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411 SENIORS CENTRE SOCIETY
Annual Report 2012-2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Message from the President
3
Message from the Executive Director
5
Priorities & Planning Committee
7
Program Highlights
8
Information & Referral
9
Membership Report
9
Volunteer Thanks
10
Donors & Support
11
WHO WE ARE
MISSION STATEMENT
Under the direction of the 411 Seniors Centre Society, the 411
Seniors Centre is a multicultural, proactive resource centre in
Vancouver where the community of members, volunteers and
staff address seniors’ issues and concerns; and social,
recreational, nutritional, informational and counseling needs
of members and clients.
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OUR GOALS
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To operate and maintain a safe, welcoming and attractive multipurpose
facility.
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To build a sense of ownership whereby the Board, members,
volunteers and staff share responsibility for the life of the Centre and
for each others’ welfare.
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To welcome everyone regardless of race, colour, ancestry, place of
origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental ability,
gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, income or age.
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To provide education and counseling which enables seniors to deal
effectively with their own needs and the needs of others.
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To enable personal fulfillment through meaningful volunteer
opportunities developed in partnership with well-trained staff.
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To provide programs which address wellness, recreational educational
and social needs.
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To play a leading role in providing information and referral services.
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To examine the use of the Centre as a training/educational place for
people who work with seniors.
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To explore new initiatives to serve our members, clients and other
seniors.
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To network and develop partnership possibilities with other seniors’
organizations.
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
This last year has been a year of exploration
and decision making - where do we go from
here, what, when and how. The experience has
been a positive one because we have all
worked together –our Board, our staff, our
volunteers and members all pitched in to find
the answers. As your president I’ve constantly
been revitalized by all the positive energy and I
thank everyone for your support. In cooperation we have held to our focus of ‘seniors serving seniors’ .
Together we have been able to overcome the problems of the past and
are now ready to move forward.
Our first task in our new situation was to find out how 411 Seniors
Centre Society (1977) could best serve the community of elders - 55
years plus. We set about researching the field of services presently
being offered and we listened to those we interviewed to find out
what was missing.
We heard that lack of affordable adequate housing was a huge issue
along with lack of accessible transportation and poverty exasperating
issues of health. To help deal with these ongoing shortages it was clear
that there is a need for access to information and referral (I&R) and to
strengthen self-advocacy in order to manipulate the system and find
solutions. Although many seniors serving organizations provide these
services they could be improved with better coordination and planning.
In order to provide this service adequately the community needs
trained staff and volunteers. In the past 411 Seniors Centre was
recognized as a leader in I&R and advocacy and there was general
agreement that we should again take on this task.
We also heard that services to the elderly are fragmented and could be
improved by collaboration amongst the serving organizations. When
Vancity Foundation invited us to put in a proposal to create a cooperative model of services, we accepted. We are now working with a
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co-operative of advisors (funded by Vancity) to map out the steps we must take to
determine the viability of a co-operative of service providers. After examining co-op
models we believe a co-operative structure with partners working on a level playing
field will enhance the profile and support
for non-profits.
At the beginning we only had questions
Board attention has also been focused on and now we have some answers and can
maintaining our goal of protecting the
move forward.
capital from the sale of the building on
Dunsmuir Street and to cover the 3.5% that must be spent for charitable purposes
with investment income. This is a challenge in today`s troubled investment market
and low interest rates but we hope to achieve this balance with a prudent
investment strategy.
We are now considering investing in a home where the elderly can develop a
community of the elderly serving the elderly and help weather the challenges of
ageing in a society in rapid change. This is most evident today as real people are
replaced by automated communication and access to information systems . We
expect this will continue and the solution lies in facilitating information sharing,
convening groups to address issues and finding ways to enhance the capacity of
individuals and community.
This work is challenging and exciting, it’s an opportunity for 411 Seniors Society to
become stronger and move forward to reach our common goals. At the beginning we
only had questions and now we have some answers and can move forward. Thank
you volunteers, members, staff and Board members. Also thank you to all of the
service providers and others in the community who shared their knowledge and
ideas on gaps and weaknesses in the system and how 411 could play a part in filling
these needs.
Sincerely,
Elsie Dean
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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
April 30, 2013 – Janis Kaleta our Office
Manager said “Can you remember this
time last year? We were packing up and
leaving 411 Dunsmuir.” This gave me
pause because for the past year we had
been busy focusing on stabilizing and
planning for the future, there was no
time to dwell on what was. We always
recognized the importance and value of
incorporating history and learnings from
the past, especially the rich heritage and reputation of the 411 but
we needed to move forward and embrace the change. And change
we did……
Operationally, we brought the accounting in-house and it has been a
very successful undertaking. Recognizing that many seniors are lifelong learners we introduced weekly Lunch and Learn workshops
funded in large part by the United Way. Other funders such as the
province of BC and the City of Vancouver continued to support our
programs and
understood the need for
We needed to move forward and
stability during times of
embrace the change. And change we
change. We ensured we
did…
stayed connected to the
membership through
phone calls, newsletter and birthday parties. The Information and
Referral Program did not miss a beat and the 2013 Income Tax Clinic’s
numbers surpassed the 2012 Clinic. Our primary goal in year one was
to stabilize and settle and to build a strong foundation that would be
able to sustain future uncertainties and prepare us to move forward.
“Seniors Planning for Seniors” was front and center as the Board
undertook a broad-based community engagement exercise to
identify the gaps in service for seniors were and what was the role
411 could play. The information reaffirmed for us that society as a
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whole was unprepared for the change that is being brought about by the increased
number of seniors, systems and services are underprepared to address the overall
needs of seniors and must change. While the 411 is not in a position to address all
the gaps in services to seniors we are in a position to act as a catalyst and help
strengthen the voice of seniors. We are
I learnt about the resiliency of the
in the position to address fragmentation
411, I learnt that contrary to many
of services and to bring together a group
myths seniors are not afraid of
of like-minded senior serving
organizations to collaborate on ensuring
change, in fact we embraced it.
many of the gaps in services are
addressed. Together, we can effect necessary change.
As with any change this past year has highlighted differences between our old home
on Dunsmuir and our new temporary home on Terminal. For some, the change was
too unsettling and a number of our long time members chose not to continue with
411, however others embraced the opportunity and have been a wonderful support
to the staff and organization.
If I learnt anything this last year I learnt about the resiliency of the 411, I learnt that
contrary to many myths seniors were not afraid of change, in fact we embraced it. I
learnt that we cannot go on ignoring seniors’ needs and issues. We are a force to be
reckoned with and society had better be prepared for change.
My sincerest thanks to one of the hardest working boards I know, to the staff who
has withstood the test of uncertainty and change, to the amazing loyal volunteers
who have become friends and to the members who are the heart and soul of all we
are and what we do.
Sincerely,
Sandra Gebhardt
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PRIORITIES & PLANNING COMITTEE
REPORT FROM PRIORITIES AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
The past year has seen an intensive effort by our committee to plan
for the future 411. In the winter we began a process of learning
what our members and others working with seniors thought 411
could be doing and what we already do well. We held many
interviews with 25 individuals who represent other organizations,
including representatives from Immigrant Services Society, MOSAIC,
the Jewish Seniors
We prioritized… a community where
Alliance, BC Centre for
older adults are able to access
Elder Advocacy and
resources and services in key areas...
Support, and South
Granville Seniors. We
also spoke with two groups from 411, the Information and Referral
volunteers and a group of nearly thirty members. We have
published the results of our work in the 411 Newsletter. With that
information in mind we prioritized the following: a community
where older adults are able to access appropriate resources and
services in key areas such as housing, education, transportation and
food, when and where they need it. A training centre for both
members and outside organizations that would address the
coordination of information, referral, education and advocacy
needs of seniors, and a place where people can meet, socialize and
share a meal seems to be at the top of the list.
Since that time we have begun to look at the possibility of setting up
a co-operative that would involve a small group of service providers
(411 being one of them). Vancity is very interested in co-ops and has
offered to pay for consultants to help us steer through all the issues.
We have met with the Vancity rep and 2 consultants a number of
times and have narrowed our criteria. This co-op would be one of
service providers and we would work together on some issues that
we have in common. I should now here that a co-op will in no way
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take away from the autonomy of 411 to run its own affairs.
In the spring we began to focus our attention on finding a property to house
the new 411. This process has meant that we have had a number of
discussions on what the new Centre would look like. We want to be able to
include the priorities raised by members and others about what 411
should/could be. We are looking at either buying land and building, or buying
an existing property and renovating.
Linda Forsythe
Chair of 411’s P & P Committee
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Programs focused on health and well-being activities, social and recreational
events and information that assisted seniors in accessing benefits and services.
This year we introduced the Lunch and Learn Workshops that added a new
dimension to our programming.
SENIORS
SERVED
NEWSLETTERS
SENT
3250
4000
3200
3500
3150
3000
WORKSHOPS
35
30
25
PEOPLE THE
INCOME TAX
CLINIC SERVED
INCOME TAX
CLINIC
DONATIONS
1250
6000
1200
5000
3100
2500
20
3050
2000
15
3000
1500
2950
1000
2900
500
5
950
1000
2850
0
0
900
0
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April 2011 – March 2012
1150
1100
1050
1000
4000
3000
2000
April 2012 – March 2013
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SENIORS SERVING SENIORS
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
The Information and Referral Program is a flagship program for the 411
and is at the heart of our programs and services. We were able to keep
the program running and 1540 seniors were helped thanks to a group
of dedicated and trained I&R volunteers. Outreach services are a key
part of this program and volunteers visit seniors who are unable to
access I&R services in person: 30 vulnerable seniors living in the
Vancouver area were visited by I&R volunteers in 2013. Types of
information we provide include:
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Seniors Benefits (CPP, OAS, GIS, Disability Pension)
Housing (shelter referrals, BC Housing programs, SAFER)
Income Tax
Referrals to legal advocates
Commissioner of Affidavits services & filling out applications
Other senior issues: health issues, consumer protection, lowincome community and health services (dental, medical etc.) and
government service referrals
THE MEMBERSHIP REPORT – WHERE OUR MEMBERS ARE LOCATED
I N S I D E VA N C O U V E R ( 2 2 0 M E M B E R S )
West End
14%
16%
28%
Yaletown, Granville/Burrard Coal
Harbour
Cambie to Clark
South of False Creek/English Bay, West
of Ontario
East Side (West)
20%
19%
3%
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East Side (East)
O U T S I D E VA N C O V E R ( 6 2 M E M B E R S )
11%
18%
Burnaby
13%
Richmond
Surrey/New West/White Rock/Coquitlam
8%
50%
North Van/West Van
Other
CHEERS FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS
We are proud of the commitment shown by our many volunteers who donate their
time and provide support to the seniors we serve. A heartfelt thank you to all!
Marc Anthony Agapay
Colleen Miller
Cheryl Hewitt
Linda Quilty Elsie Dean
Marlene Nikopoulos
Lynda En
Jeremy Hooper Gary Running Peggy Lai
Susan Agul Propas
Victor Nimbev
Lisa MacLean
Ute Russell
Vicky Lau
Annabelle Carillo
Edward Pedersen Patrice Pratt
Philip Seitz
Suni Silva
Margaret Kocuiba
Betty Porteous
Poppy Skears Anna Sevcov Wai Fung
Charmaine Spencer
Vesna Radinovic
Rosita Taruc
Marcia Smith David Lau
Mohinder Grewall
Christin Tandil
Ron Vanderiet Raj Agarwal Joy Zhang
Larry Henderson
Berenice Toban
Jean Bodlak
Judy Board Susan Zhu
Brian McCaughey
Pamela Cooper
Debra Bodner Chuck Bryan
Ian Buck
Ranjit Sonaissy
Derek Hofteig
Patsy Craig
Cindy Gall
Art Kube
Leyla Akhtanova
Amal Marrache
Dorothy Foo
Gail Harmer
Faye Li
DeeDee Carrigan
Virginia Shum
Dave Hibbard
Anne Judge
Eryl So
Mohammad Eslami
Nasrin Tabrizi
Ann Hyldtoft
Maggie Mak
Sue He
Linda Forsythe
Lena Carlsson
Eliza Krohn
Mei Sen Wei
Tom Su
Marianne Maier
Diana Gatrill
Marcy Lucas
David Yorke
Discover
Sumiko Mizutani
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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Association of Neighbourhood Houses
BC Association of Community Response Networks
BC Human Rights Coalition
Vancouver Community Network
Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House
Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon
Vancouver Community College Dental & Nursing
Students
Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House
Gordon Neighbourhood House
University Of British Columbia
West End Coal Harbour Community Policing
Centre
Vancouver Public Library
Crisis Centre
Breast Cancer Research
Century House
People's Law School
Canada Revenue Agency
Home Health Care Society
Langara College
Qmunity
Simon Fraser University
Canadian Heritage
Handy Dart
Immigrant Services Society
WESN
Senior Services Society
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DONORS AND SUPPORT
Thank you to the many members who donated during our Direct Mail Campaign and
the members and clients who have made anonymous donations while visiting the
Centre. And thank you to our funders and organizational donors:
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Georgia Straight Newspaper
Provincial Employees Community Services Fund
Dahl & Connors Law Firm
RBC Royal Bank and Community Volunteer
Participants Linda Quilty & Vicky Lau
Fluor Employee Giving Campaign
Westender Vancouver Newspapers
Spartacus Books
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Amica Arbutus Manor
BC Gaming
Xtra West Newspapers
Ethical Bean
HYDRECS Fund
Elbow Room Café
Vancity
Tim Hortons
#704 – 333 Terminal Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6A 4C1
Tel : (604) 684-8171
E-mail : contact411@411seniors.bc.ca