Understanding the FASD framework and the support system in communities

I attended the training delivered by Donna Debolt in Camrose on September 28 and 29.  I learned that the FASD community needs voices because for some children the placement turnover with foster families is high.  The take out were the following words - Training, Coaching, Grief and Loss; and Respite. Create competency/skills and strengthen connections. Donna Debolt is knowledegable and  delivers information in a simple easy to understand manner.

Enhancing Industry Engagement by Maskwacis Employment Center on Sept 27

The Enhancing Industry Engagement was organized by Maskwacis Employment Centre (MEC).  I learned about  the First Nations culture of hearing voices, the contribution of FN communities to enrich our land, kinship and help to families, plus support system in place, and respect for elders. Hobbema my dear friends is the Free Trade Zone of Alberta and is full of opportunities. MEC helps employers and the FN people. Call them right now if you are looking for employees to join your team. MEC has a real time database of trained workforce ready to work!


I applied some of the learning to the following proposal to set up a library, literacy services, computer training and a cultural art cafe in Hobbema.


http://setuppubliclibrarywithfncommunity.blogspot.com/2011/10/proposal-to-set-up-public-library-in.html


Call me at 780 352 1633 or contact by email  at librarieshelppeople@gmail.com if you are interested in joining the planning committee.

High energy presentation by Monica Knight on September 26

Thank you Chamber of Commerce and Alberta Works for bringing Monica Knight to our community. Wow! she is a fantastic speaker using music and dance as a tool to demonstrate setting expectations and change management. I enjoyed listening to the presentation and the lunch. The workshop after the lunch was fantastic. The group activities were awesome and had so many messages. Our group did Wally the Warthog activity. Then, the mini golf bowling activity energized me. I scored the goal following Monica's principles; the right expectations, goals and the right tools. We changed the ball, bat, and team roles.

I came out of the workshop charged, energized, refreshed and felt fantastic!  Call me and I will share Monicas principles and help your organization and staff achieve 200% balance in life and work.

Manisha Khetarpal

ECMAP meeting at Parentlink at 2:30 p.m.

I am part of the Tech Committee and I provided marketing suggestions for Parentlink Centers. I think Parentlink is a  'safe place' for parents to socialize and learn from each other as well as from guest speakers and programs planned by Parentlink staff. I am proud to introduce Lisa our Community Capacity developer at Parentlink.

Victoria our regional Capacity Coordinator from Volunteer Alberta launched Knowledge Connector

Participants came from the Reynolds Alberta Museum, Millet Museum, Alberta Health Services, and Camrose's Prarire Central Network.

Interagency meeting, September 21, 9 am

I attended the interagency meeting at the Norquest College. I promoted the author readings, Alberta Arts days events, Freedom of Expression travelling exhibit, video conferences, all our programs and services. As usual, I networked with the community organizations. Then, I invited all the participants to come to the library for the Lunch n Learn Open House and launch of Volunteer Alberta's Knowledge Connector service.

Presentation at the Genealogical Society

I did a presentation about library services and programs at the Genealogical Society meeting on September 20th from 7-8 p.m.. I enjoyed meeting the 12 members and guests. The members were knowledgeable and experts on genealogical resources. I was given a tour of their library. Participants were from Hobbema, Pigeon Lake and Wetaskiwin. I am planning to attend the genealogical workshop on October 29th. I invited all the members to come to the library and I could do a demonstration for Heritage Quest, Mango language learning software and downloadable ebooks.

And, on my way back my friend who is a teacher was coming back from her yoga class and she gave me a ride and we explored ways in which I could visit her class and do puppet shows about bullying plus Festival of Lights presentation.

Let's make books together workshop on Sunday, October 2 at the library

Read more at http://albertaartsdayslibraries2011.blogspot.com/

Environment resources from the library display, Bag-it Screening at the Reynolds Alberta Museum

Essential Skills celebration and door prize draw on September 24

Workplace education helps provide a foundation for lifelong learning as people and businesses grow together. Literacy and essential skills are at the core of workplace education. Improving workers' skills creates a more productive workforce, a more competitive economy, and an improved bottom line.
 
Reading is a essential skill.
 
We will be giving away books at the grocery shopping centres, schools, parks and in the community during September 19-24.

   

Celebrate Essential Skills Day and support workplace education in your organization!

Read more at:

• What's happening at the public library http://essentialskillshomecommunitywork.blogspot.com/


• What is happening at the national level  http://abclifeliteracy.ca/workplace_literacy/home

Migrant Routes workshop at the library on September 15

View more pictures at http://migrantroutesworkshopsept15.blogspot.com/

Communicating with First Nations People workshop in Hobbema

Today, I attended the communication workshop in Hobbema. I learned about eye contact, FN people do not complaint and don't like to brag. I was informed about FNs rituals, traditions and celebrations. The barriers such as transition from reserve to city were explained. Some tips were given such as 'Inform your employees'.  FN people have good listening skills as it is part of their culture to listen to stories and the teachings at ceremonies. The family ties and kinship are important and the family structure was explained.

FASD display

FASD Gathering

The event began with serving Mocktails. Stacey presented information about FASD, Heather shared her experience working with her coworkers having FASD, Dominique facilitated the Wheel of Fortune activity, Floyd and his sister and Misty shared their stories. Floyd cracked a egg in a glass of alcohol and showed that after some time the egg became like rubber demonstrating the effect of alcohol on the baby growing in the womb. The finger food was provided by Horizons Centre and the supplies for mocktails by Baker Funeral home.  The chief guest was Alderman Joe Branco. Thw winner of the door prize was Sheila Cole from Catholic Social Services. View pictures at http://fasdday9september2011.blogspot.com/

17 people actively participated at the intercultural communications workshop

Read more at http://interculturalcommunications5thsept8th.blogspot.com/

Wordy eating words at the Library booth (Parade of Programs Sept 7)

View pictures at http://paradeofprograms7september2011.blogspot.com/

Intercultural communications feedback

I found the intercultural communications workshop to be informative and useful. In particular, I found the information about Canadian and newcomer perceptions about each other to be frank and eye-opening and I the tips and suggestions will be very useful regarding fostering and managing organizational diversity.

Thanks!

Narmin

RCMP Recruitment - Edmonton

Read more at http://interculturalcommunications5thsept8th.blogspot.com/

Letter of Support

The Wetaskiwin Public Library is applying for the New Horizons for Seniors Program federal grant for 2012.  The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities.  The program supports projects addressing the following objectives:

 

·       promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations;

·       engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;

·       supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors.

 

 

The funds will be used by the Wetaskiwin Public Library in the following ways:

 

·       purchasing resources for the homebound service delivery program

·       arranging for transport expenses for seniors to attend the programs at the library

·       cover expenses for guest speaker presentation series

 

I am requesting for a letter of support to go along with our application that is due on Monday, September 12

 

Manisha

Library booth at the Parade of Programs: registration and informing our citizens about the learning and networking possibilities

Library staff Lisa and Lynne promoting activley promoted library services.  Visitors at our booth were from 2 to 80 year olds inquiring about Tales for Twos, puppet shows, Mother Goose, FASD Mocktails gathering, videoconferencing, essential skills draw, Adventures in Art, and the Alberta Arts Days.   

View more pictures at http://paradeofprograms7september2011.blogspot.com/

Volunteered at TALES Storytelling Festival

I enjoyed volunteering at the TALES festival at Fort Edmonton Park. The theme was 'River of Dreams.'  It was marvelous to meet storytellers and see them integrate different types of voice projection techniques, theater, song, music, and their tools. I was amazed at the story sticks, frogs with musical sounds, and props such as tales and hears. I helped putting away the food. I was a volunteer for one of the sites and I kept  a tally of visitors and I requested people in the nearby areas to come and visit the session.

Capacity building by networking with our Museum

I helped the Wetaskiwin Heritage Museum with a brain storming session with ideas to write the grant proposal.  I coached and mentored tills, timeline to write the Seniors grant. The library will provide a support letter.  The library will support some of the projects of the Museum as they unfold.

I planted the seed for the Human Library at the Museum. The museum has the primary information and many of their exhibits are of international standards. I shared information about Alberta Arts Days.

Sylvia Larson, board member and volunteer at the museum advised me when I came to Wetaskiwin in 2010 to, 'Go out to people,'  That's what I did and it is a satisfying and fulfilling experience serving and working with my community. Read my service framework by visting the following page http://creatingcommunitybysharing.blogspot.com/

September is Library Card Sign Up month: Presentation at Touchstone Place

Today, I did a presentation at Touchstone Place about our services. I began the presentation with;

1. How a resident can get a library card
2. Distributed posters, handouts and flyer's
3. Rules and regulations for computer use
4. Social network and gatherings
5. Demonstration of Overdrive ebooks (Project Gutenberg)
6. The posed the question, 'Why is the library organizing FASD Gathering on September 9?'

The response from my particpants was, 'Library is reaching out. That's great. We like it.'

My audience was 10-12 people with a above average IQ. The participants shared with me information about different types of mental health conditions. The members shared with me the different places they had traveled in their life. Some were from BC and some from Alberta. They told me about their past work. Some had traveled to Japan, Florida, and Jamaica. A person had taught English language as a volunteer for more than 25 years. This participant told me that he tried to teach the language with the things the student is familar with and told me about 'pinjiri.'   This a traditional dish cooked in northern India with whole wheat, nuts, many healthy ingredients cooked in ghee.

We all had lunch together and I had an opportunity to tour the place. I was informed about their mandate, funding, board, and members. It helped me understand my community and the framework in which this organization operates and ways in which I can help the library fit-in the life of the members of Touchstone Place. I was impressed with the support network.

The participants asked many interesting questions such as, 'Which are the libraries who are part of our regional network? How to access ebooks?' Some participants would like to come for some of the events at the library and  told me to remind them by telephone on the day of the event.

The question is: 'Who was educating whom?' It was a mutually respectful sharing experience.  I plan to take some resources once a month and maybe start a discussion group.

Manisha