Canada

Spring Village Association

Toronto Chapter

The Spring Village Association- Toronto Chapter

Motto: “Lending A Hand Across The Miles….”

The contingency of the Spring Village Association (Toronto Chapter) was formalized in December 2000 with an elected body and a constitution that is intended to serve the many interests of the Spring Village Community, with special emphasis on helping the Spring Village All-Age School. The SVA of Toronto is validated as a non-profit organization through its liaison and membership with the Alliance of the Jamaican Alumni Associations-Toronto (AJAA). The AJAA is an organization dedicated to providing guidance and financial assistance to students from the Jamaican educational system in Canada. With this alliance, the SVA is able to reap an array of benefits such as relaxed taxation and tariffs, etc.

Objectives

In recent years, changes in education funding policies in Jamaica have resulted from Structural Adjustment Programs enforced by international agencies (such as the World Bank & IMF). Structural Adjustment Policies (SAPs) have endorsed a rhetoric advocating reduction of government funding in education. This has unfortunately strained the educational ability of local public schools in Jamaica. Consequently, there has been an increase in civil society/voluntary organizations supplementing the failings of the ‘public’ educational system. For example, external alumni organizations are a proxy and an alternate source of funding and expertise filling the gaps neglected by government. Therefore, the objectives for the Toronto SVA aim at enhancing and sustaining the growth of infrastructure (capital and social) for educational development and innovation within the Spring Village community. With this in mind, we, the Toronto Chapter of the Spring Village Association, have placed a special emphasis on our Spring Village All-Age School.

Projects and Activities

Throughout the years, the Toronto SVA has launched various projects to contribute to the needs of the Spring Village community. Fundraising ventures have included various initiatives, primarily through SVA’s Annual Dinner and Dance, an event that has become successful through its gaining popularity and by its creation of a tight social community in Toronto. It has been overwhelmingly supported with over 150 guests in attendance. In addition to the Dinner and Dance, SVA members have also ventured into other creative avenues for proceeds accumulation. These include book drives (i.e. the delivery of telephone books to residential areas inside Toronto), domino tournaments, participation in the annual mega-sweepstake raffle launched by AJAA (top prizes were a trip to Cuba and a 2003 Toyota Corolla), and the organization of bus trips to New York City during summer.

Accomplishments

So far, SVA-Toronto have consistently and proportionately contributed monetary funding for the Spring Village All-Age School on a yearly basis, and also towards the project completion of extra classroom trailers donated by Jamaica Broilers. The following are a list of projects completed by the Toronto SVA:

Ø Fixing of windows, roofs, and installment of AC units of the trailer classrooms.

Ø Granted office equipment to the community at large by donating cash for the purchase of a photocopier machine situated in the community center.

Ø Acknowledged the contributions of the distinguished teacher and mentor, Aunt May Walters by presenting her with a monetary gift and engraved plaque that highlights her renowned status. [On a sidenote, a broad member, Otis Harvey, exercised the presentation all donations to the Spring Village All-Age School and to the community on our behalf].

Ø We’ve acquired material texts from a local Canadian school board (made possible by Leslie Nixon). These resources are currently in the process of being sent to the Spring Village All-Age School.

Future Goals

SVA-Toronto’s future goals remain to improve and expand the capacity for progressive educational resources by developing a library that will be utilized by the Spring Village All-Age School and the community at large. As part of the Spring Village community, though residing miles apart, we are committed to addressing the dire social and economic needs of the Spring Village All-Age School and the Community at large.

Membership

There are also approximately 30 registered members who have volunteered their services to this organization. SVA-Toronto extends a gracious “thank you” to all our tremendous supporters. Special Thanks you goes out to Marlene Delahaye, Lillian Delahaye, Cherry Munoz, and Angela Letts for their hard work and dedication to our chapter.

Executive Committee

Otis Harvey spurr10@hotmail.com –– President

Marlene Delahaye ––Vice President

Leslie Grant, Karianne Redwood Karianne.redwood@sympatico.ca –– Public Relations

Magarita Bogle, Clunis Babbington, Collie Delahaye, Lurlene Nixon ––Events Coordinator

Michael Webb –– Treasurer

Latoya Christian toyachris@yahoo.com –– Secretary

Past President-Pauline Babbington ––Board Advisor

Meeeting Place:

Time: TBA

Location: TBA

Pictures from Past Events:

May 10th, 2008

Mothers Day Banquet Click here to View Pictures from the Event!

November 10th, 2007

Annual Fall Dinner Dance Click here to View Pictures from the Event!

September, 2007

Clunis’s Annual Barbecue Click here to View Pictures from the Event!

THE CONSTITUTION

OF

THE SPRING VILLAGE ASSOCIATION

(TORONTO CHAPTER)

Drafted since December 2000

1. NAME

1.1 The name of the club is The Spring Village Association- Toronto Chapter, however, herein after, the group shall be referred to as SVA.

2. AIM AND OBJECTIVES

2.1 SVA’s aim is to assist in the scholastic and educational development of Spring Garden All Age School and subsequently raise awareness and pride in the community of Spring Village, by means of monetary and non-monetary support.

2.2 The primary aim of SVA will be to provide teaching tools and educational equipment, establishment of a school library, acknowledgement of outstanding teaching staff and beautification of Spring Garden All Age School.

2.3 SVA will adopt all applicable rules of the Association and will act accordance with the Constitution and with any Clauses that may be added periodically, and with sound direction of the Executive Committee.

3. POWERS

3.1 SVA have the power to collect and receive monetary and non-monetary funds, and to use and distribute it in a manner that the Executive Committee deem reasonable and responsible in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the constitution.

4. MEMBERSHIP

4.1 Membership is open to anyone regardless of where they live or if the are a member of another similar organization. However, SVA reserves the right to refuse membership without reason.

4.2 Membership fee is instituted at twenty dollars for adults annually eighteen years and older. The membership fee is subject to amendment periodically.

4.3 All members are entitled to and can make a request for a copy of this constitution and SVA newsletter.

4.4 All members are eligible to attend general meetings and shall be given advance notice of general meetings.

4.5 Membership privileges include voting rights and the right to run for executive positions.

5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

5.1 Management of SVA shall be entrusted to the Executive Committee, who shall carry out their duties and responsibilities as outlined by the Constitution and by having regard for the aim and objectives of the SVA.

5.2 Executive members shall be elected every four years in an election with quorum of at least 75% membership. Elections should be conducted and regulated by the president. Decisions shall be made on a 75% vote of members in attendance.

5.3 The Executive Committee must meet at least once per month. The quorum at all executive meeting should be no less than five.

5.4 There are eight executive positions the form the Executive body of SVA: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relation Officer (2), Events Coordinators (2).

5.5 The duties and responsibilities of the Executive Committee:

President: The head of the organization

Ø Will liaise with other organizations i.e. The Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Association.

Ø Will Chair all executive and general meeting

Ø Will represent the organization in all capacity

Ø Having cheque-signing rights

Vice-President: Assume the duties and responsibilities of the President in his/her absence.

Ø Will be responsible for the phone tree

Ø Will liaise with the Spring Village Development Foundation

Ø Have Cheque-signing rights

Treasurer: Balancing SVA’s Account

Ø Will be responsible for carrying out all financial transactions

Ø Handling the books and maintaining all financial records for the organization.

Ø Will be responsible for all fundraising activities that the group participates in.

Ø Will be accountable to and must be able to provide a financial update to the executive members on demand.

Ø Can distribute funds for events to executive members through a pre-approved process of submitting a proposal to the Executive Committee.

Secretary: Administrative Work for SVA

Ø Keep the minutes of the meetings at all executive and general meetings and present them to executive members at the start of each meeting.

Ø Set agenda for the executive and general meetings.

Ø Maintain the membership list.

Public Relation Officer: Marketing Director for SVA

Ø Promote the organization within the community i.e. Sending letters to various organizations and businesses in the Jamaican-Canadian Community i.e. Jamaican Consulate and The Alliance of Jamaican Canadian Associations.

Ø Will work in conjunction with the Event Coordinators for the promotion of events.

Ø Responsible for introducing the organization in the community through different mediums i.e. Radio, newspaper, and website creation.

Ø Will produce a quarterly newsletter highlighting the activities of the organization to be distributed to members.

Events Coordinator:

Ø Responsible for the planning, organizing, and promoting of all events of the organization i.e. Dinner and Dance, Barbeque, and Dance.

Ø Responsible for assisting the Treasurer with fundraising events i.e. Bingo, raffles ect

Ø Other related duties assigned.

6. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

6.1 Amendment to the constitution can only be made if:

The Executive Committee has approved the amendment.

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