GROUP GROUP YOUTH SOCIETY OF PINCHER CREEK

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MARCH 13, 2023

​

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT 
 

​

​

Good afternoon everyone!  Thank you for joining us to take part in the 36th Annual General Meeting of our Society.  Yes, since 1987 we have been providing social, educational and recreational opportunities for the young people in Pincher Creek and area.  This afternoon we will looking back over the past year - and also catching a glimpse of the months yet to come.

 

Again, for 2022, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) provided us with over half of the funds needed for our operating budget.  The funds from Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis, our Casino proceeds, helped with programming and contract wages.  A grant from the Provincial Government's Communities Initiative Program, arriving in July, proved to be an invaluable addition to staff wages.

​

A generous donation from the Pincher Creek Rotary Club allowed us to purchase and properly install a good solid, like-new pool table.  A donation from the Pincher Creek United Church Pastoral Charge Planned Giving Committee and grant dollars from Pieridae gave us a good start towards the re-covering that all important skateboard ramp. (That's a project scheduled for a little later this year).

​

The Town of Pincher Creek and Municipal Joint Council provided a much appreciated grant of $2500.00 towards our operating budget.  Walmart contributed $1000.00 towards our Kid's Kitchen program while the Mealshare Program sent an unexpected $300.00 to help with the purchase of healthy food items.  We certainly did well in the Kid's Kitchen department over the year.  We also received $3000.00 from TC Energy to help keep our youth members eating well.   And then, our Gym and Field program got a boost when ParticipACTION donated $500.00 towards new sports equipment. (The kids were excited to be able to purchase some good quality basketballs, soccer balls and volleyballs).  

​

We could hardly believe our good luck when the Lethbridge Community Foundation approved our grant application for $8000.00 to put in new flooring on the main program areas of our building.  That job was completed later in the fall - and what an awesome difference that made to our Centre!

​

The Federal Government's Canada Summer Job Program provided funding for a youth worker during July and August.  We were very pleased to have a youth member "from the past", Jase Yellow Horn, return as staff to be our summer program worker.  It had been almost 15 years since Jase, himself, was a participant in GGY activities.  This made for an interesting perspective on contemporary programming. 

​

Leigh MacKinnon, a Reeves College student, studying in the Educational Assistant Program there, put in some of her practicum requirements  with us over the summer months.  She was an extra pair of hands at a busy time of year!

​

And yes, I was the one full-time employee for the year.  Liane, as Program Worker, was scheduled for a weekly shift on Tuesday afternoons organizing arts/crafts/photography projects. That also meant she was here for our weekly program meetings. (At the meetings all staff and youth members could gather to discuss projects and activities for the upcoming week).  Over the year, Liane and her husband Roland have very capably helped out with so many different tasks and projects - and often on a volunteer basis.

​

Where would be be without our volunteers?  Adults, including staff and Board Members, as well as community members, contributed an impressive 715 hours of time during the year.  Youth contributed just over 85 "official" hours - but this doesn't include the cleaning up, the small errands, etc. that takes place on a daily basis.

 

And talking about volunteers, I would like to say a very special "Thank you" to our members of the Board.  You are an essential part of our Society.  The Drop - In Centre just wouldn't be here without you.  All that time put in checking the emails, arranging to attend meetings and working on special projects is so greatly appreciated.  

 

And, here's a few more stats!!  Over 2022, the recorded visits from our youth members added up to 1375.  Our membership, the individual youngsters attending activities and programs, totaled 102.   By far, the largest percentage of these members were between 10 and 15 years old.  Approximately 65% of these kids were male. (About 20% of our kids this past year identified as First Nations).

​

Now, we are already well into 2023.  Our budget is still a little tighter than we would like, especially for staffing, but summer programming, new activities and projects are on our minds.   Perhaps it will mean more of the short, local jaunts this year instead of the longer trips to the city.  We do have plans to put more focus on our photography projects.  And there's been talk of geocaching and building bird houses.  Keeping our six raised garden beds producing well again will require some attention.  Stay tuned to hear more as the weeks fly by!

​

​

Lynne Teneytcke,  BSW

Executive Director

Group Group Youth Society