Tag Archives: volunteer

Sage Valley Voices Choir sings the 70s – but beyond 2012?

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by Heather Fink

The Sage Valley Voices is a 50-member adult choir based at the United Church in Oliver. Alice DeRoche has fearlessly, and with much patience and good humour, led the Voices for the past eleven years as their choral director, selecting the music, writing scripts, sewing costumes, and she has even had a hand in designing sets for the choir’s performances. A busy lady indeed! (The photo at left is from the choir’s early days. The choir now boasts 50 members. Ed.)

The Sage Valley Voices will present their 2012 spring concert, “Here Come the 70s!” which will feature an array of music from the 1970’s (think ABBA, Johnny Cash, John Denver, even some disco) on Saturday May 5th at 7:00 pm and Sunday May 6th at 2:30 pm at the Oliver United Church. Admission is $10 at the door. (Revised dates)

The choir is a non-profit organization and supports such local community outreach programs as the food bank and soup kitchen. The choir welcomes new members – no audition required – and rehearsals are on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Oliver United Church.

At this time, the future of the Sage Valley Voices is in considerable doubt as we are in grave need of a new pianist. If you or anyone you know is interested in playing piano accompaniment for this fun-loving choir, or for more information about the choir, please send a message to Lois Bzdel or Alice DeRoche by writing c/o the arts council: OliverCAC@gmail.com Your message will be forwarded promptly. Don’t let the music stop!

Treasurer signals Time for “Change”

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Arts Council treasurer Jack Bennest has given the OCAC notice of his intent not to stand for re-election in February 2012. He has assured the Board that he has enjoyed his term and hopes to remain an active member of the council but that after three years, it will simply be “time for a change”.

Bennest has implemented a number of “changes” during his tenure, all of which have streamlined the job. One of his first projects was changing the fiscal year to the January-December model. This brought the council more into standard accounting, and in accordance with the the fiscal years of funding organizations such as the BC Arts Council. Jack has also simplified the monthly financial statements, making them more accessible to other Board members.

Besides making changes, Jack likes having “change”.  He has stressed that all programs must operate as “cost-neutral”. As a result, program committees have become much more budget- conscious, seeking sponsorships and partnerships to decrease program delivery costs. Bennest states he has been “happy-happy-happy” with high cost programs operating in the black during these last two years. The picture shows Jack smiling at the Fall Art Show and Sale 2009. He will be leaving his post with the arts council in a good financial position. Ka-ching!

Jack has recommended spending “spare change”. Far from clutching purse-strings tight, Jack has encouraged judicious spending of funds held in reserve. “Use reserve funds sooner rather than later” has been his mantra, to avoid reserves being drained of their value as the cost of inflation increases.  As a result, the Board has made several careful capital improvements, and has other capital spending in the works, courtesy of Oliver Rotary funds. These include partial funding of new insulated rollup doors on the Studio Building and the bulk of the funds for landscaping.

Currently Bennest is filling out the new online CADAC forms. CADAC (Canadian Arts Data/ Données sur les arts au Canada) is the new integrated financial and statistical online database for arts organizations to record their operational and programming finances. CADAC uses a web-based application that is intended to lighten the administrative burden on arts organizations applying for operating funding to one or multiple public funders by enabling them to submit one set of financial and statistical information.

The arts council has five months to locate a new Treasurer. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in the position to be trained while the current Treasurer is still in place. No artistic ability is required, just an interest in finances. Contact olivercac @gmail.com or speak to any Board member to recommend a volunteer or to find out more about the position.

Photo Credit: Val Friesen (file)

Treasurer signals Time for "Change"

Posted on by

Arts Council treasurer Jack Bennest has given the OCAC notice of his intent not to stand for re-election in February 2012. He has assured the Board that he has enjoyed his term and hopes to remain an active member of the council but that after three years, it will simply be “time for a change”.

Bennest has implemented a number of “changes” during his tenure, all of which have streamlined the job. One of his first projects was changing the fiscal year to the January-December model. This brought the council more into standard accounting, and in accordance with the the fiscal years of funding organizations such as the BC Arts Council. Jack has also simplified the monthly financial statements, making them more accessible to other Board members.

Besides making changes, Jack likes having “change”.  He has stressed that all programs must operate as “cost-neutral”. As a result, program committees have become much more budget- conscious, seeking sponsorships and partnerships to decrease program delivery costs. Bennest states he has been “happy-happy-happy” with high cost programs operating in the black during these last two years. The picture shows Jack smiling at the Fall Art Show and Sale 2009. He will be leaving his post with the arts council in a good financial position. Ka-ching!

Jack has recommended spending “spare change”. Far from clutching purse-strings tight, Jack has encouraged judicious spending of funds held in reserve. “Use reserve funds sooner rather than later” has been his mantra, to avoid reserves being drained of their value as the cost of inflation increases.  As a result, the Board has made several careful capital improvements, and has other capital spending in the works, courtesy of Oliver Rotary funds. These include partial funding of new insulated rollup doors on the Studio Building and the bulk of the funds for landscaping.

Currently Bennest is filling out the new online CADAC forms. CADAC (Canadian Arts Data/ Données sur les arts au Canada) is the new integrated financial and statistical online database for arts organizations to record their operational and programming finances. CADAC uses a web-based application that is intended to lighten the administrative burden on arts organizations applying for operating funding to one or multiple public funders by enabling them to submit one set of financial and statistical information.

The arts council has five months to locate a new Treasurer. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in the position to be trained while the current Treasurer is still in place. No artistic ability is required, just an interest in finances. Contact olivercac @gmail.com or speak to any Board member to recommend a volunteer or to find out more about the position.

Photo Credit: Val Friesen (file)

Get Your Hands Dirty – for a good cause

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submitted by Heather Whittall, Oliver Community Garden Society

Spring is finally here and we are ready to start growing at the new home of the Oliver Community Garden (the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre). The sheds, beds, barrels and bins have been delivered but now we need your help. We need as many strong, able bodies as we can get to help us move everything into position. Please come and help and bring your friends on…

Sunday May 15th
9 – 11 a.m.
Quail’s Nest Arts Centre

Please RSVP to olivercommunitygarden @ yahoo.com or 250-485-2535 so we can get an idea of how many helpers we will have.

We will also still looking for donations of start up materials such as dirt and compost so if you can help us out in that way it will be greatly appreciated!

Garden beds are still available so don’t forget to reserve your garden box for the 2011 growing season by calling or emailing me. We’re setting up fewer boxes this year so space is limited!

Looking forward to growing and gardening with you!

Visit the Oliver Community Garden Society online at http://olivercommunitygarden.wordpress.com/ . We’re also on Twitter! http://twitter.com/olivergarden

Celebrate Volunteer Week … then take a Workshop

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The Oliver Community Arts Council recently became a member of the SOS Volunteer Centre as is already starting to reap some benefits. Information about volunteering with the OCAC (or any of its fourteen member groups) has been added to their new volunteer directory.  Members and member groups are now invited to two new Volunteer Centre events:

The Friends of the Oliver Library and SOS Volunteer Centre present
A Celebration of Volunteer Week
Tuesday April 12
10 a.m.- 12 noon
Oliver Regional Library

Celebrate Volunteer Week and the publication of the 2011 Volunteer Opportunities directory. Check out the arts council page!  The Volunteer Centre will be handing out information and the new 2011 directory, and signing up volunteers to their database. Coffee and goodies will be available.

Volunteer Expectations and Volunteer Self-Care
Thursday May 12
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Oliver Community Centre
FREE – Limited Seating (10 – 15)

Recommended for non-profit Board members and volunteers. Learn about setting clear and reasonable expectations for your volunteers, the rights and responsibilities of volunteers, and how volunteers can enjoy their experience while avoiding burnout.  The volunteer self-care portion is presented by Donna Davis, a registered professional counsellor living in OK Falls. She’ll discuss the stress side of volunteering: “When life stressors and helping starts to hurt.”

For more information, to volunteer, or to join the Centre as a non-profit society looking for volunteers, contact

Corinne Janow, Community Liaison
South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre (SOSVC)
“Creating a community network to coordinate volunteer efforts.”

We Appreciate You!

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Please join us at the OCAC Volunteer Appreciation celebration at the Arts Jam! gathering immediately following the

Oliver Community Arts Council
Annual General Meeting
Monday February 22, 2010
9:30 a.m.
Quail’s Nest Arts Centre

 

Thank you for the many ways you dedicate your time and energy to the arts council: all the various committees, OCAC programme volunteers, plant operations, repairs and cleaning, administration, and donations. Join us for a special cake and lots of toasting!

Interested in playing a leadership role? Nominations for all Board positions are still being accepted. Email olivercac@gmail.com and a member of the Nominating committee will contact you immediately.