BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Square Peg Society - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Square Peg Society
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Vancouver
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20150308T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20151101T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20160313T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20161106T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20170312T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20171105T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20180311T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20181104T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20190310T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20191103T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20200308T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20201101T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20210314T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20211107T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20220313T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20221106T090000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211219T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20211219T193000
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20211115T205108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211118T011220Z
UID:1945-1639942200-1639942200@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:Michael McCreary\,  Aspie Comic & Us!
DESCRIPTION:Square Peg Society is 7 years old\, and has a new website! Celebrate with Michael McCreary\, Aspie Comic & Us! \nTickets: By donation\, a charitable donation receipt will be issued for every donation $30 or more. \nTo register : This is a 2 step process: \n\nClick first on the “Going” button and then\nClick on the Donate button below.
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/michael-mccreary-aspie-comic-us
CATEGORIES:Fun,SPS Business
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://squarepegsociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/AspiComic.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191114
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191115
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20191129T080000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211019T042646Z
UID:1170-1573689600-1573775999@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:Square Peg Society Accessibility Legislation Report Back Nov 2019-Feedback
DESCRIPTION: \nSPSAccessibilityLegislationReportBackNov2019-Feedback
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/square-peg-society-accessibility-legislation-report-back-nov-2019-feedback
CATEGORIES:Employment,Housing,Mental Health,Post-Sec Education,SPS Business
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20181129
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20181130
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20181213T080000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211019T043144Z
UID:1167-1543449600-1543535999@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:Reflections on Independent ASD and Parent Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Thursday November 29\, 2018\,Reflections on Our Meeting\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\nA small\, but passionate & articulate group of parents gathered to talk about our ASD adult children\, their issues and lives\, and our lives with them\, as we try to guide them to independence.  \n\n\n\n Based upon our 5 key issues:  Post-secondary education\, Employment\, Housing\,Life & Social Skills\, and Mental Health\, I compiled a collection of concerns and examples\, to provide food for thought. We didn’t cover all of the list below\, but we can certainly do this again. (See this list at bottom) \n\n\n\nWe found that\, while everyone could recognize many aspects of the examples provided in their kids’ lives\, ASD is truly a Spectrum. Even within our sector of the ASD population\, the range of personalities and type of issues that they struggle with are huge! Parents are having to meet their kids where they are at\, and are not necessarily able to work on more than one or two issues at a time. Some families are focused on post-secondary education\, realizing that their gifted young adults would never be content working at a “Mac-job”. These families are concerned with the discipline\, organization & healthy living challenges that will be required for success at University. Other families are working through the issues that surround independent housing. For these families\, this might not be the parents’ first choice issue\, but “leaving home” is upper-most in the minds of their young adults\, who are not succeeding in school or employment at the moment. So\,helping them to live safe and healthy lives on their own is still a win on the path to independence. Others feel that\, given that their son or daughter knows and wants a job (for the money\, and a sense of purpose)\, the path to reaching their adult is through employment – and this becomes the families’ focus. The challenge for these families has been in finding customized employment services that will follow the young adult in exploring employment\, leading them to the skills training that they require\, and helping them to integrate into the job\,once employed. Some families have young adults who are quite social with a range of friends\, others have a social group built around a particular niche interest\, and some are painfully lonely\, and feel very isolated from other young adults their age\, leading to dysfunction in other aspects of life\, such as work and school. All families feel that mental health and appropriate employment services that would have helped them have been unavailable or unaffordable or both. \n\n\n\n“Motivation” was a concept that was discussed. Employment and social skills programs require that our adults be“motivated to participate” or “coach-able” or “open-minded”.  The problem for us\, as parents\, is that by the time our adults are in their 20’s (or older)\, they have been criticized\,bullied\, and are often cynical\, at best\, or clinically anxious or depressed. Added to this\, autism inherently implies a certain rigidity and inflexibility of thinking. Furthermore\, being asked to change one’s behavior is hard for anyone.So\, what to do? \n\n\n\nI have seen that our son is motivated by success – tough love is not a concept that works for him. So\, Dr. Bailey’s pearl of wisdom that development\, for our ASD individuals\, is protracted\, means that we need to understand and convey to our young adults that becoming fully independent will take longer than it will for others\, and that this is OK. If we can\, slow things down for them – their entry into full time employment\, the number of post-secondary courses that they take each year\, the number of activities that the take on\, to ensure that they do well\, and are not overcome with anxiety. Can we break goals down into small achievable steps\, so that they can see small gains as wins enroute to a larger goal? Is the first question we ask of post-secondary institution or employer be – can we do this program part-time\, or ease into employment over several months or a year? \n\n\n\nOne family suggested that money maybe the only way to motivate some individuals. If having money in their jeans is a motivator for our kid\, then should we consider paying them to participate in counseling or attending an employment or skills training program\, in the hope that once there\, they will engage and learn the skills being offered? \n\n\n\nFor our really bright kids\, who have a goal that they want to achieve – say\, an engineering\, law degree\, or a particular type of job – say\, medicine or mathematics professor- can we ask for behavioral “proofs”\, tapping into their rationality\, to get them on board? For example\, can we talk to them in a calm moment\, and tell them that for us to be willing to financially support their goal\, they must demonstrate their self-discipline and self-control through certain behaviours\, ie\, by adhering to agreed-upon financial or domestic responsibilities? \n\n\n\nThis week I have been in contact with family friends who have an adult son struggling with addiction. The helplessness that this family feels is not unlike how we feel at times. Here is what the Mom has written to me on the topic of motivation: \n\n\n\n“If there’s one thing I’ve learned about addiction in the past five years it’s that until an addict wants to go clean there is very little others can do…(Our son)… has never stayed with help and support – and he has had access to a lot of it. It’s pretty stunning the number of doctors\, counselors\, support groups etc he as walked away from. We are doing what all addiction counselors tell parents to do – take care of yourselves and don’t let the addiction bring you down…So we go on living and we still find joy and make plans… So many people live with some kind of sorrow in their heart. It’s part of the human experience.” \n\n\n\nI am thinking about building success through working from where our son is at right now\, and to celebrate what he is doing well. We can only work on future goals as long as he feels hopeful about life and is willing to work with us. So\, I am wishing you all insight into yourselves and your kids\, so that you can find some ways to better “motivate”your kids and yourselves in 2019.   \n\n\n\nWishing you and your families all the best over Christmas and in the New Year! \n\n\n\nJoette\, and all of us at Square PegSociety            joetteheuft@gmail.com \n\n\n\nIssues & Stories (Compiled from books and tales told to me) \n\n\n\nFinding My Path After High School: \n\n\n\nBlanca is 23 and single\, living with her parents & brother. She has trouble sleeping – her alarm rings at 7am\,but often she is awake as early as 5am\, even though she goes to sleep at midnight. She has morning classes at University\, where she is studying Marine Biology. As she has a 45 min transit ride to school\, she has to get up\, but feels tired\, anxious and consequently\, often forgets things that she needs for her day. As she packs her bag she has trouble finding things in her very messy room. \n\n\n\nArnold is an 18 year old college freshman\, living in a dorm. He dreads the evenings because his roommates invite their friends in and are noisy. For the most part\, his roommates and their friends ignore him. \n\n\n\nIssues that arise around post-secondary education: \n\n\n\n\nI have trouble managing my time.\nI can’t fall asleep at night\, so stay up late\, then have difficulty getting up in the morning.\nI am always worried about doing well– getting the grades I want\, and getting my assignments done.\nSometimes I feel really overwhelmed\,but would rather fail than get help at the Centre for Students with Disabilities.\nI can’t concentrate at the University because it is too noisy\, the lighting is awful\, it is too hot/cold/smells bad.\nMy profs seem annoyed by the questions that I ask\, and I always seem to end up having conflicts with them.\nI can’t get to know other students –they always seem too busy\, or are already in their own groups.\n\n\n\n\nHenry is 29\,has a BA in English\, but has been unemployed for 6 years. He has been looking for work through online ads. He lives with his father\, who is critical toward him for not having found work. Henry feels pressured about work\, but doesn’t get much done at home alone while his father is at work; they often argue when his Dad gets home. \n\n\n\nMargaret is an endocrinologist and works in a practice with several other physicians. At lunchtime she would prefer to eat alone\, but due to a shortage of office space\,she is forced to use the staff lunch room. She tries to be polite to others also eating there\, but has never felt comfortable making small talk. She is not quite sure what to say and doesn’t enjoy the topics that come up in conversation. She has received feedback from the office manager that she is not well liked by the staff. \n\n\n\nIssues that arise around employment: \n\n\n\n\nI can’t find a job and don’t know where to begin to look.\nI get so overwhelmed with the job search that I avoid looking.\nI get so nervous at job interviews\,that I never get called back.\nSometimes I think the interview went well\, but then don’t hear back from the employer. I don’t understand what went wrong.\nI can only find low-level jobs where I can’t use my talents.\nI can’t concentrate at my workplace because it is too noisy\, the lighting is awful\, it is too hot/cold/smells bad.\nI can’t seem to organize myself/work to be able to get everything done.\nI am anxious about not doing well at my work\, displeasing my supervisor\, or not fitting in with others.\nI am reluctant to ask for help because my supervisor always seems busy\, and/or my supervisor gets annoyed when I ask a lot of questions.\nI get irritated with coworkers\,supervisors\, and/or customers.\n\n\n\n\nLiving Alone & Together \n\n\n\nJake is single\,20\, and living with his parents. He recently dropped out of community college after only two semesters and now works part-time in the dairy department of a grocery store. Recently\, he got his driver’s license\, but is not comfortable driving\, and taking transit to work is complex and time-consuming. His stress over getting to work is at times so great that he calls in sick. He does not want to admit this to his parents\, but his anxiety over driving and transit contributed to his decision to quit college. \n\n\n\nNoel\, 37\, lives in his own apartment and works as a computer programmer. Evenings and weekends are very lonely. \n\n\n\nDan is an information technologist at a hospital. Dan is overweight\, has a family history of heart disease\, and has been told by his doctor that he needs to lose 40 lbs.He has had a girlfriend for about 3 years who also makes occasional comments on his weight. Dan knows that he has poor eating habits but is overwhelmed with the idea of changing his routine. He is not even sure what his first step should be toward organizing a weight-loss plan\, and continues to eat the same poor quality foods\, feeling guilty while doing so. \n\n\n\nIssues that arise around Living with others: \n\n\n\n\nI don’t keep up with laundry\,cleaning\, personal hygiene.\nI don’t get enough alone time\,privacy.\nMy family/roommates have too many guests – I feel uncomfortable having to socialize all the time.\nI argue a lot with my parents/siblings/roommates.\nMy family/roommates get annoyed with my behaviours and habits (eating\, sleeping times\, excessive tidiness\,messiness\, etc).\nI get annoyed with others’ behaviours and habits.\n\n\n\n\nIssues that arise around Living Alone: \n\n\n\n\nIt takes a long time for me to plan& prepare a meal\, so I resort to ordering in or eating out a lot\, which is both expensive and not very healthy.\nI don’t keep up with laundry\,cleaning\, personal hygiene.\nI can’t find the time to exercise/I get obsessed about my diet/exercise routine.\nI am very lonely\, and often don’t talk to anyone other than at work.\nI seem to misplace a lot of things(wallet\, keys\, purse\, etc).\nMy family worries that I will leave the stove on\, or forget to turn off the faucet in the bathroom.\nI have not always lived within my budget; my parents have on several occasions made good on my credit card debt.\n\n\n\n\nFinding Happiness – Relationships \n\n\n\nFred\, 31\, lives alone and works full time at a bank. Friday nights he gets together at a sports bar with a friend that he has had since high school. However\, they often argue– Fred has different opinions about sports from his friend and has been told that he is too aggressive in expressing his views. Sometimes his friend has brought others to join them\, but these people often get frustrated with Fred’s yelling. Even his friend has been threatening to quit their Friday night get-togethers. \n\n\n\nArnold wants to make friends\, but is very shy. He has always tried to “disappear” when around kids his own age\, a habit that protected him from bullies in high school. Now\,as an adult\, he wants to be more sociable\, but doesn’t know how to start conversations\, and even when he thinks of something to say\, he is too scared to try. \n\n\n\nNoel would like to get married and have children\, but has had no success with dating. He is frustrated because he feels that he is doing something wrong in terms of relationships\, but doesn’t know what it is. \n\n\n\nRobert would like to be able to run his own errands\, and to have his own activities\, such as going to the bank\, shopping or joining a gym. However\, in the past he has relied on others to speak for him\, and so doing these things on his own makes him highly anxious. But now he is motivated to become more independent because he does not enjoy hanging out by himself at home most of the time. \n\n\n\nCarla is 34 and married. She enjoys sexual activity\, but finds that being held tight outside of sex\, for long periods of time\, makes her feel claustrophobic. Her husband is affectionate\, and feels hurt when she rejects his hugs\, resulting in arguments between them. She finds herself avoiding contact with him. \n\n\n\nIssues that Arise Around Relationships \n\n\n\n\nI don’t know where to look to find friends.\nI feel my interests won’t interest others my age\, but I don’t want to pretend to be somebody else in order to make friends.\nI don’t know how to join in when it looks like everyone knows each other.\nI don’t know how to turn acquaintances into friends who will want to do something with me on the weekends.\nI have sometimes been told that I sound “nerdy” or like a “know it all”.\nI’m not sure that I can distinguish between a true friends and someone who is using me.\nI feel depressed that I will never have friends or a relationship.\nI don’t know where to meet potential dates\, and don’t feel comfortable in crowed places\, like parties or bars.\nI am too afraid of being rejected to ask someone for a date.\nI am intimidated by social networking sites\, and have tried online dating services\, but never got a date.\nI have begun a few Internet relationships\, but they have all fallen apart after meeting.\nI am embarrassed about being a virgin at my age.\nI doubt that I could trust that another person can accept me as I am; this inhibits me from becoming intimate with anyone.\nI get so upset when my partner is annoyed with me that I freeze and don’t know what to do or say.\nMy partner tells me that I am insensitive.\nMy partner blames all of our problems on ASD\, and it makes me feel guilty.
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/reflections-on-independent-asd-and-parent-meeting
CATEGORIES:Employment,Housing,Life & Social Skills,Mental Health,Post-Sec Education,SPS Business
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180414
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180415
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20180501T070000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211019T043243Z
UID:1162-1523664000-1523750399@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:Annual General Meeting on April 14th \, 2018
DESCRIPTION:Annual General Meeting \nSquare Peg Society \nApril 14\, 2018 \nVanCity Meeting Room\, 5064 Kingsway\, Burnaby BC \n  \n\nCall to order: The meeting was called to order at 1:40pm by moderator\, Fred Michael.\n\n  \n\nApproval of minutes: Fred noted that there are no minutes to approve as this is the first formal AGM.\n\n  \n\nDirector’s Report: Joette Heuft reviewed the purpose and particular focus of the Square Peg Society as a non-profit\, volunteer run organization that supports individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. The focus is on building independence for those individuals whose disability may be ‘invisible’ and who struggle post-secondary to establish themselves. Joette reviewed the activities of the society and the activities that she has been engaged with. Some examples are organizing meetings and the cooking club\, responding to calls of enquiry about SPS\, and ASD\, participating in roundtable discussions on Employment and Mental Health (Pacific Autism Family Network\, West Coast Child Development)\, preparing and delivering a presentation to the Fraser Health Board of Directors\, and a meeting with Judy Darcy\, Minister of Mental Health & Addictions. The group acknowledged Joette’s outstanding contribution to the development and success of Square Peg Society to date.\n\n  \n\nTreasurer’s Report: Mahmoud Rezaee presented the financial statements for the fiscal year 2016-17. Total revenue was $2427.25 and total expenses were $1256.79 leaving a surplus balance of $1170.46. Discussion followed. Moved by Louvain Chalmers\, seconded by Debra Merchant to accept 2016-7 financial statements as presented. Carried\n\n  \n\nApproval of 2017-18 Budget: Mahmoud Rezaee reviewed the proposed budget and there was some discussion on bank fees – there was a one time cost of $80.87 for cheques – a significant cost\, but this was the minimum order that we could place\, and cheques were needed for paying volunteers for expenses incurred on our behalf. Moved by Sue McIntyre\, seconded by Louvain Chalmers to approve the budget.\n\n  \n\nElection of Board Members: Fred announced that Catherine Alcee will withdraw as Board Member at Large. Thank you to Catherine for her time over the past year. All other members will remain in the same positions:\n\nExecutive Director: Joette Heuft\nTreasurer: Mahmoud Rezaee\nSecretary: Debra Merchant\nMembers at Large: Fred Michael\, Louvain Chalmers\n\n\n\nCharitable status: Fred provided an update on Square Peg Society’s application for charitable status. The timing of the approval process is uncertain. The application was acknowledged in Jan/2018 and is expected to be reviewed in May with possible approval for the fall.\n\n  \n\nNew Societies Act: Square Peg is a non-profit society in BC at present. There is a new Societies Act which we must comply with and it must be complete by Nov 2018. Dianne Simmons will work with Fred on this project as she has experience in this process.\n\n  \n\nNew Business/Project Updates:\n\nWebsite: Joette explained the importance of the website for Square Peg and believes a number of people follow events through the website. It takes time to continue to provide content for it\, and will take funds to expand and improve it. Square Peg is grateful to Mahmoud for the work he has been done. Sue McIntyre will now assume responsibility to answer email enquiries\, and will set up an email address to do so. There was a discussion about the effectiveness of using technology to reach/develop our community\, website interactivity\, and the need for technical support to achieve this. Louvain has consulted a friend who has expertise creating online communities and this person has agreed to advise on website development at a future meeting. Joette would like to start a Facebook page and perhaps initiate other social media activity.\n\n\n\n  \n\nFilm Club: This project\, called REEL Relationships\, is to be piloted over the summer by Aaron. The format is a monthly film (SFU students only) viewing and discussion that will be moderated by SFU grad students (selected by Dr. Grace Iarocci). For the time being the film club will be exclusive to SFU students as it will receive funds from the SFU Student Society. In future\, we would like to open this up to everyone.\n\n  \n\nCooking club: Joette and Sue have been running the cooking club in space provided by Shaughnessy United Church. As the program develops we hope that parents would decrease\, in order to enhance the participants’ sense of independence. Joette proposes to change the format so that sessions are booked in groups of three (eg. May\, June\, July) around a theme. One goal is to encourage bonding through consistency of attendees\, and familiarity with the event. There would be two baking sessions per year as well (Christmas/April). Funding would be helpful to buy equipment and to compensate the volunteer chefs.\n\n  \n\nSocial group: Joette described some of the ideas for the social club that have been tried and the challenges associated with them. Many of our members feel socially isolated\, but struggle with the effort\, skills\, and motivation needed to engage socially. While we feel that this is an important aspect of personal happiness and well-being\, we are unsure of how to make this a success. We all agreed that parents cannot and should not plan or organize social activities on our members’ behalf; however\, the opportunity is there for a young adult to take up the lead\, and we would support this. In addition\, some feel the need for more social engagement – should this be for parents? For families? In response to this discussion\, Fred & Joette will\, once per month\, propose\, a walk\, coffee\, gathering\, or an activity for people to join in on if they wish\, in order to provide an opportunity for people to meet and chat in an informal setting.\n\n  \n\nFunding: There was a general discussion about the need for funding and the hope that it will be easier to secure when Square Peg has charitable status so that donation receipts can be issued. Charitable status also confers credibility to potential donors. Joette would like to be prepared to submit funding requests in advance of receiving charitable status and a personal friend has offered to help identify potential donors. Estimated funds needed for cooking club ($1000)\, film club ($1000)\, website ($5000) and PEERS Program\, or other life skills training program ($30\,000 for 2 sessions for 3 years). The idea of trying ‘Go Fund Me’ was discussed and will be implemented for the film club project. Dianne also suggested that municipal volunteer boards could be a source of volunteer help.\n\n  \n\nAdvocacy: Joette discussed some of her projects to increase awareness of challenges for ASD young adults such as the presentation to the Fraser Health Board and Judy Darcy\, Minister of Mental Health & Addictions. We need someone to assist with the advocacy.\n\n  \n\nSquare Peg Meetings: Joette announced that meetings will decrease from 10 to 6/yr plus a summer picnic and Christmas event. There was discussion of different meeting formats with general consensus to keep things as is. We need help to organize and/or run the meetings. Please think of ideas for meetings and consider volunteering to run one meeting. This will be discussed further at the next Square Peg meeting on April 19\, 2018.\n\n  \n\nMeeting adjourned: the meeting was adjourned at 3:45pm.
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/annual-general-meeting-on-april-14th-2018
CATEGORIES:SPS Business
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20170401
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20170402
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20170425T070000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211025T001708Z
UID:1158-1491004800-1491091199@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:SPS General Meeting
DESCRIPTION:What We Are & What We Do:                                                                                                                    \nSquare Peg Society is a non-profit volunteer group\, (we do not have CRA Charitable status)\, formed by parents in October 2014\, to support ASD adults and their families. \nOur particular niche is the support of people who aspire to become independent\, self-supporting adults. We focus\, therefore\, on issues related to achieving independence – pursuing post-secondary education & employment\, finding housing\, developing life skills\, such as cooking\, cleaning\, & money management\, and building the social skills necessary for forming respectful & enduring personal & professional relationships. \nSquare Peg Society offers our individuals and their families: \n\nInformation pertaining to the above areas of focus\nEmotional support\nAlliances with funded service agencies\, with whom we may partner to host meetings or to provide workshops on issues of common interest (RWA\, Healthy Sexuality Workshop\, Cooking Club\, Peers)\nAdvocacy to promote government policy change.\n\nNotice of Upcoming Meetings:                                                                                                  \nApril 20                                 ASD & Post-Secondary Education: Experiences & Challenges of College & \nUniversity (Rashmeen Nirmal\, UBC Psychiatry) \nMay 18                                 A Best Practice Model to Hang our Hat On (Louvain Chalmers) \nJune 15                                 Social Inclusion: A Round Table Discussion \nJuly 20                                   Parents /ASD Individuals Share Experiences (interest in a parents’ weekend away in the fall?) \nSept 21                                 Advocacy \nPlease send me your suggestions as to future topics. \nVoted in 2 Board Members:                                                                                                         \nThere are 7 position Board positions. Two new members were voted in: Debra Merchant for Secretary\, Nicole Jinn\, Member at Large \nRecap: 1) Joette\, President\, 2) Louvain\, VP\, 3) Mahmoud\, Treasurer\, 4) Debra Merchant\, Secretary  5) Nicole Jinn\, Member at Large Position 1 6) Catherine Alcee\, Member at Large Position  2\, 7) Fred Michael\, Member at Large Position 3. \n                Up for re-election 2018: President\, Treasurer\, Member at Large Position 2 (Catherine) \nUp for re-election 2019: V.President\, Secretary\, Member at Large Position 1 (Nicole)\, Member at Large Position 3 (Fred). \nMoney:                                                Mahmoud\, Treasurer                                                      \nMahmoud:  We have a VanCity business account for non-Profit societies. Currently\, we have $ 1\,284.37 in our account. Mahmoud ‘s recommendation is that we use PayPal for prepayment on any of our events. PayPal charges a service charge 2.9% + a fixed charge of $0.30. Paypal charges\, for example\, for each $13.50 cooking club payment\, a $0.69 fee. \nWould this be less if we were a Registered Charity? What is the record keeping that we would need to do\, if charitable status is received\, and what is involved with having an annual audit\, and who would do this? Fred is to report back on these items. \nWe need additional funds to increase our profile and visibility in the community\, to increase our membership\, and to have more say in programs we work on with partners (as a paying partner)\, and to occasionally run our own programs\, when no program exists that would be a fit for our membership. \nThere was agreement on raising funds for Website/IT assistance. Mahmoud can help with some of our objectives\, but Peter put forward the name of Alan Colquhoun\, as a candidate for website assistance.  \n“Alan Colquhoun (arcolq@gmail.com)  is currently employed as a software contractor at SAP. Alan has also had experience working as a self-employed web designer. I described some of the improvements that you were hoping to make on the SPS website like having a donation button and a membership button. Alan asked me to forward his name and email address in case you are interested in using his services at some point.” \nFollowing is my list of technology items that need to be done:  Add Membership & Donate Now button to the website. A bolder\, more flexible version of our logo is needed\, so that it can be scaled up or down to fit into the formats of others when we are co-hosting programs or events with others. Start a Square Peg Facebook page. Help with posters for events.  VanCity has offered us advertising space on their digital board; I have an idea for this\, but it needs to be developed. Mahmoud is to prepare a rough budget as to what these items would cost. \nI would like to use some of the existing funds for the following: honorariums/gifts for speakers ($275 per year)\, honorariums/gifts for cooking club guest chefs ($275 per year)\, and meeting snacks ($120 per year).  We could also consider business cards\, and/or pens\, fridge magnets\, memory sticks with our logo on it? Should we spend money on social activity fees and expenses? I would like to raise $1000.00/year for these items. \nThe idea of a paid position was also raised\, to provide continuity with Board transitions\, and so that there is consistency of service beyond a given Board or board member. My concern is that a paid position might provide a disincentive to others who might otherwise consider volunteering. However\, the job is now too big to be mostly a one-person job. We should\, at least\, define what tasks could be assigned to a paid position\, and how many hours would be allotted to that job. \nRaising funds for particular programs was also discussed – specifically\, PEERS…I will describe this later\, and will include the pricing on the PEERS concept. \nWe need your feedback as to what to spend money on\, be it PEERS or other life skills programs\, so that we can target our fundraising to these projects.  \nMoney:                                                Fred\, Fundraising                                                             \nFred is to report back to the membership\, by the week of April 17th\, on the pros & cons of\, and the process of pursuing charitable status. Note previous vote a year ago not to pursue charitable status; members did not want the record-keeping burden and limitations on time spent on advocacy that charitable status would require. Not having charitable status limits our ability to apply for gaming money or other grants\, as funding organizations are not willing to provide funds to groups who have not been “vetted” by the charitable organizations application process.  Also\, not having charitable status renders us not equal players at the table when trying to initiate programs. Can we get someone who has successfully done this to speak to this? \nFred is also to identify 2 potential sources of funds. Who will help with specific grant proposal applications?  \nMembership:                                                                                                                                                     \nWithout a bigger documented membership\, and without being better able to demonstrate our value\, we will not be able to make a case for grants and gaming funds\, and without these we will not be seen as a legitimate player at the table for programs\, and information networks. \nWe need each of you to sign up some members; they need not come to all meetings\, they need not be on the Spectrum\, but only understanding and empathetic to our cause.  See attached membership form. We need a Square Peg member to volunteer to be our first point of contact\, who would direct people to the appropriate member. \nSocial Club:                                                                                                                         \nAs a result of discussion at the meeting\, it was agreed that the social events should be Aspie-centric; that is\, excluding parents\, and planned by adults (young & older) on the Spectrum. Invited guests\, not on the Spectrum would also be welcome. For the time being\, the last Saturday of the month will be the targeted time (but other days are possible) for the social event\, and a preference for activities “out in community” was favoured over in-house activities. The thinking is that a variety of activities to capture diverse interests is preferred\, as is a Friday or Saturday evening to give everyone a feeling of a “weekend night out”. \n Natalie & Aaron are going to take the lead on this\, under Peter’s guidance. Aaron is going to present to Peter’s meetup group (when?)\, in the hope of some cross-pollination between groups. The revised social group is to present their activity plan to me two weeks in advance of the social club evening\, in order for me to put together a poster and circulate it. \nIn addition we will plan an all-ages family Christmas and a summer picnic each year. \nPlease provide Aaron & Natalie with your suggestions as to activities for the social events. \n  \nCooking Club:                    Led by Sue & Joette                                                                                        \nConcept: Roughly\, 3rd Sunday of the month. For the present we are trying out Sunday late afternoon\, early evening\, at PAFC in Richmond. The goals for this activity are both social & Life-skills development through preparing and sharing a meal together. Participants will cover the cost of the food (approx. $12.00 per person + PayPal charge). Preference given to the young adults –Older adults will be limited to 2 – parent volunteers plus the guest chef. Participants need to be 17+\, must be able to handle a knife safely\, and able to work in a group for 2-3 hours. \nYour suggestions. Do you know of chefs or hobby chefs or would you\, be prepared to lead the cooking a few times per year? \nAdvocacy:                                            \nAutism Spectrum Adults and the families who support them must be afforded the dignity and respect that every British Columbian deserves\, and given the services that they need to become independent\, contributing adults. We support the position put forward in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities\, which was adopted in December\, 2006\, and will work toward its implementation.   \nhttps://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities.html \n“The Convention follows decades of work by the United Nations to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities. It takes to a new height the movement from viewing persons with disabilities as “objects” of charity\, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing persons with disabilities as “subjects” with rights\, who are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free and informed consent as well as being active members of society. \nThe Convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit\, social development dimension. It adopts a broad categorization of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply to persons with disabilities and identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights and areas where their rights have been violated\, and where protection of rights must be reinforced.” \nWe encourage advocacy for our ASD individuals\, based upon the following points: \nA Call for Adequate & Appropriate Funding & Services for Autism Spectrum Adults in British Columbia \n\nFunding and services are needed for Aspergers and High Functioning Autistic adults in BC.\nMental health services should be available by need\, not determined by diagnosis.\nPrograms for ASD individuals must recognize that roughly half of ASD individuals have average or above average intelligence.\nDiagnosis should be paid for up front by government\, including psycho-educational assessments\, regardless of the age of the individual.\nPrior to becoming adults\, Students in Public Schools in British Columbia must be given life and social skills training throughout their school life by instructors knowledgeable about Autism Spectrum Disorders. Transition to Adulthood training should commence in high school. Special Education Assistants (SEAs) need to be qualified through a certification program\, and paid commensurate with their knowledge and experience.\nASD adults who did not receive early diagnosis and intervention must be given supplemental assistance as they age and in retirement in recognition that the lack of services provided to them has resulted in reduced well-being and earning potential throughout their lives.\n\nPeter has done some excellent research that provides statistical backing to some of the above points. Please his findings attached. ACT has also prepared a video called “The Essentials of Advocacy” – here is the link to the video:   \nhttp://www.actcommunity.ca/education/videos/the-essentials-of-advocacy-a-parents-guide/ \nSquare Peg is also planning a meeting\, September 21\, 2017\, on Advocacy\, in order to push this agenda further. \nAnyone else interested in working on this? \nPEERS:                                  Proposed partnership of several\, including PosAbilities\, PAFN\, ACT \nAll too often we are hearing from families that depression\, anxiety and stress around the ability to “fit in” and difficulties forming social relationships is an impediment in our people’s lives. We are noting that social facility is key to happiness and success in work\, school and life. \nOur ASD adults frequently feel socially isolated. This sense of isolation is caused by several factors\, two of which are 1) a lack of opportunity\, and 2) a lack of social skills. Both of these need to be addressed. The PEERS workshop primarily addresses the lack of social skills\, but also examines ways to increase the number of social opportunities. PEERS is a social skills training – a path to understanding and practicing a wide range of social skills across a wide range of social situations. \nConcept: 16 week evidence -based social skills training\, developed by Elizabeth Laugeson\, UCLA. With 2 facilitators. Projected cost per participant is $200 per person (including coach/support person). This group is based upon 8-10 closely matched 19-30 year olds. The amount to be raised to run this program would be $34\,000\, based upon 2 workshops per year for 3 years. The intention is to follow up with a bi-monthly “Reflection Café” with a facilitator\, for a nominal drop in fee. One session to be east side\, another session to be at PAFC in Richmond. \nThe Program \nPEERS – Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills for young adults between the ages of 18-30\, is a 16-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated young adults\, who are interested in learning skills to make and keep friends and develop romantic relationships. During each group session\, young adults are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills. \nPEERS was developed at UCLA by Elizabeth Laugeson (See: “The Science of Making Friends: Helping Socially Challenged Teens and Young Adults”. Our training will also be a 16 week training\, using PEERS support material\, and will be led by a PEERS trained facilitator\, with two Square Peg Society assistant facilitators. The group will be limited to 10 individuals between the ages of 18-30\, who are willing to commit to meeting one per week for 16 weeks\, and to engage in some practice of the techniques between sessions. A parent or support person will also be asked to attend a support group each of the 16 weeks\, run in parallel to the participants’ sessions. The support group is intended to offer the participants feedback and practice between sessions. \nSome of the topics to be covered are: \n\nHow to use appropriate conversational skills\nHow to take directives from employers\nHow to present your needs\, expectations to employers\nHow to find common interests by trading information\nHow to appropriately use humor\nHow to enter and exit conversations\nHow to be a good host during get-togethers\nHow to choose appropriate friends\nHow to be a good sport\nHow to handle arguments and disagreements\nHow to develop dating etiquette skills\n\nIs this a workshop that you would participate in? Would you be interested in a similar workshop for 30+ years of age? \nOther Lifeskills Workshp Ideas:  \nThese are likely to be run at PAFN. Saturday chores & movie – laundry\, ironing\, sewing on a button\, etc; All things digital – changing clocks\, hooking up dvd/cd players\, etc. Your suggestions? \nOther help needed:                        \nEmployment: Who can act as a liason between employment service agencies and our families? \nEducation: A future project – who can act as a liason between post-secondary institutions and our families?
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/general-meeting-april-1-2017
CATEGORIES:SPS Business
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161118T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20161118T190000
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20211009T012654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211019T043842Z
UID:1662-1479488400-1479495600@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:SPS Fundraiser
DESCRIPTION:To buy tickets in advance to this SPS Fundraiser click on the link below. \n 
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/sps-fundraiser
CATEGORIES:SPS Business
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://squarepegsociety.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SPS-Fundraiser-Chez-Christophe-2.2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160915T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Vancouver:20160915T000000
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20161020T070000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211018T235305Z
UID:1153-1473897600-1473897600@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:Meeting:  September 15\, 2016   Nicole Jinn\, Victor Toh\, Talie
DESCRIPTION: This meeting was an opportunity for SPS members to speak about their interests and experiences. We had three speakers – Nicole Jinn\, who spoke from her experience\, about advocacy and gender imbalance\, and employment issues; Victor Toh\, who spoke about his business\, “Capability Club”\, providing life skills training for ASD children;  and Talie\, who spoke about her Autism 30 podcasts project. \nNicole Jinn\,  Advocacy for Adults with ASD and Gender Imbalance \nDuring her research\, Nicole approached both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Development. As well\, she has viewed a number of service and employment agencies operating in the Lower Mainland. \nThese are her findings: \n* Access to funding after the age of 19 for those with HFA (High Functioning Autism) is very difficult. \n Those with an IQ over 70 and an adaptive functioning level greater than 55 (3 standard deviations below the mean) are excluded from Community Living BC (CLBC) funding. \nThis criteria excludes HFA and Asperger’s individuals\, and the assessment tools used do not adequately identify the deficits that those individuals struggle with\, for example\, difficulties with executive functioning. \n* There is an absence of services for spectrum adults generally\, but particularly those with HFA. \nThese organizations were canvassed: \nACT (Autism Community Training) has a mandate to work only with children. \nAutism Society of BC has an adult program in Prince George\, but none in the Lower \nMainland. This could change soon. \nCanucks Autism Network has programs for teens and adults with more serious \nconditions and has a waiting list. \nPALS Autism School offers adult programs for the severely affected. There is a long waiting list. \n* There is an absence of Employment related services for those with HFA   \nOrganizations currently addressing employment for those with ASD include: \n\nPacific Autism Family Centre (PAFC) Employment Works\nInclusion BC: Ready Willing and Able (through PAFC\, has expertise on Autism\n\n\nCoast Clubhouse – mainly for labourers.\n\n\nGastown Vocational Services\n\n\nYMCA Youth Beat Program\n\n\nEmployment Works Canada\n\n\nFocus Professional Services Trains adults with HFA to deliver software and data quality services to their various clients.\n\n\nCBI Consultants offers a fee-for-service program for those without CLBC funding.\n\n\nPosAbilities offers a fee-for-service program for those without CLBC funding.\n\n\nWork BC\n\n\nJobs West\n\nMost of these programs are not specific to individuals with autism. \n* There are service barriers for those with HFA \n For those without a qualifying diagnosis or CLBC many programs are often inaccessible or unaffordable. Often the programs that do exist do not provide the supports necessary to finding and keeping employment. These may include: \n–  Emotion and anxiety management\, \n–  Communication and interpersonal skills \n–  An established support network with follow up coaching. \n* Gender imbalance? \nAnecdotally\, differences between males and females have been noted\, in terms of frequency of diagnosis and in the impact on the individual’s lives.  However\, there have not been a sufficient number of research studies published to date. While most case studies related to Asperger’s have male subjects\, the following differences between males & females have been observed. Females tend to be stronger than males in language and social interaction skills\, and in the ability to mirror socially acceptable behaviours. They tend to suffer more fromsensory or emotional overload than do males. Females are also more likely to be diagnosed with anorexia or A.D.D. Consequentially\, females without significant intellectual impairment are diagnosed later and less often; this is a population that struggles on without supports. \nConclusion \nMost services and employment agencies were neither accessible nor suitable for high functioning individuals who need help to function in the community after age 19. \nWays Forward \n\nParticipate in the Autism Society of BC (ASBC) through the establishment of a group for adults.\nJoin Autism Canada\, in their efforts to achieve Federal Accessibility Legislation leading to a Canadian Disability Act\, and to improve representation of ASD adults on this initiative.\nEncourage additional research which will help us to better understand the differences between males and females on the Spectrum.\n\n  \nVictor Toh\,  Capability Club   “All Kids are Special” \nVictor’s mission is to prepare kids for adulthood and employment\, through the development of life and social skills that lead to independence\, and to satisfying and meaningful interdependence. \nThe turning point in Victor’s life\, and the impetus for this business idea\, occurred while at University in Kingston\, where he helped his friend John\, who was paralyzed\, negotiate his way around the campus. John returned the favour by coaching Victor in social skills\, such as subtle cues from language and body language\, which enabled Victor to begin to develop his social network. \nVictor has a background in tutoring\, a degree in psychology\, and has previously owned his own business. At Capability Club\, Victor offers a specialised tutoring service based on his own and his son’s experience on the Spectrum. His service runs after school and on weekends. Pick up and drop off is offered. Family members are welcome to volunteer. Currently\, he is based in the Collingwood area but will be expanding to Chinatown. \nThe Program   \nSchool age children in groups of two to five (including neuro-typicals) participate in various activities in the community with the purpose of interacting with each other while forming broad social networks. Peer and adult support are key factors that are often not covered in schools. Each child is assigned an individualized development program. This file is used to record measureable progress in areas such as motivation\, creativity\, critical thinking\, language\, ability to collaborate. In part\, this is achieved through journals in which the children are encouraged to record their activities and observations. \nThe curriculum includes: \n\nOral communication\nSelf awareness and self respect\nMobile technology\nPsychology and philosophy\nReading\, Writing & Listening\nMoney awareness\n\nActivities\, such as gardening or music\, are typical activities which are used as a focus for social development\, with the goal of finding talents\, overcoming fears\, and acting on solutions to difficulties. \nFuture Steps \nVictor’s goal is to complete training in psycho-social rehabilitation\, and to become a non profit Society. \nContact Victor Toh at: 778 302 1319 \n  \nTalie\, Autism 30 \nTalie began her project to share information about autism via podcast in 2015. She is energised by her own autistic son and an international background as a teacher with a strong desire to help others. \nTalie’s collection of podcasts can be accessed from 98 countries. Her goal is to make more people aware of issues and solutions relevant to ASD\, especially in the Lower Mainland\, and to share knowledge and experience. \nContact Talie at: autism30.com or talie@autism30.com
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/meeting-september-15-2016-nicole-jinn-victor-toh-talie
CATEGORIES:Advocacy,SPS Business
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160722
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160723
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20160729T070000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211018T235123Z
UID:1151-1469145600-1469231999@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:Meeting: July 22\, 2016 Charitable Status\, Fundraising & Advocacy
DESCRIPTION:The following Mission Statement was adopted: \nWho We Are: \n\nA non-profit volunteer group supporting atypical & Autism Spectrum post-high school adults and their families.\nOur goal is independence for our supported adults; therefore\, our focus is on the following issues as key to achieving this goal:\n\nEmployment\, Post-Secondary Education\, Housing\, Finances\, and Life & Social Skills. \nWhat We Offer: \n\nInformation dissemination pertaining to the above issues.\nEmotional support for our individuals & families. \nAlliances with funded service agencies\, who may partner with us to host meetings or provide workshops on issues of common interest.\nAdvocacy to push for Government policy change. \n\nMembership approved the appointed Board for one term only \n            President:                               Joette Heuft \n            Vice-President:                      Louvain Chalmers \n            Secretary:                               Sue McIntyre \n            Treasurer:                               Mahmoud Rezaee \n            Board Member 1:                  Catherine Alcee \n            Board Member 2:                  Fred Michael \nElection of Board Member 3 \n            Board Member 3:                  Sam Guenther nominated and elected . \nSubsequently\, all Board Members are to be elected\, in keeping with terms specified below: \nWe became a BC Non-profit Society May 30th 2016. Therefore\, we designated May 30th as our year end\, with elections and an Annual General Meeting to be held In June or July. Board Members terms are to be 2 years\, with the election of Vice-President\, Treasurer\, and Board Member 2 to be held in June/July of 2017. The election of President\, Secretary\, and Board Members 1 & 3 to be held in June/July of 2018. \n  \nBusiness of Meeting was to review Charitable Status\, Fundraising & Advocacy \nVideo:  http://sectorsource.ca/resource/video/what-charitable-status \nHaving Charitable status: \nPros: \n\nWould enable us to issue tax receipts to donors\nMay legitimize us as an organization\, thereby attracting donors who would not otherwise consider supporting us (seen as vetted by CRA).\nSome funders (government agencies\, foundations) are prohibited from donating/sponsoring organizations that do not have charitable status.\nIncome tax exemption.\n\nCons: \n\nMore admin: regular minutes\, an AGM\, Board\, accounting of time and money spent on various activities.\nMore bookkeeping\, showing income & expenditures\, accounts sent to Minister. Form T3010 Registered Charity Information Return needs to be submitted; Registered Charities Official Receipts need to be issued for your donors to claim a Charitable Tax Credit.\nAll monies paid into separate accounts\, and all accounts need to be open to inspection.\nNeither fundraising nor advocacy are considered to be activities primary to the purposes of a Charity. Both are restricted to 10-20% of the Charity’s activity. All activities of all members would need to be documented to track time & resources dedicated to each of these activities.\n\nhttp://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/vdgllry/chrts-gvng/fndrsng-eng.html \nCRA’s Rules for Advocacy for Charities \n\nCharities can engage in political activities so long as they advance\, but do not supersede its charitable purpose. As part of their general activities\, charities can engage in public awareness campaigns\, can communicate with an elected or public official\, and can share the entire text of a communication with an elected or public official\, as long as there is no specific call to action within it.\nPolitical activities can comprise 10-20% of the Charity’s activities\, so long as the activities are non-partisan\, connected to\, and subordinate to the charities purposes.\nAs part of their political activities a Charity can explicitly communicate a Call to Action to an elected or public official\, urging them to retain\, oppose\, or change a law or policy or decision of any level of Govt\, including a foreign country.\nAs part of their political activities a Charity can explicitly indicate in its materials\, that the intention of its activity is to incite\, to organize or to put pressure on any level of Govt\, including a foreign country in order that law or policy or decision be retained\, opposed\, or changed. \n\nProhibited Political Activities for Charitable Organizations \n\nCan promote a gov’t policy\, but can’t directly or indirectly support a political party or candidate\nCan provide information to its supporters or to the public on how officials voted\, but can’t single out how any one official or party voted on any single issue.\n\nOperating as a Non-profit: \nPros: \n\nPolitical activities are less regulated.\nFundraising events are less regulated\, in that they are not limited to a certain percentage of the overall activities\, and they do not require specific receipting procedures.\nLess record-keeping of activities for the purposes of conformity to primary purposes of the organization.\n\nCons: \n\nCannot issue tax receipts to donors.\nCannot claim tax exemption.\nCannot appeal to donors who require Charitable status.\nIf we appeal to other agencies\, who have funding and Charitable status to assist us with funding our programs or activities\, our agenda must align or over-lap theirs. (ie\, we will not get funding from inclusive service providers for programs specific to people with Asperger’s).\n\nHow/why this matters to us: \nI asked that we weigh the above against how we view our role as advocates\, and how much and for what purposes we require funding.  \nAdvocacy: We can form an Advocacy committee within SPS. We can select interested members of SPS to work on this issue with other interested groups\, with us identifying issues relevant to us\, and with our delegates reporting back to us (Catherine\, Nicole\, Bruce?). \nFundraising: I do not want to fundraise for programs that exist\, that with good networking and alliances we can participate in. I am willing to fundraise for programs relevant to our supported individuals\, which do not currently exist. I cannot see our fundraising needs being greater than $8000.00/per year. This amount would give us enough each year to run 2 programs\, and pay honorariums and/or expenses to some speakers and/or volunteers/hosts for programs or activities (ie\, volunteer chefs for cooking club).  For the upcoming Relationships & Dating workshop\, the entire budget of $4000.00 is secured. (Sponsors are Spectrum Society\, PosAbilities\, Simon Fraser Society\, Community Living Society\, Family Support Institute\, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion\, & Community Living BC). A modified PEERS workshop likely would have to be funded ourselves\, as it was designed specifically for High-functioning Aspergers. \nAfter some discussion the Members present voted in favour of Option 2: \n\nApply for Charitable Status.\nOperate as a Non-Profit Society; Fred Michael to proceed with fundraising for Modified PEERS program to start March 2016.\nAdditional information required. Table this vote until the September 22 meeting\, with report from Fred Michael at that time.\n\nVote on above two options at that time. \nMember Participation:   \nHow We Need Your Help: \n\nChat about us to everyone you know – hand out our card. (about to be revised)\nEncourage your kids to become involved: social gathering\, cooking club\, relationship & sexuality workshop\, PEERS workshop\, or Website postings – New webpage is soon to be added to our Website. This will provide space for our members to submit thoughts\, reviews\, and creative work. Member needed to post these submissions.\nAdvocacy Team\nAssist Fred with specific funding requests. We need funds for PEERS\, and for honorariums for our Cooking Club chefs.\nA Square Peg parent to be a follow up on Ready\, Willing & Able’s progress with our individuals.\n\nHow you are Helping: (Thanks!) \n\nCatherine is going to update Resources on Website. Meeting with Derik (BACI) August 24th.\nSue is going to do the food shopping and be the volunteer parent for the Cooking Club; I will do the booking.\nLaya\, Nima & Mahmoud will continue to host the social gatherings.\n\nFred will proceed with fundraising. I will help with appeals to service agencies.
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/meeting-july-22-2016-charitable-status-fundraising-advocacy
CATEGORIES:SPS Business
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20160107
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20160108
DTSTAMP:20260429T192255
CREATED:20160107T080000Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211018T234358Z
UID:1140-1452124800-1452211199@squarepegsociety.ca
SUMMARY:January 7\, 2016 Meeting: Planning 2016
DESCRIPTION:This was a meeting to plan\, for each of us to express our interests\, focus\, and roles for our group moving forward into 2016. \nWe noted that we need to augment our membership; this is important for the following reasons:\n• To meet the need for support for this generally unsupported group of transitioning youth.\n• To effectively advocate for government & other institutional policy changes that would support our youth.\n• To achieve the “critical mass” needed to justify requesting speakers for our meetings.\n• To build rich & diverse social networks for our youth.\nSpeak of our group to your friends and associates\,  distritbute SPS cards\, and refer contacts to our website: www.squarepegsociety.ca. \nFred presented the requirements for becoming a registered non-profit society. This designation is desirable to be able to solicit funding for such things as website hosting\, business cards\, honorariums for speakers\, and activity fees for our youth. The requirements stipulate that we have a Board\, consisting of at least 5 members\, including a Chair\, Treasurer\, and Secretary\, and an address. We will have a 7 member board\, with the positions of Chair\, Secretary & two board members coming available for elected candidates in January 2017\, and the positions of Vice-Chair\, Treasurer\, and one board member coming available for election in January 2018. \nAdditional Work\nWe identified several topics that we would like to delve into further – through Committees\, additional speakers\, and perhaps workshops. They are: \nHousing:\n• To learn more about\, and to look for opportunities for independent\, inclusive housing for our adult children. In keeping with this\, Louvain\, Laya\, Mahmoud\, & Joette attended on Saturday\, January 9\, a Housing seminar hosted jointly by Vancouver Transition Parents and BACI\, with Howard Sample as facilitator.\n• This is an area that Sue also has knowledge & experience of\, through a project that her church is currently engaged with. Sue will share more about this project later this year. \nAdvocacy:\n• Catherine will head this Committee\, working with Nicole – to examine how we might achieve some policy changes that would result in some support for our kids\, and for others coming behind them. These might be changes to the Community Living BC (CLBC) eligibility criteria\, changes in the ways Registered Disability Savings Plans can be used\, changes in the secondary/post-secondary school systems that would better enable our kids to succeed in programs\, access to job coaching\, mental health services.\n• Perhaps we could also join forces with other groups\, for example PLAN\, to identify\, and to develop an action plan to move forward on these issues.\n• Douglas Lee\, a psychologist who assesses individuals for eligibility for CLBC funding will speak at our meeting\, April 21. We hope to be well-prepared to be able to challenge him on the changes needed to better serve our young adults. \nSocial & Life Skills:\n• This is also a topic for a Committee\, but should also include some workshops for our kids. I (Joette) will work on this\, but would like help… Ideas on the table in this category are Toastmasters groups\, PEERS for Young Adults\, Cooking Club\, General Home maintenance Workshop\, Sexuality & Dating\, and Finances\, Credit\, and Budgeting.\n• We have tentatively proposed a meeting on Sexuality & Dating for February 18th\, and a meeting on Finances for May 19th.\n• We are hoping that once the Pacific Autism Family Centre is operational\, programs\, such as a Cooking Club\, PEERS\, etc\, could be run more affordably\, if the Centre could provide the facility and administrative support. \nEducation/Employment:\n• This is a topic that Louvain and Joette will be pursuing further. The Ready\, Willing\, & Able program in BC is now hosted jointly by the Pacific Autism Family Centre (PAFC) and by InclusionBC. The objective of this program is to address the chronic under-representation in the workplace of people with developmental disabilities. It was realized that the program that existed prior to this joint endeavour was not capturing enough of the high-functioning autistic and Asperger’s population. Two positions have been recently created\, a Regional Autism Coordinator\, and an Autism Outreach Coordinator; these roles will be managed by Jenna Christianson-Barker\, at PAFC. The Regional Autism Coordinator is to procure & educate prospective employers\, and the Autism Outreach Coordinator is to connect individuals to the right positions and Employment Placement organizations\, of which PosAbilities is one involved in this project.\n• Our task is to ensure that the jobs procured are not only dead-end entry level jobs. While we recognize that skills are learned from the ground up\, we want the interests\, abilities\, and intelligence of our youth\, not only their employment history\, to be considered in their job placements\, and for them to be seen as candidates for advancement. This might mean identifying additional education or training that they might require. We would like to see the role of the new Autism Outreach Coordinator to include good “matchmaking” of employer and employee\, and discussion about how to best integrate the employee in his or her position\, and about any additional training or course work that might be needed to better fulfill the employment requirements over the long term. On-the-job follow up will most likely be required to ensure a smooth functioning relationship that will mature into long term stable employment. \nMental Health:\n• Anxiety & depression are often secondary diagnoses which affect our youth\, particularly as young adults. The supports and stability that high school provided them\, despite the stress of high school for our youth\, has evaporated\, and they often lack friends\, and confidence about their abilities\, leaving them lonely and unsure of what to do next. They are very aware of their situation\, and feel as though they are being left behind in life.\n• We will look for an opportunity to have mental health service providers speak to our group about what might be available “in the system” for our youth. We would also consider a workshop using cognitive behavioural therapy\, and mindfulness or meditation therapy for coping with depression.\n• Mindfulness based stress reduction lecture/seminar. 1.5 hours\, free\, Saturday\, January 16th\, 10:30AM-noon\, at the Capilano branch of the North Vancouver District Library\, 3045 Highland Blvd. 604.771.0579. See link: http://www.drkasimalmashat.com/\nSocial Activities:\n• We hope to become the best supporters for each other\, parents & youth. I believe that in doing so we will be stronger and more effective (and have more fun\, and last longer) than any support agency. This is best done by finding ways to connect over activities – not everyone will like or want to participate in every activity\, and that is fine.\n• Laya will head this Committee; she may want some help and suggestions.\n• Fred has registered our group for the Sun Run\, for both runners & walkers. To join go to the Sun Run website\, look for “Join an existing group”\, and sign up. $49.00\, if you sign up before February 4th.
URL:https://squarepegsociety.ca/event/january-7-2016-meeting-planning-2016
CATEGORIES:SPS Business
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR