Spring Message from President Sandy Evans

 Come on Spring!!!

We are nearly to those great moments when the stored energy and rest attached to winter begins to flourish into new growth, reaching out branches to new realms, and easing the webs of support and connection that sustain our world.  Spring brings momentum to start something new and fire up the old.  This year in the JFW world, spring will be a little restrained as we work out the remaining respect we need to give to Covid.  The good news is that we will have some things moving forward and some things will just be very well planned for next year.   Outreach, PT North and PT South are a go. AC graduation will be online.  AC conference and National camp will have to wait until next year - oh how amazing they will be then!!!   

For me the coming of Spring is marked by Winter Outreach.  It was wonderful to see A/Cs and adults returning in person to a provincial JFW adventure.  The pent up energy held in our roots for the past two years truly carried me up (and down) a few hills this weekend.   On Outreach wardens and adults work together to support each other as they take on more challenging adventures.  It is like a microcosm of what happens throughout all aspects of JFW.  As we open up our programming again, getting to hang out with some of our older wardens and some very dedicated parents has infused hope and momentum - Not to mention a great deal of gratitude to those that helped me up from a faceplant mere cms from a pile of porcupine poop.  

It takes a great deal of planning and forethought to make these great events happen.  Much of this work happens in the trunk of our JFW tree (in the event and executive committees and the board) and is really only apparent when the springlike burst of province wide events takes place.  Event planning is only one important aspect of the work of the AJ Board.  The work of the board is also about building and maintaining the roots, trunk and branch systems that give clubs and regions what they need to run amazing programs.   As a board and executive we have been working to make sure our members are well vetted, insured and informed.  We are focusing on the way ahead, documenting what works well (and what doesn’t) in our policies and procedures, creating systems to make the job of organizers at all levels a little easier, and yes, setting the necessary parameters to keep our wardens and our organization safe for many adventures to come.

Our AGM is coming very soon.  We have a few positions to fill for the coming year - committees, board directors and executive officers, and a new administrator.  This year the executive positions to be filled at the AGM are Treasurer and Vice President.   To be eligible for these positions, you will need to have had some council experience in JFW (club, region or AJ board).  

Please consider stepping forward.  While not as fun as falling into porcupine poop, it is a great and rewarding way to support the organization.  

I am looking forward to reconnecting, working and playing with you all!  

Sandy