Happy New Year to all the agency representatives and members of Lady Flower Gardens! Every January I tell Doug, "This is going to be a VERY pivotal year!" And every January he replies, "You always say that." But IT IS TRUE. Every year brings us to new opportunities built on the foundation we have worked on together in the past. |
Communicate & Collaborate
Mary, Devon, Ashley, Laryssa, Art, Janos |
Interagency Collaboration (Accessibility)
Josh, Devon |
Complementary Programming
Lydia |
Develop & Transfer Garden Knowledge & Skills
Abbi, Leanne, Mary-Anne, Tracy, Laryssa, Judy |
Innovative Ways to Generate Income
Mary, Amy, Art, Janos, Rebecca |
Empower Agencies to be more Self Reliant
Tracy, Rebecca, Laryssa, Anita |
Some of you may know retirees who have a wealth of experience and knowledge that could help us achieve our goals. Former teachers, social workers, gardeners, police, fundraisers, recreation therapists, IT specialist etc could be recruited from your circles to serve as your proxies on the 'Goal Committees' if you are unable to make the commitment yourself this year. |
GOVERNANCE Doug and I have met with his lawyer and we are in the process of turning LFG into a Part 9 Corporation. This formal registration as a 'Not For Profit' (NFP) will allow us to access new sources of support, including grants. LFG will not have a board. Instead it will have 2 directors, Doug and myself. The member agencies will continue to renegotiate land use agreements every year as well as provide their own supervisory staff, transportation and insurance. LFG will continue to develop more grassroots, democratic governance through bi-annual meetings, where member agency representatives continue to set new goals and join 'Goal' committees; in order to develop protocols, implement processes, evaluate outcomes and report back at the next LFG meeting. At the April meeting, we will open up 10 observational seats for potential 'Proxies' who would like to learn more about LFG and how it operates and quite possibly join one of the 'Goal Committees'. (These recruits can also work in the garden with your agency after signing a waiver and submitting a Police Information Check). If we are to move these goals from dreams into reality we need people who have the skills, time and energy for these committees! So ask the special person that you know if they would like to attend our Spring Meeting and then send me their contact info. I will put them on the list. |