Archive for 'SI-DAF Events'
Flashback to the 70’s: I Love Rock n Roll with Russ Weil and The Hornets
Our spring dance was such a hit last year that we’re doing it again!!
Join us on Friday April 17 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Waterdown (79 Hamilton Street North, beside Weeks Home Hardware. Their lot is available to us that evening for overflow parking).
Doors open at 8pm. Retro Attire is strongly encouraged!!
Tickets are $25 and will be available at the door or at Weeks Home Hardware. Expect door prizes, raffles and a cash bar. All proceeds go to support Women and Girls in our communities and throughout the world. Find out more »
Spring Dance - Flashback to the 70s
April 14 2009 under SI-DAF Events
The Flamborough Chamber of Commerce held it’s annual Outstanding Business Acheivment (OBA) awards ceremony against the backdrop of an unusual set on Saturday evening.
Beautifully dressed attendees were greeted by an owl, cheeta and fruit bat as they entered the Mombasa Market Restaurant, located in a unique country setting, on the grounds of African Lion Safari. Upon receiving their seating designation by country, guests were directed to a photo with wild parrots squaking and greeting you with sayings like: “hello beautiful”.
Koho Catering provided an all you can eat buffet with trays of salads, cheese trays, rolls and vegetables down the centre aisle with two hot stations of chicken Cordon-blue Royale, roast beef, new potatoes, rice and roasted vegetables. There was a Shiraz from Obikwa in South Africa and a Wild Horse Canyon Chardonnay from BC on the table and dinner was followed up by plates of cake of all varieties.
Brooke was our club delegate for the evening and sat with the Ron and Eleanor Steepe of Kitching, Steepe & Ludwig Funeral Home and two of their former staff members, Margaret Robertson from Pause a While, and Norm Read, a C.A. with Beckett Lowden Read, and his wife Barbara. It was a delightful evening of pleasant conversation and carrot cake envy!
The event was covered by Cogeco Cable with MC Arend Kersten and included distinguished guests: MP David Sweet, MPP Ted McMeekin, Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberg, Ward 14 Councillor Robert Pasuta, and a surprise visit from Minister of Defence, the Honorable Peter MacKay to pay tribute to Corporal Chris Klodt.
Chris Klodt, (the winner of Town of Flamborough Award) with MP David Sweet (left) and Minister of Defence, Peter MacKay (right): Photo courtesy of Erin Martin Photography
During the Mayor’s speech he included a focus on energy consumption and turned off the lights for 1 min to honour Earth Hour, which took place around the globe that Saturday starting at 8:30pm. GM and Coach, Don Robertson of the Dundas Real McCoys, also left their provincial championship game, which they won, and drove in from Pickering to join the festivities and honour the Life Time Achievement Award Winner, Bill Grisdale.
Nominees for the Service Award by an Individual
Our club was nominated for the Sandra Gray/Weeks Home Hardware Award for Service by an Individual Award. The winner went to Eric’s Amazing Race and Jessy’s Journey. In support of their nephew Eric Morden who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Ted Lindsay (manager of the Flamborough Review) and his wife Heather organize a car rally to help fund research (see the Bottom Line page 5). The Community Service Award by a company went to Terra Greenhouses for their “grow for a cure” program.
It was such an honour to be nominated and recognized for the work we do in the community, and I know Sandy would have been mortified to hear the kind words regarding this award in her name.
March 30 2009 under SI-DAF Events
This was our first meeting at the new time for dinner, 6pm. Some club news: We made the list for the Annual Club Campaign – Bronze ($500). For the SIA Club Award – we accomplished all the requirements – congratulations ladies! Thank you ladies for all your work 
We welcomed guest speaker, Cathy Watts from Baby Showers: they believe in Awareness, Advocacy and Action. We are pleased that our partnership with them has aligned goals and they are very grateful for our donation of $1,200. This volunteer only organization has <20 people; the Social Planning Research Committee officially signed to recognize them as partners; they also received funding for the lease on a new space. Most families they serve are immigrants, refugees and those who experience a sudden change in finances. Very few are single, white –teenage moms. Baby Showers serves approximately 20 families a week, based on donations. Our club donation will be used for car seats, cribs and plastic tubs, highchairs, playpens and formula/diapers. These items are not frequently donated. The next project (inspired by a tv interview on 100 Huntley Street) is to work women in York Region to duplicate the model
After volunteering to help many times and attending our events, Kim Gordon (Brooke’s Mom), was welcomed as our newest member. We’re very happy to have her join us, especially Brooke.
After the last meeting, Shirley E and Barb dropped off the clothes collected for Friends for Success. Thank you to our friends, neighbours and co-workers who contributed towards our clothing drive.
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Sheryll Westcarr,an employment facilitator with the Hamilton YWCA
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An example of a full tote that is given to families
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Brooke attaches an S-pin to our newest member, her mom, Kim
March 8 2009 under SI-DAF Events
The Ancaster Community Services Annual Food Drive was held on Saturday Feb 21 and a total of $5000 in cash and 79,000 pounds of food was raised!
Our Soroptimist sisters were there with their shirts on and hands ready to help. Thank you to SNAP for including a picture of us!
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SI-DAF donated $400 to the Ancaster Community Services
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Barb, Pauline & Nancy working hard
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The ladies of SI-DAF working on one of many assembly-lines at St John’s
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Pauline and Nancy gather food to be sorted
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The volume of donations was very impressive!
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Sandy (causing trouble as usual)
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Program Chair Nancy, President Barb and Treasurer Sandy with the Ancaster Community Services representitive, Lisa Wert, and Tom Ippolito,Chair of the Ancaster Food Drive Committee
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SI DAF club members were there to make sure that Jim Kay, Chief of Emergency Services and David Sweet MP for Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Westdale had lots to keep them busy
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Photo courtesy of SNAP Hamilton
Each aisle was divided into basic categories: vegetables, soup, dry pasta, canned pasta, pasta sauce, macaroni & cheese (aka KD), beans in sauce, fruit, juice, milk, toiletries, baby food, cookies & crackers (and desserts), cakes & pudding (and baking supplies), condiments, meats & fish. Never had any of us seen such a well organized, all-hands event!
“It is always a very humbling experience to see how a community can come together and give so generously so that the most disadvantaged in our midst can have food on their tables”, said Pauline – a member of SI-DAF and the Ancaster Lions Club.
According to a recent article, over the past five years, the cost of a monthly Nutritious Food Basket for a family of four (based on Canada’s Food Guide) has increased by 14.2%. According to the Hamilton Public Health Services report entitled ““The Cost of Basic Nutritious Food”, the average limited-income family has to choose “between eating well and paying the rent to survive.”
For more information about how you can get involved or make a donation to the Ancaster Community Services, call 905-648- 6675. Items currently in high demand include:
- pasta
- canned salmon and tuna
- stews
- soups
- and canned vegetables
$400 was given to Sandy Thomas, Flamborough Food Bank
Sandy Thomas of the Flamborough Food Bank attended last night’s club meeting for a cheque presentation of $400.00. It is a welcome contribution as the food bank is experiencing a marked increase in need of their services. Drop off locations include: Sobey’s in Waterdown, Fortino’s Food Mart, the Waterdown Fire hall and Carlisle United Church (between 9:30am – 2:30pm Tue, Thu, Fri). Please call 905-690-1036 to arrange cash donations and for information around eligibility. There is an article in the Spec about Poverty that has more information on how you can get involved and the critical items needed »
Thank you to Shirley E for opening her home to us for an evening of “Friends & Fun”. Dinner was catered by Beijing Gardens of Waterdown (they make great Pad Thai). It was an action packed evening! To start, we’d like to welcome our newest member, Janet, and all our guests.
Welcome Janet, our newest member
Shirley M gave an excellent presentation on the Live Your Dream campaign. Did you know that all the money raised through the sale of merchandise goes back to programs? Some of the things you can do on the site are plan your goals, make a donation and send a note/ecard. She encouraged all the members to fill out an Action Plan, but also to share these tools with other women and read some of the success stories on the site. They are very inspiring!
Everyone recieved their package of posters & tickets for the “Flashback to the 70′s” fundraiser happening at the Royal Canadian Legion in Waterdown on April 17th. Tickets are $25 each and will be on sale at Weeks of Waterdown for anyone who sells out Find out more »
Kathy volunteered to maintain a scrapbook for our club. We encourage our club members to check their local papers for articles and to bring in any letters, photos or awards so we can keep them for posteriety!
The “health of the club survey” that was done last month showed we’re definately on track. Thank you to all the members who completed it. We really apprecaite your feedback.
On behalf of the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada, Shirley McCoy presented Barb with the Red Star Award for our club. This certificate recognizes our donation of $250.
Congratulations to Barb McCoy who won the 50:50 draw and generously donated her winnings back to the club and happy birthday to Sandy who is an indeterminate age today!
February 6 2009 under SI-DAF Events
A very heartwarming presentation by SIDAF and Ancaster Lions Club was made Tuesday evening to Fiona Campbell of the Technology Access Clinic, McMaster Children’s Hospital.
The money donated is to assist with the outright purchase of speech generating software for a lady named Jennifer in Hamilton who is unable to speak due to a rare, degenerative condition called Central Nervous System Vasculitus; Jen has lost her ability to speak and she also uses a wheelchair, as she can no longer walk. This software is her only means of communication with the outside world and in particular with her daughter who is also challenged with developmental delay.
Fiona made a wonderful presentation, which included a short video of the lady who now has the software to keep instead of it just being leased annually. In the video it shows Jennifer typing out a message of thanks to us all and in turn her computer then spoke the words for her.
The lease on this expensive equipment expires in February, but the Provincial Government (Ministry of Health) offers an 89% subsidy on its renewal through a program called the Assisted Devices Program (ADP). That leaves a one-year lease renewal is $573.31, or alternatively the equipment could be purchased for $1,368.93. Jennifer cannot provide this money herself, because she is unable to work, and her husband is her full-time caregiver.
The Ancaster Lions Club and Soroptimist International of Dundas-Ancaster-Flamborough shared the cost of the purchase price.
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Jane, Pauline and Shirley from SI-DAF at the Lions meeting
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Soroptimist and the Ancaster Lions present a cheque to McMaster
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Fiona Campbell of the Technology Access Clinic gave a presentation
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Don Stevely – Chairman of the Ancaster Lions with Fiona and Shirley McCoy
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Shirley, Jane and Pauline from SI-DAF with Fiona
Most people take it for granted that they will have a job, a home and food on their plates … but times are changing. The pressure to find a job can be an overwhelming task when the underlying stress is putting food on the table and keeping a roof over your head.
The YWCA Friends for Success program aims to break the cycle by helping women who find themselves facing difficult life circumstances gain the self-confidence to enter or re-enter the workforce.
If you have business-appropriate attire clothing, accessories (handbags, shoes, belts, etc.) and coats, to donate, please contact us.
The Manulife Walk for Memories is the largest fundraising event of the Alzheimer Societies in Ontario. In 56 Ontario communities, the Manulife Walk for Memories raises money to fund local programs and services for 166,000 people living with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and their families.
The ladies of SI-DAF gathered by the Old Navy entrance at Limeridge Mall, Hamilton ON for a photo opp with Mayor Fred and local MP, David Sweet. the Mistress of Ceremonies was Connie Smith (from CHTV) and MPP Sophia Aggelonitis shared a touching story of her Grandmother.
Walk for Memories with MP David Sweet and Mayor Fred Eisenberger
With the rhythm of swing playing close by, thanks to the Peter Banting Swingtet, we did laps around the lower floor of the mall. There were 4 activity stations with memory tests … they were much harder than we expected. It’s funny how you associate cows with milk but they actually drink water!
As of Sunday our group had raised over $1,600 but the deadline for submission of donations isn’t until the end of February. If you would like to make a donation, there’s a list of our walker’s webpages with links to donate online.
This is our snazzy banner
Thanks to everyone who participated but especially to those who sponsored us!!
Thank you to our guest speaker, Leeanne Kilby, E.D. of Elizabeth Fry Society who came to talk about the Sex Trade Alternatives and Resource Services (STARS) Drop in Centre.
They have been providing services to criminalized women since 1971. Leeanne has been with them for 25 years and it is an all female agency. They provide support to women “where they are” via the STARS bus to provide sex health to both trafficked women and women of choice. The greatest issue in Canada will be during the 2010 Olympics: the known path is Vancouver to Montreal to Hamilton. Human rights groups estimate that anywhere between 12.3 million and 27 million people are enslaved in forced or bonded labor, child labor, sexual servitude, and involuntary servitude at any given time.
The Elizabeth Fry Society will submit a grant with SI-DAF for women awards application. Have advanced volunteer training available. Also has recommended the book Sold
by Patricia McCormick.
- Welcome our newest members!
This Christmas, two (2) Christmas hampers were put together for local families in our area. The first hamper was for a Mother and two daughters, age 15 and 7. We purchased pajamas for all three plus jean, jazzy t shirts and sweaters for the girls. We also got glamour makeup and perfume for the 15 year old, per her request. For the younger girl we bought Barbies, a Crayola and slider game, plus Scrabble for the family. For mom we also gave her a box of chocolates, a $50 gift certificate to Fortinos and perfume. We were able to buy everything they had put on the list.
The second family was a Mother and her 4 year old daughter. For the Mom we got pyjamas and slippers, 2 sweaters, a beauty package and $50 to Sobeys. For her little girl we also got 2 games, a Dora sleeping bag and Dora dress up chest full of costumes, as well as a Hanna Montana outfit. We were delighted to receive thank you letters from the Salvation Army and one of the mothers.
Baby showers let us know that they don’t need blankets so we will be donating cash for carseats, cribs and twin sheet sets. They would also like gently used items and will come pick them up.
We’d also like to welcome our 3 new members: Alice, Marilynn and Kathy. We are very excited to have you join us. Also, congratulations to our guest, Janet, who won the 50:50 draw!
January 12 2009 under SI-DAF Events
