AJFWA President's Message - November 2021

Happy Fall to All!!

I hope that you are all enjoying the amazing display nature has been putting on this year.  From fall colours to aurora borealis it has been spectacular!   As clubs start ramping up their programming I want to put out a reminder to be safe.   We still need to be vigilant with our Covid precautions and careful to monitor how our actions impact the safety of those around us.  To that end, the Board has sent out a detailed statement regarding Covid precautions.  Please read and follow.  It is encouraging to see the diligence of clubs and regions to plan ways to keep our members and our communities safe and still continue to get outside and to provide great programming.  Check out the Covid resource file in our members section on the website.   

We have had a flurry of new clubs and memberships this fall.  AJ has been very busy this month getting new members registered, and new and existing clubs chartered.  Thank you to all that got the paperwork in by the deadlines.  Chartering is a lot of work, but vital for us as an organization.  Without this process, we would not have insurance to do the amazing things we do with our wardens.  We would also not have a good way to reach you, or know how clubs are doing.  Chartering information gives us our mail lists, a database for event registration, a vetted volunteer base, club supports, tree mail, and a good sense of our financial status to be able to plan ahead.   Thank you to all the club registrars, our membership director, Lisa Patrick, our regional assistants, our IT committee (ComIt), member services and our vice president Vicky Hill for all of their work.   

We have many welcomes to make.  First off a welcome back to the AJ executive;   Brett Schonekess will be joining the Executive committee in the role of interim Treasurer.  He comes with a great deal of board and treasurer experience.   Many of you will know him from the Calgary District , No Shenanigans and Outreach programs.   Brett has been dedicated to JFW at club, region and provincial levels for many years, is well versed in the financials at all levels and is also a great source of mountaineering knowledge.  Welcome also to our newest AJ Board directors; Angela Townsend, and Debra Wathen.  

As the work of club startup settles down, I am hoping to encourage a few more members to help on the AJ level with one of our committees or on the board in one of our vacant regional rep positions.  Have a look at the Board and Committee web pages and contact me if you are able to help out.  

Enjoy the changing of the seasons, and a new year of great learning and adventures with our families.  

“See” you again when the snow flies,

Sandy

2021 Peter Mehl Scholarship Winners

 

September Message from President Sandy Evans

As we roll into a new programming year there is a lot happening behind the scenes to support clubs, parents and leaders in our amazing program.  Our strength and your connection to our JFW community is best  built by working on things together.  

So what has the AJ Board been up to?  

The Board (Regional representatives and elected executive) is a group of dedicated members who have taken on the exciting task of steering our JFW canoe.   Governing an organization is about encouraging the growth of people and community with an eye on potential storms and risks.  There are boundaries that limit our actions  - legal and financial obligations and our own bylaws that we agree to as a whole membership.  There are policies and procedures that we create to document and guide our day to day actions.  And over all of this are our values and mission that create the culture of our JFW community.  

We have a number of committees that all members can grab a paddle to help out with these endeavours.  

The CommT keeps our communication flowing across the  province, and our technological structure healthy.  They are like invisible gnomes and fairies that tweak and fix things so the garden of our virtual network is useful and helpful.  (As a non techie, I am in awe and always grateful when I can just click a button). 

The Membership and REC committees have been refining and testing the registration and chartering processes.  We have some great documents and training to help registrars and all members with this process.  

JPCC has organized a wonderful event commemorating some of those who have made huge contributions to our organization and built our history.  

We have a lot to offer the youth, families and the environment in our broader communities. The Canada committee is working hard to help promote JFW and get our “secret” out.  Governance is working hard to build and keep current the documentation of our policies and procedures and Fund Development is working to defer some of the costs of our programming with grant applications and searches for  sponsorship.  These are just a few of the committee activities over the past few months.  I encourage all members to check out the committee page on  our website and see if there is something that grabs your interest.    

The Directors on the board often wear many hats.  Their job on the Board involves looking forward, looking back, providing diverse perspectives from across the province and working to steer us in a good direction.   In the next few weeks the regional boards will be looking for representatives for the AJ board, and Committee chairs will be looking for new members.   This is OUR organization.  See what you can do!!  We all have ways to contribute.  Grab  a paddle, even if it is a small one, or you can only take a few strokes at a  time.  A few strokes from everyone helps us all move forward.

Sandy Evans

AJFWA President

Alumni Summer Family Camp 2021

 

Jumping Pound Cabin Dedications

 

July 13, 2021 Update:  

Long time members Mors Kochanski and Bob Skarra, who both passed away in December 2019, are being recognized with the dedication of two cabins at Jumping Pound Camp in their names. This event had been on hold due to the pandemic, but is now scheduled for the September 3-5, 2021 long weekend.  The official dedication starts at 2:00 on Saturday, September 4.  Bill Bresnahan, Chief Warden of Alberta from 1980 to 1995 who passed away in March 2020, will also be honoured. This is a public event in accordance with AJFWA's Guest Policy as non-JFW's will be in attendance.  

Summer Message from President Sandy Evans

 Happy Summer Days Everyone!

I hope this note finds you all out  enjoying the burst of leaves and colour this time of year.  As we gear up for a new year of programming starting in September it feels a bit like bears coming out of hibernation.    By the time you read this, the casino will be well underway, and some of your dedicated fellow members will be hard at work fund raising for the coming year.  THANK YOU!!! To all who are helping out for this fundraiser.

We have another team of very committed members working to get forms and IT processes updated and ready for chartering and registration.   These will be ready soon!!  Stay tuned and have your registrars at the ready.  THANK YOU to this team as well!!!

In the meantime, enjoy this time of natural abundance.  It is a great time to watch and learn our weather pattens, stare at an anthill, follow a bee, learn some new plants, or animal behaviours, wander a new trail.  

As we start to reconnect, be respectful of different comfort levels with distance and be patient with each other.  Just like the bears coming out of hibernation, we may need to stretch and cautiously find our best way out a little at a time.   

Sandy

2021 Peter Mehl Memorial Scholarship

 

The Alberta Junior Forest Warden Association, in cooperation with the Edmonton Community Foundation, is happy to announce the:

2021 PETER MEHL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS 

The annual Peter Mehl Memorial Scholarships are available to students enrolled in Forestry, Ecological or Environmental related programs who have been members, leaders or volunteers for a not for profit youth group.

To apply:

• open link:   

Scholarship Application Form

• download  form (it's fillable)

OR

• print and complete form
• follow instructions on how to submit

 Application deadline:  August 15, 2021  (must be received by that day)

Available scholarships:  between $500 and $1,000, depending on number of applicants

Awarded by Scholarship Committee:   September 2021

Criteria:  

Applicants selected for the Peter Mehl Memorial Scholarship will best meet the following criteria:

• Be resident of Canada.

• Be accepted by a post-secondary institution in a faculty or program appropriate for entering career in natural resource management or outdoor related fields.

• Have a strong academic record, supported by transcripts.

• A record of commitment to a not for profit youth program.

More details:

For more details, visit the AJFWA website.

Don't miss out on this opportunity!