WOODVALE COMMUNITY LEAGUE MEETING MINUTES - NOVEMBER 21, 2006 PRESENT: Dennis Emmerling, Cheryl Emmerling, Neal Gray, Ran Newby, Nancy Newby, Brad Park, Shawna Middleton, Christina Gray, Gene Starling, Chacko Thomas GUESTS: Cheryl Deshaies, Jay Row REGRETS: Larry McDonald, Heather Lajeunesse, Celeste Nicholson, Barry Headrick, Rajiv Sinha, Alice Park The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM by Ran Newby MOTION: To accept the minutes of October 17, 2006 Moved: Ran Newby Second: Chacko Thomas Carried. REPORTS Reported by Ran Newby for Barry Headrick, Treasurer Ran reported that hall revenues are up substantially (39% year-over-year) and that our revenue this year (including $84k from the casino) is at $230,549.00 (net bank balance $931k) and moved that Barry's report be accepted for information. Reported by: Cheryl Deshaies/Jay Row, Community Services Cheryl introduced our new rep, Jay Row. Jay reported on a volunteer workshop, a recreational facility input meeting in Silverberry, the City of Edmonton family event in Jackie Parker Park on January 4, 2007 and a rink restoration workshop. Cheryl said that she had spoken to the city department that would approve our request to erect a storage shed temporarily beside the skating rink at Greenview to house our gas-powered ice maintenance equipment. She said that the city just requires more details on the temporary building and its location to approve the request. Brad Park will work with Jay Row to supply the details. Reported by: Cheryl Emmerling, Membership Sales Cheryl reported that the 2006 membership drive is completed. She said there will be a number of memberships sold in early 2007 when the spring and summer sports registrations take place. She said that 255 memberships have been sold and that about 330 were sold in 2005-06. Reported by: Gene Starling, Bingo Gene said that bingos were going smoothly. She said that at a recent Parkway Board meeting that the number of workers for late night events was lowered but that we would not cancel any volunteers already booked to work the events through August next year. The move was taken due to the reduced number of players at late night bingos. She reported that the Parkway executive is actively looking for another rental space. The landlord has been making noises that he'd like to take the space we're in for the engineering company next door. We have to give Gaming 3 months notice of a move and they have to approve the new space and the Parkway executive hopes to schedule a move for March or April 2007. Gene also said that we received information from Alberta Gaming that Parkway is the second most profitable hall in all of Alberta. The most profitable hall is in Calgary where smoking is still allowed. Reported by: Shawna Middleton, Greenview School Shawna said that the Greenview PAC will be meeting on November 30 to decide the fate of the gazebo. It has been badly vandalized in the past year and the PAC is worried that it attracts people who further damage school property. She said that the garbage that accumulates over the weekend (trash, drug paraphernalia and condoms) should not be handled by the school janitor. If anyone from the Board has suggestions, please get them to Shawna before November 30. Cheryl said that she would get Shawna a listing of city departments that may have grant monies to improve neighbourhood safety. By transforming the gazebo, it could seen to improve the safety of the neighbourhood. Reported by: Neal Gray - EFCL/MCARFA Neal reported his attendance at EFCL fall meeting. The meeting topics included community policing and school closures (none in Woodvale). He said that the EFCL was looking for a venue for about 100 people for their fall 2007 meeting. He said that no Mill Woods league had hosted a recent meeting and the Board asked Neal to offer our facility for the meeting as long as the date does not interfere with a booked function. Neal will talk to Margaret. Neal also reported that he will attend the next scheduled MCARFA meeting on behalf of Woodvale. Reported by: Chacko Thomas, Civic Liaison/MWPC Chacko said that he was very pleased and surprised to have become Woodvale's President on the cover of the November Mill Woods Newsletter. He was pictured receiving a plaque commemorating Woodvale's 25th anniversary and was listed as the President. Congratulations Chacko!! He notified the group that they can contact the City Clerk to get a time to voice their opinion on the city budgeted tax increase of 9% for 2007. He also said that the police facility on 51st Avenue and 97th Street will be staffed and will serve the southwest part of the city. He said that staffing, to full compliment, could take a couple of years. He also left for Trish a CD with a Mill Woods services directory on it. Reported by: Dennis Emmerling, Canada Day Dennis said that he missed the last meeting and that minutes had not yet been distributed. He will attend the November 27th meeting and will keep the Board informed of upcoming news. Neal and Chacko said that they also would attend the meeting on the 27th. CORRESPONDANCE Ran reported that he had received the resignations of Hal Williams and Cindy Gange-Harris who both left the Board due to work commitments. Ran told the Board that, although the Board has no formal policy on recognition procedures, due the length of Hal's tenure with the community league he (Ran) had ordered a plaque to present to Hal. Ran will invite Hal and his wife, Phyllis, to the December 19 Christmas Social. BUSINESS ARISING Re-Shale Baseball Diamonds Cheryl said that she put in the order late in October but that the early snowfall delayed the job till spring. Cheryl will get a cost to re-shale all three improved diamonds in Woodvale. Skating Rink Renovations Brad Park reported that he will attend the upcoming rink maintenance work shop so that he can meet suppliers and develop a price for the upgrades. Ran was supposed to mention (but forgot) that we will purchase new nets for the rink and that it will open for public skating on November 26. By-Law Update Alice was not able to attend the meeting so the issue was tabled to the January meeting. Assessment of Charles B. Park in Hillview Cheryl Deshaies said that she called the city's forestry department early in November but had not checked to see what they had done. She will follow up on the matter. NEW BUSINESS Charitable Donations - Christmas 2006 The group discussed the matter and determined to donate amounts of $500.00 to each of the following organizations. the Salvation Army, the Boyle Street Co-Op, the Support Network, the Mill Woods Welcome Centre for Immigrants, the Mustard Seed Church, Wings of Providence Centre in Mill Woods (an affiliate of WIN House), Easter Seals, Santa's Anonymous, the Christmas Bureau and iHuman (youth at risk foundation). MOTION: To expend $5000.00 (in amounts of $500.00 each) to the charitable organizations listed above. Moved by: Chacko Thomas Second by: Dennis Emmerling Carried. Ski Night 2007 Ran reported that he had contacted Heather and she said that she would be the Board representative on the Ski Night organizing committee. Ran asked Heather to report to the Board at the December meeting on the committee's progress. He also said that he asked Heather to consider using the 2005 format and budget for the 2007 event. Hall Renovations Dennis asked the group about the hall renovation plans that were initiated by Hal Williams in early 2006. Ran said that, now Hal Williams is no longer with the Board, he would ask that Alice Park (the new Operations Committee chair) retrieve the plans and report to the Board at the January meeting. Ran also said that, if any renovation plan was to be carried forward, a committee head would have to be recruited or appointed. Woodvale Website Dennis, Neal and Shawna mentioned that they have not been able to access the Woodvale website at www.woodvale.org for some months. They also noted that when they were able to get on to the site in the spring, it had not been updated for some time. Christina Neal told the group that she teaches courses in website design and that she would be willing to work with Bernard Albers on updating the site. Ran will contact Bernard to see if he is okay with that arrangement. Woodvale Facility - Virtual Tour Dennis asked the group about the initiative to have a virtual tour of the facility put up on the Woodvale Community Facility website. Ran mentioned that a company was retained to do the work in the spring of 2006 but that he would have to check with Margaret to determine why the video is not up on the site. NEXT MEETING - December 19, 2006 CHRISTMAS SOCIAL - Bring a guest to the meeting (7:30 PM) and/or to the social (8:15 PM). MOTION: To adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Moved by: Gene Starling Carried