October 17th is

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

As a lead-up to this day, on October 15 & 16 you can take part in the Stand Up Against Poverty campaign in your community - or - make an event happen.

You can be part of the solution - make a difference.

Saint John Community Loan Fund Begins Annual Campaign

It's that time of the year - again! The Saint John Community Loan Fund is launching its annual Greeting Card and Art Auction on Monday, October 16^th, at Centerbeam Place, 14 King St., at 12:00 noon.

Meet the artists, purchase these one of a kind cards, and make a bid on the original art.

This year’s cards include images by Freeman Patterson, Holly Mackay, Ray Butler and Irène Grant Guérette.

For more information call Rob Roy at 506-633-0887 or email the Loan Fund loanfund@nbnet.nb.ca

As a sneak preview, here is the image “Saint John Christmas Tree Lighting” by Holly Mckay.

New Hope for the Non-Profit Sector

In a press release September 12, 2006, Shawn Graham, announced that a Liberal government would form a Non Profit Task Force to “ensure that the work of non-profit community organizations will continue to benefit the people of New Brunswick.”

“… we know that these groups are being asked to more with fewer resources as the need in our province grows. These non-profit community organizations are partners in the future success of New Brunswick and we are committed to working with them,” said Graham.

This is an exciting proposal for staff and volunteers of non-profit organizations, and for the people they serve. In Charlotte, Kings and St John counties alone - there are nearly 700 registered and non-registered charitable and not for profit groups, services clubs and agencies. (This data from the Human Development Council’s Community Services Database.)

Now that Shawn Graham has been elected Premier of New Brunswick we look forward to learning how he and his government will improve the non-profit sector in our province.

Volunteer Resources Available

Several new resources have been added to the Janet Blanchard Memorial Board Development & Volunteer Management library at the Saint John Volunteer Centre. Member agencies may sign out books and videos. Drop in to visit or call 506-658-1555.

• Governing for Results
• Training Your Board
• The Please and Thank you of Fund-raising
• CVI Catalogue of Resources
• Stats Canada report on Making Connections: Social & Civil Engagement among New Immigrants
• Revised Code of Volunteer Involvement
• Volunteering and Mandatory Service
• Safe Enough? Reviewing Your Screening Practises

Why must the summer leave?

Whoa! Three months since my last post (who knew the blogosphere was so confessional)...

The summer at the CIC was very busy and very productive. Two great students, Adrienne Buckland and Robyn Deforest, worked for 10 weeks on the Community Services Database. They added lots more programs and services from throughout the province. You can read their blog "the Boardroom" to learn more about their work-term here.

We were also very happy (and lucky) to welcome Truly Connolly as a volunteer with us. Truly is from Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario. She is living in Saint John now, and while she is completing (via correspondence) her BSW, she is updating information for the Community Services Database in her spare time. Also, Truly interviewed Chuck Edison from the Carleton Community Centre, on the West side, for our newsletter NEXUS. We are so fortunate to have Truly with us.

Please check out the latest Community Calendar of Events. Just out today!

Remember Summer? This image is Bay Shore on the West Side of Saint John.

Literacy in Canada: not a rosy picture

A recent report from the CBC's The National takes an indepth look at illiteracy in Canada. The findings are very unsettling, and the almost certain one-way trip to a life of poverty is discouraging. Included in the report are the following statistics:

• Nearly 15 per cent of Canadians can't understand the writing on simple medicine labels such as on an Aspirin bottle, a failing that could seriously limit the ability of a parent, for example, to determine the dangers for a child.

• An additional 27 per cent can't figure out simple information like the warnings on a hazardous materials sheet, the kinds of warning that set out workplace dangers such as risks to the eyes and skin.

• In total, 42 per cent of Canadians are semi-illiterate. The proportion is even worse for those in middle age. And even when new immigrants are excluded, the numbers remains pretty much the same.

The report looks at positive changes being made here in Canada, and abroad in Sweden. For the complete story go to Canada's shame.

from CBC's The National | May 24, 2006

For more information locally, or to learn how you can help, visit:

• The Literacy Coalition of New Brunswick
• Read Saint John
• Read Sussex

Successful Fundraising Campaigns - get the details

The Saint John Volunteer Centre is offering a workshop entitled: "For a Worthy Cause" - Fundraising and Partnerships, May 25, 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Saint John Free Public Library Market Square.

This workshop will help you to establish the goals and objectives of your campaign, develop your strategic benefits, come up with ways to add benefits appropriate to the interests of the funder, present future outcomes (steps taken to ensure that an impact is made in your community after your fundraising) and benefits appropriate to the situation of your organization and your community. You will also learn how to develop your partnerships and maintain friendships that in the long run will enrich your organization and improve your next project. Speaker is Gary Chouinard.

Registration is required, cost is $25.00 for members, $35.00 for non-members. Contact Valerie Fitzpatrick, 658-1555, vol.training@nb.aibn.com.