Annual Report 2015-2016
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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