accuracy of information as well as respectful portrayal of individuals before being released. The film will be given to CPAM in April of 2011 for future use.

CPAM also sponsored a film on Prairie Public Television entitled INCLUDING SAMUEL. This film is about inclusion of people with CP and other disabilities. The family of a young boy with Cerebral Palsy, Samuel, shares their story of inclusion. This film will be aired this Thurs. Nov. 18 at 8 PM.

It was indeed a busy year and truly everyone contributed to sustaining the vision of the Association. Thank you all so very much. Laura Schnellert