Annual Report 2015-2016
University Women’s Club of Vancouver Total Membership as of June 6, 2016: 471
Board of Directors President Cleta Brown First Vice President Thérèse Soong Second Vice President Wendy Orvig Secretary MJ Ankenman Treasurer Ann Stirrat Education Beryl Matthewson House Maureen Attwell Membership Maureen Kling Member Relations Pamela Addinall Member-at-Large Denise Levine
Board of Trustees Chair Elaine Carty Treasurer Gwen Smith Secretary Susan Fielden
Hycroft Heritage Preservation Foundation Directors
Cleta Brown Zoe Campbell Thérèse Soong Sue Forshaw MJ Ankenman Mary Stewart Maureen Attwell
Mission The University Women’s Club of Vancouver, part of a worldwide organization for university and professional women, promotes fellowship, social responsibility and public education through scholarships and bursaries, volunteer action and outstanding programs.
Table of Contents
Board and Standing Committees President…………………………………………………………………………………… 3 First Vice-President………………………………………………………………………. 4 Second Vice-President…………………………………………………………………... 4 Secretary………………………………………………………………………………...... 4 Member Relations Director…………………………………………………………...... 5 Member-at-Large…………………………………………………………………………. 5 Education…………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Finance……………………………………………………………………………………. 6
House……………………………………………………………………………………… 7 House Furnishings Sub-Committee ...... 8 House Exterior Sub-Committee ...... 9 Garden Sub-Committee ...... 9 Membership……………………………………………………………………………...... 10
Board of Trustees ...... 11
Hycroft Heritage Preservation Foundation ...... 11
Continuing Committees Archives ...... 12 Communications ...... 12 Constitution & By-Laws ...... 13 Federation ...... 13 Interest Groups...... 15 Library ...... 15 Nominations ...... 15 Performing Arts ...... 15 Program ...... 16 Social ...... 16 Status of Women and Human Rights ...... 16 Visual Arts ...... 17
Ad hoc committees Access ...... 18 Christmas at Hycroft ...... 18
Interest Groups ...... 20
2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS and STANDING COMMITTEES
PRESIDENT In 2015 members of the University Women's Club of Vancouver took part in countless social, cultural and education events, committee meetings, interest group activities and advocacy campaigns. Members enjoyed our beautiful Hycroft and shared Hycroft with the public through a successful Christmas at Hycroft, house tours and a myriad of public events. The University Women's Club of Vancouver had a positive financial year, realizing a small unbudgeted surplus. And the Club had a positive membership year increasing the number of members to our largest total in many years.
The University Women's Club of Vancouver had over 15 committees active in 2015. Much of the successful functioning of our organization is attributable to the dedication and expertise of these committees' members. Notable amongst the committees for their time commitment in particular and impact are the Finance, House, Communications and Membership committees. No progress is possible without the heavy lifting of these committees. Our advocacy, outreach and liaison with community groups was ably led by the rejuvenated and tireless Status of Women and Federation committees. Their consistent and engaged work towards elimination of child poverty in BC, further supports for foster children aging out of government care and enforcement of the new prostitution laws has generated community awareness and respect for our Club. As well the Federation Committee was able to research and draft a resolution calling on government support for older foster children that was ultimately adopted by all BC CFUW clubs at the CFUW-BC Council AGM in April. Enthusiastic and creative members of the Education and Program Committees enriched our members' general knowledge, fellowship and outreach to academia and the local community as well. Once again we were so fortunate to enjoy an even more successful Christmas at Hycroft thanks to another UWCV committee of dedicated, talented and tireless women. Greater attendance and greater revenues was a wonderful result. We are also so fortunate to have a very active and knowledgeable membership in our cultural committees - Visual Arts and Performing Arts - they nurture our musical and artistic selves and contribute so critically to the beauty, sophistication and joy in our house.
The University Women's Club of Vancouver without our interest groups is simply inconceivable. They provide the fun and the fellowship. They provide respite, relaxation, humour, social bonding, support, stimulation and creative expression. They are mood elevators, de-stressors and are only mildly addictive! 2015 was a happily busy year with over 30 interest groups, including several ones newly formed.
Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to all Committee chairs and Interest Group Convenors for your generous and selfless leadership.
Congratulations and grateful thanks to all committee and interest group members for your contributions to the vibrancy, diversity of offerings and well-being of the UWCV.
The people that support and facilitate all that the members do are our hard-working staff. From our welcoming and always helpful front office staff to the busy servers and amazing chefs we are all served exceedingly well. This year much of our financial surplus must be attributed to the exemplary work of our staff who work with and for our rental clients and guests. They received regular accolades and letters of appreciation. Thanks to the capable leadership of our Rentals Coordinator and the Management team, the Club benefitted significantly. The Board of Directors was pleased to be in a position to show our appreciation to all regular staff of 2015. They went the extra mile and it showed and it made a difference.
The University Women's Club of Vancouver a few years ago set out on a path to professionalize the administration of our Club, the business operations and the provision of services and programs to our members, guests and the public. We see this as a feasible way to ensure the viability and success of the Club well into the 21st century. We are working hard to attract and retain new members from a diverse demographic by offering a welcoming, active, sustainable, interesting Club that remains relevant to the generations of women represented in our membership and which is an integral 3 contributing member of our local community and city. While these large goals are virtually universally accepted, the possible ways to attain these goals does generate debate and disagreement from time to time. This is healthy and consistent with a dynamic and evolving entity.
In 2015 again we had hard choices to make and priorities to determine. I am so pleased and fortunate to have worked with a Board of Directors who firmly and conscientiously tackled the challenges, engaged in fulsome debate and kept our focus on the members' interests and the welfare of the Club. My sincerest thank you to the 2015 Directors for their energy, diligence, openness, support and freely given service to our Club. Thank you in particular to those Directors who have completed their terms on the Board - MJ Ankenman, Beryl Matthewson, Maureen Attwell, Maureen Kling and to Jean Hurst who was our Treasurer for part of 2015.
At the end of 2015 we find ourselves in a position worthy of optimism and reasonable expectations. Critical repairs and maintenance to our heritage home are being undertaken, paid for by our members as was the purchase of our house. Membership, services and programs are expanding. Preparations for a new strategic plan for the next 5 years are about to begin. Our rentals business is in good shape. We are not out of the woods entirely but we are further and further along the road. Thank you to all members and staff, family and friends who make our community of women strong.
Dux Femina Facti Cleta Brown
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Since June 2015, the UWVC has forged ahead with growth of our membership and further positive financial stability. We have been fortunate to realize an unbudgeted surplus for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2016, thanks to the hard work of all our staff and member volunteers. We are enjoying the further enhancements that Sue Carlile, Manager of Hospitality, and her staff have brought to our food and beverage services for both members and the public. We welcomed our new Chef Benedict Haines to the club in November 2015 and have been treated to his exceptional contributions to our food offerings as well.
In addition to monthly board meetings, I have been pleased to participate in the Human Resources Oversight Committee and have continued on as a member of the Finance Committee. I attended regular weekly meetings with the President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer and managers to review club business. The board has worked together collaboratively, harmoniously and professionally, and I am grateful to the members for allowing me the privilege of participating together with this outstanding group of women. Thérèse Soong
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT During my first year of term, my main responsibility has been in support of the President. In that capacity, I have acted as President upon her request. I have attended weekly meetings of the Executive Committee which provides oversight to operations, including HR, and to the member-staff interface of Club activities and business activities. I attended the CFUW BC Council AGM in Abbottsford, B.C. April 23, 2016. Due to the resignation of the Manager of Finance and Administration, I have also supported Club staff and the Treasurer to ensure continuation of financial obligations and reporting. Wendy Orvig
SECRETARY This year marks my second year on the board of directors of UWCV and as Secretary on the Board. Recording the minutes for the Board meetings, General meetings and HHPF has afforded me the opportunity to learn and appreciate all that is involved in managing Hycroft and the UWCV. MJ Ankenman
4 MEMBER RELATIONS DIRECTOR This year I had several occasions to engage in informal conflict resolution in disputes between members and between members and Club employees. I referred to our Member Behaviour Policy in these instances. All matters were kept in the strictest of confidence.
Our new Member Behaviour Policy was also put to use this year when considering re-applications for membership.
New members continue to be required to sign a “Member Conduct Promise”. Fortunately, this year we did not have to resort to the Conflict Resolution Process.
I attended the CFUW B.C. Council AGM in Abbotsford, where our resolution concerning youth aging out of foster care was presented and passed.
In addition, I have provided legal insight into the formation of contracts with the Club and the film industry. I have also attended meetings with Hycroft neighbours concerning complaints about noise.
Finally, cards of condolence, congratulations, etc., were sent out to members, acknowledging important events in their lives. Pamela Addinall
MEMBER-AT-LARGE I have enjoyed my first year on the UWCV Board as the Member-at-Large. During my attendance at Board meetings and the Board retreats throughout the year, I have learned so much during that time. I have also contributed through my thoughts, ideas and suggestions.
I have also maintained my role of Interest Group Chair over the last year, ensuring that support is provided where needed, and encouraging members to explore their interests.
Planning for the Hycroft Lecture is coming along, and as I enter into my second year on the Board, I am excited and thrilled to part of such an amazing team!
Denise Levine
EDUCATION The Education Chair acts as a liaison between the UWCV Board of Directors and the Status of Women & Human Rights, Federation, Environment and Education Committees. Advocacy work with this committee continues to be in regards to children transitioning out of foster care and the fact that one in five children in British Columbia live in poverty.
The BC Minister of Children and Family Development, Stephanie Cadieu, outlined the recommendations reached by government research into the needs of youth aging out of foster care in this Province. Many post-secondary institutions, like BCIT, are now waving tuition for this population and organizations like “First Call” are actively petitioning the Government to raise the age from 19 to 25 for continuing support.
The Federation Committee actively supports the Status committee and liaises with the CFUW National office and our members. This year it has sponsored three events; ‘Person’s Day’, December 6th Commemoration, and International Women’s Day with great success. Since January the committee has been very busy working on the seven Resolutions presented by Canadian clubs for discussion at the National AGM in June and providing information on a proposed Bylaw amendment that would alter our relationship with the International organization.
The Education Committee and SFU Chancellor Anne Giardini presented a series of talks in 2015. The “Idea Salon” showcased the exciting work being done by Women leaders at our Universities today.
5 The first presentation featured Joy Johnson, SFU V.P. of Research and Scientific Director for the Institute of Gender Health. In April SFU’s Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Mary-Ellen Kelm presented seven of her SFU graduate students in three minute presentations on their studies. Anne Giardini spoke on her role as Chancellor of SFU in June. Ingrid Leman Stefanovic, Dean Faculty of the Environment spoke in September and Heather McKay, Faculty of Medicine UBC told our members about the Institute of Hip Health in November. There are three more presentations to follow in this series this year.
Dean Robin Hemmingsen from the BCIT School of Business is closely aligned with the Vancouver Board of Trade and sponsor for the Leaders of Tomorrow and Company of Young Professional programs. She spoke at the club April 20th. Scheduled speakers for September and November are past Dean Evaleen Jaageroy from Emily Carr and Dean Blaize Reich SFU School of Business. The committee has also planned an evening with SFU and UBC graduate students to be held on July 14th, 2016.
As this is my second term as a Board member, I would like to thank all members that I served with. It was a great experience and I would encourage all new members to volunteer their time and take the opportunity to learn about the hard work that goes into maintaining a successful community at ‘Hycroft’. Beryl Matthewson, Chair
Committee Members: Joan Beaty, Valerie Bortoletto, Rachel Chwang, Anne Giardini, Robin Halpern, Marg Huber, Erica Pinsky, Gwen Smith, Aline Smolensky, Sarah Sutherland, Bev Wong,.
FINANCE The past year has been a busy and productive one for the Finance Committee. The Committee met monthly to review the Club’s financial statements, discuss financial policies, monitor the progress of financial initiatives and prepare the 2016-2017 fiscal year operating budget and capital budget. We were very happy that the Club was able to realize a surplus for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016 and that we were able to present a balanced operating budget for the fiscal year 2016-2017.
We were also very pleased to be able to present a capital budget for the fiscal year 2016-2017 that addressed both cyclical maintenance and also the start of the upgrades to Hycroft identified by the McGinn engineering report done for the Club last year. Work on the Terrace repair, identified as the highest priority upgrade in the report, was undertaken this spring. With the McGinn report as our guide, we have also drafted a multi-year capital plan for undertaking the projects needed for the long- term preservation of Hycroft.
I appreciate the time and effort that all the members of the Finance Committee give to the Club to ensure that internal controls and proper governance are in place, and that policies are followed. I would also like to recognize and thank Jean Hurst for serving as Treasurer and Committee Chair in the first half of the year. And we are all grateful to Sandra Penny, Manager Finance and Administration (and, previously, Karen Gillespie), and Sue Carlile, Manager Hospitality, as well as all their staff, for their contributions to the Club’s positive outcomes in the past year and the ongoing improvements to the Club’s operations and financial position that will help to ensure a successful future for the Club.
Ann Stirrat, Chair & Treasurer
Committee Members: Maureen Attwell, Cleta Brown, Ingrid Kanters, Wendy Lee, Dawn Longshaw, Wendy Orvig, Thérèse Soong, Pat Van der Flaes.
HOUSE The House Committee has had another extremely busy, yet productive year. Sub-committees were 6 involved in renewing, replacing and repairing our beautiful Hycroft to the great appreciation of members. The House Committee works extensively with Sue Carlile, the Hospitality Manager, Sandra Penny, the Finance Manager, and the Finance Committee, the Bid-Review Committee, and the Capital Priorities Committee to initiate projects and to plan repairs and renovations as described in the McGinn Report, an extensive document produced in July, 2015 outlining necessary scheduled and unscheduled maintenance projects around Hycroft.
The summer of 2015 proved to be a blisteringly hot one so the Garden Committee established watering parties to keep grounds and beds lush; an improved sprinkler system, a drip hose system for the roses and an improved electronic control panel for the sprinklers were installed in the early spring, 2016. From a donation to HHPF, an electric fountain and hardscape area were implemented in the wedding garden.
Within the House, the largest project for the House this year was the complete renovation of the terrace drainage system. After receiving four bids, the Bid Process Committee, in conjunction with the Finance Committee, the House Committee, the Board, and the Hospitality Committee awarded the contract to Coast Performance Restoration who completed a thorough repair and replacement of the terrace drains, caulked the edges of the terrace, and relined and galvanized all planters on the terrace siding against the House.
The Access Implementation Committee, which was moved to be under the administration of the House Exterior Committee in December, 2015, advised in the completed installation of the external mechanism for the access lift outside the southwest corner of the ballroom. Plans, underway to construct the access lift on the ballroom stairs, are on hold until the fall, 2016 to accommodate wedding season. The downstairs access bathroom and shower areas were completed in the early winter, 2016.
The McRae Bar is now completely finished its renovation, the last details being hot and cold water hookups, new drainage and sink installations. The House Committee continues its goal of utilizing each room to its capacity; to this endeavour, the old Board Room, now called the Ames Room after a former President, was reconfigured into a multi-purpose room, complete with a refinishing of the hardwood floor, the placement of a new carpet and the addition of several favourite chairs and sofas. The Lett Room, where the Board and Committees meet, was furnished by a beautiful board room table and ten leather chairs, generously donated by a member. The breakfront, originally in the Ames Room, was moved to the Lett Room to the satisfaction of all.
The House Committee, responsible for the care and maintenance of the Coach House, dealt with tenants' concerns regarding ventilation, patio concrete repairs and the cleaning and sealing of the tiled floor in the Cottage Mews.
In the parking lot, new lines and numbers were painted; new signs are being installed for the three Board positions, President, House Chair and Treasurer, and for the tenants of the Coach House and the Cottage Mews. In the House, new signs will also be mounted on doors for the Hospitality Administration and Finance Administration and portable ones will be used on door handles indicating whether or not meeting rooms are occupied. A new sign for the UWC at the corner of Marpole and McRae Avenues is being designed and should be installed by July, 2016.
The House Committee continues to work closely with Christmas at Hycroft in the moving out and in of all the furniture, decorative items and pictures. A report from the current House Committee is being prepared for the Christmas at Hycroft co-ordinator, outlining some concerns the House Committee has for the continued wear and tear on the House during the annual event and some suggestions for an alternate way of celebrating Christmas at Hycroft.
Many thanks to all the Sub-Chairs of the Gardening, House Furnishings, and House Exterior/Interior Committees, the House Committee members, Sue Carlile, the Board and Finance Committee, and to 7 all the members at the UWC for their support, wisdom, suggestions and laughter over my last year as House Chair. It's been an amazing ride.
Maureen Attwell, Chair
Committee members: Cathy Barford, Charlotte Burns, Honorée Findlay Judith Frost, Sonja Inkster, Eleanore Lawrey, Margaret MacDonald, Joanne Melville.
HOUSE FURNISHINGS SUB-COMMITTEE Our committee is grateful for our increased budget. While our primary focus is on moveable items in Hycroft, we often find ourselves in the position of being part of the House Team itself as projects meld together. We undertook the refurbishing of the hundred year old McRae Bar. Bar stools with tables were purchased. New paint was needed. Entrance railings were needed for code...we chose real brass and they are lovely. New lighting followed. Beautiful green silvered granite replaced the old felt glass topped baize. The entire bar was restained and repolished to former mahogany splendour. Our Hycroft restorer was engaged to build matching cabinets on the inner bar. Two new sinks with up-to- code plumbing were installed two large locked cabinets under the bar were put in...a small fridge was added. The project took a great deal of time and effort...exit doors were veneered to match the surrounding walls...the effect is fabulous...but better yet, the quality of each step , I believe has made it more magnificent than the original. A very successful launch party. The Roaring Twenties with band music of the same era made the official reopening fun.
PAINTINGS A beautiful seascape donated by Orena Robinson was cleaned and had its gorgeous frame fixed. We decided to professionally hang all art work on the second landing, some of which were hung by very old copper wire. So they are all now secure.
NEW AND OLD BOARD ROOMS The new board room is now the Lett Board Room, and the former Board Room is now the June Ames Room honouring a former President, founder of HHPF and founding chair of Christmas at Hycroft. A generous donation from a law firm and a friend of Hycroft makes, with the nine leather chairs, a fine Board Room. We moved the Breakfront from the former Board Room. Alas, the carpet need changing and when pulled up revealed a very bad looking oak floor. It was totally refinished. A new British India rug was purchased with the professional advice of Geèle Soroka who also got us a very good price. Our purpose in choosing soft feminine colours was to create a room that is badly needed, a room for members and friends. The room is still a work in progress and we have received many positive comments both re the decor, and the purpose of this room.
REUPHOLSTERY/REPAIR OF FURNITURE This is an ongoing project. This year we will repair the underside of the large setee in the drawing room as well as three other chairs. We hope to recover four chairs from the Ames Room if budget allows.
COLLECTIBLES SALE The sale, chiefly of Jewellry following the Fashion Show netted$1000 for Hycroft. Thank you to all the donors.
OUTDOOR WICKER SETS FOR EIGHT These were purchased to add beauty to our terrace. The chairs and pillows are of high quality and look as though they were p art of the original house.
RED RUNNER This was requested by groups to use for special occasions...looks great, and was inexpensive.
FLOWERS Providing flowers for the Loo table, and for special dining functions add to the elegance of the club.
8
WALK-A-BOUT Under the direction of our House Chair, Maureen Attwell, all committees walked about the whole property noting improvements needed and new projects for the future.
We hope we have not only maintained our beautiful home, but added quality and greater beauty to Hycroft.
Eleanore Lawrey & Sonja Inkster, Co-Chairs Committee members: Maureen Attwell, Cathy Barford, Honorée Findlay, Judith Frost, Mary Lou Galbraith, Margaret MacDonald (Secretary), Margaret Parrott, Geèle Soroka, Michelle Zhang.
HOUSE EXTERIOR SUB-COMMITTEE The past year included the regular preventative maintenance program of window, gutter and chimney cleaning as well as power washing of the exterior stairwells and Coach House patio, perimeter wall and stairs. In addition, House Exterior supported the replacement of part of the concrete path to the Juliet balcony, repair of the Coach House patio and, at the request of the Garden Committee, the addition of a small concrete step to the bottom of the stairs to the west of that path. During Christmas at Hycroft, one of the front gates was damaged by a truck again. On the recommendation of Barry McGinn P. Eng. and Jim Wolf, Eric Langstroth of Royal City Ironworks provided a superior repair of the gate – and in time for a winter movie shoot of the front entrance of Hycroft. For a number of reasons, heritage repair and restoration may require compromise, if not outright substitution with new materials, but Eric Langstroth has been able to precisely replicate ten original bronze latches long missing from the second floor windows.
House Interior, in cooperation with the Access Implementation Committee, supported reconfiguring and repainting completely the Ballroom level washroom and workroom area. The furnace room door frame was adjusted sideways and a cupboard for cleaning supplies was added at the request of the Manager of Hospitality. At the request of House Furnishings, House Interior contributed to the refinishing of the floor in the renamed June Ames Room. Victorian Stained Glass repaired the leading of the Bluebird Solarium door. A substantial painting touch ups program has been reinstituted.
Many thanks to the Finance Committee for recognizing the need to revisit and update the 1995 Diamond Report and to HHPF for their support of the excellent 2015 McGinn Report with its helpful recommendations - several of which have been adopted already by House Exterior.
In 2012, the House Chair complemented the previous Committee, chaired by Dianne Dixon on their dedication and hard work over three years which ”ensured members a more comfortable and inviting house and garden that are, altogether, in much better condition.” Maureen Attwell has more than upheld the tradition. Many, many thanks to Maureen for her steady leadership and best wishes to Dianne on her return.
Lois Etherington and Audrey Kharadly have stepped back from committee activities and we wish them very well. Cathy Barford, Chair Committee members: Margaret Couch, Sonja Inkster, Cathy Lightfoot, Stephanie Orr.
GARDEN SUB-COMMITTEE This year saw a much needed and significant increase in our budget. In addition the board allocated capital funding to upgrade the ancient and ineffective irrigation system.
We are pleased to report that the sprinkler project has been completed. The separation of the watering zones now allows us to water the lawns without blasting the blooms from the flowers. This will also enable us to keep the flower beds watered during periods of city watering restrictions. There is now water down at the far bottom end of the garden due to the increased pressure in the new system.
The wedding garden saw the addition of a lovely three tiered fountain and an adjacent flagstone patio area that will be suitable for a small bistro table and two chairs. This was made possible by the family 9 of Mary Ashby, who, following the wishes in their mother's will, donated funds for the memorial fountain. This project was part of the overall plan proposed two years ago by the landscape students from Kwantlen College. It will provide a soothing oasis for members to sit with a cup of tea or glass of wine. The trickling water is a lovely backdrop for the enjoyment of the beautiful vista of the rose beds.
The wrought iron stairs coming down from the terrace are now usable after the removal of several large shrubs and branches which were blocking the bottom steps.
We continue to have good service from our contract gardener who takes care of the general maintenance of the areas closest to the house. He looks after the lawns, flower beds, window boxes and urns.
Our committee includes a hands-on group of gardeners who meet once a month to weed and cultivate areas of the garden not looked after by the contractor. They are currently concentrating on an area below what was once the cutting garden which we are planning to replant with rhododendrons.
Future plans include a woodland shade garden under the copper beech which will see the removal of the bark mulch which is there now and a solid surface pathway suitable for wheelchairs coming off the ramp at the east end of the house.
The exciting discovery of a large concrete pond or pool has been made by Cathy Barford. It is located down at the north west corner of the property. She has been working very hard to dig out the perimeter of the pool.
Our heritage trees and rhododendrons continue to receive expert care by Bartlett's Tree Services.
In conclusion, our continuing goal is to make the garden more attractive and accessible to our members, while incrementally bringing the garden back closer to its Edwardian roots.
Joanne Melville, Sonja Inkster, Co-Chairs Committee Members: Maureen Attwell, Cathy Barford, Diana Belhouse, Jenny Davis Kedgley, Honorée Findley, Heather Gardiner-Lohn, Ann Kent, Julia Lucey, Margaret Parrott.
MEMBERSHIP The Membership Committee is involved with both Recruitment and Retention activities and a thorough report was recently submitted to the Board on both of these areas. We hold monthly Prospective Member Receptions and New Members Orientations. These are attended by the chair as well as member ambassadors from the committee. To date we have exceeded 460 members and this can be attributed to a hardworking and dedicated committee and the Member Recruitment Co-ordinator. We have a buddy system as well as a personal phone call system in place for new members. At Prospective Member Receptions we offer an incentive to join and this appears to be effective for bringing in new members. The incentive for members to refer new members and receive a discount on their own dues is still in effect and has also been a very effective way of obtaining new members. A Speakeasy for the last Friday of the month was implemented by the Membership Committee. Member profiles are submitted to Hycroft Happenings every month. Special receptions to honour members in specific categories have been initiated by this Committee. Both the Club Connections and the Millennial Interest Group have developed from the Membership Committee.
Maureen Kling, Chair Committee Members: Hana Carbert, Susan Davis, Laurie Dutton-Jones, Roberta Ellis, Judith Frost, Sharen Fuchs, Joanne Gaspard, Jean Hurst, Margaret Imrie, Eleanore Lawrey, Louann McCurdy, Gwen Smith, Farah Surani, Rosalynd Towgood, Susan Woff.
TRUST FUND FOR EDUCATION
10 The Trust Fund for Education of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver is directed by the UWCV constitution to provide support for women’s education. Bursaries and scholarships are provided by the University Women’s Club of Vancouver at six educational institutions across the Lower Mainland. (Simon Fraser University, The University of British Columbia, Emily Carr University, Vancouver Community College, Langara College and the British Columbia Institute of Technology).
This past year, the funds provided through the Trust Fund have supported approximately $35,000 in annual awards and $32,000 in endowed awards. For details about the name of each award and the designated area for distribution please refer to the Membership Directory.
The Trustees regularly meet with the fund administrators at the universities and colleges in order to identify areas where women students need support.
In the coming year we will be establishing a new award at UBC titled The UWCV Centennial Scholars Major Entrance Award. It will be given to an outstanding student from an under-represented group and will follow the student for four years. Candidates will be nominated by a member of their school or community. The award is intended for those who would not be able to attend UBC without significant financial assistance. The beauty of this award is that in year 2, the university will match our funds, in year 3 they will double our funds and in year four they will triple our funds so that by year 4 we will be supporting 4 students on our initial investment. The matching program is part of UBC’s 100th anniversary commitments.
The Trust Fund for Education and the CFUW 100th Anniversary Committee has joined together in 3 fund-raising activities. The funds raised from these activities will be divided between the TFE and CFUW 100th Anniversary Scholarship so that half the funds can stay in our local community and half can go the national scholarship. Our first project together is the sale of earthquake preparedness kits, the second is the production and sale of beautiful art cards by artists from our Hycroft artists group. Finally in 2017 we will be putting on a celebration of women’s education at a large Chinese restaurant.
The Trustees, after much study and consideration decided to transfer its funds used to support annual awards to a financial advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. The educational institutions manage our endowed funds as part of their overall scholarship fund.
We continue to receive grateful letters from students who have been recipients of our awards. They are heartwarming to read and make us feel proud to be fulfilling one of the major missions of this University Women’s Club of Vancouver–supporting women in their educational endeavours.
We thank all of you who have made generous gifts to the Trust for Education.
Elaine Carty (Chair), Gwen Smith (Treasurer), Susan Fielden (Secretary) Trustees
HYCROFT HERITAGE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION The directors of HHPF had continued to explore ways to increase the income of the Foundation. We held two plant sales during the year-one during "Christmas at Hycroft” and another just before Mother’s Day. Both were minimally successful with little support from club members. The House tours have continued with enthusiasm from both club members and their guests. Cathy Barford has presented a historical overview of Hycroft and the McRae family before each tour. We have met with the Trust Fund for Education trustees to look at possible joint efforts in fund-raising for both our charities.
The directors wish to thank all those members who continue to support HHPF with donations year after year.
Mary Stewart, Zoe Campbell, Sue Forshaw Heritage Directors
11 CONTINUING COMMITTEES
ARCHIVES The Archives Committee meets most Wednesday mornings and members are encouraged to contact the Archives with questions or to make an appointment. Contributions from members are an essential component of Club records and are always welcome. Thank you especially to Mary Plant for depositing personal documents of her mother, Evelyn Lett’s activities with CFUW.
Thank you very much to Beverley and Bill New for the substantial fireproof filing cabinet. It is worthy of General McRae - its drawers are lined with concrete and it is every bit as heavy as one might think it would be. Thank you to Elizabeth Gautschi, Chair of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee for reviewing and correcting the arrangement of Committee Minutes and files. In addition to accepting Club and committee files, photographs and other records for reference, a long overdue inventory of plans of Hycroft is being prepared. Also, over two decades of documents were deposited in the Vancouver City Archives, but have not yet been accessioned (Add.MSS.872).
It was an honour to welcome Doris Mae Oulton, CFUW President to the UWCV Archives. Also, Dr. Charles C. Hill, Curator Emeritus of Canadian Art, National Gallery of Canada and Ian Thom of the Vancouver Art Gallery visited the Archives in advance of Dr. Hill’s October 27 Heritage Lecture. Two students from the Heritage Conservation course of the BCIT Architectural Science program consulted documents related to the conservation of Hycroft - both young women intend to pursue a career in architecture.
Members of the Archives Committee assisted with house tours for the public which had been organized for the benefit of HHPF. Thank you to the VisArts Committee for agreeing to an October 2015 historical exhibition, “Hill on the Hill” organized to coincide with Dr. Hill’s lecture. The exhibition could not have been accomplished without the early and continuing enthusiasm of Heather Gordon, City Archivist, City of Vancouver and the tireless effort of Wai Yung Vuong and Courtney Geier. Thank you to Ivan Sayers for a joint series of morning talks on the History of Costume intended to train volunteers of SMOC, as well as UWCV.
On behalf of the University Women’s Club of Vancouver, the Archives Committee is an Associate Institutional member of the Archives Association of British Columbia for the year 2016-2017. Thank you to Dianne Dixon who is stepping away from the Committee after several years. Her interest and knowledge will be missed.
Cathy Barford, Chair
Committee Members: Marlene Adam, Dianne Dixon, Susan Fielden, Joyce Grant, Jenny Davis Kedgley, Sonja Marchlewitz, Elaine Thompson.
COMMUNICATIONS We oversee communications within and external to the club. Our focus is maintaining a consistent, current ‘brand’ that represents the high standards of UWCV. Members of this committee oversee production of the website, Hycroft Happenings internally and Hycroft Highlights externally, the Weekly Email, the Membership Directory handbook, notices and print materials for use in the Club, its foundations, and its activities, as well as maintaining a social media presence through our Facebook page and group and Twitter. We assist the President and the board with emails, communication, and solicitation by members when requested.
MMRC Kate Duggan prepares the external Hycroft Highlights, makes additions to the website as directed, assists members presenting events with pr including refining notices and posters to represent the club well when circulated to the public, and posts to social media in the portion of her job responsible to the Communications Committee.
12 The Club website continues to be a priority as a membership and rentals tool. The Member Only section keeps current with: electronic Membership Directory, Hycroft Happenings, Constitution & Bylaws, Rules, and Procedures, Event Planning materials, and templates, for reference and to download. The Member to Member Business Directory is available at a small fee for members to post their business connections. Louise Corrall, Chair
Committee Members: MJ Ankenman, Dianne Dixon, Judith Frost (Membership Ctee), Susan Fielden (HH Editor), Dawn Longshaw (C@H Convenor), Wendy Orvig (Chief Privacy Officer), Paula Waslen.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS The Constitution and Bylaws Committee meets at the call of the chair and responds to requests from the Board of Directors for additions, changes and/or periodic updating of the Club’s Constitution and By-laws and its Rules to ensure that the documents reflect current practice and that the Club is in compliance with the Societies Act of British Columbia. The Committee also may make recommendations to the Board. Changes proposed to the Constitution, Bylaws, or Rules must be presented to the membership for approval.
It has been our practice to budget for submissions of Bylaw changes to the Registrar of Companies each year. Following approval by Club members of some changes to the Bylaws at the January 2016 General Meeting, those changes were registered.
This year the Committee had four meetings, as well as communicating internally by email. The Chair, with the assistance of Mary Stott, has researched material in our Club Archives to make sure that changes to our Constitution and Bylaws over the years have been approved by members and registered. Thank you to our Club Archivist, Cathy Barford, for her assistance. During this past Club year, the Chair of the committee also responded to requests for information from committee chairs and individual Club members.
A copy of the current Constitution and Bylaws is kept in a binder in the Oak Room and is also printed in the Club Membership Directory.
The Chair is grateful to have a committee of experienced members and wishes to thank all of them for their contributions to discussions leading up to the preparation of recommendations to the Board and to Club members.
Elizabeth Gautschi, Chair
Committee Members: Rose Beatty, Cleta Brown (Ex-Officio), Sue Brown, Dawn Longshaw, Margaret MacDonald, Rosemary Mallory, Gwen Smith, Mary Stott.
FEDERATION The Federation Committee provides a liaison between The University Women’s Club of Vancouver (UWCV), the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) and its Provincial arm, CFUW BC Council, and the Graduate Women International (GWI), formerly known as the International Federation of University Women (IFUW). Information is distributed to Club members through the newsletter, general meetings and the Oak Room. The UWCV is one of many clubs (9,000+ members across Canada) that make up membership of CFUW.
The CFUW AGM held in Quebec City from June 18 – 22, 2015, was attended by Club members Linda Russell (CFUW VP), Fiorenza Albert Howard, Dawn Longshaw, Elizabeth Gautschi, Louise Corrall, Carole Anne Soong, Therese Soong, Nicole Chang, Beryl Matthewson (representing South Delta), Jo Swann and Nadereh Houchmand. Three Resolutions were passed, a Moratorium on the Neonicotinoid class of pesticides; Reducing Climate Change through the use of Carbon Taxes; and Physician Assisted Death.
13 CFUW 100th Anniversary Scholarship Project: In recognition of CFUW turning 100 years old in 2019, the UWCV Board of Directors approved a 3- year fundraising goal of $10,000 with funds to be shared equally, both locally through the UWCV Trust Fund for Education and nationally through the CFUW Charitable Trust. Many thanks go to the Planning Committee, who have already achieved more than 50% of the goal, under the leadership of Pat Patton (Federation Committee) and Elaine Carty (UWCV Trust Fund for Education).
CFUW Bylaw Amendment This spring the members of the UWCV participated in a four-phase process of Workshops and Survey, of information sharing, reflection and dialogue on a Bylaw Amendment proposed by CFUW St. Thomas regarding potential withdrawal from Graduate Women International (GWI) to be voted on at the CFUW AGM in June in St. Catherines, ON. A full report of the result of this process is available in the Federation Committee records.
Our events through the year: On October 15, we celebrated Persons Day by paying homage to four amazing women who are part of our UWCV History; Evlyn Fenwick Farris, Helen Gregory MacGill, Evelyn Lett and Rosemary Brown.
A UWCV Federal Election Forum with Women Candidates was held on Oct 6, 2015 organized jointly by the Federation and Status of Women and Human Rights (SW&HR) Committees led by Elizabeth Gautschi. For the first time, the UWCV had a live twitter feed running at the event that was attended by well over 160 people, including both members and the public.
A lunch for the Twelfth Annual Commemorative and Fund Raising Event to honour the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was held on Wednesday, Dec 2, with speaker, Susan Chapelle, Squamish City Councillor. Attendees gave $950 in donations for the CFUW L’Ecole Polytechnique Commemorative Award.
SW&HR and Federation Committees, under the leadership of Marg Huber, organized the celebration of the UWCV International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 with a panel presented by four women entitled “Refugee Women – Living the Story: Information, Insights & Inspiration.” (See SW&HR Annual Report)
CFUW BC Council AGM The CFUW BC Council Conference and AGM was held from April 22 – 24, 2016 in Abbotsford, BC. Together with 107 members representing 21 of 23 CFUW clubs in BC, the UWCV members attending were: Linda Russell (CFUW VP, BC), Cleta Brown Therese Soong, Wendy Orvig, Pam Addinall, Patricia Grohne, Pat Patton, Elizabeth Gautschi, Rachel Malek, Cathy Barford, Fiorenza Albert Howard, Beryl Matthewson (representing South Delta), Jo Swann and Nadereh Houchmand.
The UWCV Emergency Resolution BC Youth Aging out of Foster Care was presented and passed with a 96% favourable vote. This resolution is now CFUW BC Council Policy and the CFUW BC Council Advocacy committee is working on the Advocacy Action Plan.
Thank you to all the UWCV Federation Committee members for all their hard work and support this year. We welcome new members at any time during the year.
Patricia Grohne, Chair
Committee Members: Marlene Adam, Rose Beatty, Joan Beaty, Elizabeth Gautschi, Marg Huber, Lynne Kent, Elys Lagumbay, Rachel Malek, Rosemary Mallory, Beryl Matthewson, Collette Oseen, Diana Palmer, Pat Patton, Sheila Pepper, Erica Pinsky, Linda Russell, Carole Anne Soong, Bev Wong (plus 20 others on the mailing list who receive advocacy mailings but are unable to attend meetings)
14 INTEREST GROUPS Interest groups provide club members with opportunities to participate in their favourite pastimes and to learn new skills while enjoying the fellowship of members who share similar interests. There are currently over 30 interest groups that offer a wide range of activities and interests to our existing membership at UWCV. The groups host a variety of activities that take place both on and off-site throughout the week, during the day and in the evening. New interest group ideas are always welcome and encouraged. Thank you to the convenors and co-conveners for everything you do for your groups, from making new members feel welcome, to all the work you put in to keep your groups running smoothly Denise Levine, Chair LIBRARY This year our collection increased by the purchase of 26 new books, and many donations from members. The used book sale basket in the Oak Room continues to be well used by members. Many thanks to donors and to volunteers who help in maintaining the library. Patricia Whittaker, Librarian
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE The Nominations Committee for the Club’s 2016 Elections commenced its work in February 2016. The committee met five times as of May 31.
Call for Nominations was issued on behalf of the Board on March 30 and distributed to members through a separate email or hard copy notification distributed with mailed newsletters, as well as by a posted notice on the Club Bulletin Board. In addition, a notice was placed in the April newsletter alerting members to the nominations process and deadlines. Reminders were also sent out in the weekly email blasts. As part of its mandate, the Nominations Committee actively worked to secure candidates for nomination concurrently with members’ nominations.
Nominations were sought for six Directors: Treasurer, Membership Chair, House Chair, Education Chair, Secretary and Member Relations Director, as well as for a Trustee of the Trust Fund for Education. An interim announcement of nominees was made on April 15. Nominations closed on May 1, with candidates nominated for every position. As only one candidate was nominated for each position, the candidates were declared elected and will take office at the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting on June 14, 2016.
All nominees were contacted with information on the responsibilities of their specific role, and next steps, including an invitation to a “meet the candidates” event (later renamed “Meet Your Incoming Board” as there were no contested positions). On May 10, information on the 2016 Elections was both posted and distributed to members, including the list of nominees, nominee profiles, position duties, and announcement of the “Meet Your Incoming Board” event. The event was also advertised in May and June issues of Hycroft Happenings and subsequent weekly alerts and was held on June 14, 2016 as a champagne reception prior to the Fellowship Dinner and AGM.
A final report from the Nominations Committee to the Board of the UWCV will be prepared and delivered to the July Board meeting. Dawn Longshaw, Chair Committee Members: Wendy Lee, Kathy Murphy, Paula Boleen, Pat Patton.
PERFORMING ARTS The Performing Arts Committee meets once a month to plan and organize performing arts events.
Performances have featured quite a variety of talent—including concerts by UWCV members, jazz concerts, opera singers and the chamber concerts, which have been ongoing for a number of years.
Margaret Fitch, Chair Committee Members: Maureen Kling, Donalda Falconer, Kate Dahlstrom, Barbara Warren, June Katz, Elspeth McVeigh, Mary Lou Galbraith, Jennifer Petersen, Susan Mogan, Dena Alden, Zelie Tan, Charlotte Burns, Susanna Peters, Jocelyn Pritchard.
15 PROGRAM The Program committee has had an interesting year organizing a variety of events for members and guests. In October 2015, Vera Sun (M.Ed.), Director of Community Outreach for New Tang Dynasty Television in Vancouver, did a presentation on “The Renaissance of Traditional Chinese Culture”.
In November, committee member Maureen Kling arranged for a clothing party with wine and cheese at BJs Fashions on West 10th Avenue. Approximately 20 women attended and received a discount on the SYMPLI line of clothing just in time for the holidays.
On February 1, 2016, we had a lively presentation after lunch by Gluu Technology Society on the “Internet of Things” explaining how technology is transforming the world as we know it. A few days later, UWCV member and retired BC Provincial Court judge, Suzanne MacGregor, gave a thought- provoking talk entitled “The Craft of Sentencing Violent and Non-Violent Offenders: How do Judges do it?”, preceded by an optional appetizer buffet. Another well-attended presentation was held in March when popular speaker and author, Robert W. Mackay, gave a presentation on “Canadian Submarines and a New Cold War?” which proved to be very eye-opening and generated much discussion among the audience.
The Program Chair, Lori Pederson, would like to thank all those members who attended some of these presentations, as well as the Hycroft staff who made the events possible. Lori also wishes to acknowledge the many contributions made by the Program Committee members that made these events successful. They are a great group and the future of the Program Committee is in capable hands going forward.
Lori Pederson, Chair Committee Members: Maureen Attwell, Nicky de la Roche, Laurie Dutton-Jones, Jean Hurst, Maureen Kling, Julia Lucey, Gwen Smith, Farah Surani, Amy Tam, Susan Woff, and Kate Zhao.
SOCIAL The Social Committee plans and hosts social events throughout the year as well as covers bar service at all events and meetings. The Committee hosted a very successful Fall Reception, Jennifer Petersen executed a fun Members Christmas Party, Jill Dodwell-Groves put on her sold-out Quiz Nights and Susanna Peters arranged and hosted another sold-out Fashion Show featuring our own Club Members as models. Our decorating team of Lee Dennstedt and Paula Boleen turn every event into a space of beauty and wonder. We have provided bar service for BBQ's, dinners, roasts, Fellowship dinners, Heritage Lectures, C@H Preview Gala, Valentine's dinner and dance, Federation and Status of Women events, Jazz evenings, Christmas, Easter and Mother's Day brunches, annual May President's dinner, and program events. The Sunday birthday parties have continued under the guidance of Joan Beaty. We purchased two bar stools to rest our weary legs when we have long shifts. These stools match the décor of the house perfectly thanks to the exquisite taste of Jennifer Petersen. If you enjoy working with a group of fun loving but hardworking women come and join us the first Monday of each month at 10:00am Gwen Smith, Chair Committee Members: Pam Addinall, Joan Beaty, Paula Boleen, Elena Chepil, Nicky de la Roche, Lee Dennstedt, Jill Dodwell-Groves, Anita Gabel, Sarah Johnstone, Marianne Kitzul, Susanna Peters, Jennifer Petersen , Patricia Porter, Beth Tracey, Judy Troesch, Eva Wideman, Callie Wong.
STATUS OF WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS The mandate of the SWHR Committee is to promote "awareness of human rights issues - giving specific attention to the legal, economic, social and professional status of women". The committee continues to work collaboratively with our national advocacy team at CFUW and with local women's and human rights' groups.
Over the past year the committee has been working with the Federation Committee and CFUW BC Council on Youth Aging Out of Care. A resolution on Aging Out of Care was crafted, passed at the Club’s AGM and then passed almost unanimously at the BC AGM. A detailed advocacy plan is being drawn up by the CFUW BC Council Advocacy Committee with input from UWCV Committee member, Rachel Malek. 16
The committee continues to work on education and advocacy regarding the Nordic model which pertains to legislation on prostitution. At our June meeting we welcomed Suzanne Jay, member of the Asian Women’s Coalition Ending Prostitution, one of the organizations UWCV is partnering with for an event at Hycroft on September 19th focused on the Nordic model.
On March 8, 2016 we held our annual International Women’s Day event, under the leadership of Marg Huber, Refugee Women – Living the Story: Information, Insights & Inspiration, which featured a panel of women speaking to the experience and reality of being a refugee as a result of global violence and conflict. Over 70 people attended and all were moved at the courage and will to survive of these four women.
At the event UWC of Vancouver President Cleta Brown acknowledged that Hycroft is on unceded First Nations territory in her opening remarks. Including a First Nations welcome at all public events is one of the many equality-focused initiatives the committee has worked on.
On March 31st, our committee hosted a breakfast meeting with the Honorable Jody Wilson Raybould, federal justice minister. After socializing over breakfast, a discussion took place focused on “eliminating violence against women”. We presented the Minister with information on our advocacy work in three main areas; prostitution and trafficking, torture in the private sphere, and missing and murdered indigenous women. Members of the committee spoke to each of these areas and we prepared a detailed written summary which was provided to the Minister for follow up. The Minister advised us that she wants to keep communication open and is interested in attending future meetings at Hycroft.
Plans for organizing the Person’s Day event in October and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in December are under way.
Karen Ballantyne, Erica Pinsky; Co-Chairs Committee Members: Marlene Adam, Rose Beatty, Joan Beaty, Daphne Bramham, Paige Brettle, Cleta Brown, Louise Corrall, Paula Gallagher, Elizabeth Gautschi, Noga Gayle, Patricia Grohne, Lynne Kent, Rachel Malek, Mary Anne McWaters, Beryl Matthewson, Collette Oseen, Jan Rups Levett, Tina Senger, Rhonda Sherwood, Carole Anne Soong, Bev Wong.
VISUAL ARTS (VisArts) VisArts has been successful this year. The Hycroft Gallery is fully booked from January to December 2016 with a good variety of artists. In future we are hoping to attract a varied mix of artists including painters, fabric artists and mix media artists.
Exhibit Fees: The current exhibit fee format is working well for both the artists and the UWCV.
Special Events: The VisArts Committee has decided to showcase the talents within the club. In July and August 2016 the Hycroft Painters will be exhibiting in the Hycroft Gallery.
Annual Open Call: The Open Call for applicants runs from July to September 2016. In October the VisArts Jury selects the artists then schedules them for January through December 2017.
New Appointment: Effective July 1, 2015 Nicole Chang is the new VisArts Chair. Her credentials include a Bachelor of Fine Arts at UBC (1985), Diploma of Fashion Design at Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design (1989), Jewellery Designer- Nicole Chang Designs (2001-present), Freelance Costume Designer for Circus West (2007-2011), Independent Brand Partner with Nerium International (2015-present).
Nicole Chang, Chair Committee Members: Wai Yung Akdogu, Mila Kostic, Susanna Peters, Elizabeth Snow, Jo Swann
17 AD HOC COMMITTEES
ACCESS IMPLEMENTATION During 2015, under the direction of Charlotte Burns and Cathy Barford, Phase 3 of the Access Implementation project was completed, resulting in the establishment of a family friendly washroom on the lower level of the House, complete with walk-in shower, baby change table, and regulated safety features compatible for all users. Members who have used the shower and washroom are pleased with the facility and its accessibility.
During the fall, 2015, the external lift apparatus for access to the ballroom level of the House was installed by As-You-Like-It Contracting, thus initiating Phase 1 of the Access Implementation plan.
In December, 2015, through a motion from the UWC Board of Directors, the Ad Hoc Access Implementation Committee was dissolved and the responsibility, organizing and researching of future access projects were placed under the auspices of the House Committee, House Chair, and the Finance Committee. Financing for such projects were stipulated as now being incorporated into the Capital Budget plan.
In February, 2016, House Chair, Maureen Attwell, Hospitality Manager, Sue Carlile, Charlotte Burns and Cathy Barford, met with the Project Manager of the interior access lift project, Iain Barrie from IDR Construction, to discuss the implementation of a lift in the southwest corner of the ballroom, the timeline involved, and the studies needed to begin this extensive renovation in the ballroom to complete Phase 1. Because of the effects that such a project would have on summer festivities and weddings, the building of the lift to complete Phase 1 has been postponed until the fall, 2016.
The House Chair would like to thank all members of the former Ad Hoc Access Implementation Committee, particularly the Chair, Charlotte Burns, for your dedication and enthusiasm on these projects over the past several years. Moving forwarding, the excellent research this committee has provided will offer a solid support structure for future access projects completed at Hycroft. Maureen Attwell, House Chair
CHRISTMAS AT HYCROFT 2015 We once again engaged the event planning services of Ingrid Edmonds of Cybervision to help us produce and deliver Christmas at Hycroft. Simply stated, Ingrid uses her connections and expertise to handle what can be called the ‘outward facing’ work of C@H in consultation with the Chair (setting the theme, look and feel of the event; securing sponsors, advertising, 2nd floor boutique participants and the vendors and concessions in the Courtyard and Coach House; negotiating and securing rentals of tents, furniture, heat and light; producing all print materials for advertising and signage; negotiating and coordinating all media including managing social media during the event; engaging performers; as well as being on-site to manage the logistics of the event) while the Chair and the team of convenors address the ‘inward facing’ aspects (all of the work which is done by UWCV members). The weather cooperated – cold but for the most part dry – so there was no need to test the integrity of the parking lot or terrace drainage systems. It was gratifying that but for the change with Kitchen Creations; all of the 2014 convenors stepped up to lead their respective teams for 2015.
Organization In the spring of 2015 the C@H committee conducted an interactive session for UWCV members entitled Imagineering Christmas at Hycroft in order to solicit input in the planning of the 2105 event. Many ideas were recorded and subsequently reviewed with our Event Planner to determine viability. In addition, an important consideration was the goal of increasing the bottom line for the event – either by reducing expenses where appropriate, or by determining areas of opportunity to increase revenues.
Some organizational changes were implemented – the Marketing & Membership Recruitment Coordinator took on responsibility for booking artisans for the Artisans Village, the new Greeting Trees sponsorship opportunity, arranging permits, producing the external newsletter, and social media in the lead up to the event. A Team Lead structure was implemented in Kitchen Creations under the leadership of convenor Diane Richer, to efficiently delegate and spread the work of the enterprise over a larger number of volunteers. The newly acquired fridge freezer and chest freezer in the Coach House served to centralize storage of pre-prepared food items and, except for tart and cookie baking; all bulk preparation was 18 conducted in the Hycroft kitchens to be in compliance with health regulations. Additional concessions were also secured for the Coach House. Preview Night was once again held, which included the Wine Raffle, with a nominal admission charge for members’ guests. In consideration of the fact that we are no longer eligible to obtain a raffle license for C@H, the Silent Auction was expanded with the addition of themed gift baskets created by UWCV Interest Groups and Committees – a very popular addition! Purdy’s participation this year was limited to a commission for on-line sales. Donors to HHPF were also, for the first time, recognized in the event Programme.
Guest Experience Media sponsorship this year included advertising on rotating billboards in the Vancouver area as well as a spot on Carmen TV/Joy TV which was filmed in Drawing Room of Hycroft. The Courtyard was a busy place with the Greeting Trees, the additional food option of Emelle’s Red Truck, more heated/covered seating, beautiful exotic cars (a red and a white) on display, and a couple of vendors with their LED lit goods adding entertainment value and ambience. The Terrace Bistro was once again catered by UWCV in-house catering, not only adding to Club revenues but contributing $300 over last year in commission to HHPF. A sponsor was secured for the valet parking to partially offset the costs of what we feel is a necessary service. The decorating team did a marvelous job and extended their talents to the Coach House for the first time. The entertainment was a great combination of Christmas traditional and adult contemporary and the McRae Bar was once again open as a ‘Man Crèche’ or for those needing to recharge. In keeping with the desire to highlight the heritage nature of Hycroft, Boo La La provided period costumes for members to play dress up as ambassadors in the house. Goh Ballet was not available this year for photo opportunities but we were happy to add the participation of the Youth Ambassadors from Gateway Theatre in costume for their production of the Wizard of Oz. Former member Diane Globe graciously provided her efficient brand of Cloak Room service. The Seniors’ Tea was yet again a highlight for our guests from area care facilities and a marvelous way to spread the cheer of Christmas at Hycroft to our community.
Results Attendance was up over last year with 500 more attendees than in 2014. The Artisans Village tables were fully sold. One of the 2nd floor solariums remained unrented but the space was filled with a dress up and photo booth by Boo La La Costumes. There were some unavoidable expense increases – movers and furniture/tent/heater rentals. The Silent Auction with an expanded space in the Lett Room provided an excellent revenue replacement to the former raffle. Kitchen Creations contributed $4000 over last year. Overall, Christmas at Hycroft achieved a $7000 increase in revenue compared to 2014 as well as a modest increase in bottom line after expenses.
Conclusion Each Convenor and or Team Leader provided recommendations to C@H 2016 based on their experiences and observations of the 2015 event and has renewed her commitment to 2016. An updated procedures manual for Christmas at Hycroft is also being prepared.
Christmas at Hycroft has become the primary source of funding for the Hycroft Heritage Preservation Foundation in the absence of significant donor and legacy contributions. In addition to providing the necessary funds for the foundation to continue with its mandate of the preservation and maintenance of Hycroft; C@H also serves to legitimize the charitable purpose of HHPF. Notwithstanding the financial contribution; not only does C@H help the UWCV forge stronger relationships with the local community, C@H also provides the single largest membership drive opportunity for the UWCV by virtue of the attendance at the event by so many potential members. Last but certainly not least; by grace of the tremendous volunteer effort and commitment on the part of UWCV members in the run up to and at the event, C@H is a bonding experience like no other in the Club calendar. The 2015 team is grateful for the continued dedication of members and Club staff to Christmas at Hycroft – without which, all of the above would not be possible. Dawn Longshaw, Chair, Christmas at Hycroft 2015 Committee Members: Artisans Village - MJ Ankenman (with MMRC Kate Duggan); Christmas Shoppe - Joanne Gaspard; Knitters - Maureen Attwell; Kitchen Creations - Diane Richer; Decorations - Lee Dennstedt & Paula Boleen; Entertainment - Louise Corrall & Donalda Falconer; Seniors’ Reception - Kathy Murphy; Treasury - Wendy Orvig; Volunteers - Cathy Barford; Ticket Sales - Suzanne Poulin; Silent Auction - Callie Wong; House Chair – Maureen Attwell; Membership representative – Judith Frost; Manager Hospitality – Sue Carlile; Manager Finance & Administration – Karen Gillespie 19 INTEREST GROUPS
Book Group Maureen Attwell 16 members The afternoon book group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 in the Board Room. We discuss both fiction and non-fiction books, selected by the members of the group, with an emphasis on current best sellers and Canadian authors. Books are selected a month in advance, the titles of which are mentioned in Hycroft Happenings.
Bridge Groups Monday Afternoon Diana Belhouse 4 members Refreshments at 12:30 preceded our friendly weekly games of 12 hands played from 1:00 to 3:00 pm September through June and will continue every two weeks all summer. We appreciated the help of substitutes to cover vacations, etc. New members (both regular players and substitutes) are always welcome.
Monday Morning Bridge Debbie Dibble 20+members In keeping with the Mission of the UWCV, the Monday Bridge group endeavours to promote fellowship and camaraderie amongst a group of women who enjoy playing the game of bridge in a relaxed and supportive environment. Come join us in the Ames Room at 10 am.
Thursday Bridge Kathy Murphy 14 members Throughout the year, the group gathered to play, learn and enjoy the fellowship of other bridge players.
Sunday Beginner's Bridge Rosalynd Towgood 8 Members We were making great headway when our leader became ill and had to take time out. Gwen Smith stepped in to assist the beginning players to develop their skills .We meet Sundays at one pm and the players are making excellent progress. We are all awaiting the return of Roslynd but please join us and have fun as you learn the basics of bridge.
Busy Gourmet Louise Corrall & Heather Lemieux 60 + members We are women who enjoying sharing time with others over a good meal on the third Monday evening of each month. The format that has endured is for member volunteers, usually in pairs, to envision a theme, present it on time for publication in Hycroft Happenings and in reminders to the group email list, arrive early on the day of the dinner in order to oversee any last details of setup, greet members, and coordinate the evening. Each participant arrives with her contribution on the theme in a quantity sufficient to serve 6 – 8. We have never been short of food and the variety never fails to amaze. We’re gourmets as we appreciate the efforts and the flavours, but if we’re busy we happily confess to our shortcuts. We share the recipes and the stories of old favourites or new discoveries. This lively and often amusing discussion often provides hints on how to WOW guests with the least effort possible! Astonishingly the menu is usually beautifully balanced without pre-assignment so we continue to revere spontaneity. Come when you can, but don’t fret if you are busy and cannot. Though over 60 are on our list, we find between16 and 30 participate each month – consider joining! New and returning members are always welcome.
Chick Flicks MJ Ankenman 38 members Chick Flicks meet at Hycroft the last Thursday of every month to enjoy classic movies in house. We begin each evening with a social gathering and bring your own dinner/snack.
Club Connections Ingrid Kanters 100+ members Club Connections is competing its second successful year of bi-monthly meetings with the enthusiasm and support of Club Members. Since the first meeting held August 12th, 2014 interest in the group continues to grow. Club Connections is where Club Members learn more about the professional careers, expertise, and resources within our Membership, share career stories, and experiences! Members enjoy Hycroft appetizers, networking, and short informational or educational presentations by selected fellow Members showcasing their area of business or professional expertise (no sales pitch). All Members in attendance may provide their business cards or brochures on an information table.
20 Crafts MJ Ankenman 6 members This group gives members an opportunity to have a space and time to pursue whatever craft they had an interest in. We have members create photobooks, felting, knitting and crocheting. We meet once a week on Wednesdays noon to 3. This year we made as a group, bunting banners for Christmas and had a Ukrainian Egg Painting Workshop.
Dance Group Mei Tan & Paula Boleen 6-7 Members Partners The Dance Group meets every Wednesday evening. Classes are held in our beautiful ballroom from 7-9pm September through June. We hire an instructor who conducts 4 lessons (International) per dance.. Dances taught include the Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Jive, Fox Trot, Quick Step, Rumba, Cha Cha, Mambo, Samba, and Tango. Review sessions were offered last June and July for those members who participated during the year, and we plan to offer similar sessions this summer. We attend dinner/dance occasions at Hycroft as our dancers enjoy socializing and they love to practice what they have learned. We also offer opportunities for dinner and dancing off-site during the year.
Femme du Fromage Wendy Walker 35+ members Dedicated to exploring and learning about cheeses from around the world, Femme du Fromage meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month with members taking turns in pairs to select a theme and present. The cheeses are matched with beverages and accoutrements to provide a satisfying meal. Due to space in the dining room there is a cap of 16 Members for each event.
Financial Literacy Suzann Stevens & Mimi Chan 28 members Twelve sessions were held from September 2015 to June 2016 with an average attendance of 10 to 15 members. The eclectic topics ranged from ‘Financial Training of Youth’ to ‘Estate Planning’ and ‘Security for Seniors’. After more than two decades co-ordinating this Interest Group, Suzann Stevens is turning the leadership over to new member Mimi Chan. We are confident that the group will benefit from Mimi’s youth and experience in the field of finance.
French Conversation Susan Bruchet, Noga Gayle, Daniele Walker 10+ Members The group met on Thursdays from 10.30 am - 12 noon, and continued to meet during the summer. Discussions were informal and covered a wide range of topics. Those interested remained for Soup/Lunch in the Bluebird Solarium where we sometimes conversed in French. Other club members, who were interested in French but could not attend the classes, were invited to join us for lunch by reserving in the office. Our classes were a lot of fun while at the same time we learned French! New members were always welcome.
Golf Heather Lemieux & Kathy Murphy 18 members Commencing in late April, we played at Country Meadows in Richmond on Monday mornings. The Convenors provided the tee times for those available each week. Different groupings were arranged so that fellowship and encouragement was available as we proceeded around the course.
Hooked on Needles Maureen Attwell and Susanna Peters 15 members The knitting and needlework group meets the second and fourth Mondays at 10:30 am in the Farris Room. Members work on their own projects, share ideas and suggestions for knitting, and create beautiful products to sell at Christmas at Hycroft. Many different levels of expertise are evident and we welcome everyone to join our informal group, regardless of talent.
Hycroft Painters Eva Wideman 10 members The Hycroft Painters meet Tuesday and Friday afternoons in the Coach House. Members work in many different mediums including acrylic, oil and watercolour. We bring our own supplies and work on our own projects but share fellowship and fun as we encourage each other in our work. New members are always welcome.
Hycroft Singers Donalda Falconer, Director, Pat Stark, Accompanist 30 members The Hycroft Singers continue to meet Tuesday afternoon to learn new music of all kinds, from Broadway to Canadian classics.....we love a challenge. Although three members are on temporary leaves of absence, we have been very fortunate to welcome three new members to our great group. Additional members are always welcome .The ability to read music is a great asset. For further information contact Donalda Falconer at dlfchoir@ telus,com
21 Issues Café Janet Percy 20+members We continue to meet on the fourth Monday, September thru June. Discussions feature topics which are specific and current, set and moderated by rotating hosts. Our evenings begin with a no-host social, a presentation leads a moderated discussion which concludes with a summary. Thereafter dinner is offered, requiring reservation. Over fifty members receive a monthly notice on the upcoming gathering. Season Eight discussions included: "Canada's Position In The Changing World Order", "Grandparents Act Against Climate Change", "Should Medical Procedures Be Available To Everyone, Regardless Of Age?", "Status Of Women 45 Years Later - Where Are Women In Corporate Canada?", "Can Death Be Dignified?", "Do We Need Electoral Reform?", "Is It Time To Stop Pushing For Gender Parity?" and "Mental Health First Aid" ending the season with author Marilyn R. Wilson who's spoke to "Reinventing Yourself". We look forward to next years Cafe, where all are welcomed.
Keep Fit Margaret Couch & Cathy Lightfoot 15 members We enjoy two exercise classes a week on Tuesdays at 10:00 am and Fridays at 11:00 am. An extra 15 minutes has been added to our Tuesday class for additional strength training and stretching. There is a charge of $8.00 a session. Debbie Bloomfield leads us through warm-up, cardio, strength, stretching, balance exercises and relaxation. All ages and abilities are accommodated. After class, we head to the Oak Room for coffee, tea and chat.
Mahjong (Day) Callie Wong 17 members Membership of this group has changed slightly but several of the original members have continued to come regularly each week to play Mahjong and are ready to teach new players. We continue to have fun and enjoy the friendly competition. Laughter and sometimes spirited discussions makes the game interesting. We meet every Thursday from 12:15 pm to 3:00 pm in the June Ames Room. Each member contributes $2 per session and the contribution helps to pay for a dim sum luncheon occasionally at a local restaurant.
Mahjong (Evening) Wendy Lee 15+ members The Monthly Evening Mahjong Group met on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm for friendly social games. A mix of experienced and new players attended. Informal instruction was provided for beginner players.
Meditation & Relaxation Group Kathy Welter Nichols 20+ members The Meditation Group started December 5, 2014, and since has run each Friday morning, from 9:30 to 10:30 am, where Hycroft is open. Attendees have enjoyed learning the various types of meditative practices, including a drumming journey, guided visualization, silent meditation, chanting and embracing a personal practice of Mindfulness. This is an informal drop in group, and new members are present every week. All are welcome. This year we have been meeting in the Drawing Room. Sharing some attendees experiences: One member has noticed that meditation is really helping her chronic pain and she has shared this with her doctors. After two years of meditation practice she now can control her blood pressure and manage pain and body movement. Other Members have found great help with sleep, reduced anxiety, and others found solace during grief work. We continue to grow and support each other, and welcome new members weekly. We’re looking forward to a retreat in September – 2 nights on Bowen Island all focused on Meditation and the practice of mindfulness. Contact Kathy for more information. There is no fee for this group
Millennials @ Hycroft Farah Surani 54 Members The Millennials @ Hycroft is an interest group that was formed in June of 2015. The aim of the group is to connect and link together the younger members at Hycroft in order to build a stronger millennial presence at the club. The group plans an event once a month that range from dinners to pajama parties, game nights, movie nights, and recently had a red carpet themed recognition event. To date, there are about 54 millennials at the club. We are looking forward to another year of millennials storming Hycroft!
Monday Writers’ Group Karen Breau 7 members The Monday Writers’ Group meets weekly, writing and sharing our written stories. It provides a lively, creative and non-threatening atmosphere which promotes full participation in writing and “finding your voice.” This year three new members joined this self- guided group of writers. The participants write from prompts during the meeting time and there are homework assignments. We were fortunate to have two UWCV members, Ruth Derksen Siemens and Susan Boyce, share their writing and publishing experience with us. The Monday Writers’ Group is available to assist other interested Club members in starting up a second group. 22
Play Readers Anne Thorvaldson & Isobel Rose 12 members Our friendly group meets at 10:30 a.m. in the Drawing Room on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month, September through June. We read a variety of plays, both dramas and comedies, modern and classic. It is not necessary to be a second Maggie Smith - but enjoy reading a good play often followed by some discussion.
Scrabble Mary Stewart 6 members Scrabble Group meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 1:30 pm. All members are welcome.
Social Interest Group Callie Wong & Jean Hurst 23 members SOCIAL INTEREST GROUP started in March, 2016 and it is for members who would like to join other like- minded women for activities and outings of social, cultural and educational interest. We have organized two successful events since the inception of the group, a high tea and a pot luck and board games event. Other events are still in the planning or conceptual stage.
Travel! Randi Winter 25 members TRAVEL! has been travelling around the calendar in order to accommodate out of town guest speakers and the times of the year, so we have met both in the afternoons after lunch and evenings from 7 to 8:30 pm. We definitely need a second convenor to help as I fit the profile of the group as do most of the members, and travel often. We had some very interesting speakers in this season covering women's specialty travel, voluntarism, Abercrombie & Kent destinations around the world and other themes, but have yet to find a time/date for a viable number of people to come and not have me often embarrassed. In the upcoming season, there will be a talk by Ivan Sayers about some of the interesting places he will be hosting a select number of lucky people to NY, London and beyond. Join us to share travel tips, hear stories about places we have visited and learn about new travel destinations. Drop-ins are always welcome - and RSVPS are greatly appreciated.
Please see the meeting updates in Hycroft Happenings for topics that may catch your interest. We will continue to explore a mix of evening and daytime meetings and the travel opportunities and topics are not restricted to SINGLES or just club members. We will be meeting some of the top cruiseline representatives in the fall and your feedback, support and volunteering to help with a mailing list and occasional chairing meetings is greatly appreciated in order to continue the club as a viable special interest.
Texas Hold’em Poker Joanne Gaspard 10 members Poker meets every month on the second Thursday at 6:30 pm. There are typically 5 to 10 players who socialize and play poker.
Whiskey Women Heidi Pullem 30 members Whiskey Women continues to grow, attracting new members looking to have fun, make friends, and participate in something interesting and unconventional. Whiskey Women meet on the first Tuesday of the month to taste new whiskeys, learn the art of nosing and tasting, and most importantly, have fun. Members take turns selecting and presenting new offerings and toasts to the group, while enjoying a selection of appetizers provided by the house. Now in our fourth year, besides our annual Christmas dinner/pairing, we’ve introduced a couple of new attractions being an annual ‘guest spirit’ event, and a field trip.
Wine Appreciation Nancy Wu 88 members Attendance at the Wine Appreciation evenings have been exceedingly well-attended, with between 21 to 45 participants. As a rule, we meet every third Thursday of the month and taste a selection of wines chosen by a member presenter, along with a tasty buffet from the chef. We certainly learnt about and tasted different and varied wines and enjoyed good comraderie and fun. Several new club members have joined our interest group. We did not meet In July (club BBQ) and November (Christmas @ Hycroft). For the C@H Silent Auction, we contributed a lovely gift basket of wines and accessories, which sold over full value. A couple of guest presenters came to Hycroft to enlighten us with their expertise and were very well-received. In May, we participated in the BC Hospitality Foundation’s Dish n’ Dazzle, which took place at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This was the second year we have attended this annual fund-raising event.
23