New Way Community Society

Special General Meeting

4th November

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Special Resolution

Moved by Sandra SeversSeconded by Ric Matthews

That the purposes and provisions currently set out in Article II of the constitution of New Way Community Society be deleted and replaced by the following:

1. To advance religion in the Downtown Eastside community of Vancouver

through the creation of an intentional, inclusive faith community, situated at the margins of society, and informed by a Christian lens;

2. To advance religion by offering Sunday Christian worship services, religious

rituals, Bible study, and pastoral care for the sick and incarcerated; 3. To provide walking tours, discussion, newsletters, blogs, social media and

interfaith dialogue as a means of creating an atmosphere of inclusion and tolerance between the Downtown Eastside community and the wider community, and to promote harmony between faith groups.

Special Resolution

4. To relieve poverty by providing a drop-in centre for homeless and/or low income individuals, and by providing food, clothing, blankets, first aid, internet access, and other basic necessities;

5. To relieve poverty by providing referrals/information to the marginalized population of Downtown Eastside Vancouver regarding affordable housing, medical/dental care and mental health support, and by providing furnishings and supplies to low income individuals living in social housing; and

6. To undertake activities ancillary and incidental to the above-mentioned charitable purposes.

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Transition to new strategy and business model

Our Vision remains constant.

New Way Community is• Inclusive of people from all ages, social circumstances, and faith

perspectives• Intentional in being informed by the Christian Gospel, and

intentional in embracing those who are most excluded elsewhere

Such that in a spirit of mutuality & interdependence (Ubuntu) ,

we become a 24/7 family

in which we each find meaning and belonging

Transition to new strategy and business model

Our Vision remains constant.

Our understanding of Family is that it is Sacred Space in whicheach individual is freed to be fully themselvesto the benefit/enrichment of the whole/alland as such, it is the warp & weave of cohesive healthy society

in which we each find

meaning and belonging

Transition to new strategy and business model

The need remains constant.

Among those with FAS, Brain Damage, Mental Illness, overwhelming trauma/abuse

there are hundreds of deeply troubled people

regularly barred or permanently excluded

who at great cost in human suffering and in tax dollars cycle through courts,

prisons, ER, shelters, etc to exist in the space between the thresholds

(of what the facilities can tolerate - and - that of prisons/mental institutions)

resulting in random but frequent assaults (Sun Run, Ray Cam, Coffee Shops, etc)

and deaths (barred alcoholic, shot by VPD, VANDU deaths)

The need remains for those people and for all of us , to be able to reconne3ct with

Self (find worth and meaning) , Family, Society, Earth, Spiritual Centre

meaning and belonging

Transition to new strategy and business model

What we have learned.

We thought we were • Building off momentum, (but rather building off elements of a

strong platform• Continuing an organisation vision and mission that had proven

support (but momentum does not birth a new organization.)• Able to assume the core of the funding base would continue

The reality is we are a new organization (a baby vs an adult)

Transition to new strategy and business model

What we have learned. – The reality is we are a new organization (a baby vs an adult)

As a result, we were/are confronted by the need to address• Our grief• Massive transitions from

- business plan based on staff-driven model of past 5 yrs- building an organization as the starting point , to building community - engaging the City re “homelessness”, (to “needs of the most excluded”)- Trying on building partnership with First United, to doing own thing- Being a recognised charity, to formal recognition by CRA

• Critical “developmental tasks” of being a baby

Transition to new strategy and business model

What we have achieved.

• Patrons and Vanier• Registered non profit and registration with CRA• Infrastructure (website, mailing list of 300+, membership of 30+)

and presence (offices; active team on the ground; presence in Listening Post , streets, parks; daily ongoing relationships with individuals; Wednesday mornings and Sunday evenings)

• Financial contribution of around $70,000 and unremunerated staff time of around $300,000

• Constructive relationships with UGM, City Councillors, VPD, Judy Graves ,PHS, Mission Possible, Communitas, Interspiritual Centre

Transition to new strategy and business model

What we have achieved. - The baby is now birthed

• Has started walking and talking and a clear sense of it's own self as separate being,

• We have in fact gone in one year from babyhood to entering senior elementary school : CRA approval is like Graduating Certificate from junior elementary

• Now like a 9 to 11 yr old we have to deal with the preparation for the next stage of development

• The birthing and development process is reflected in shifts in the relationships of Gill and Derek and PJ to this entity

Transition to new strategy and business model

The implications, proposal and ‘ask’.

Implications of this stage of our development

We need to develop further clarity around:

• Who this body is and how it express itself. (Who are the parts/members, what is its capacity & capability, what does it do)

• How we will sustain, feed and fund this entity going forward

Transition to new strategy and business model

The implications, proposal and ‘ask’.

The proposal for our strategy going forward

Focus on: • Building a core ongoing community of at least 25-50 persons;

- Build on the Sunday Celebration & Wednesday Gathering• Establishing a space where members and non- members can

connect with the “family” on a daily basis.- Secure small office space & possible use of Listening Post/Dugout

• Securing funding of at least $50,000 over next 6 months- Fund a core staff of 1FTE plus non-remunerated others- Funding base of members while exploring Grants, etc.

Transition to new strategy and business model

The implications, proposal and ‘ask’.

THE ASK

This is only realistic if a significant number of those in this room who

share the vision, are willing and able to commit to:• Funding (To date around 20 people are willing to - or currently do -

contribute an average over the group of about $100pm each – we need the equivalent of about 65 more such contributors)

and/or • Active participation in weekly on-the-ground activities (To date at

least 15 people are spending 3 hours or more each week in active participation – we need another 15 to 35)

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Discussion and Motions from the floor

The way forward......• Discussion, Ideas, Comments •Motions

Agenda

• Welcome - Please fill out the attendance register• Reflection • Minutes of previous meeting ( to be approved

plus minutes of this meeting at AGM in February)• Special Resolution re change in Bylaws• Proposal for transition to new model and

strategy• Discussion and Motions from the floor• Closure

Thank you for Participating!!

Please stay for snacks & drinks and for the

Celebration from 7pm- 8pm