Highlights from FST Annual General Meeting - Toronto, June 9, 2010
On June 9, FST staff, board, friends, members and volunteers came together to celebrate our agency's successes and achievements over the past year.
This year's AGM theme was FST’s journey towards equity and inclusion. "Since our beginning almost 100 years ago, we have been engaged with, actually seized with, and challenged by trying to make our programs and services responsive to the ever-changing needs of the ever-changing population of the city of Toronto. As a full service organization, FST has always linked individual need and social conditions, creating innovative programming and practicing advocacy"" said Margaret Hancock (read full speech).
The AGM 2010 agenda included:
- a review of our work and finances
- the release of the 2009/2010 Annual Report with our magazine Catalyst:Ideas for Change, Spring/Summer 2010 issue reflecting on our last program year
- 2010 volunteer and Rosemary Popham Family Advocacy awards presentation
- a retrospective of our equity and inclusion journey with special presentation of DKS Services, Community Development and Options programs
- viewing "Tying my own shoes" - an animated documentary which provides an intimate glimpse into the exceptional mindsets and emotional lives of four adult artists with Down syndrome. See trailer on-line
We recognized and thanked Harlan Schonfeld who completed his two years tenure as Board President and will serve as past chair for the next two years. We said good-bye to Anita Lapidus, board member and past chair of FST Toronto, who gave our agency her wisdom, business brain, elegance, grace, good humour and genuine affection for the past nine years. We also thanked outgoing board members Tanbir Grover, Kiron Datta and Paul Maingi for their tremendous contribution while on the FST board. We welcomed four new board members: Bill Armitage, Daniel Boyer, Robert Dixon and Sheela Subramanian.
One of the highlights of the AGM was the announcement of the three winners of FST volunteer awards. Every year, Family Service Toronto honours our volunteers who are engaged in almost every aspect of our work through different volunteer recognition awards: Pat Fleming Seniors Volunteer Award, Community Service Award and Youth Volunteer Award. Last year, 293 volunteers and trainees gifted us with over 6,713 hours of their time!
The Rosemarie Popham Award
Laurel Rothman, FST Social Reform Director, and Martha Friendly
The award was created in 1999 and honours Rosemarie Popham’s outstanding contribution to advocacy and social policy development related to children and families in Canada. Rosemarie campaigned relentlessly for the eradication of poverty as Director of Social Action at Family Service Toronto and, as part of her role, as co-founder and national coordinator of Campaign 2000.
This year's Rosemarie Popham Award winner is Martha Friendly.
The Selection Committee selected Martha Friendly from Childcare Research and Resource Unit - a long-time partner organization in Campaign 2000. Martha has made many contributions throughout her career as a relentless child care advocate/activist. We especially recognize her commitment to keeping Early Childhood Education and Care services on both the public and political agenda for several decades.
Dr. Fazl receiving the award from Anita Lapidus, FST past chair and Pat FlemingThe Pat Fleming Award
The award is named after longstanding FST volunteer Pat Fleming. The Pat Fleming Award is presented to an individual volunteer or group that provides exceptional service to seniors, demonstrates the spirit of volunteerism and is a role model to others. This year’s Pat Fleming award recipient is Dr. Syed Fazl
Dr. Fazl is President of the board of directors of the Afghan Canadian Seniors Centre and has been instrumental in integrating the Afghan Senior Community into FST’s Illahee Community Connections program over the past four years. His strong interest in capacity building has led him to organize workshops and recreational outings for the seniors, and he is dedicated to helping seniors with diverse service needs.
The Community Service Award
Julie Bulmash, FST Board member, and Mohamed Ali-AdenThis award recognizes the contributions of a citizen or group that has shown outstanding leadership in furthering the quality of life for individuals and families in Toronto. The recipient of this year’s Community Service Award is Mohamed Ali-Aden.
In May 2008 Mohamed Ali-Aden started a tutorial group for children and youth in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood. During the first year the children's reading skills improved and their classroom attendance increased. As word about the program spread, more neighbourhood children and youth joined the group and other parents began tutoring as well. The program became a community effort. As the program developed, it became more focused on developing math skills, and many of the children’s grades improved from C's to A’s.
The Toronto Youth Volunteer Award
Julie Bulmash, FST Board member, and Ifeoluwa KoladeThis award recognizes young people who are deeply engaged as volunteers at FST or elsewhere and, as a result, make outstanding contributions to our community. The recipient of this year’s Youth Award is Ifeoluwa Kolade.
Ife has brought a wide range of strengths and skills to her volunteer work with Social Reform and Growing Up Healthy Downtown. Her excellent research skills and commitment to doing her best are always greatly appreciated. Ife’s positive attitude and willingness to take on new tasks make her an invaluable member of our FST volunteer team.
