Central Region

A Letter from John Holman
 

To:  The Membership, Canadian Progress Club Brampton

June 16, 2003

Fellow Members:

It is with great pride I received two awards on behalf of CPC Brampton this past Saturday at the Central Region Awards Banquet.  Our Club won the Central Region Fellowship Award, as well as the Central Region Club Of The Year Award, both for 2002-2003.  Both awards represent a long three year process to get the Brampton Club greater recognition in our community as well as with fellow Canadian Progress Clubs.

The merging of Brampton Buffy's Corner and Brampton Bramalea clubs in 1999-2000 has proven to be both highly successful and fruitful.  Both mixed (co-ed) clubs three years ago had declining membership.  Members were "tired" trying to support the events each club committed to annually.  We looked in awe at other Progress Clubs across the country, and for their accomplishments.  The Collingwood Progress Convention 2001 marked "ground zero".  We began the rebuilding stage by talking to successful clubs, such as Halifax and Calgary Bow River, and learned from their strengths.  Past President Joseph Capobianco and I discussed at this convention the need to use these successful club's as our mentors, and thus, the rebuilding of our club began.  Each subsequent convention has offered us the opportunity to renew ties with these and other club's, and focus on our goal to both the community and Progress.  Past President Gary Kisil has taught us the importance of committing to projects early in their initial stages of conception.  It is through commitment that the actual process of fundraising and fellowship are created.

Two projects helped solidify the new club.  The first, our financial contribution to the Paediatric Ward for the Brampton Hospital for TVs, VCRs, and day beds, helped re-established our presence in the Brampton community.  The second, our commitment to Past National Vice President Alwyn McAllen to host the Central Region 2001 AGM & Mini Convention, renewed our commitment to Progress as a club.  Both allowed us, as a new club, new goals to work towards.  I also would like to thank our National Vice President Juanita for her support and assistance during the past two years.

We have much to be proud of with our accomplishments.  We have grown from two under-strength clubs into a dynamic, vibrant, and enthusiastic club.  We have grown from a club that has been a member in Progress, to a club that now fully participates at both Regional and National levels.  We are now a club strong enough to go out and help support our fellow clubs in the Central Region with attaining their fundraising and fellowship goals.  WE NOW HAVE BECOME THE "MENTOR"!

Our strength is our members.  And we are strong!  As my term of Club President has finished, I look back on what we have accomplished, and it has been both challenging and rewarding.  I know everyone will support our new Club President Larry with his goals and vision for the club, and his newly formed executive, as much as you have supported me.  I now look forward to my newly assigned role as your Central Regional Zone Governor, Ontario West and Metro Toronto, and your continued support.

It has been a great pleasure to be your President these past three years.  I thank each member for their assistance in making this club the best in the Central Region, and the best in the country!

Yours in Progress,

John Holman
Past President
Canadian Progress Club, Brampton