Annual Report - Program and Membership Director – 2008/09

I am pleased to provide you with my annual report for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. 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 programs and activities of the Association. Your dedication and positive outlook makes a difference.

The Cerebral Palsy Association is a member based organization that provides information. It is my responsibility to provide information on Cerebral Palsy, the Association, services and programs to our members and others who request it. Brochures, library materials, and family & adult resource packages are available to new 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 and 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 Field of Dreams and Yearling Foundation is ongoing. CPAM was very appreciative to receive a Grant from the Dr. Alfred Deacon Foundation. The funds were used in a cost sharing agreement with CPAM to purchase a stair lift costing $5940.00 for an adult member.

I enjoyed organizing the Member’s fall BBQ and the Retreat Weekend held at Camp Arnes in May. The Happy Holidays party held in December is a very successful and an enjoyable event. The two educational sessions held in Feb. and April of 2009 - one for adults & one for families - were very interesting and informative. 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 duties done with great pride. Other duties include providing support to members as well as advocating by making phone calls 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 the Universities of MB and Wpg. faculties of Nursing and Education. Members assisted with these presentations and I thank those who shared their personal experiences and stories. A highlight was spending a day at the school in Vita, MB. Students in Grade 1 to 6 were very attentive and asked many questions.

CPAM’s Leaving High School program resulted in awarding congratulatory plaques to 12 members. I was invited to personally present several of the plaques as well as two scholarships at the school awards or graduation ceremonies. It was very heart warming and an honour to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of these students.

CPAM sent 4 of our members on the April 2009 Dreams Take Flight trip to Disney World in Florida. I assisted the parents and children, ages 10 & 11, 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 25 participants. Due to the success of this program the Board of Directors has increased the funding allocation in the current fiscal year which will allow 34 participants.

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 supports this initiative and a letter to endorse accessibility-rights legislation was forwarded to Barrier Free MB.

It was indeed a busy year and everyone contributed to sustaining the vision of the Association. It will be my pleasure to work with and assist each one of you in this current year. Thank you all so very much.

Respectfully and sincerely, Laura Schnellert